9 December 1981

Co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity

The General Assembly,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity,

Recalling its previous resolutions on the promotion of co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity and the practical measures taken for their implementation, in particular resolution 35/117 of 10 December 1980,

Taking note of the relevant resolutions, decisions and declarations adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session and by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of that organization at its eighteenth ordinary session, which were held at Nairobi from 15 to 27 June 1981,

Considering the important statement made by the current Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity before the General Assembly, on 24 September 1981, particularly on matters of concern to the two organizations,

Noting with satisfaction the continued co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity in areas of common interest,

Deeply conscious of the special needs of the newly independent African States, particularly with regard to the consolidation of their national independence, their endeavours towards social and economic betterment and the adverse impact on their economies of the current international economic situation,

Gravely concerned about the adverse effect on African economies of the current international economic situation,

Recalling in this connexion the Lagos Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Monrovia Strategy for the Economic Development of Africa, adopted at the second extraordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held at Lagos on 28 and 29 April 1980,

Recognizing the need for closer co-operation between the Organization of African Unity and all specialized organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system in realizing the goal and objectives set forth in the Lagos Plan of Action,

Convinced that the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa bears evidence to the fact that the Conference drew international public attention to the grave situation and massive needs of African refugees,

Gravely concerned also at the need for special economic and emergency assistance programmes for a number of African States which face serious economic problems, in particular, problems of displaced persons, resulting from natural or other disasters to enable them to pursue effective economic development,

Gravely concerned further at the deteriorating situation in southern Africa arising from the continued domination of the peoples of the area by the minority racist regime of South Africa and conscious of the need to provide increased assistance to the peoples of the region and to their liberation movements in their struggle against colonialism, racial discrimination and apartheid,

Conscious of its responsibilities to provide economic, material and humanitarian assistance to independent States in southern Africa to help them to cope with the situation caused by the acts of aggression committed against their territories by the apartheid regime of South Africa,

Recognizing the importance of taking effective steps to give the widest possible dissemination of information relating to the liberation struggle of the peoples of southern Africa,

Recognizing the need for continuous liaison, exchange of information at the secretariat level and technical co-operation on such matters as training and research between the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the meeting between representatives of the General Secretariat of the Organization of African Unity and the secretariats of the United Nations and other organizations within the United Nations system which was held at the Palais des Nations at Geneva from 13 to 16 April 1981,

Noting with satisfaction the useful decisions and proposals which emerged from the Geneva meeting for enhancing co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity and commends his efforts in strengthening such co-operation;

2. Notes with appreciation the increasing participation of the Organization of African Unity in the work of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and its constructive contribution to that work;

3. Commends the continued efforts of the Organization of African Unity to promote multilateral co-operation among African States and to find solutions to African problems of vital importance to the international community and note with satisfaction the increased collaboration of various United Nations agencies in support of those efforts;

4. Reiterates the determination of the United Nations, in co-operation with the Organization of African Unity, to intensify its efforts to eliminate colonialism, racial discrimination and apartheid in southern Africa;

5. Approves the decisions, recommendations, proposals and arrangements contained in the conclusions of the Geneva meeting of representatives of the General Secretariat of the Organization of African Unity and the secretariats of the United Nations and other organizations within the United Nations system;

6. Calls upon the competent organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to give urgent consideration to the various recommendations and proposals contained in the conclusions of the Geneva meeting with the objective of enhancing co-operation between the United Nations system and the Organization of African Unity;

7. Calls upon the competent organs, specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to ensure that their personnel and recruitment policies provide for the just and equitable representation of Africa at all levels at their respective headquarters and in their regional and field operations and give due consideration to the various suggestions and proposals in the relevant paragraphs of the conclusions and recommendations of the meeting;

8. Recommends that the pertinent organs and organizations of the United Nations system should take into account the various recommendations and proposals of the Geneva meeting in the fields of information, research and training;

9. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, to arrange for the next meeting between representatives of the General Secretariat of that organization and the secretariats of the United Nations and other organizations within the United Nations system to be held in Rome in April 1982, as called for in the conclusions of the Nairobi meeting;

10. Recognizes the importance of continued close association by the United Nations and the specialized agencies, where appropriate, with the efforts of the Organization of African Unity to promote social and economic development and to advance intra-African co-operation in this vital field;

11. Reaffirms the determination of the United Nations to work closely with the Organization of African Unity towards the establishment of the new international economic order in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and, in that regard, to take full account of the Lagos Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Monrovia Strategy for the Economic Development of Africa in the implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade;

12. Reiterates its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his efforts, on behalf of the international community, to organize and mobilize special economic assistance programmes for African States experiencing grave economic difficulties, in particular for newly independent African States and the front-line States, to help them to cope with the situation caused by the acts of aggression committed against their territories by the apartheid regime of South Africa;

13. Calls upon all Member States, regional and international organizations and organizations within the United Nations system to participate actively in the implementation of those special economic assistance programmes;

14. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Organization of African Unity informed periodically of the response of the international community to those programmes and to co-ordinate efforts with all similar programmes initiated by the Organization of African Unity;

15. Also requests the Secretary-General and the organizations within the United Nations system to ensure that adequate facilities continue to be made available for the provision of technical assistance to the General Secretariat of the Organization of African Unity as required;

16. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to strengthen co-operation at the political, economic, cultural and administrative levels between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, particularly with regard to the provision of assistance to the victims of colonialism and apartheid in southern Africa, and in this connexion draws once again the attention of the international community to the need to contribute to the Assistance Fund for the Struggle against Colonialism and Apartheid established by the Organization of African Unity;

17. Calls upon all Member States and organizations within the United Nations system to increase their assistance to the African States affected by serious economic problems, in particular problems of displaced persons, resulting from natural or other disasters by mobilizing special economic and emergency assistance programmes;

18. Calls upon all Member States and regional and international organizations, in particular those within the United Nations system, and non-governmental organizations to increase substantially their aid to refugees in Africa;

19. Requests the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and all th specialized agencies and other organizations within the United Nations system to give wider publicity to intensify the dissemination of information on social and economic development matters concerning Africa;

20. Calls upon United Nations bodies, in particular the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the Special Committee against Apartheid and the United Nations Council for Namibia, to continue to associate closely the Organization of African Unity with all their work concerning Africa;

21. Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations concerned within the United Nations system to continue and expand their co-operation with the Organization of African Unity and, through it, their assistance to the liberation movements recognized by that organization;

22. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and on the development of co-operation between the Organization of African Unity and the organizations concerned within the United Nations system.