ENB:03:08
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THURSDAY MORNING, 17 NOVEMBER 1994
ALGERIA: On behalf of the G-77 and China, Amb. Ramtane Lamamra said that the urgency of implementing the Cairo Programme of Action requires rapid mobilization of human and financial resources to carry out the actions agreed to by the international community. Given the enormous amount of work to be done, the developed countries must provide the resources they committed to in Chapters XIII and XIV of the Programme of Action to support the efforts of the developing countries. With regard to Conference follow-up, the G-77 and China are considering a draft resolution that reflects the provisions of Chapter XVI. The G-77 and China believe that efforts must be made system-wide to improve coordination among UN agencies and to harmonize procedures for the submission of reports to ECOSOC. The Secretariat should carry out a study on future institutional arrangements for this purpose.
GERMANY: On behalf of the European Union, Gerhard Walter Henze said that the Programme of Action redefines the global agenda for population from an emphasis on demography and population control to a focus on sustainable development. The EU is committed to making substantial increases in its contribution to population programmes. The EU believes that ECOSOC should act as the principal monitoring mechanism. The mandate and the functioning of the Population Commission should be reviewed and adjusted to respond to the broader scope and integrated approach of the Cairo Programme of Action. There should be greater cooperation between the UN Population Fund and the Population Division of the UN Secretariat. The EU does not, however, see the need to establish a separate Executive Board for UNFPA. The EU also stressed the importance of collaboration with NGOs and the need to seek an appropriate consolidated reporting system for the follow-up of all UN conferences in related fields.
EGYPT: The representative said that the success achieved in Cairo must be seen as the beginning of a movement towards implementation. There is both a need to maintain the momentum generated by the success of the Conference and to increase awareness on the Programme of Action. The Programmes of Action to be adopted in Copenhagen, Beijing and Istanbul must reflect what happened in Cairo. The Population Commission is the logical alternative to establishing a new follow-up mechanism, since it is a functional committee of ECOSOC and has followed up on the previous UN population conferences. The focus of the Commission should shift from demography to the relationship between population and development. Its membership should be increased from 27 to 53 and it should meet annually instead of bi-annually. Egypt support the establishment of a separate Executive Board for UNFPA.
INDONESIA: Amb. Nugroho Wisnumurti said that unlike the previous population conferences, the ICPD tackled the population question within the broad context of development. Indonesia is pleased that the Programme of Action highlights the sovereign right of each country to implement the recommendations of the Programme of Action consistent with national laws and development priorities. There is also a need to strengthen South-South cooperation and to encourage NGO and private sector involvement. Indonesia sees a significant need to strengthen both the Population Commission and UNFPA. The Commission"s mandate should be reviewed and strengthened. Likewise, UNFPA should have its own Executive Board and should be strengthened to increase its effectiveness as the operational arm of the UN in the field of population and development.
FINLAND: On behalf of the Nordic countries, Elizabeth Rehn, Minister of Equality Affairs, said that Cairo confirmed that population-related issues are an inherent part of the global agenda for sustainable development. The message of Cairo must be carried through the Social Summit, the Women"s Conference and HABITAT II. The main part of the implementation of the Programme of Action takes place at the local level and the dissemination of the ICPD Programme of Action is vital in this regard. At the international level, the UN, the international financial institutions, NGOs, the private sector and the research community have important roles to play. The responsibility for overall policy guidance and coordination on population and development issues belongs to ECOSOC. There does not seem to be justification for a separate Executive Board for UNFPA. She stressed the need for: greater inter-agency cooperation; a combined reporting and monitoring system for the follow-up of various conferences; and assurance of the effectiveness and predictability of financing for population and development activities.
CHINA: Amb. Wang Xuexian said that the national conditions of each country must be fully respected in implementing the Cairo Programme of Action. The implementation of the Programme calls for the efforts of the governments of all countries, as well as effective international cooperation. With this regard, no country should attach any conditions to its donations made in the field of population and development. The relevant agencies of the UN system should give top priority to the implementation of the Programme of Action. The Population Commission should examine the implementation of the Programme of Action on a regular basis.
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA: On behalf of the member States of CARICOM and Suriname, Amb. Lionel Hurst said that the key to achieving the sustainable population growth goals recommended in the Programme of Action rests with the participation of women in every aspect of development. This begins with the education of the girl-child. A significant challenge faced by these 13 low-lying coastal and small island developing States is the problem of out-migration and they are pleased that the Programme of Action addresses this issue. More attention should have been paid to the environment, and CARICOM and Suriname insist that the industrialized countries must cease and desist from harmful production, wasteful consumption and deadly disposal patterns. He supported the proposal to establish an expert group with participants from WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and UNDP to move the concept of reproductive health from the discussion stage to the implementation stage.
JAPAN: Amb. Shunji Maruyama said that Japan will extend its cooperation to developing countries in the amount of US$3 billion as part of its ODA programme for the period 1994-2000. With regard to follow-up, there is no need to establish a new intergovernmental body. UNFPA and the Population Division in the UN Secretariat should strengthen their cooperative relationship. The Population Division should assume responsibility for overall coordination while UNFPA should assume responsibility for implementing operational programmes. The General Assembly should request the Secretary-General to submit a report on the roles of UNFPA and Population Division and the resources required. The report could be examined at the next meeting of the Population Commission in February. A substantially reinforced Population Commission should be the major expert-level institution. It could be renamed the Commission on Population and Development. The new Commission should meet annually for one week and it should address several chapters of the Programme of Action at each meeting. The current membership of 27 member States should be maintained. Japan is not convinced that UNFPA needs its own Executive Board, however the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board should allocate more time to UNFPA"s operational activities.