The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 31/135 of 16 December 1976, in which it endorsed the establishment of an International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, and Economic and Social Council resolution 1998 (LX) of 12 May 1976, containing guidelines regarding the activities of the Institute,
Taking note of Economic and Social Council decision 1993/235 of 27 July 1993, in which the Council agreed to the recommendation of the Secretary- General to merge the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Development Fund for Women, subject to a proper analysis of the legal, financial and administrative implications of the merger, and subject to consideration by the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session,
Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General prepared pursuant to Economic and Social Council decision 1993/235,
Emphasizing that the ultimate goal of restructuring should be to strengthen the programmes for the advancement of women and to enhance the efficiency of the work of those organizations, in function, structure and cost-effectiveness,
Recognizing the importance of adequate preparation for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, to be held in 1995, under the guidance of the Conference secretariat, and the role therein of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women,
1. Affirms that both the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Development Fund for Women should retain their comparative advantages in activities relating to the advancement of women;
2. Urges that the interaction between the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Secretariat, the Commission on the Status of Women and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women be reviewed and rationalized within the context of ongoing efforts to revitalize the Economic and Social Council in pursuance of a stronger, more unified programme for the advancement of women;
3. Requests the Secretary-General, through the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in accordance with rule 157 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1994 a report on the proposed merger of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Development Fund for Women and to include therein:
(a) A clear analysis of the financial benefits resulting from the merger;
(b) An estimate of the one-time non-recurrent costs of the merger, including costs of transitional measures, as well as an estimate of the recurrent costs of the merger;
(c) Details of the current staffing structure of the United Nations Development Fund for Women and of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, together with details of the proposed structure, including reporting arrangements;
(d) Staffing implications;
(e) A report on consultations with the host Government of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women;
4. Also requests the Secretary-General to include in his report consideration of potential duplication of the training activities of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Development Fund for Women;
5. Requests the Economic and Social Council to submit its final recommendations to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session for its consideration and action before 31 December 1994.
85th plenary meeting
20 December 1993
