16 November 1982

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 36/80 of 9 December 1981,

Taking note of the previous resolutions, decisions and declarations adopted by the Organization of African Unity on the promotion of co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity,

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 connection the Lagos Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Monrovia Strategy for the Economic Development of Africa, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its second extraordinary session, 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 goals and objectives set forth in the Lagos Plan of Action,

Deeply concerned at the gravity of the situation of refugees in Africa and their increasing needs for international assistance as well as at the heavy social and economic burden imposed on African countries of asylum,

Having considered the latest report of the Secretary-General on the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa,

Gravely concerned also at the need for special economic and emergency assistance programmes for a number of African States affected by 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 important role which the various information units and departments of the United Nations system can play in disseminating information to bring about a greater awareness of the social and economic problems and needs of African States and their regional and subregional institutions,

Aware of 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 of the United Nations system, held at Geneva from 6 to 8 April 1982,

Noting with satisfaction the useful decisions and proposals which emerged from the conclusions of 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 notes 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 of 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 to give due consideration to the various suggestions and proposals in the relevant paragraphs of the conclusions and recommendations of the Geneva Meeting;

8. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, to arrange the date, venue and agenda for the next meeting between representatives of the General Secretariat of that organization and the secretariats of the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system, taking into account suggestions made at the Geneva Meeting;

9. 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 that vital field;

10. 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;

11. 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;

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

13. 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;

14. Also requests the Secretary-General and the organizations of 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;

15. 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 ofcolonialism and apartheid in southern Africa, and in this connection 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;

16. Calls upon all Member States and organizations of 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;

17. Urges all Member States and regional and international organizations, in particular those of the United Nations system, and non-governmental organizations to continue their support of African refugee programmes and to provide material and economic assistance to help host countries to cope with the heavy burden imposed on their limited resources and weak infrastructures;

18. Requests the Secretary-General to draw the attention of specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to the need to give increasingly wide publicity to all matters relating to the social and economic development of Africa;

19. 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;

20. Urges the specialized agencies and the 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;

21. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth 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.