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6 October 1999

The annual Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization (A/54/1) is before the General Assembly this morning. Forty-one speakers are inscribed on the list. However, debate on the report will continue, not this afternoon, but tomorrow morning.Assembly President Theo-Ben Gurirab is presiding.

This afternoon, the Assembly will take up two items. It will first consider item 109, on the advancement of women, solely to take action on a draft resolution (A/54/L.4) entitled Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which was recommended for adoption by the Economic and Social Council. By adopting the text, the Assembly would open for signature, ratification and accession the annexed 21-article Optional Protocol. That document sets out the procedures under which individuals or groups claiming to be victims of a violation of any of the rights set forth in the Convention can petition the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

>The Assembly will then take up item 37, on implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development. There are a number of documents: the report of the Secretary-General (A/54/220), which contains updated information on implementation of the outcome of the Summit by intergovernmental bodies, and on preparations for the special session to be held from 26 to 30 June 2000 in Geneva; and the report of the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives, on its first session (A/54/45 and Corr.1 and Add.1).

The Assembly is also asked to adopt four draft decisions contained in the Preparatory Committee’s report three, contained in paragraph 71, pertaining to arrangements for the special session; its title, namely, the World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world; and the provisional agenda for the Preparatory Committee’s second session, from 3 to14 April 2000; and a fourth text, contained in paragraph 6 of Add.1, dealing with arrangements for the participation of non-governmental organizations in the special session.

In Committee action, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) began its substantive work this morning with a general debate on major economic issues. The debate will continue through Friday, when the Committee will then take up item 97, on macroeconomic policy questions.

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) also commenced its substantive work with a general discussion on item 106, entitled Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family. For its discussion, the Committee has before it relevant sections of the report of the Economic and Social Council (A/54/3); various reports of the Secretary-General -- A/54/57, on cooperatives; A/54/388, on disabled persons; A/54/59, on youth; and an interim report of the Secretary-General and of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on progress towards the goal of education for all: the year 2000 assessment (A/54/128-E/1999/70).

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) is meeting this afternoon to hear a number of petitioners: five from East Timor, four from Western Sahara, 1 from New Caledonia and a representative of the Governor of Guam. The Committee will then continue its debate on all decolonization items.

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met yesterday afternoon to hear the remaining speakers on improving the financial situation of the United Nations. It also concluded general discussions on reports relating to the financing of peacekeeping operations in Angola and along the Iraq-Kuwait border. The Committee’s next formal meeting will take place on 15 October.

Copies of the Assembly President’s appointments for today are available in room 378 and on the Internet.