3 December 1982

United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace

The General Assembly,

Bearing in mind its resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974 containing the Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order, 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974 containing the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States, and 3362 (S-VII) of 16 September 1975 on development and international economic co-operation,

Recalling its resolutions 35/136 of 11 December 1980 and 36/126 of 14 December 1981, in which it endorsed the Programme of Action for the Second Half of the United Nations Decade for Women, as adopted at the World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women, held at Copenhagen in 1980,

Affirming the role of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat as the focal point for the organizations of the United Nations system with regard to the activities undertaken in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Half of the United Nations Decade for Women,

Recalling also its resolution 36/128 of 14 December 1981 on the establishment of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and Economic and Social Council resolution 1982/27 of 4 May 1982 concerning the programme and activities of the Institute,

Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade for Women, on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and on the activities and programmes of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women,

1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Half of the United Nations Decade for Women;

2. Welcomes the steps taken by Governments and by the organizations of the United Nations system, including the regional commissions, to achieve progress towards the effective realization of the objectives of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace;

3. Calls upon Governments, the organizations of the United Nations system, including the regional commissions, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to pay increased attention to the need to take practical measures to implement the relevant recommendations of the Programme of Action for the Second Half of the United Nations Decade for Women and, in particular, to expand technical co-operation activities which would ensure women's full and equal participation, as agents and as beneficiaries, in all sectors and at all levels of development;

4. Emphasizes the continuing role of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs as the focal point for the organizations of the United Nations system with regard to activities undertaken in implementation of the Programme of Action;

5. Notes with satisfaction the contribution made by the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade for Women to the implementation of the Programme of Action, mainly through innovative and experimental projects at the grass-roots level;

6. Notes with satisfaction the commencement of the work of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and invites it to continue contributing to the objectives of the Decade;

7. Notes with satisfaction that, as at 1 November 1982, forty-five Members States had ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;

8. Invites all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention;

9. Welcomes the commencement of the work of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which held its first meeting at Vienna from 18 to 22 October 1982;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session on the steps taken to implement the present resolution;

11. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at the same session on the status of the Convention;

12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-eighth session the item entitled "United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace".