3 December 1982

Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade for Women

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 31/133 of 16 December 1976, containing the criteria and arrangements for the management of the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade for Women,

Recalling also its resolution 36/129 of 14 December 1981,

Welcoming the contributions made by Member States and non-governmental organizations towards the implementation of the goals of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace,

Noting with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on the Fund,

1. Notes with satisfaction the decisions of the Consultative Committee on the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade for Women during its eleventh and twelfth sessions;

2. Considers that the Fund has a unique contribution to make in the technical assistance field to the implementation of the goals of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace;

3. Considers further that the evaluation of projects has an important role to play in enabling the Fund to fulfil its objectives;

4. Notes with satisfaction the continuing increase in the number of projects submitted to and financed by the Fund, and the catalytic role played by the Fund in promoting the adoption of innovative and experimental activities by Governments and other funds;

5. Notes the appointment of senior women's programme officers at regional commissions within regular budget resources available to them, and recognizes the valuable contribution that this is making to the work of the Fund and, through that, to the implementation of the goals of the Decade;

6. Urges the Executive Secretaries of the regional commissions to take further action to use available financial and personnel resources to strengthen their programmes for women;

7. Notes with concern that contributions to the Fund have not been sufficient to enable it to take up all the deserving projects submitted to it;

8. Considers that fund-raising and information activities have a vital role to play in maintaining and increasing the financial viability and effectiveness of the Fund;

9. Expresses its appreciation for the support which national committees for the Fund, national United Nations associations and other non-governmental organizations have given to the work of the Fund;

10. Expresses its appreciation also for the voluntary contributions to the Fund pledged by Member States, and its hope that the over-all level of such contributions will be maintained or increased;

11. Notes the view of the Consultative Committee for the Fund, as expressed in the report on its twelfth session, that there are still grounds for concern regarding administrative matters relating to the Fund, and its hope that specific and concrete measures will be taken by the Secretary-General on an urgent basis to ensure that these issues are studied and the necessary action taken;

12. Notes also the assurance given to the Consultative Committee that the Secretary-General would do everything possible to ensure that the Fund would be administered efficiently;

13. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To continue to report annually on the management of the Fund and on the progress of its activities;

(b) To continue to include the Fund on an annual basis as one of the programmes of the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities.