26 July 1991

32nd 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 General Assembly resolutions S-18/3 of 1 May 1990, containing the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, and 45/199 of 21 December 1990, containing the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade,

Recalling further 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, 1985/4 on the implications of the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and 1985/6 on the status and role of women and population, both of 28 May 1985, 1986/7 of 21 May 1986 on population questions, 1989/89 on the population situation in the least developed countries, 1989/90 on incorporating population factors in the international development strategy for the fourth United Nations development decade, 1989/91 on the convening of an international meeting on population in 1994, 1989/92 on strengthening actions concerned with the fulfilment of the World Population Plan of Action and 1989/94 on United Nations support for African countries in the field of population, all of 26 July 1989,

Stressing the relationship between population and development as stated in General Assembly resolution 45/216 of 21 December 1990, namely 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 set out in the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, and in the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade, and taking into consideration the specific needs of developing countries, as well as the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade and the pursuit of goals of economic cooperation,

Recalling the report of the International Conference on Population, in which it was reaffirmed that the principles and objectives of the World Population Plan of Action remained fully valid,

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-sixth 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 1992-1993 and the medium-term plan for the period 1992-1997;

2. 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, and to the review and appraisal of the World Population Plan of Action;

(b) To continue work on the following:

(i) Studies on the interrelationships between population and development, giving particular attention to studies promoting the integration of population factors into development planning, including issues related to the environment, the role of women and the development of human resources;

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

(iii) Comparative analysis of population policies, including analysis of the results of the Seventh Population Inquiry among Governments;

(iv) Biennial revisions of estimates and projections of national, urban, rural and city populations, including demographic indicators and age structure;

(v) Analysis of mortality: adult mortality, including maternal mortality, as well as infant and child mortality;

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

(vii) Studies to measure and understand changes in population distribution, especially internal migration and urbanization in developing countries, and international migration;

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

(c) To coordinate substantive preparatory work for the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994;

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

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

3. Also requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To give high priority to strengthening multilateral technical cooperation programmes in the field of population, including the utilization of technical cooperation among developing countries, as necessary, 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 application of microcomputers for training and related research;

(ii) Evaluation and analysis of population data from population censuses and demographic surveys through utilization of national expertise, use of computer technology and dissemination and utilization of the results;

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

(iv) Integration of population variables in planning for sustainable development at the national, subnational and sectoral levels, including the use of demographic-economic models and related microcomputer software;

(v) Further development of training materials and quantitative methodologies for the identification and treatment of women's issues in population and development;

(b) To further strengthen multilateral technical cooperation in order to meet the urgent need to train an adequate number of population specialists over the next five years and to stimulate female enrolment in training courses;

(c) Subject to the availability of funds, to conduct a study of the needs of developing countries for skilled human resources in the population field and the measures required to meet those needs;

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