<2/5> DRAFT TEXTS RELATING TO WOMEN AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS

[James Waldron]

people of the United States particularly in California, for the
loss of life and tremendous damage caused by the earthquake that
shook the San Francisco area on 17 October. He asked the United
States representative to extend to the Government and people the
sincere condolences of the Committee.

Mr. Ghezal also expressed the Committee's deep sympathy to the
Government and people of China following the series of
earthquakes yesterday that resulted in loss of life and great
destruction in the north of China.

WANG BAOLIU (China) said he was grateful to the Chairman for the
sympathy expressed to China and would transmit those sentiments
to his Government.

Draft Resolutions Introduced

HUSSEIN HANIFF (Malaysia), introducing the draft resolution on
the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States, said its
main thrust was to establish economic rights in developing
countries. Since that Charter had been adopted in 1974, the
economic situation of the developing countries had worsened, and
the implementation of the Charter could assist in restructuring
international economic relations.

KIRSTI WESTPHALEN (Finland), introducing the draft resolution on
the role of women in development, said it recognized that
economic and social developments in the 1980s, particularly in
developing countries, had not improved the situation of women.
The process should seek to increase the participation of women
in all areas of the economy. The economic role and potential of
women should be fully taken into account in the International
Development Strategy for the fourth United Nations Development
Decade. The 1989 Survey's fundamental conclusion of the lack of
progress made by women should be the basis for the international
conference envisaged by the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies.

Statements Made

PAUL LEMERLE (France), speaking on behalf of the 12 member States
of the European Community, said several resolutions adopted at
the summer session of the Economic and Social Council reflected
the desire of delegations to live in a world environment more
conducive to economic growth. It had stressed the importance of
the work leading up to the special session of the General
Assembly in 1990 and the preparation of the International
Development Strategy. The Council had dealt with environmental
questions, including drought and desertification. He hoped the
Committee would take decisions regarding the United Nations
Conference on Development and Environment.

On the question of emergency relief in the case of natural
disasters, he stressed the need to improve the co-ordination of
efforts within the United Nations system, in a field where
international co-operation was much needed.

Regarding the Council's resolution on the acquired immune
deficiency syndrome (AIDS), he said the problem required urgent
action, and the United Nations had a very important role to play
in it. Concerning revitalization of the Council and its
subsidiary bodies, he hoped the resolutions on that subject would
be implemented, and practical measures concerning the
documentation and work would not be neglected.

WANG BAOLIU (China) said there had been some improvement in the
general debate at the second regular session of the Economic and
Social Council, and it had been necessary to choose as its main
theme the structural imbalances of the world economy. Adequate
attention should have been paid to issues of regional
co-operation such as the African alternative framework for
structural adjustment.

The Economic and Social Council had considered the 1992
Conference on Environment and Development, he said, but the
delayed distribution of documents had forced it to postpone
action on that Conference until the present session of the
General Assembly. Concerning revitalization of the Council, he
said there had been some improvement in its work, but the delay
in documents had held up its work. Council resolution 1989/114
had set very clear time-limits for distribution of documents and
should be implemented in earnest. He hoped all members would
adopt a more realistic attitude towards the tasks of the Council
in 1990, including the establishment of a multi-year work
programme and the identification of major policy themes.

RADMILA PERKOVIC (Yugoslavia) reviewed the work of the Economic
and Social Council this year. She stressed that the general
discussion of international economic and social policy at the
summer session, which focused on structural changes and
imbalances in the world economy and their impact on
international economic co-operation, had been useful in
emphasizing the need for international economic co-operation in
the search for a solution to structural imbalances in the world
economy.

She stated that increased attention must be paid to the provision

* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)


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