26 July 1989

35th plenary meeting

Work programme in the field of population

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 3344 (XXIX) and 3345 (XXIX) of 17 December 1974, concerning the recommendations of the United Nations World Population Conference, and 39/228 of 18 December 1984 on the International Conference on Population,

Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolutions 1981/28 of 6 May 1981 on the strengthening of actions concerned with the fulfilment of the World Population Plan of Action, 1985/3 on population structure, 1985/4 on the implications of the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and 1985/6 on the status and role of women and population, all of 28 May 1985, 1986/7 of 21 May 1986 on population questions and 1987/71 of 8 July 1987 on the work programme in the field of population,

Stressing the supportive role of the work programmes of the United Nations system in the field of population in the attainment of the goals and objectives of the international development strategy for the fourth United Nations development decade and in pursuit of economic co-operation,

Recalling the preamble, the section on peace, security and population, and the other sections of the recommendations for the further implementation of the World Population Plan of Action adopted by the International Conference on Population, at which it was reaffirmed that the principles and objectives of the World Population Plan of Action remained fully valid and that creating conditions for international peace and security was of great importance for the achievement of the goals of population policies and economic and social development and at which emphasis was placed on a number of issues in the field of population that should continue to be included in the work programme, as appropriate,

Reaffirming the important role of the Population Commission as the advisory body of the Economic and Social Council on population matters,

Taking note of the report of the Population Commission on its twenty-fifth session and the views expressed therein on the progress of work in the field of population and the proposed work programme,

1. Notes with satisfaction the progress made in implementing the work programme for the biennium 1988-1989 and the medium-term plan for the period 1984-1991 in the field of population;

2. Requests the Secretary-General, in formulating the medium-term plan for the period 1992-1997, to take into account, as appropriate, the views expressed at the twenty-fifth session of the Population Commission and the guidelines for the work programme of the United Nations Secretariat set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 below;

3. Also requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To continue to give high priority to the monitoring of world population trends and policies, including in-depth consideration of special topics;

(b) To continue work on the following:

(i) Studies on the interrelationships between population, resources, environment and development, with particular attention to studies to promote the integration of population factors into development planning;

(ii) Studies on the interrelationships between population and the status and role of women;

(iii) Comparative analysis of population policies;

(iv) Periodic revision of estimates and projections of population and its structure and of urbanization;

(v) Analysis of mortality, in particular infant and child mortality;

(vi) Studies on reproductive behaviour and on family planning and its demographic impact;

(vii) Studies on internal and international migration and on comparative patterns of urbanization and population distribution;

(viii) Dissemination of population information and further development of the Population Information Network (POPIN) at the regional and global levels;

(c) To start substantive preparatory work for the international meeting on population in 1994, as appropriate;

(d) To continue to work closely with Member States, other organizations of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as appropriate, in the implementation of programmes;

(e) To further improve communication and co-ordination between the Population Division of the United Nations Secretariat, the regional commissions and Governments, particularly in order to prepare the most accurate and widely accepted population estimates and projections possible, an activity in which the Population Division should play a leading role;

4. Further requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To continue and strengthen interdisciplinary technical co-operation activities in the field of population, including technical co-operation among developing countries, as appropriate, in the following areas:

(i) Training in demography and matters related to population and development, including courses to upgrade knowledge and skills, particularly in the use of microcomputer software;

(ii) Evaluation and analysis of basic population data, particularly from the 1990 round of population censuses, dissemination and utilization of the results, and use of computer technology, ensuring technical co-ordination at the national level in the process;

(iii) Formulation and implementation of population policies and programmes in the context of national development plans, with special attention to cultural and socio-economic conditions at the subnational level;

(b) To continue to evaluate and analyse experience with technical co-operation activities in the field of population and publish studies thereon;

(c) To prepare for the Population Commission at its twenty-sixth session a report on requirements for population specialists in national institutions and international organizations;

5. Re-emphasizes the importance of maintaining the scope, effectiveness and efficiency of the global population programme and of continuing to strengthen co-ordination and collaboration among the Department of International Economic and Social Affairs, the Department of Technical Co-operation for Development, the regional commissions, the United Nations Population Fund and other organizations of the United Nations system in the planning and execution of their population programmes, as well as the need for the organizations of the United Nations system to strengthen co-ordination and collaboration with Member States, other intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental and national organizations, as appropriate.