Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, G.A. res. 49/128, 49 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 149, U.N. Doc. A/49/49 (1994).


Forty-ninth session
Agenda item 158

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The General Assembly,


Recalling its resolutions 47/176 of 22 December 1992 and 48/186 of 21 December 1993 on the International Conference on Population and Development, and 48/162 of 20 December 1993 on the restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields,

Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolutions 1989/91 of 26 July 1989, 1991/93 of 26 July 1991, 1992/37 of 30 July 1992, 1993/4 of 12 February 1993 and 1993/76 of 30 July 1993, in which the Council decided on the convening, mandate and preparatory process of the International Conference on Population and Development,

Recalling further Economic and Social Council decision 1994/227 of 14 July 1994, by which the Council approved the provisional agenda and documentation for the twenty-eighth session of the Population Commission, including discussion of the implications of the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development,

Recalling Economic and Social Council resolutions 3 (III) of 3 October 1946, 150 (VII) of 10 August 1948 and 1985/4 of 28 May 1985 on the mandate of the Population Commission, as well as 1763 (LIV) of 18 May 1973 and 1986/7 of 21 May 1986 on the aims and purposes of the United Nations Population Fund,

Having considered the report of the International Conference on Population and Development, 1/ held at Cairo, from 5 to 13 September 1994,

Reaffirming the importance of the outcome of the World Population Conference, held at Bucharest in 1974, 2/ and the International Conference on Population, held at Mexico City in 1984, 3/ and acknowledging fully the integrated approach taken during the International Conference on Population and Development, which recognizes the interrelationship among population, sustained economic growth and sustainable development,

Recognizing that the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development 4/ is the sovereign right of every country, in accordance with its national laws and development priorities, with full respect for the various religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds of its peoples and in conformity with universally recognized international human rights,

Expressing its belief in the contribution that the outcome of the International Conference on Population and Development will make to the forthcoming World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women and the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), in particular with regard to the call for a greater investment in people and for the empowerment of women to ensure their full participation at all levels in the social, economic and political lives of their communities,

Expressing its satisfaction at the fact that the International Conference on Population and Development and its preparatory process enabled the full and active involvement of States Members of the United Nations and the specialized agencies, of observers and various intergovernmental organizations and of representatives of non-governmental organizations representing all regions of the world,

Expressing its profound gratitude to the Government and people of Egypt for the hospitality extended to the participants at the Conference and for the facilities, staff and services placed at their disposal,

1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the International Conference on Population and Development; 1/

2. Endorses the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development 4/ adopted on 13 September 1994;

3. Acknowledges the contribution made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Conference to the successful organization of the Conference;

4. Affirms that, in the implementation of the Programme of Action, Governments should commit themselves at the highest political level to achieving its goals and objectives, which reflect a new, integrated approach to population and development, and take a lead role in coordinating the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of follow-up actions;

5. Calls upon all Governments, organizations of the United Nations system and other major groups concerned with population and development issues, including intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, parliamentarians and other community leaders, to give the widest possible dissemination to the Programme of Action and to seek public support for its goals, objectives and actions;

6. Fully acknowledges that the factors of population, health, education, poverty, patterns of production and consumption, empowerment of women and the environment are closely interconnected and should be considered through an integrated approach, and that the follow-up to the Conference must reflect this fact;

7. Urges all countries to consider their current spending priorities with a view to making additional contributions for the implementation of the Programme of Action, taking into account the provisions of chapters XIII and XIV thereof and the economic constraints faced by developing countries, in particular the least developed among them;

8. Acknowledges the importance of the subregional and regional activities undertaken during the preparations for the Conference, including the regional strategies, plans and declarations adopted as part of that process, and invites the regional commissions, other regional and subregional organizations and the development banks to examine the results of the Conference within their respective mandates, for the follow-up and implementation of the Programme of Action at the regional level;

9. Emphasizes that international cooperation in the field of population and development is essential for the implementation of the recommendations adopted at the Conference, and in this context calls upon the international community to provide, both bilaterally and multilaterally, adequate and substantial support and assistance for population and development activities, including through the United Nations Population Fund and other organs and organizations of the United Nations system and the specialized agencies that will be involved in the implementation, at all levels, of the Programme of Action;

10. Calls upon the organs and organizations of the United Nations system and the specialized agencies to undertake the actions required to give full and effective support to the implementation of the Programme of Action;

11. Emphasizes the need to maintain and enhance effective partnership with non-governmental groups and organizations so as to ensure their continued contributions and cooperation within all aspects of population and development, and urges all countries to establish appropriate national follow-up mechanisms, in partnership with non-governmental organizations, community groups and representatives of the media and the academic community, and to seek the support of parliamentarians, so as to ensure the full implementation of the Programme of Action;

12. Recognizes the importance of South-South cooperation in the implementation of the Programme of Action;

13. Also recognizes that the effective implementation of the Programme of Action will require an increased commitment of financial resources, both domestically and externally, and in this context calls upon the developed countries to complement the national financial efforts of developing countries on population and development and intensify their efforts to transfer new and additional resources to the developing countries, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Programme of Action, in order to ensure that population and development objectives and goals are met;

14. Acknowledges that countries with economies in transition should receive temporary assistance for population and development activities in view of the difficult economic and social problems faced by these countries at present, and therefore suggests that the specialized agencies and all related organizations of the United Nations system should adjust, on this basis, their programmes and activities in line with the Programme of Action and take appropriate measures to ensure its full and effective implementation;

15. Emphasizes the importance of the early identification and allocation of financial resources by all members of the international community, including regional financial institutions, to enable them to fulfil their commitments with regard to the implementation of the Programme of Action;

16. Requests the Secretary-General to consult with the various bodies of the United Nations system, as well as with international financial institutions and various bilateral aid organizations and agencies, with a view to promoting an exchange of information among them on the requirements for international assistance, reviewing on a regular basis the specific needs of countries in the field of population and development and maximizing the availability of resources and their most effective utilization;

17. Invites the Secretary-General to ensure that adequate resources are provided for the Conference follow-up activities to be carried out by the Secretariat during 1995;

18. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare periodic reports for the substantive sessions of the Economic and Social Council on the flow of financial resources for assisting in the implementation of the Programme of Action and to promote the exchange of information on the requirements for international assistance among the members of the donor community;

19. Urges the international community to promote a supportive international economic environment by adopting favourable macroeconomic policies for promoting sustained economic growth and sustainable development;

20. Stresses the importance of continued and enhanced cooperation and coordination by all relevant organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and the specialized agencies in the implementation of the Programme of Action;

21. Emphasizes the need for follow-up activities relating to the Conference and the Programme of Action so as to utilize, to the fullest extent possible, existing capacity within the United Nations system in the area of population and development, including the Population Commission, the Population Division of the Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis of the Secretariat and the United Nations Population Fund, as well as other organizations, programmes and funds of the United Nations and the specialized agencies whose support and commitment are required for the successful implementation of the full range of activities outlined in the Programme of Action;

22. Requests the specialized agencies and all related organizations of the United Nations system to review and, where necessary, adjust their programmes and activities in line with the Programme of Action and take appropriate measures to ensure its full and effective implementation, taking into account the specific needs of developing countries, and invites them to report to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1995 for coordination purposes and to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session for policy implications;

23. Decides that the General Assembly, through its role in policy formulation, the Economic and Social Council, through its role in overall guidance and coordination, in accordance with Assembly resolution 48/162, and a revitalized Population Commission shall constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental mechanism that will play the primary role in the follow-up to the implementation of the Programme of Action, keeping in mind the need to develop a common framework for a coherent follow-up to United Nations summits and conferences, and to this end:

(a) The General Assembly, being the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters relating to the follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development, will organize a regular review of the implementation of the Programme of Action;

(b) The Economic and Social Council, in assisting the General Assembly, will promote an integrated approach, provide system-wide coordination and guidance in the monitoring of the implementation of the Programme of Action and make recommendations thereon;

(c) The revitalized Population Commission, as a functional commission assisting the Economic and Social Council, will monitor, review and assess the implementation of the Programme of Action at the national, regional and international levels and advise the Council thereon;

24. Also decides that, to emphasize the new and comprehensive approach to population and development embodied in the Programme of Action, the revitalized Population Commission shall be renamed the Commission on Population and Development;

25. Further decides that the Commission on Population and Development shall meet on an annual basis, beginning in 1996;

26. Recommends that the Economic and Social Council review, at its substantive session of 1995, the Commission's terms of reference and mandate so as to bring them fully into line with the provisions of paragraph 23 (c) above;

27. Also recommends that the Economic and Social Council, pursuant to the decisions made on the terms of reference and enhanced mandate of the revitalized Commission, should consider at its substantive session of 1995 the composition of the Commission, in order to ensure that the Commission fully fulfils its functions as provided in paragraph 23, taking into account the integrated multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach of the Programme of Action as well as the membership of the other functional commissions of the Council;

28. Requests the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 1995, to consider:

(a) The establishment of a separate executive board of the United Nations Population Fund;

(b) The submission of recommendations to the Secretary-General concerning secretariat support and coordination arrangements for the United Nations system;

(c) The submission of recommendations to the Secretary-General regarding the establishment of an appropriate inter-agency coordination, collaboration and harmonization mechanism for the implementation of the Programme of Action;

29. Also requests the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 1995, to review the reporting procedures within the United Nations system regarding population and development issues, including a quinquennial review and appraisal of the progress made in achieving the goals and objectives of the Programme of Action, in order to ensure full support for its implementation, bearing in mind the reporting procedures for all United Nations conferences in the economic and social field;

30. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with States, to prepare a report on institutional follow-up issues and reporting procedures in the United Nations system, to be submitted to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1995;

31. Requests the Economic and Social Council:

(a) To discuss the relevant matters concerning the implementation of population and development programmes, as well as matters concerning harmonization, cooperation and collaboration within the United Nations system regarding the implementation of the Programme of Action;

(b) To discuss the reports submitted by the different bodies and organs on various matters related to the Programme of Action;

32. Invites the governing body of the United Nations Population Fund to oversee, on a regular basis, the response of the Fund to the needs of countries regarding activities to strengthen national population and development programmes, including the specific requests from developing countries for assistance in the preparation of national reports, within its area of competence, and to report to the Economic and Social Council on this matter;

33. Calls upon the programmes of the United Nations system and the regional commissions and funds to provide their full and active support to the implementation of the Programme of Action, particularly at the field level, through the United Nations resident coordinator system, and invites the relevant specialized agencies to do the same;

34. Requests the Commission on Population and Development, at its twenty-eighth session, to review, within its area of competence, the Programme of Action and its implications and to transmit its views to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1995;

35. Requests the Secretary-General to report, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session on the implementation of the present resolution;

36. Decides to include in the agenda of its forthcoming sessions, within existing clusters, an item entitled "Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development".

92nd plenary meeting
19 December 1994


1/ A/CONF.171/13 and Add.1. 95-76603

2/ See Report of the United Nations World Population Conference, Bucharest, 19-30 August 1974 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.XIII.3).

3/ See Report of the International Conference on Population, 1984, Mexico City, 6-14 August 1984 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.84.XIII.8 and corrigenda).

4/ A/CONF.171/13, chap. I, resolution 1, annex. .


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