24 May 1989

15th plenary meeting

Women and peace in Central America

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling that, in adopting the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace recognized that women should participate fully in all efforts to strengthen and maintain international peace and security and to promote international co-operation,

Recalling also that the World Conference also recognized that the violence and destabilization in Central America hindered the fulfilment of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies, essential for the advancement of women,

Noting the agreement on "Procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace in Central America", signed at the Esquipulas II summit meeting at Guatemala City, on 7 August 1987, by the Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and the subsequent meetings of the Presidents in 1988 and February 1989,

Recognizing the valuable contribution of the Contadora Group and its Support Group in the process of bringing peace to Central America,

Recognizing also the valuable efforts put forth by the Secretary-General and the international community to secure peace and development in Central America,

Convinced of the exceptional importance to the peoples of Central America, particularly the women, of achieving peace, reconciliation, development and social justice in the region, as well as the recognition of their economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights,

Considering that the General Assembly, in resolution 42/1 of 7 October 1987, requested the Secretary-General to promote a special plan of co-operation for Central America,

Desiring to encourage the active participation of women in the promotion of peace and development in Central America,

1. Expresses its satisfaction at the will to peace manifested by the Presidents of the Central American countries in their signing of the agreement on "Procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace in Central America" and at their efforts for the implementation thereof;

2. Again calls upon the Presidents of the Central American countries to continue their joint efforts to achieve peace in Central America, particularly the efforts to establish the Central American Parliament, in order to ensure conditions favourable for the attainment in the region of the objectives of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, and requests the international community to support those efforts;

3. Urges all States to support the peace efforts, fully respecting the principles of self-determination of peoples and non-intervention;

4. Further urges the international community to ensure that programmes of technical, economic and financial co-operation for the region take account of the particular needs and interests of women in Central America;

5. Recommends to the Secretary-General that the special plan of co-operation for Central America include specific activities supporting the advancement of women in the region;

6. Exhorts the Governments of the Central American countries and of the countries of the Contadora Group and its Support Group to encourage and ensure the full participation of women at all levels in the search for peace, pluralism, democracy and overall development in the Central American region;

7. Urges national and international, governmental and non-governmental women's organizations to participate in and support actively the processes of democratization, peace and development in Central America.