Plans for 1995 conferences on social issues domoinate agenda.

Preparations for three major UN global conferences in 1995--the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen); the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing); and the Ninth UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (Cairo)--highlighted the work of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural). "A commitment by the international community to the goals of all of the conferences implies a new vision and a new priority attached to human-centred development", said Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, in an opening address to the Committee on 11 October.

Stressing the importance of the process of international conferences being held throughout this decade, Mr. Desai remarked that the Social Summit would "bring together many strands that had previously been pursued separately".

In adopting a total of 88 texts--71 resolutions and 17 decisions--on the recommendation of its Third Committee, the General Assembly on 23 December expressed satisfaction with the smooth conclusion of regional preparatory meetings for the Fourth World Conference on Women, the results of which constituted important inputs to the Platform of Action expected to emanate as the final document of the Conference.

The Assembly also approved provisional rules of procedure for the World Summit for Social Development (6-12 March 1995). Other texts concerned the subjects of crime prevention and criminal justice, international drug control, social development, women, human rights, and refugees.

International Family Year observed

On 18 October, the Assembly convened an International Conference on Families to follow-up the International Year of the Family, 1994. The high-level meeting was the first conference devoted exclusively to family issues in the history of the UN, according to Henryk Sokalski, Coordinator for the International Year.

The Assembly decided (resolution 49/157) to hold the Ninth UN Congress on crime prevention in Cairo from 29 April to 10 May 1995. The theme for the Congress will be "Less crime, more justice: Security for all".

The world body approved (49/159) the Naples Political Declaration and Global Action Plan against Organized Transnational Crime, adopted at the World Ministerial Conference on Organized Transnational Crime (21-23 November, Naples), and urged States to implement them as a matter of urgency.

The Declaration and Plan of Action aim at fighting organized crime and preventing its further expansion. The Action Plan stresses a number of objectives for national legislation directed against organized transnational crime, and enjoins States to endeavour fully to implement existing bilateral and multilateral conventions and agreements concerning extradition. (See feature, p. 89).

The Assembly appealed (49/156) to Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to support the UN African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders to enable it to fulfil its objectives, particularly those concerning training, technical assistance, policy guidance, research and data collection.

The Secretary-General was asked (49/158), as a matter of urgency, to provide the UN crime prevention and criminal justice programme with sufficient resources for the full implementation of its mandate.

The Assembly asked the Secretary-General to provide adequate funds to build and maintain the institutional capacity of the UN crime prevention and criminal justice programme to respond to Member States' requests for assistance and to strengthen cooperation between the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch and the UN International Drug Control Programme (UNIDCP).

Drug control

Under a five-part omnibus resolution (49/168) on international drug control, the Assembly called upon States to intensify their efforts to promote cooperation to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The Assembly reaffirmed that the fight against drug abuse should not in any way justify violation of principles enshrined in the UN Charter and international law, particularly respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and non-use of force or the threat of force in international relations.

The international community was called upon to provide increased economic and technical support for programmes of alternative and sustainable development that took the cultural tradition of people fully into account. States were called upon to consider increasing efforts to eradicate illegal crops from which narcotics were obtained.

States were called upon to implement the Global Programme of Action, with a view to translating it into practical action for drug abuse control at the national, regional and international levels.

The Assembly supported the UN System-wide Action Plan on Drug Abuse Control as a vital tool for the coordination and enhancement of drug abuse control activities within the UN system.

Social development

The Assembly adopted four resolutions on social development, including questions relating to the world social situation, youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family.

It decided (49/152) to devote up to four plenary meetings in 1995 to mark the tenth anniversary of the International Youth Year (1985) and to adopt the World Programme of Action for Youth towards the Year 2000 and Beyond.

The Assembly decided to mark the Year's tenth anniversary by designating in 1995 an international youth day at its fiftieth session. Member States were encouraged to ensure that youth and youth organizations were given an opportunity to be involved in and contribute to discussions at the national level, leading to the celebration of the Year's tenth anniversary.

Member States were called upon (49/154) to enable young people to obtain a comprehensive education, including in human rights, environmental questions and cross-cultural issues, with a view to fostering mutual understanding and tolerance. The Secretary-General was asked, in close cooperation with Member States and youth organizations, to evaluate programmes developed during the follow-up of the International Youth Year, with a view to ensuring effective implementation of a world youth programme of action to the year 2000 and beyond.

The Assembly encouraged the preparation by Member States that had not yet done so of a national youth policy, based on an analytical national evaluation of the situation and needs of youth.

The Secretary-General was asked to make recommendations on the need for specific programmes aimed at encouraging school attendance through various means, in particular by the provision of lessons free of charge and, where appropriate, free food in schools.

Long-term Strategy for Disabled

The Assembly urged (49/153) Governments to fully implement the 1993 Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and to set time limits for the accomplishment of specific goals or targets.

The Assembly encouraged the Secretary-General and concerned UN agencies to finalize, in consultation with Member States, the development of a global disability indicator.

Governments were called upon, when implementing the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, to take into account the elements suggested in the Long-term Strategy to Implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond.

The Assembly invited (49/155) Governments, relevant international organizations, specialized agencies and cooperative organizations to observe annually the International Day of Cooperatives on the first Saturday of July starting from 1995, as proclaimed by Assembly resolution 47/90.