| United Nations | E/CN.9/1997/11 - E/1997/25 |
Economic and Social Council
Commission on Population and Development
Report on the thirtieth session (24-28 February 1997)
Economic and Social Council
Official Records, 1997
Supplement No.5
United Nations - New York, 1997
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined
with figures.
SUMMARY
The thirtieth session of the Commission on Population and Development
was held at United Nations Headquarters from 24 to 28 February 1997. Its
central theme was international migration, with special emphasis on the
linkages between migration and development, including gender issues and the
family.
The documents before the Commission included a report on world
population monitoring, focusing on the theme of the session. The report
provided a summary of recent information on selected aspects of international
migration and covered such topics as the international migration agenda from
Bucharest to Cairo; migration dynamics; international migration policies;
documented and undocumented migrants; refugees and asylum-seekers; labour
migration; gender issues; and interlinkages between migration and development.
Other reports covered the monitoring of population programmes; activities on
international migration of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC)
Task Force on Basic Social Services for All; activities of intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations in the area of international migration;
flows of financial resources in international assistance for population;
programme performance and implementation in the field of population in 1996;
proposed programme of work for the biennium 1998-1999; world demographic
trends; and a report responding to the agreed conclusions 1996/1, adopted by
the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1996, on
coordination of the United Nations system activities for poverty eradication.
The Commission considered follow-up actions to the recommendations of
the Conference on Population and Development, adopting two resolutions in that
regard. It also recommended to the Economic and Social Council the adoption
of a draft resolution in which the Council, inter alia, would urge both the
Statistics Division and the Population Division of the United Nations
Secretariat, along with other relevant organizations, to collaborate in the
dissemination of the new set of recommendations on statistics of international
migration, and call upon all relevant organs, organizations and programmes of
the United Nations system and other intergovernmental, regional and
subregional organizations to collaborate and coordinate their efforts in
examining international migration and development. Recognizing the need for
further analysis of international migration and development and the linkages
among the social, economic, political and cultural factors related to
international migration and development, the Commission noted with interest
that the ACC Task Force on Basic Social Services for All would be holding a
technical symposium on international migration in 1998. Lastly, with regard
to reporting requirements, the Commission requested that the material normally
included in the report on the activities of intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations be integrated into the reports on world
population monitoring and the monitoring of population programmes. The
Commission decided to further consider the issue of reporting requirements at
its next session.
As in previous sessions, the Commission held a general debate during
which members exchanged views and national experiences in the area of
population, particularly with regard to the implementation of the Programme of
Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.
In reviewing the implementation of the programme of work in the field of
population in 1996 and the proposed programme of work for the biennium
1998-1999, the Commission expressed appreciation for the high quality of the
work of the Population Division. The Commission adopted a resolution in which
it stressed the importance of continuing the basic work of the Population
Division, emphasized the importance of the Population Division's role as the
secretariat to the Commission and underlined the need to further enhance the
Division's efficiency, effectiveness and capacity.
The Commission also approved the draft provisional agenda for its
thirty-first session, in 1998, and adopted the report of its thirtieth
session.
CONTENTS
Chapter Paragraphs Page
I. MATTERS CALLING FOR ACTION BY THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COUNCIL OR BROUGHT TO ITS ATTENTION ................... 1 - 3 5
A. Draft resolution .................................. 1 5
B. Draft decision .................................... 2 6
C. Matters brought to the attention of the Council ... 3 7
II. GENERAL DEBATE ON NATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN POPULATION
MATTERS ............................................... 4 - 8 13
III. FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT:
INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION ............................... 9 - 24 14
A. General discussion ................................ 9 - 14 14
B. Action taken by the Commission .................... 15 - 24 15
IV. PROGRAMME QUESTIONS ................................... 25 - 34 17
A. General discussion ................................ 25 - 30 17
B. Action taken by the Commission .................... 31 - 34 18
V. PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE THIRTY-FIRST SESSION OF THE
COMMISSION ............................................ 35 - 38 19
VI. ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON ITS
THIRTIETH SESSION ..................................... 39 - 40 20
VII. ORGANIZATION OF THE SESSION ........................... 41 - 52 21
A. Opening and duration of the session ............... 41 - 43 21
B. Attendance ........................................ 44 21
C. Election of officers .............................. 45 21
D. Agenda ............................................ 46 21
E. Documentation ..................................... 47 22
F. Consultation with non-governmental organizations .. 48 22
G. Decisions taken by the Commission on organizational
matters ........................................... 49 - 52 22
Annexes
I. ATTENDANCE ....................................................... 23
II. LIST OF DOCUMENTS BEFORE THE COMMISSION AT ITS THIRTIETH SESSION . 27
III. STATEMENTS MADE FOR THE RECORD IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADOPTION
OF DRAFT RESOLUTIONS UNDER ITEMS 4 AND 5 ......................... 29
Chapter I
MATTERS CALLING FOR ACTION BY THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
OR BROUGHT TO ITS ATTENTION
A. Draft resolution
1. The Commission on Population and Development recommends to the Economic
and Social Council the adoption of the following draft resolution:
International migration and development*
(* For the discussion, see chap. III.)
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling General Assembly resolutions 49/127 of 19 December 1994,
50/123 of 20 December 1995 and 51/176 of 16 December 1996,
Recalling also the Programme of Action of the International Conference
on Population and Development, 1/ in particular chapter X on international
migration,
Recalling further the relevant provisions contained in the Copenhagen
Declaration on Social Development 2/ and the Programme of Action of the World
Summit for Social Development 3/ and in the Platform for Action 4/ adopted by
the Fourth World Conference on Women,
Having considered the concise report of the Secretary-General on world
population monitoring, 1997: international migration and development, 5/
Taking note of the activities of the Working Group on International
Migration of the Administrative Committee on Coordination Task Force on Basic
Social Services for All, as presented in the report of the Task Force, 6/
1. Urges both the Statistics Division and the Population Division of
the United Nations Secretariat, along with the regional commissions, other
relevant United Nations and intergovernmental organizations, and Governments
providing technical assistance in statistics, to collaborate in the
dissemination of the new set of recommendations on statistics of international
migration 7/ and to provide, at the request of Governments, technical
assistance in implementing these recommendations;
2. Calls upon the Working Group on International Migration of the
Administrative Committee on Coordination Task Force on Basic Social Services
for All to ensure that international migration remains a topic of
concentration in its follow-up to the International Conference on Population
and Development, inter alia, by compiling a comprehensive list of issues
related to international migration and development and identifying the
intergovernmental mechanisms available to address them, to be submitted to the
Commission on Population and Development at its thirty-first session;
3. Calls upon all relevant organs, organizations and programmes of the
United Nations system, and other intergovernmental, regional and subregional
organizations to collaborate and coordinate their efforts, making full use of
the expertise of existing organizations, in examining international migration
and development;
4. Calls upon Governments and intergovernmental, regional and
subregional organizations to promote and expand the exchange of information
and experiences regarding international migration and development in
appropriate bilateral, multilateral, regional and interregional forums.
B. Draft decision
2. The Commission on Population and Development recommends to the Economic
and Social Council the adoption of the following draft decision:
Report of the Commission on Population and Development on
its thirtieth session and provisional agenda for the
thirty-first session of the Commission
The Economic and Social Council:
(a) Takes note of the report of the Commission on Population and
Development on its thirtieth session;
(b) Approves the provisional agenda for the thirty-first session of the
Commission set out below.
Provisional agenda for the thirty-first session of the
Commission on Population and Development
1. Election of officers.
2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.
3. General debate on national experience in population matters.
4. Follow-up actions to the recommendations of the International
Conference on Population and Development: health and mortality,
with special emphasis on the linkages between health and development
and on gender and age.
Documentation
Report of the Secretary-General on world population monitoring,
focusing on health and mortality, with special emphasis on the
linkages between health and development and on gender and age
Report of the Secretary-General on the monitoring of population
programmes
Report of the ACC Task Force on Basic Social Services for All
dealing with the implementation of the Programme of Action of the
International Conference on Population and Development
Report of the Secretary-General on activities of intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations relating to the implementation of
the Programme of Action of the International Conference on
Population and Development
Report of the Secretary-General on the flow of financial resources
for assisting in the implementation of the Programme of Action of
the International Conference on Population and Development
5. Programme questions:
(a) Programme performance and implementation in 1997;
(b) Programme of work for the biennium 1998-1999 and proposed
revisions to the subprogramme on population of the medium-term
plan for the period 1998-2001.
Documentation
Report of the Secretary-General on progress of work in the field of
population, 1997
Note by the Secretary-General on the programme of work for the
biennium 1998-1999
6. Provisional agenda for the thirty-second session of the Commission.
Documentation
Note by the Secretariat containing the draft provisional agenda for
the thirty-second session of the Commission
7. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its thirty-first
session.
C. Matters brought to the attention of the Council
3. The following resolutions adopted by the Commission are brought to the
attention of the Council:
Resolution 1997/1. Technical symposium on international migration*
(* For the discussion, see chap. III.)
The Commission on Population and Development,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 50/123 of 20 December 1995 in
which the Assembly, inter alia, recognized the importance from an analytical
and operational point of view of identifying the existing linkages among the
social, economic, political and cultural factors related to international
migration and development, and of taking appropriate steps to intensify the
analysis of issues involved,
Recalling also the Programme of Action of the International Conference
on Population and Development, 8/ in particular chapter X on international
migration,
Recalling further the relevant provisions contained in the Copenhagen
Declaration on Social Development 9/ and the Programme of Action of the World
Summit for Social Development 10/ and in the Platform for Action 11/ adopted
by the Fourth World Conference on Women,
1. Takes note of the report of the Administrative Committee on
Coordination Task Force on Basic Social Services for All, 12/ in particular
as regards the activities of the Task Force's Working Group on International
Migration;
2. Takes note with interest of the holding of a technical symposium of
experts on international migration in 1998 under the auspices of the Working
Group on International Migration of the Administrative Committee on
Coordination Task Force on Basic Social Services for All and urges the Working
Group to ensure the participation of high-calibre technical experts from all
regions;
3. Invites the Working Group, building upon all relevant past
experience, including the conclusions expressed in the above-mentioned report
of the Task Force on Basic Social Services for All, to continue its
collaboration in the planning and convening of the technical symposium so as
to provide greater insight and information on inflows, outflows, returns and
integration of migrants;
4. Also invites the Working Group to develop an agenda for the
technical symposium that builds on existing recommendations on definitions of
international migration, focuses on the identification of measurable
indicators, and analyses the complex interrelationships between international
migration and development, including the experiences on policies concerning
the management of international migration;
5. Requests the Chairperson of the Administrative Committee on
Coordination Task Force on Basic Social Services for All to make every effort
to raise the necessary extrabudgetary resources to prepare and hold the
technical symposium;
6. Also requests the Chairperson of the Administrative Committee on
Coordination Task Force on Basic Social Services for All to report to the
Commission on Population and Development at its 1998 session on the progress
made in the organization of the technical symposium, including the list of
invited experts and the provisional agenda;
7. Further requests the Chairperson of the Administrative Committee on
Coordination Task Force on Basic Social Services for All to disseminate the
results of the symposium to Member States and other relevant parties, and to
report back to the Commission on Population and Development at its 1999
session.
Resolution 1997/2. Reporting requirements to the Commission on
Population and Development*
(* For the discussion, see chap. III.)
The Commission on Population and Development,
Recalling General Assembly resolutions 50/206 A to F of 23 December 1995
and 51/211 A to E of 18 December 1996 on the control and limitation of
documents and the need for documents to be available in a timely manner in all
official languages,
Recalling decision 1995/1 of the Commission on Population and
Development, 13/
Having discussed the format and modalities for the report of the
Secretary-General on the activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations for the implementation of the Programme of Action of the
International Conference on Population and Development, 14/ as requested in
annex I to the report of the Commission on its twenty-eighth session, 15/
1. Requests the Secretariat, in view of the decision to streamline
reporting, to report to the Commission at its thirty-first session on a new
document structure and periodicity and revised reporting methodologies for
ensuring coverage of currently required reporting;
2. Notes that the very broad special theme for 1999 and the need for a
quinquennial review in the same year will require careful and thorough
planning to avoid excess documentation, and thus decides that the Secretariat
should provide specific and detailed proposals on how to handle this issue for
consideration by the Commission at its thirty-first session;
3. Requests that the material normally included in the report of the
Secretary-General on the activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations, to be presented to the Commission at its thirty-first session,
should be fully integrated into the reports on world population monitoring and
the monitoring of population programmes;
4. Reiterates its request, as put forth in annex I to the report of the
Commission on its twenty-eighth session, for a revised report of the
Secretary-General on the activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations in reproductive health, to be presented to the Commission at its
thirty-first session;
5. Decides that the report of the Secretary-General on the monitoring
of population programmes:
(a) Should be more analytic in focus and relate progress more
specifically to the goals and influence of the International Conference on
Population and Development;
(b) Must cover experience in all countries, place a high priority on
achieving a better response rate, and use innovative and collaborative
approaches;
(c) Needs to ensure coverage of the range of activities in the special
theme for the year;
6. Welcomes the initiative to improve the reporting on financial flows
through collaboration with the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic
Institute, and encourages exploration of opportunities to improve coverage and
quality of other reports through similar collaborative ventures, for example,
in monitoring non-governmental organizations;
7. Requests that the report of the Administrative Committee on
Coordination Task Force on Basic Social Services for All give greater emphasis
to outcomes, system-wide achievements and progress.
Resolution 1997/3. Work programme in the field of population*
(* For the discussion, see chap. IV.)
The Commission on Population and Development,
Recalling General Assembly resolutions 51/176 of 16 December 1996 on the
implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on
Population and Development, 16/ and 51/219, section I, of 18 December 1996,
on programme planning: the medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001, as well
as Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/2 of 17 July 1996 on follow-up
to the Conference and Commission resolution 1996/1 on the work programme in
the field of population, 17/
Taking note of the report of the inter-sessional meeting of the Bureau
of the Commission (Brussels, 28 and 29 June 1996), which was convened pursuant
to Commission resolution 1996/1 to review the work programme of the Population
Division of the United Nations Secretariat,
Taking note also of the progress on the work programme for the biennium
1996-1997 and further of the serious financial situation of the United Nations
Organization affecting the work programme of the Population Division,
1. Stresses, in the context of the reform of the United Nations system
and the restructuring and revitalization of the intergovernmental process, the
importance of continuing the basic work of the Population Division of the
United Nations Secretariat on the crucial underpinnings of population
estimates and projections; basic population trends and issues, including
fertility, mortality, migration, and patterns of rural and urban population
change; the evolution of population policies; and understanding of the links
between population and development;
2. Emphasizes that the Population Division's role as secretariat to the
Commission on Population and Development is an important one and constitutes
an essential part of the Division's work programme and requests the Population
Division to continue to give such servicing high priority in undertaking its
activities;
3. Takes note of the proposed programme of work for the biennium
1998-1999: population (Department for Economic and Social Information and
Policy Analysis of the United Nations Secretariat), as presented in a note by
the Secretary-General; 18/
4. Requests the Population Division, in collaboration with other
relevant actors, to build an improved assessment and analysis of international
migration as well as an improved understanding of international migration and
development;
5. Emphasizes the value of the Population Information Network (POPIN)
system to the international community, and encourages its further development
and effective utilization;
6. Also emphasizes the importance of the preparations being made by the
Population Division, in collaboration with the organizations and bodies of the
United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental and non-
governmental agencies, for the review and appraisal of the implementation of
the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and
Development, to be conducted by the Commission in 1999;
7. Underlines the need to further enhance the efficiency, effectiveness
and capacity of the Population Division in order to successfully implement the
above-mentioned preparations.
Chapter II
GENERAL DEBATE ON NATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN POPULATION MATTERS
4. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion
of item 3 of its agenda, entitled "General debate on national experience in
population matters", at the 3rd to 5th meetings, on 25 and 26 February 1997.
5. At the 3rd meeting, on 25 February, the Director of the Population
Division made a statement.
6. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of
Indonesia, Algeria, Malta, China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Mexico, India, the
Russian Federation, Singapore, Turkey, the United States of America, Panama,
El Salvador and the Republic of Korea.
7. At the 4th meeting, on 25 February, statements were made by the
representatives of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Egypt, Italy, Japan, Ukraine, Peru
and Jamaica and the observers for Poland and the Holy See.
8. At the 5th meeting, on 26 February, statements were made by the
representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Lesotho.
Chapter III
FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT: INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION
A. General discussion
9. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion
of item 4 of its agenda, entitled "Follow-up actions to the recommendations of
the International Conference on Population and Development: international
migration", at the 1st and 2nd meetings, on 24 February 1997. It had before
it the following documents:
(a) Concise report of the Secretary-General on world population
monitoring, 1997: international migration and development (E/CN.9/1997/2);
(b) Report of the Secretary-General on the monitoring of population
programmes (E/CN.9/1997/3);
(c) Report of the Administrative Committee on Coordination Task Force on
Basic Social Services for All (E/CN.9/1997/4);
(d) Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the area of
international migration (E/CN.9/1997/5);
(e) Report of the Secretary-General on the flows of financial resources
in international assistance for population (E/CN.9/1997/6).
10. At the 1st meeting, on 24 February, the Director of the Population
Division made an introductory statement.
11. At the same meeting, statements were made by the Assistant Director of
the Population Division, who introduced the concise report of the
Secretary-General on world population monitoring, 1997: international
migration and development (E/CN.9/1997/2), and by the Director of the
Technical and Evaluation Division of the United Nations Population Fund, who
introduced the report of the Secretary-General on the monitoring of population
programmes (E/CN.9/1997/3).
12. Also at the 1st meeting, statements were made by the representatives of
Turkey, Peru, the United States of America, Jamaica, the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Egypt, China, Nigeria, Turkey and Japan
and the observer for Norway. The representative of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization also made a statement.
13. At the 2nd meeting, on 24 February, statements were made by the Deputy
Director of the Technical and Evaluation Division of the United Nations
Population Fund, who introduced the report of the Administrative Committee on
Coordination Task Force on Basic Social Services for All (E/CN.9/1997/4); the
Assistant Director of the Population Division, who introduced the report of
the Secretary-General on the activities of intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations in the area of international migration
(E/CN.9/1997/5); and the representative of the Population Data, Policy and
Research Branch of the Technical and Evaluation Division of the United Nations
Population Fund, who introduced the report of the Secretary-General on the
flows of financial resources in international assistance for population
(E/CN.9/1997/6).
14. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the
Netherlands (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are
members of the European Union), Canada, Brazil, Peru, the Russian Federation,
Ukraine, the United States of America and Jamaica. The representative of the
International Organization for Migration also made a statement.
B. Action taken by the Commission
International migration and development
15. At the 7th meeting, on 28 February, the Vice-Chairman of the Commission,
Ms. Jenny Gierveld (Netherlands), introduced and orally revised a draft
resolution (E/CN.9/1997/L.4) entitled "International migration and
development", which had been submitted on the basis of informal consultations.
16. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as
orally revised (see chap. I, sect. A).
17. After the adoption of the draft resolution, a statement was made by the
representative of Malta.*
Technical symposium on international migration
18. At the 7th meeting, on 28 February, the Vice-Chairman of the Commission,
Ms. Jenny Gierveld (Netherlands), introduced and orally revised a draft
resolution (E/CN.9/1997/L.5) entitled "Technical symposium on international
migration", which had been submitted on the basis of informal consultations.
19. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution as
orally revised and amended during the discussion (see chap. I, sect. C,
resolution 1997/1).
20. Before the adoption of the draft resolution, statements were made by the
representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Syrian Arab Republic,*
Algeria, Hungary, Turkey, Tunisia, Indonesia, the Philippines and the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and by the Vice-Chairman of the
Commission (Netherlands).
21. After the adoption of the draft resolution, statements were made by the
representatives of Peru,* the United States of America,* Indonesia, Jamaica
and Malta.*
Reporting requirements to the Commission on Population and Development
22. At the 7th meeting, on 28 February, the Vice-Chairman of the Commission,
Ms. Jenny Gierveld (Netherlands), introduced a draft resolution
(E/CN.9/1997/L.6) entitled "Reporting requirements to the Commission on
Population and Development", which had been submitted on the basis of informal
consultations.
23. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution (see
chap. I, sect. C, resolution 1997/2).
24. After the adoption of the draft resolution, a statement was made by the
representative of Malta.*
----------
(* See annex III.)
Chapter IV
PROGRAMME QUESTIONS
A. General discussion
25. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion
of item 5 of its agenda, entitled "Programme questions", at the 5th and
6th meetings, on 26 February 1997. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the progress of work in the field
of population in 1996: Department for Economic and Social Information and
Policy Analysis of the United Nations Secretariat (E/CN.9/1997/7);
(b) Note by the Secretary-General on the proposed programme of work in
population for the biennium 1998-1999 (E/CN.9/1997/8);
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on world demographic trends
(E/CN.9/1997/9);
(d) Note by the Secretary-General on the proposed programme of work for
the biennium 1998-1999: population (Department for Economic and Social
Information and Policy Analysis of the United Nations Secretariat)
(E/CN.9/1997/CRP.1).
26. At the 5th meeting, on 26 February, the Director of the Population
Division made an introductory statement. Statements were also made by the
Chief of the Fertility and Family Planning Section, the Chief of the Mortality
and Migration Section, the representative of the Population Estimates and
Projections Section and the Chief of the Population Policy Section, all of the
Population Division.
27. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of
Germany, India, Malaysia, Italy, Hungary, Jamaica, the United States of
America, Nigeria, France, the Netherlands, the Philippines and the Syrian Arab
Republic. The representative of the Economic Commission for Europe also made
a statement.
28. At the 6th meeting, on 26 February, statements were made by the Chief of
the Population and Development Section of the Population Division, the
Assistant Director of the Population Division, the Director of the United
Nations Statistics Division and the Director of the Population Division.
29. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of
France, India, the United States of America, Hungary, Nigeria, Turkey,
Jamaica, Canada, Peru, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, and the Netherlands and the observer for Norway.
30. Also at the 6th meeting, statements were made by the representatives of
the Economic Commission for Africa, the Economic Commission for Europe, the
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia.
B. Action taken by the Commission
31. At the 7th meeting, on 28 February, the Vice-Chairman of the Commission,
Ms. Jenny Gierveld (Netherlands), introduced and orally revised a draft
resolution (E/CN.9/1997/L.7) entitled "Work programme in the field of
population", which had been submitted on the basis of informal consultations.
32. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as
orally revised (see chap. I, sect. C, resolution 1997/3).
33. Before the adoption of the draft resolution, statements were made by the
representatives of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
Egypt, Nigeria, the Philippines and Malaysia.
34. After the adoption of the draft resolution, statements were made by the
representatives of the United States of America,* Malta* and Peru.*
-----------
(* See annex III.)
Chapter V
PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE THIRTY-FIRST SESSION OF THE COMMISSION
35. At the 7th meeting, on 28 February 1997, the Commission had before it
the draft provisional agenda for its thirty-first session (E/CN.9/1997/L.3).
36. Statements were made by the representatives of Hungary, Panama, the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Netherlands (on
behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that were members of the
European Union), Tunisia, Indonesia, Nigeria, China and France.
37. At the 8th meeting, on 28 February, statements were made by the
representative of Panama and France.
38. At the same meeting, the Commission then approved the draft provisional
agenda for its thirty-first session as contained in document E/CN.9/1997/L.3
(see chap. I, sect. B, draft decision).
Chapter VI
ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
ON ITS THIRTIETH SESSION
39. At the 8th meeting, on 28 February, the Vice-Chairman-cum-Rapporteur
introduced the draft report of the Commission on its thirtieth session as
contained in document E/CN.9/1997/L.2.
40. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft report and
authorized the Rapporteur to finalize it in consultation with the Bureau by
incorporating therein the proceedings of the 7th and 8th meetings.
Chapter VII
ORGANIZATION OF THE SESSION
A. Opening and duration of the session
41. The Commission on Population and Development held its thirtieth session
at United Nations Headquarters from 24 to 28 February 1997. The Commission
held eight meetings (1st to 8th).
42. The session was opened by the Director of the Population Division of the
Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis of the
United Nations Secretariat.
43. Introductory statements were made by the Executive Director of the
United Nations Population Fund and the Director of the Population Division.
B. Attendance
44. The session was attended by 41 States members of the Commission.
Observers for other States Members of the United Nations and for one
non-member State also attended. Representatives of specialized agencies,
intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations also
attended. A list of participants is given in annex I to the present report.
C. Election of officers
45. At the 1st and 2nd meetings, on 24 February, the Commission elected the
following officers by acclamation:
Chairman: Jos‚ Gomez de Le¢n (Mexico)
Vice-Chairmen: Andr s Klinger (Hungary)
Jenny Gierveld (Netherlands)
Akintobi Kadejo (Nigeria)
Vice-Chairman-
cum-Rapporteur: Raj Abdul Karim (Malaysia)
D. Agenda
46. At the 1st meeting, on 24 February, the Commission adopted the
provisional agenda contained in document E/CN.9/1997/1. The agenda was as
follows:
1. Election of officers.
2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.
3. General debate on national experience in population matters.
4. Follow-up actions to the recommendations of the International
Conference on Population and Development: international migration.
5. Programme questions:
(a) Programme performance and implementation in 1996;
(b) Proposed programme of work for the biennium 1998-1999.
6. Provisional agenda for the thirty-first session of the Commission.
7. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its thirtieth session.
E. Documentation
47. The documents before the Commission at its thirtieth session are listed
in annex II to the present report.
F. Consultation with non-governmental organizations
48. In accordance with rule 76 of the rules of procedure of the functional
commissions of the Economic and Social Council, representatives of the
following non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the
Council made statements in connection with agenda item 4:
General: International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
Special: International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood
Centres
International Union for the Scientific Study of Population
G. Decisions taken by the Commission on organizational matters
Poverty eradication
49. At the 4th meeting, on 25 February, the Director of the Population
Division introduced a note by the Secretary-General (E/CN.9/1997/10) entitled
"Agreed conclusions 1996/1 adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its
1996 coordination segment on coordination of the United Nations system of
activities for poverty eradication".
50. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representative of the
United States of America and the observer for the Holy See.
51. At the 7th meeting, on 28 February, the Commission, acting upon the
proposal of the Chairman, decided to authorize the Secretariat to summarize
the comments made on the issue of poverty eradication and transmit them to the
Secretary-General for inclusion in his report on the issue to the Economic and
Social Council at its substantive session of 1997.
Inter-sessional Bureau meetings
52. At the 7th meeting, on 28 February, following statements by the
representatives of Hungary, Tunisia, the United States of America, and Nigeria
and the Director of the Population Division, the Commission, acting upon the
proposal of the Chairman, decided to authorize the Bureau to hold
inter-sessional meetings in preparation for its sessions on a yearly basis.
Notes
1/ Report of the International Conference on Population and Development,
Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No.
E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex.
2/ Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen,
6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I,
resolution 1, annex I.
3/ Ibid., annex II.
4/ Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing,
4-15 September 1995 (A/CONF.177/20 and Add.1), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II
5/ E/CN.9/1997/2.
6/ E/CN.9/1997/4.
7/ PROV/ST/ESA/STAT/SER.M/58/Rev.1.
8/ Report of the International Conference on Population and Development,
Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No.
E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex.
9/ Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen,
6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I,
resolution 1, annex I.
10/ Ibid., annex II.
11/ Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing,
4-15 September 1995 (A/CONF.177/20 and Add.1), chap. I, resolution 1, annex
II.
12/ E/CN.9/1997/4.
13/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995, Supplement
No. 7 (E/1995/27), chap. I, sect. B, decision 1995/1.
14/Report of the International Conference on Population and Development,
Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No.
E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex.
15/ Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995, Supplement
No. 7 (E/1995/27).
16/ Report of the International Conference on Population and Development,
Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No.
E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex.
17/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1996, Supplement
No. 5 (E/1996/25), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 1996/1.
18/ E/CN.9/1997/CRP.1.
Annex I
ATTENDANCE
Members*
(* Cameroon, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Venezuela were not
represented at the session.)
Algeria: Abdallah Baali, Rachida Benkhelil, Zineddine Birouk
Bangladesh: Muhammed Ali, Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, Muhammad Ali
Sorcar
Belgium: Alex Reyn, R. L. Cliquet, R. Schoenmaeckers, A. Petridis,
H. Brauwers
Brazil: Celso L. N. Amorim, Elza Berquo, Sergio Florˆncio,
Carmen L£cia Gillet Lam“naco, Eduardo Paes Saboia
Bulgaria: Raiko Raichev, Zvetolyub Basmajiev
Canada: Ross Hynes, Peter Lilius, Ruth Archibald, Sally Andrews,
Susan Howell, Drew McVey
China: Li Honggui, Zhao Zhipei, Qiu Shaofang, Hu Hongtao,
Bai Yongjie
Congo: Daniel Abibi, D‚sir‚ Nkounkou
C“te d'Ivoire: Youssoufou Bamba, Djenebou Kaba, Largaton G. Outtara
Egypt: Nabil Elaraby, Soliman Awaad, Adel M. Abdellatif,
Maha Kamal Hemida, Amany Fahmy
El Salvador: Ricardo G. Castaneda, Ana Hazel Escrich de Guill‚n,
Mar¡a Soledad Argueta, Carlos E. Garc¡a
Ethiopia: Mekonnen Manayazewal, Fesseha Asghedorn Tessema,
Daniel Tadesse Taye
France: G‚rard Moreau, Patrick Festy, Janie Letrot, Jacques
V‚ron, Annie de Calan, Jean-Marc Chataigner, Philippe
Delacroix
Germany: Gerhard Henze, Charlotte Hoehn, Wolfgang Runge,
Jutta Burghardt, Ingolf Dietrich, Reiner Schulz,
Andrea Kienle
Hungary: Andr s Klinger
India: Y. N. Chaturvedi, Pravin Chandra Visaria, Rajat Saha
Indonesia: Nugroho Wisnumurti, Prijono Tjiptoherijanto,
Mochamad S. Hidayat, S. Ari Wardhana
Iran (Islamic Bagher Asadi, Mohammad Asai-Ardakani,
Republic of): Mohammad-Reza Hadji Karim Djabbari
Italy: Francesco Paolo Fulci, Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata,
Antonio Golini, Giorgio Marrapodi
Jamaica: Easton Williams
Japan: Masaki Konishi, Makoto Ato, Hiroyasu Kobayashi,
Kunio Nakamura, Yutaka Yoshino
Kenya: B. A. Bullut, Adam Adawa
Lesotho: Percy M. Mangoaela, M. E. Rapolaki, M. F. Morojele,
L. W. Ralitsoele
Malaysia: Raj Abdul Karim, Aminah Abdul Rahman, Amran Mohamed Zin,
Siti Hajjar Adnin
Malta: Victor Seychell, Victor Pace, Joanna Darmanin,
Elaine Miller
Mexico: Jos‚ Gomez de Leon, Daniel Hernandez, Gerardo Lozano,
Norberto Terrazas, Jorge Cruz Rico, Rodolfo Tuiran
Gutierrez, Gustavo Mohar
Netherlands: N. H. Biegman, A. de Jong, A. Papineau Salm,
R. Weiffenbach-Steeghs, J. Gierveld
Nigeria: Chris Ugokwe, Akintobi Kadejo, Sam A. Otuyelo,
Ambrose D. Ojimba
Panama: Guillermo Castro Herrera
Peru: Fernando Guill‚n, Carlos Eduardo Arambur£, Miguel
Barreto, Ana Pe¤a Doig
Philippines: Felipe Mabilangan, Lourdes V. Ramiro-Lopez,
Ruth S. Limjuco, Libran N. Cabactulan, Aurora Perez,
Jimmy D. Blas, Glenn F. Corpin
Republic of Korea: Myung-Chul Hahm, Nam-Hoon Cho, Hye-ran Yoo
Russian Nikolai V. Chulkov, Boris S. Avramenko, Alexei A.Novikov,
Federation: Aleksandr A. Pankin, Nikolai P. Ovsyenko
Sudan: Hamid Ali Eltinay, Shahira Wahbi
Syrian Arab Mikhail Wehbe, Tammam Sulaiman, Hussam-edin A'Ala
Republic:
Tunisia: Abderrazak Azaiez
Turkey: Samira Yener, Murat Burhan, Burak ™zgergin
Ukraine: Valentina P. Tarnavska, Volodymyr M. Reshetnyak,
Oleksiy I. Goloubov
United Kingdom of John Weston, Stephen Gomersall, Peter Gooderham,
Great Britain and Ian Felton, Phillip Mason, John Hobcraft
Northern Ireland:
United States of Marguerite Rivera Houze, Margaret J. Pollack,
America: Judith Banister, Richard M. Cornelius, Leslie Lebl,
Paula Reed Lynch, Thomas M. McDevitt, Wendy McConnel
Zambia: Peter L. Kasanda, M. G. B. Chigaga, Alfred Sampule
States Members of the United Nations represented by observers
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland,
Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Ireland, Lao People's Democratic Republic,
Luxembourg, Nepal, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, United Republic of Tanzania
Non-member States represented by observers
Holy See, Switzerland
United Nations Secretariat
Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis
(Population Division and Statistics Division), Economic Commission for Africa,
Economic Commission for Europe, Economic Commission for Latin America and the
Caribbean, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Economic
and Social Commission for Western Asia
United Nations bodies
United Nations Population Fund
Specialized agencies
International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund
Intergovernmental organizations
European Community, International Organization for Migration
Non-governmental organizations
General consultative American Association of Retired Persons,
status: International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
Special consultative Commonwealth Medical Association, International
status: Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres,
International Union for the Scientific Study of
Population, Population Council
Annex II
LIST OF DOCUMENTS BEFORE THE COMMISSION AT ITS THIRTIETH SESSION
Document number Agenda item Title or description
E/CN.9/1997/1 2 Provisional agenda for the thirtieth
session of the Commission
E/CN.9/1997/2 4 Concise report of the Secretary-General
on world population monitoring, 1997:
international migration and development
E/CN.9/1997/3 4 Report of the Secretary-General on the
monitoring of population programmes
E/CN.9/1997/4 4 Report of the ACC Task Force on Basic
Social Services for All
E/CN.9/1997/5 4 Report of the Secretary-General on the
activities of intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations in the
area of international migration
E/CN.9/1997/6 4 Report of the Secretary-General on the
flows of financial resources in
international assistance for population
E/CN.9/1997/7 5 (a) Report of the Secretary-General on the
progress of work in the field of
population in 1996: Department for
Economic and Social Information and
Policy Analysis of the United Nations
Secretariat
E/CN.9/1997/8 5 (b) Note by the Secretary-General on the
proposed programme of work in
population for the biennium 1998-1999
E/CN.9/1997/9 5 Report of the Secretary-General on
world demographic trends
E/CN.9/1997/10 2 Note by the Secretary-General entitled
"Agreed conclusions 1996/1 adopted by
the Economic and Social Council at its
1996 coordination segment on
coordination of the United Nations
system of activities for poverty
eradication"
E/CN.9/1997/L.1 2 Organization of the work of the
session: note by the Secretariat
E/CN.9/1997/L.2 7 Draft report of the Commission on its
thirtieth session
E/CN.9/1997/L.3 6 Provisional agenda for the thirty-first
session of the Commission: note by the
Secretariat
E/CN.9/1997/L.4 4 Draft resolution entitled
"International migration and
development", submitted by the
Vice-Chairman of the Commission,
Ms. Jenny Gierveld (Netherlands), on
the basis of informal consultations
E/CN.9/1997/L.5 4 Draft resolution entitled "Technical
symposium on international migration",
submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the
Commission, Ms. Jenny Gierveld
(Netherlands), on the basis of informal
consultations
E/CN.9/1997/L.6 4 Draft resolution entitled "Reporting
requirements to the Commission on
Population and Development", submitted
by the Vice-Chairman of the Commission,
Ms. Jenny Gierveld (Netherlands), on
the basis of informal consultations
E/CN.9/1997/L.7 5 Draft resolution entitled "Work
programme in the field of population",
submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the
Commission, Ms. Jenny Gierveld
(Netherlands) on the basis of informal
consulations
E/CN.9/1997/CRP.1 5 (b) Note by the Secretary-General on the
proposed programme of work for the
biennium 1998-1999: population
(Department for Economic and Social
Information and Policy Analysis of the
United Nations Secretariat)
E/CN.9/1997/NGO/1 4 Statement submitted by the American
Association of Retired Persons (AARP),
a non-governmental organization in
general consultative status with the
Economic and Social Council
Annex III
STATEMENTS MADE FOR THE RECORD IN CONNECTION WITH THE
ADOPTION OF DRAFT RESOLUTIONS UNDER ITEMS 4 AND 5
Draft resolution E/CN.9/1997/L.5
The representative of the Syrian Arab Republic stated that, with regard
to the term "integration of migrants" which had appeared at the end of
operative paragraph 3 of draft resolution E/CN.9/1997/L.5 entitled "Technical
symposium on international migration", it should be noted that the concept
concerned was vague and general. The view of the matter held by the
representative's delegation was that a distinction should be made between
those who had migrated of their own free will and those forced to migrate
unwillingly, in other words, between migrants and refugees. The two groups
should be kept separate.
The representative of Peru welcomed the holding of a technical symposium
on migration. However, the draft resolution adopted by the Commission
(E/CN.9/1997/L.5) had not mentioned the proposal made by the expert from Peru
when the item was considered in the Commission. That proposal had referred to
the appropriateness of conducting preparatory activities at the regional and
subregional levels in order to promote the holding of the technical symposium
more effectively.
The representative of the United States of America, stated that his
delegation had expressed grave reservations over the decision to include in
the report to the Commission at its 1998 session on the progress made in
organizing the technical symposium a list of the invited experts. As with any
expert meeting convened under the authority of the Administrative Committee on
Coordination, his delegation was fully confident that the steering committee
for this symposium would select experts with the highest technical competency
in the areas to be discussed at the symposium. It was their understanding
that any list that was presented as part of the report would be for
informational purposes only.
Draft resolution E/CN.9/1997/L.7
The representative of the United States of America stated that his
delegation wished to express its understanding that the Population Division,
in organizing its work during the next 12 months, would take into account the
content of all the resolutions adopted by the Commission at its thirtieth
session, including the request of the Economic and Social Council, as put
forth in the draft resolution on international migration and development (see
chap. I, sect. A), whose adoption the Commission had recommended to the
Council, that the Population Division work with other concerned organizations
to help ensure that technical support was given to member Governments
interested in implementing the new recommendations on international migration
statistics.
The Peruvian delegation had joined in the consensus in respect of
adopting draft resolution E/CN.9/1997/L.7 on the work programme in the field
of population. However, it would have preferred that the draft resolution
reflect the need to strengthen the decentralized research, analysis and
information-dissemination capacities of United Nations agencies and other
international organizations at the regional and national levels. The Peruvian
delegation also supported the statement made by the representative of the
Netherlands on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that were
members of the European Union on improving the Commission's methods of work.
Draft resolutions E/CN.9/1997/L.4, L.5, L.6 and L.7
The representative of Malta stated that it was his delegation's
understanding that references to the Programme of Action of the International
Conference on Population and Development were consistent with the reservations
of Malta as contained in the report of the Conference.
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