Demystifying General Assembly resolution A/RES/65/234

The resolution passed at the 65^th Session of the UN General Assembly, A/RES/65/234, spells out the process for the review of the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action leading up to the special session at its 69th session in 2014 and at the special session itself. There will be a sub-item on the agenda for the session on “Follow-up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development”, which will presumably be the topic for the special session.

The problem faced by many NGOs, who do not regularly attend meetings at the UN, is that the resolution is written in what might be called ‘UN language’ – something that is well understood between 42nd and 47th Streets on 1st Avenue in New York, but which can be a complete mystery elsewhere.

We are therefore going through A/RES/65/234 to assist NGOs in contributing to ICPD Beyond 2014…

There are first and foremost two fundamental principles that underline the whole process:

• The resolution extends beyond 2014 both the ICPD Programme of Action and its accompanying document the Key Actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action, as adopted at the 21st Special Session of the General Assembly; (Ref: A/RES/65/234, para 2)

Process leading up to the Special Session

Reviews of progress achieved

The resolution encourages Governments to carry out “reviews of the progress achieved and the constraints faced” at all levels in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action at both the national and regional levels. (Ref: A/RES/65/234, para 5)

NGOs and CSOs have an important role to play in motivating their Governments to undertake reviews of progress made and constraints encountered. Some Governments have carried out such reviews in the past for ICPD +5, ICPD@10 and ICPD at 15, but others have not contributed in this way. NGOs (and we are aware that some are already planning to do this) can also carry out their own reviews of progress made in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action and can produce their own reports or ‘shadow reports’.

Operational review

Resolution 65/234 also calls on the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in consultation with Governments and in cooperation with all relevant organizations of the UN system, other relevant international organizations and institutions and experts, to “undertake an operational review of the implementation of the Programme of Action”. It specifies that the review will be based on the “highest-quality data and analysis of the state of population and development” and that it will take into account the “need for a systematic, comprehensive and integrated approach to population and development issues.” It should be noted that this review is therefore on the implementation of the Programme for Action and not just on sexual and reproductive and reproductive rights.

The review will comprise a series of inter-related components including a Global Survey, country consultations, thematic reports, in-depth studies and expert group meetings. (For more information see ICPD Beyond 2014 Civil Society Stakeholder Group (Part 1))

Report on results of review

The results of the operational review will be included in a report to the submitted by the UN Secretary-General at the 47th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) in 2014. (Ref: A/RES/65/234, para 6) At this session of the CPD there will also be an interactive discussion on the “assessment of the status of the implementation” of the ICPD Programme of Action. (Ref: A/RES/65/234, para 3)

Following the CPD, the Secretary-General, supported by UNFPA, UN agencies and other parts of the system, will compile a report that will be forwarded to the 69th Session of the General Assembly. The report will include relevant issues identified during the CPD sessions along with the findings of the operational review. In addition, an index report will be prepared that shows recurrent themes and key elements in the full report.

What is an ‘index report’?

An index report is a document that has sometimes been compiled by the UN Secretary-General in connection with a major meeting. In addition to introducing the topic under discussion it can list both themes that are identified as occurring more frequently and key issues that are discussed more fully in the longer, more formal report. It serves as a pointer for priority concerns elaborated elsewhere.

Involvement of the General Assembly in the preparations for the Special Session

According to Resolution 65/234 the UN Secretary-General will report on preparations for the special session to the 68th session of the General Assembly in 2013. 

What about NGO participation?

NGOs in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) can participate as observers in the CPD. They do not have automatic observer status with the UN General Assembly. Resolution 65/234 clearly recognizes the importance of the participation of civil society actors, particularly NGOs, in the special session, as well as in its preparation. NGO participation in the special session will probably require an ‘enabling resolution’ from an earlier session of the General Assembly (most likely the 68th session) which will allow NGOs in consultative status and other interested NGOs to participate in the special session as observers and could allow them to submit reports on their own perspectives. The resolution stresses “the need for effective participation and contribution of relevant actors of civil society, particularly non-governmental organizations, as appropriate, in the special session, as well as its preparation.” (Ref: A/RES/65/234, para 9)

Written by: Marianne Haslegrave & Stan Bernstein