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UNITED NATIONS
Distr.
GENERAL
A/CONF.171/2
18 July 1994
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
Item 3 of the provisional agenda*
ADOPTION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
Provisional rules of procedure
Note by the Secretariat
The provisional rules of procedure for the International
Conference on Population and Development, as approved by the
Preparatory Committee for the Conference at its third session and
by the General Assembly in its decision 48/490 of 14 July 1994, are
submitted to the Conference for adoption.
________________________
* A/CONF.171/1.
=================================================================
PROVISIONAL RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT
CONTENTS
Page
I. Representation and credentials ...................... 3
II. Officers ........................................... 4
III. General Committee.................................. 4
IV. Secretariat of the Conference....................... 5
V. Opening of the Conference ........................... 6
VI. Conclusions of the Conference ...................... 7
VII. Conduct of business................................ 7
VIII. Decision-making .................................. 11
IX. Subsidiary bodies .................................. 14
X. Languages and records ............................... 16
XI. Public and private meetings ........................ 17
XII. Other participants and observers .................. 17
XIII. Suspension and amendment of the rules of
procedure ........................................ 19
=============================================================
I. REPRESENTATION AND CREDENTIALS
Composition of delegations
Rule 1
Each State participating in the Conference and the European
Community shall be represented by a head of delegation and such
other representatives, alternate representatives and advisers as
may be required.
Alternates and advisers
Rule 2
The head of delegation may designate an alternate
representative or an adviser to act as a representative.
Credentials
Rule 3
The credentials of representatives and the names of alternate
representatives and advisers shall be submitted to the
Secretary-General of the Conference, if possible not less than one
week before the date fixed for the opening of the Conference. The
credentials shall be issued either by the Head of the State or
Government or by the Minister for Foreign Affairs or, in the case
of the European Community, by the President of the European
Commission.
Credentials Committee
Rule 4
A Credentials Committee of nine members shall be appointed at
the beginning of the Conference. Its composition shall be based on
that of the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly of the
United Nations at its forty-eighth session. It shall examine the
credentials of representatives and report to the Conference without
delay.
Provisional participation in the Conference
Rule 5
Pending a decision of the Conference upon their credentials,
representatives shall be entitled to participate provisionally in
the Conference.
II. OFFICERS
Elections
Rule 6
The Conference shall elect from among the representatives of
participating States the following officers: a President, 27
Vice-Presidents, and an ex officio Vice-President from the host
country, a Rapporteur-General, as well as a Chairman for the Main
Committee established in accordance with rule 46. These officials
shall be elected on the basis of ensuring the representative
character of the General Committee. The Conference may also elect
such other officers as it deems necessary for the performance of
its functions.
Acting President
Rule 7
1. If the President is absent from a meeting or any part thereof,
he/she shall designate a Vice-President to take his/her place.
2. A Vice-President acting as President shall have the same
powers and duties as the President.
Voting rights of the President
Rule 8
The President, or a Vice-President acting as President, shall
not vote in the Conference, but shall appoint another member of
his/her delegation to vote in his/her place.
III. GENERAL COMMITTEE
Composition
Rule 9
The President, the Vice-Presidents, the Rapporteur-General and
the Chairman of the Main Committee shall constitute the General
Committee. The President, or in his/her absence, one of the
Vice-Presidents designated by him/her, shall serve as Chairman of
the General Committee. The Chairman of the Credentials Committee
may participate, without the right to vote, in the General
Committee.
Substitute members
Rule 10
If the President or a Vice-President of the Conference is to
be absent during a meeting of the General Committee, he may
designate a member of his delegation to sit and vote in the
Committee. In the case of absence, the Chairman of the Main
Committee shall designate the Vice-Chairman of that Committee as
his substitute. When serving on the General Committee, a
Vice-Chairman of the Main Committee shall not have the right to
vote if he is of the same delegation as another member of the
General Committee.
Functions
Rule 11
The General Committee shall assist the President in the
general conduct of the business of the Conference and, subject to
the decisions of the Conference, shall ensure the coordination of
its work.
IV. SECRETARIAT OF THE CONFERENCE
Duties of the Secretary-General of the Conference
Rule 12
1. The Secretary-General of the Conference shall act in that
capacity in all meetings of the Conference and its subsidiary
organs.
2. The Secretary-General of the Conference may designate a member
of the secretariat to act in her place at those meetings.
3. The Secretary-General of the Conference shall direct the staff
required by the Conference.
Duties of the secretariat
Rule 13
The secretariat of the Conference shall, in accordance with
these rules:
(a) Interpret speeches made at meetings;
(b) Receive, translate, reproduce and circulate the documents
of the Conference;
(c) Publish and circulate the official documents of the
Conference;
(d) Prepare and circulate records of public meetings;
(e) Make and arrange for the keeping of sound recordings of
meetings;
(f) Arrange for the custody and preservation of the documents
of the Conference in the archives of the United Nations;
(g) Generally perform all other work that the Conference may
require.
Statements by the secretariat
Rule 14
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, the
Secretary-General of the Conference or any member of the
secretariat designated by either for that purpose may, at any time,
make oral or written statements concerning any question under
consideration.
V. OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE
Temporary President
Rule 15
At the opening of the first meeting of the Conference, the
Secretary- General of the United Nations or, in his absence, the
Secretary-General of the Conference shall preside until the
Conference has elected its President.
Decisions concerning organization
Rule 16
1. The Conference shall at its first meeting:
(a) Adopt its rules of procedure;
(b) Elect its officers and constitute its subsidiary organs;
(c) Adopt its agenda, the draft of which shall, until such
adoption, be the provisional agenda of the Conference;
(d) Decide on the organization of its work.
2. Recommendations resulting from pre-conference consultations
shall, in principle, be acted on without further discussion.
VI. CONCLUSIONS OF THE CONFERENCE
Report
Rule 17
The Conference shall adopt a report, the draft of which shall
be prepared by the Rapporteur-General.
VII. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Quorum
Rule 18
The President may declare a meeting open and permit the debate
to proceed when at least one third of the representatives of the
States participating in the Conference are present. The presence
of representatives of a majority of such States shall be required
for any decision to be taken.
General powers of the President
Rule 19
1. In addition to exercising the powers conferred upon him/her
elsewhere by these rules, the President shall preside at the
plenary meetings of the Conference; he/she shall declare the
opening and closing of each meeting, direct the discussions, ensure
observance of these rules, accord the right to speak, put questions
to the vote and announce decisions. He/she shall rule on points of
order. The President, subject to these rules, shall have complete
control of the proceedings and over the maintenance of order
thereat. The President may propose to the Conference the closing
of the list of speakers, a limitation on the time to be allowed to
speakers and on the number of times the representative of each
participant in the Conference may speak on a question, the
adjournment or the closure of the debate and the suspension or the
adjournment of a meeting.
2. The President, in the exercise of his/her functions, remains
under the authority of the Conference.
Points of order
Rule 20
During the discussion of any matter, a representative may at
any time raise a point of order, which shall be immediately decided
by the President in accordance with these rules. A representative
may appeal against the ruling of the President. The appeal shall
be immediately put to the vote, and the President's ruling shall
stand unless overruled by a majority of the representatives
present and voting. A representative may not, in raising a point
of order, speak on the substance of the matter under discussion.
Speeches
Rule 21
1. No one may address the Conference without having previously
obtained the permission of the President. Subject to rules 20, 22
and 24 to 27, the President shall call upon speakers in the order
in which they signify their desire to speak.
2. Debate shall be confined to the question before the Conference
and the President may call a speaker to order if his/her remarks
are not relevant to the subject under discussion.
3. The Conference may limit the time allowed to speakers and the
number of times participants may speak on a question. Permission
to speak on a motion to set such limits shall be accorded to only
two representatives in favour of and two opposing such limits,
after which the motion shall immediately be put to the vote. In
any event, with the consent of the Conference, the President shall
limit each intervention on procedural matters to five minutes.
When the debate is limited and a speaker exceeds the allotted time,
the President shall call him/her to order without delay.
Precedence
Rule 22
The Chairman or Rapporteur of the Main Committee or the
representative of a subcommittee or working group may be accorded
precedence for the purpose of explaining the conclusions arrived at
by the body concerned.
Closing of the list of speakers
Rule 23
During the course of a debate, the President may announce the
list of speakers and, with the consent of the Conference, declare
the list closed.
Right of reply
Rule 24
1. Notwithstanding rule 23, the President shall accord the right
of reply to a representative of any State participating in the
Conference or of the European Community who requests it. Any other
representative may be granted the opportunity to make a reply.
2. The statements made under this rule shall normally be made at
the end of the last meeting of the day, or at the conclusion of the
consideration of the relevant item, if that is sooner.
3. The representatives of a State or of the European Community
may make no more than two statements under this rule at a given
meeting on any item. The first shall be limited to five minutes
and the second to three minutes; representatives shall in any event
attempt to be as brief as possible.
Adjournment of debate
Rule 25
A representative of any State participating in the Conference
may at any time move the adjournment of the debate on the question
under discussion. In addition to the proposer of the motion,
permission to speak on the motion shall be accorded to only two
representatives in favour and two opposing the adjournment, after
which the motion shall, subject to rule 28, be immediately put to
the vote.
Closure of debate
Rule 26
A representative of any State participating in the Conference
may at any time move the closure of the debate on the question
under discussion, whether or not any other representative has
signified his/her wish to speak. Permission to speak on the motion
shall be accorded to only two representatives opposing the closure,
after which the motion shall, subject to rule 28, be immediately
put to the vote.
Suspension or adjournment of the meeting
Rule 27
Subject to rule 39, a representative of any State
participating in the Conference may at any time move the suspension
or the adjournment of the meeting. No discussion on such motions
shall be permitted and they shall, subject to rule 28, be
immediately put to the vote.
Order of motions
Rule 28
The motions indicated below shall have precedence in the
following order over all proposals or other motions before the
meeting:
(a) To suspend the meeting;
(b) To adjourn the meeting;
(c) To adjourn the debate on the question under discussion;
(d) To close the debate on the question under discussion.
Submissions of proposals and substantive amendments
Rule 29
Proposals and substantive amendments shall normally be
submitted in writing to the Secretary-General of the Conference,
who shall circulate copies to all delegations. Unless the
Conference decides otherwise, substantive proposals shall be
discussed or put to a decision no earlier than 24 hours after
copies have been circulated in all languages of the Conference to
all delegations. The President may, however, permit the discussion
and consideration of amendments, even though these amendments have
not been circulated or have only been circulated the same day.
Withdrawal of proposals and motions
Rule 30
A proposal or a motion may be withdrawn by its sponsor at any
time before voting on it has commenced, provided that it has not
been amended. A proposal or a motion thus withdrawn may be
reintroduced by any representative.
Decisions on competence
Rule 31
Any motion calling for a decision on the competence of the
Conference to adopt a proposal submitted to it shall be put to the
vote before a vote is taken on the proposal in question.
Reconsideration of proposals
Rule 32
When a proposal has been adopted or rejected, it may not be
reconsidered unless the Conference, by a two-thirds majority of the
representatives present and voting, so decides. Permission to
speak on a motion to reconsider shall be accorded to only two
speakers opposing reconsideration, after which the motion shall be
immediately put to the vote.
VIII. DECISION-MAKING
General agreement
Rule 33
The Conference should make best endeavours to ensure that its
work and the adoption of its report are accomplished by general
agreement.
Voting rights
Rule 34
Each State participating in the Conference shall have one
vote.
Majority required
Rule 35
1. Subject to rule 33, decisions of the Conference on all matters
of substance shall be taken by a two-thirds majority of the
representatives present and voting.
2. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, decisions of the
Conference on all matters of procedure shall be taken by a majority
of the representatives present and voting.
3. If the question arises whether a matter is one of procedure or
of substance, the President of the Conference shall rule on the
question. An appeal against this ruling shall be put to the vote
immediately, and the President's ruling shall stand unless
overruled by a majority of the representatives present and voting.
4. If a vote is equally divided, the proposal or motion shall be
regarded as rejected.
Meaning of the phrase "representatives present and voting"
Rule 36
For the purpose of these rules, the phrase "representatives
present and voting" means representatives casting an affirmative or
negative vote. Representatives who abstain from voting shall be
regarded as not voting.
Method of voting
Rule 37
1. Except as provided in rule 44, the Conference shall normally
vote by show of hands, except that a representative may request a
roll-call, which shall then be taken in the English alphabetical
order of the names of the States participating in the Conference,
beginning with the delegation whose name is drawn by lot by the
President. The name of each State shall be called in all
roll-calls and its representative shall reply "yes", "no" or
"abstention".
2. When the Conference votes by mechanical means, a non-recorded
vote shall replace a vote by show of hands and a recorded vote
shall replace a roll-call. A representative may request a recorded
vote, which shall, unless a representative requests otherwise, be
taken without calling out the names of the States participating in
the Conference.
3. The vote of each State participating in a roll-call or a
recorded vote shall be inserted in any record of or report on the
meeting.
Explanation of vote
Rule 38
Representatives may make brief statements consisting solely of
explanations of vote, before the voting has commenced or after the
voting has been completed. The President may limit the time to be
allowed for such explanations. The representative of a State
sponsoring a proposal or motion shall not speak in explanation of
vote thereon, except if it has been amended.
Conduct during voting
Rule 39
After the President has announced the commencement of voting,
no representative shall interrupt the voting except on a point of
order in connection with the process of voting.
Division of proposals
Rule 40
A representative may move that parts of a proposal be voted on
separately. If a representative objects, the motion for division
shall be voted upon. Permission to speak on the motion shall be
accorded to only two representatives in favour of and two opposing
the division. If the motion is carried, those parts of the
proposal that are subsequently approved shall be put to the vote as
a whole. If all operative parts of the proposal have been
rejected, the proposal shall be considered to have been rejected as
a whole.
Amendments
Rule 41
A proposal is considered an amendment to another proposal if
it merely adds to, deletes from or revises part of that proposal.
Unless specified otherwise, the word "proposal" in these rules
shall be considered as including amendments.
Order of voting on amendments
Rule 42
When an amendment is moved to a proposal, the amendment shall
be voted on first. When two or more amendments are moved to a
proposal, the Conference shall vote first on the amendment furthest
removed in substance from the original proposal and then on the
amendment next furthest removed therefrom and so on until all the
amendments have been put to the vote. Where, however, the adoption
of one amendment necessarily implies the rejection of another
amendment, the latter shall not be put to the vote. If one or more
amendments are adopted, the amended proposal shall then be voted
upon.
Order of voting on proposals
Rule 43
1. If two or more proposals, other than amendments, relate to the
same question, they shall, unless the Conference decides otherwise,
be voted on in the order in which they were submitted. The
Conference may, after each vote on a proposal, decide whether to
vote on the next proposal.
2. Revised proposals shall be voted on in the order in which the
original proposals were submitted, unless the revision
substantially departs from the original proposal. In that case,
the original proposal shall be considered as withdrawn and the
revised proposal shall be treated as a new proposal.
3. A motion requiring that no decision be taken on a proposal
shall be put to the vote before a decision is taken on the proposal
in question.
Elections
Rule 44
All elections shall be held by secret ballot unless, in the
absence of any objection, the Conference decides to proceed without
taking a ballot when there is an agreed candidate or slate.
Rule 45
1. When one or more elective places are to be filled at one time
under the same conditions, those candidates, in a number not
exceeding the number of such places, obtaining in the first ballot
a majority of the votes cast and the largest number of votes, shall
be elected.
2. If the number of candidates obtaining such a majority is less
than the number of places to be filled, additional ballots shall be
held to fill the remaining places.
IX. SUBSIDIARY BODIES
Main Committee and working groups
Rule 46
The Conference may establish a Main Committee, as required,
which may set up subcommittees or working groups. The Main
Committee, unless it decides otherwise, shall elect three
Vice-Chairmen and a Rapporteur.
Representation on the Main Committee
Rule 47
Each State participating in the Conference and the European
Community may be represented by one representative on the Main
Committee. It may assign to the Committee such alternate
representatives and advisers as may be required.
Other committees and working groups
Rule 48
1. In addition to the Main Committee referred to above, the
Conference may establish such committees and working groups as it
deems necessary for the performance of its functions.
2. Subject to the decision of the Plenary or the Conference, the
Main Committee may set up subcommittees and working groups.
Rule 49
1. The members of the committees and working groups of the
Conference, referred to in rule 48, paragraph 1, shall be appointed
by the President, subject to the approval of the Conference, unless
the Conference decides otherwise.
2. Members of the subcommittees and working groups of committees
shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee in question,
subject to the approval of that Committee, unless the Committee
decides otherwise.
Officers
Rule 50
Except as otherwise provided in rule 6, each committee,
subcommittee and working group shall elect its own officers.
Quorum
Rule 51
1. The Chairman of the Main Committee may declare a meeting open
and permit the debate to proceed when representatives of at least
one quarter of the States participating in the Conference are
present. The presence of representatives of a majority of the
States so participating shall be required for any decision to be
taken.
2. A majority of the representatives of the General or
Credentials Committee or of any committee, subcommittee or working
group shall constitute a quorum provided that they are
representatives of participating States.
Officers, conduct of business and voting
Rule 52
The rules relating to officers (rules 6 to 8), the secretariat
of the Conference (rules 12 to 14), the conduct of business of the
Conference (rules 18 to 32), decision-making (rules 33 to 45) and
other participants and observers (rules 59 to 66) shall be
applicable, mutatis mutandis, to the proceedings of the Main
Committee and working groups, except that:
(a) Unless otherwise decided, the Credentials Committee and
any working group shall elect a Chairman and such other officers as
it may require;
(b) The Chairman of the General Committee and of the
Credentials Committee and the chairmen of working groups may
exercise the right to vote;
(c) A majority of the representatives on the General
Committee or Credentials Committee or any working group shall
constitute a quorum; the Chairman of the Main Committee may declare
a meeting open and permit the debate to proceed when at least one
quarter of the representatives of the States participating in the
Conference are present;
(d) Decisions of committees and working groups shall be taken
by a majority of the representatives present and voting, except
that the reconsideration of a proposal or an amendment shall
require the majority established by rule 32, provided that they are
representatives of participating States.
X. LANGUAGES AND RECORDS
Languages of the Conference
Rule 53
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish shall be
the languages of the Conference.
Interpretation
Rule 54
1. Speeches made in a language of the Conference shall be
interpreted into the other such languages.
2. A representative may speak in a language other than a language
of the Conference if the delegation concerned provides for
interpretation into one such language. Interpretation into the
other languages of the Conference by interpreters of the
secretariat may be based on the interpretation given in the first
such language.
Languages of official documents
Rule 55
Official documents of the Conference shall be made available
in the languages of the Conference.
Records of meetings
Rule 56
1. There shall be neither verbatim nor summary records of
meetings.
2. Sound recordings of meetings of the Conference and of the Main
Committee shall be made and kept in accordance with the practice of
the United Nations. Unless otherwise decided by the Conference or
the Main Committee, no such recordings shall be made of the
meetings of any working group thereof.
XI. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MEETINGS
General principles
Rule 57
1. The plenary meetings of the Conference and the meetings of any
Committee shall be held in public unless the body concerned decides
otherwise.
2. All decisions taken by the Plenary of the Conference at a
private meeting shall be announced at an early public meeting of
the Plenary.
Communiqu‚s on private meetings
Rule 58
At the close of a private meeting, the presiding officer of
the organ concerned may issue a communiqu‚ through the
Secretary-General of the Conference.
XII. OTHER PARTICIPANTS AND OBSERVERS
Representatives of organizations that have received
a standing invitation from the General Assembly to
participate, in the capacity of observers, in the
sessions and work of all international conferences
convened under its auspices
Rule 59
Representatives designated by organizations that have received
a standing invitation from the General Assembly to participate in
the sessions and work of all international conferences convened
under its auspices have the right to participate as observers,
without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the Conference,
the Main Committee and, as appropriate, any other committee or
working group.
Associate members of regional commissions
Rule 60
Representatives designated by associate members of regional
commissions may participate as observers, without the right to
vote, in the deliberations of the Conference, the Main Committee
and, as appropriate, any other committee or working group.
Representatives of national liberation movements
Rule 61
Representatives of national liberation movements invited to
the Conference may participate as observers, without the right to
vote, in the deliberations of the Conference, the Main Committee
and, as appropriate, any other committee or working group on any
matter of particular concern to those movements.
Representatives of the specialized agencies 1/
Rule 62
Representatives designated by the specialized agencies may
participate, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the
Conference, the Main Committee and, as appropriate, any other
committee or working group on questions within the scope of their
activities.
Representatives of other intergovernmental organizations
Rule 63
Save where otherwise specifically provided with respect to the
European Community in these rules of procedure, representatives
designated by other intergovernmental organizations invited to the
Conference may participate as observers without the right to vote,
in the deliberations of the Conference, the Main Committee and, as
appropriate, any other committee or working group on questions
within the scope of their activities.
Representatives of interested United Nations organs
Rule 64
Representatives designated by interested organs of the United
Nations may participate as observers, without the right to vote, in
the deliberations of the Conference, the Main Committee and, as
appropriate, any other committee or working group on questions
within the scope of their activities.
________________________
1/ For the purpose of these rules, the term "specialized
agencies" includes the International Atomic Energy Agency and the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
Representatives of non-governmental organizations
Rule 65
1. Non-governmental organizations accredited to participate in
the Conference may designate representatives to sit as observers at
public meetings of the Conference and the Main Committee.
2. Upon the invitation of the presiding officer of the conference
body concerned and subject to the approval of that body, such
observers may make oral statements on questions in which they have
special competence. If the number of requests to speak is too
large, the non-governmental organizations shall be requested to
form themselves into constituencies, such constituencies to speak
through spokespersons.
Written statements
Rule 66
Written statements submitted by the designated representatives
referred to in rules 59 to 65 shall be distributed by the
secretariat to all delegations in the quantities and in the
language in which the statements are made available to it at the
site of the Conference, provided that a statement submitted on
behalf of a non-governmental organization is related to the work of
the Conference and is on a subject in which the organization has a
special competence. Written statements shall not be made at United
Nations expense and shall not be issued as official documents.
XIII. SUSPENSION AND AMENDMENT OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
Method of suspension
Rule 67
Any of these rules may be suspended by the Conference provided
that 24 hours' notice of the proposal for the suspension has been
given, which may be waived if no representative objects. Any such
suspension shall be limited to a specific and stated purpose and to
a period required to achieve that purpose.
Method of amendment
Rule 68
These rules of procedure may be amended by a decision of the
Conference taken by a two-thirds majority of the representatives
present and voting, after the General Committee has reported on the
proposed amendment.