General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

17 December 1984

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                                      A/RES/39/161
                                                      17 December 1984
                                                      Meeting no. 103
 
             Observance of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations
 
                                      A
         The General Assembly,
 
         Recalling its decision 38/455 of 20 December 1983, by which it
    established the Preparatory Committee for the Fortieth Anniversary of the
    United Nations and entrusted it with the task of considering and
    recommending to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session proposals
    for suitable activities in connection with the observance in 1985 of the
    fortieth anniversary of the United Nations,
 
         Having considered the report of the Preparatory Committee,
 
         1.  Decides that the theme of the fortieth anniversary of the United
         Nations shall be "United Nations for a better world" and expresses
         the hope and desire that the year 1985 will mark the beginning of an
         era of durable and global peace and justice, social and economic
         development and progress and independence of all peoples;
 
         2.  Takes note of the programmes and activities, including those
         recommended by the Preparatory Committee for the Fortieth Anniversary
         of the United Nations, to be undertaken by the United Nations and its
         related organizations, as well as the programmes and activities
         suggested for the consideration of Governments of Member States and
         non-governmental organizations;
 
         3.  Decides that the Preparatory Committee, established at its
         thirty-eighth session, shall continue to function in that capacity,
         under the chairmanship of the President of the thirty-ninth session
         of the General Assembly, until the observance of the anniversary,
         with the purpose of drawing up and co-ordinating plans and organizing
         suitable activities for the anniversary to be undertaken by the
         United Nations, in the light of the present resolution and the report
         of the Preparatory Committee;
 
         4.  Decides that a commemorative session of the General Assembly
         shall be held for a short period, culminating on 24 October 1985 and
         coinciding with the proclamation of the International Year of Peace;
 
         5.  Requests the Preparatory Committee to draw up a suitable text for
         a final document or documents to be considered for signature and/or
         adoption during the commemorative session;
 
         6.  Expresses the hope that Heads of State or Government will find it
         possible to participate in the commemorative session in order to
         enhance its significance;
 
         7.  Decides that the year 1985 shall be observed as Year of the
         United Nations;
 
         8.  Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary
         facilities for implementing the provisions of the present resolution
         and the recommendations contained in the report of the Preparatory
         Committee.
                                      B
         The General Assembly,
 
         Taking note of the report of the Preparatory Committee for the
    Fortieth Anniversary of the United Nations, 1/ established in connection
    with the observance in 1985 of the fortieth anniversary of the United
    Nations,
 
         Noting that the year 1985 will also mark the twenty-fifth anniversary
    of the adoption of the historic Declaration on the Granting of
    Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and noting the important
    role that the United Nations plays in its implementation,
 
         Decides that the events commemorating the fortieth anniversary of the
    United Nations should reflect in an appropriate manner the observance of
    the twenty-fifth anniversary, also in 1985, of the Declaration on the
    Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples with a view to
    strengthening international commitment to the full achievement of
    decolonization.