S WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
嫩 ORGANISATION M O N D I A L E D E LA SANTE
EXECUTIVE BOARD Eighty-first Session
Provisional agenda item 28.1
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EB81/35 ^ев АЬЪ, 30 November 1987
COLLABORATION W I T H I N THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM - GENERAL MATTERS Report b y the Director-General
This report informs the Board of selected matters involving collaboration within the United Nations system during 1 9 8 7 . As decided in resolution
E B 5 9 . R 8 , it only deals with those issues w h i c h specifically require reporting to or immediate action by the B o a r d , it being understood that a m o r e
comprehensive report on collaboration within the United Nations system w i l l be made to the Forty-first World Health Assembly in May 1988.
This report therefore concentrates on; developments related to the second report of the WHO Management G r o u p , known as "WHOPAX", on the effects of
nuclear war on health and health services; conventions concerning nuclear accidents; radiation security and safety; important actions taken to ensure international collaboration in the prevention and control of AIDS directed and coordinated by WHO within the framework of the global strategy to combat AIDS;
and WHO's contribution to the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless.
The report also provides information on WHO's catalytic support for technical cooperation among developing countries in response to resolution WHA38.23.
Action of special relevance to WHO's w o r k taken by the forty-second session of the United Nations General A s s e m b l y , d u e to end in November 1 9 8 7 , and not yet included in this d o c u m e n t , w i l l be reported in an a d d e n d u m .
CONTENTS
Page
I . Effects of nuclear war on health and health services 2 II. International collaboration for radiation protection 2 III. International collaboration in the prevention and control of AIDS 2
IV. International Year of Shelter for the Homeless (1987) 4 V . Collaboration w i t h specific United Nations bodies and organizations of the
United Nations system 4 V I . Technical cooperation among developing countries 5
EB81/35 Add.l Page 2
I . E F F E C T S O F N U C L E A R W A R O N H E A L T H A N D H E A L T H S E R V I C E S
1 . A s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t of WHO'S c o n t r i b u t i o n to the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Y e a r of P e a c e , 1 9 8 6 , w a s t h e a n a l y t i c a l w o r k d o n e ov铲r a t h r e e - y e a r period b y the W H O M a n a g e m e n t G r o u p - a c o m m i t t e e of s c i e n t i s t s k n o w n a s " W H O P A X " , s p e c i a l i z i n g in the e f f e c t s of n u c l e a r w a r o n h e a l t h and h e a l t h s e r v i c e s - s e l e c t e d by t h e D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l . The G r o u p ' s r e p o r t s u b m i t t e d to the F o r t i e t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y in 1 9 8 7 i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h r e s o l u t i o n W H A 3 6 . 2 8 , u p d a t e s the f i r s t r e p o r t p u b l i s h e d in 1 9 8 4 , and i n c l u d e s n e w s t u d i e s o n r a d i a t i o n m o r t a l i t y in n u c l e a r w a r , t h e i m m u n o l o g i c a l c o n s e q u e n c e s , the p o s s i b l e e f f e c t s on c l i m a t e and the e n v i r o n m e n t , i n c l u d i n g p r o b l e m s w i t h food s u p p l i e s and s t a r v a t i o n in the a f t e r m a t h , and the p s y c h o s o c i a l e f f e c t s of t h e n u c l e a r t h r e a t . A s r e q u e s t e d in r e s o l u t i o n W H A 4 0 . 2 4 , the r e p o r t is b e i n g published-'- in the W H O o f f i c i a l l a n g u a g e s for w i d e d i s t r i b u t i o n and t r a n s m i t t e d to the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l of the United N a t i o n s and to o t h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . I I . I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O L L A B O R A T I O N F O R R A D I A T I O N P R O T E C T I O N
C o n v e n t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g n u c l e a r a c c i d e n t s
2 . F o l l o w i n g the n u c l e a r p o w e r s t a t i o n a c c i d e n t a t C h e r n o b y l in A p r i l 1 9 8 6 , the G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l A t o m i c E n e r g y A g e n c y ( I A E A ) a d o p t e d t w o c o n v e n t i o n s , n a m e l y , t h e " C o n v e n t i o n on E a r l y N o t i f i c a t i o n of a N u c l e a r A c c i d e n t " , w h i c h e n t e r e d i n t o f o r c e o n 2 7 O c t o b e r 1 9 8 7 , and the " C o n v e n t i o n o n A s s i s t a n c e in t h e Case of a N u c l e a r A c c i d e n t o r R a d i o l o g i c a l E m e r g e n c y " , w h i c h b e c a m e e f f e c t i v e o n 26 F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 7 . W H O , a l o n g w i t h o t h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , is p e r m i t t e d to a c c e d e to t h e s e c o n v e n t i o n s . The i m p l i c a t i o n s o f W H O * s a c c e s s i o n a r e d e s c r i b e d in d o c u m e n t E B 8 1 / 3 6 w h i c h w i l l a l s o be d i s c u s s e d u n d e r this a g e n d a i t e m 2 8 . 1 .
R a d i a t i o n s e c u r i t y a n d s a f e t y
3 . A n i m p o r t a n t m e c h a n i s m f o r c o o r d i n a t i o n is the I n t e r - A g e n c y C o m m i t t e e f o r the
C o o r d i n a t e d P l a n n i n g and I m p l e m e n t a t i o n of R e s p o n s e to A c c i d e n t a l R e l e a s e s of R a d i o a c t i v e S u b s t a n c e s . T h e C o m m i t t e e , in w h i c h W H O is r e p r e s e n t e d , w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 6 a n d h a s b e e n v e r y a c t i v e , h o l d i n g m e e t i n g s in F e b r u a r y , A p r i l and S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 7 . In
a d d i t i o n , a w o r k i n g g r o u p w a s c o n v e n e d b e t w e e n the f i r s t and s e c o n d s e s s i o n s of the C o m m i t t e e to d r a w u p p l a n s f o r r a d i a t i o n m o n i t o r i n g and e m e r g e n c y r e s p o n s e . A s a r e s u l t of t h e
C o m m i t t e e fs w o r k , j o i n t or c l o s e l y c o o r d i n a t e d a c t i v i t i e s a r e c u r r e n t l y b e i n g d e v e l o p e d i n v o l v i n g I A E A , U N E P , F A O , E C E , W M O , the United N a t i o n s S c i e n t i f i c C o m m i t t e e o n the E f f e c t s of A t o m i c R a d i a t i o n ( Ü N S C E A R ) and W H O in e s t a b l i s h i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s f o r a rapid e x c h a n g e of i n f o r m a t i o n d u r i n g e m e r g e n c i e s , r a d i a t i o n m o n i t o r i n g d u r i n g n o r m a l and e m e r g e n c y c o n d i t i o n s , and f o r s u p p o r t to a c t i v i t i e s t h a t i n c l u d e i n t e r - l a b o r a t o r y c o m p a r i s o n , h a r m o n i z a t i o n of m e a s u r e m e n t m e t h o d s , t r a i n i n g , and o t h e r t y p e s of t e c h n i c a l c o o p e r a t i o n . The C o m m i t t e e h a s a l s o a d d r e s s e d i s s u e s c o n c e r n e d w i t h i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s , p r e p a r a t i o n of g u i d e s and p u b l i c i n f o r m a t i o n .
4 . C l o s e c o o p e r a t i o n h a s b e e n m a i n t a i n e d w i t h o t h e r a g e n c i e s in the d e v e l o p m e n t of the W H O g u i d e l i n e s f o r d e r i v e d i n t e r v e n t i o n l e v e l s , a s r e p o r t e d in d o c u m e n t E B 8 1 / 2 9 f o r d i s c u s s i o n u n d e r i t e m 22» An e x p e r t m e e t i n g t o f u r t h e r d e v e l o p n a t i o n a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l c a p a b i l i t i e s f o r m o n i t o r i n g r a d i o a c t i v i t y i n the e n v i r o n m e n t w a s j o i n t l y c o n v e n e d b y U N E P and W H O i n D e c e m b e r 1 9 8 7 . R e g u l a r c o n t a c t s w e r e m a i n t a i n e d w i t h Ü N S C E A R t h r o u g h W H O c o l l a b o r a t i n g c e n t r e s w h i c h provided i n f o r m a t i o n to U N S C E A R on r a d i o a c t i v i t y l e v e l s i n the e n v i r o n m e n t . W H O a l s o c o n t i n u e d to c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h I A E A i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of g u i d e l i n e s and s y s t e m s f o r r a d i a t i o n e m e r g e n c y p r e p a r e d n e s s . M o r e o v e r , W H O p a r t i c i p a t e d i n the U n i t e d N a t i o n s
C o n f e r e n c e f o r t h e P r o m o t i o n of I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o o p e r a t i o n in t h e P e a c e f u l U s e s of N u c l e a r E n e r g y and p r o v i d e d a r e p o r t o n t h e r o l e and a c t i v i t i e s of W H O i n t h i s a r e a .
I I I . I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O L L A B O R A T I O N IN T H E P R E V E N T I O N A N D C O N T R O L O F A I D S
5 . The i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y is d e m o n s t r a t i n g its w i l l i n g n e s s to c o l l a b o r a t e i n the
p r e v e n t i o n and c o n t r o l of A I D S . W H O * s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y to d i r e c t and c o o r d i n a t e i n t e r n a t i o n a l h e a l t h a c t i v i t i e s and its m a n d a t e to d e v e l o p and i m p l e m e n t the g l o b a l s t r a t e g y
1 "The E f f e c t s of N u c l e a r W a r o n H e a l t h and H e a l t h S e r v i c e s " , S e c o n d E d i t i o n , W H O , G e n e v a 1 9 8 7 •
EB81/35 Add.l Page 2 f o r A I D S p r e v e n t i o n and c o n t r o l is i n c r e a s i n g l y a c k n o w l e d g e d b y the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y . The need f o r a c o o r d i n a t e d a p p r o a c h , u n d e r the g l o b a l l e a d e r s h i p of W H O , e n d o r s e d by t h e F o r t i e t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y in 1987 i n r e s o l u t i o n W H A 4 0 . 2 6 , w a s r e c o g n i z e d b y t h e V e n i c e S u m m m i t of J u n e 1 9 8 7 , and b y t h e E c o n o m i c and S o c i a l C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s second r e g u l a r s e s s i o n in 1 9 8 7 . The C o u n c i l a d o p t e d r e s o l u t i o n E / 1 9 8 7 / 7 5 , e n t i t l e d " P r e v e n t i o n and c o n t r o l of A I D S " , w h i c h u r g e s a l l a p p r o p r i a t e o r g a n i z a t i o n s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m to w o r k in c l o s e c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h W H O in its d i r e c t i o n and c o o r d i n a t i o n of t h e u r g e n t f i g h t a g a i n s t A I D S . In O c t o b e r 1 9 8 7 t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a d o p t e d r e s o l u t i o n A / 4 2 . 8 i n w h i c h it c o n f i r m e d that W H O s h o u l d c o n t i n u e to d i r e c t and c o o r d i n a t e t h e u r g e n t g l o b a l b a t t l e a g a i n s t A I D S , c a l l e d u p o n a l l S t a t e s in a d d r e s s i n g the A I D S p r o b l e m to t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t t h e l e g i t i m a t e c o n c e r n s of o t h e r c o u n t r i e s and t h e e x i s t e n c e of i n t e r - S t a t e r e l a t i o n s , a n d
r e q u e s t e d t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l , i n v i e w of a l l a s p e c t s of the p r o b l e m , t o e n s u r e , in c l o s e c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h the D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l of W H O and t h r o u g h the a p p r o p r i a t e e x i s t i n g m e c h a n i s m s , a c o o r d i n a t e d r e s p o n s e by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m to the A I D S p a n d e m i c .
6. W i t h i n the f r a m e w o r k of the S p e c i a l P r o g r a m m e o n A I D S , W H O p r o v i d e s g l o b a l l e a d e r s h i p and e n s u r e s c o o p e r a t i o n a m o n g m u l t i l a t e r a l , b i l a t e r a l and n o n g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n d e v e l o p i n g and p r o m o t i n g a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n s e n s u s o n k e y i s s u e s w h i c h a r e of i n t e r e s t and r e l e v a n c e to the w o r k of m a n y o r g a n i z a t i o n s . The c r e a t i o n of a g l o b a l A I D S p r e v e n t i o n and c o n t r o l n e t w o r k , d e s i g n e d to e n s u r e c o l l a b o r a t i o n , i n f o r m a t i o n e x c h a n g e a n d f u l l a c c e s s b y a l l i n t e r e s t e d p a r t i e s to n e w d a t a , s t r a t e g i e s , m a t e r i a l s and t e c h n o l o g y , w i l l g r e a t l y a s s i s t the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y in i t s e f f o r t s to c o p e w i t h A I D S . The S p e c i a l P r o g r a m m e
t h e r e f o r e u n d e r t a k e s joint p r o g r a m m e s of c o o p e r a t i o n and seeks to a v o i d u n n e c e s s a r y
d u p l i c a t i o n of e f f o r t b y m o b i l i z i n g t h e s k i l l s and r e s o u r c e s of o t h e r a g e n c i e s in a n a g r e e d and a p p r o p r i a t e f a s h i o n . The S p e c i a l P r o g r a m m e p l a c e s i t s e l f a t the d i s p o s a l of o t h e r a g e n c i e s f o r w h a t e v e r s u p p o r t it c a n p r o v i d e to m a i n t a i n or e n h a n c e t h e c o h e r e n c e of c o o p e r a t i o n . 1
7 . C o n c r e t e e x a m p l e s of s u c h c o l l a b o r a t i o n i n c l u d e the f o l l o w i n g :
(1) The U N D P G o v e r n i n g C o u n c i l a d o p t e d a r e s o l u t i o n d u r i n g its t h i r t y - f o u r t h s e s s i o n
(26 M a y to 19 June 1 9 8 7 ) w h i c h n o t e d w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n the i n t e n t i o n of t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r to c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h W H O and o t h e r a g e n c i e s in the f i g h t a g a i n s t A I D S , a t the same t i m e n o t i n g t h a t c o n c r e t e p r o p o s a l s w o u l d b e s u b m i t t e d to the G o v e r n i n g C o u n c i l in F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 8 . The A d m i n i s t r a t o r b r o u g h t the S p e c i a l P r o g r a m m e on A I D S and the g l o b a l s t r a t e g y f o r c o n t r o l l i n g A I D S to the a t t e n t i o n of a l l UNDP R e s i d e n t R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s and i n f o r m e d t h e m of s t e p s t a k e n to p r e p a r e W H O / U N D P i n t e r r e g i o n a l and r e g i o n a l p r o g r a m m e s and to e n s u r e l i n k s a t the n a t i o n a l l e v e l . At the r e g i o n a l and g l o b a l l e v e l c l o s e c o l l a b o r a t i o n w a s a c h i e v e d in s u p p o r t and p l a n n i n g .
(2) W H O and U N E S C O c o l l a b o r a t e d in the p r o m o t i o n of A I D S e d u c a t i o n in s c h o o l s . A j o i n t U N E S C O / W H O m e e t i n g of e d u c a t i o n a l s p e c i a l i s t s w a s held in Paris f r o m 29 June to 1 J u l y 1 9 8 7 . The m e e t i n g f o r m u l a t e d a p l a n of a c t i o n of A I D S e d u c a t i o n in f o r m a l and i n f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n a l s e t t i n g s t h a t w a s p r e s e n t e d to the U N E S C O G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e held i n P a r i s in O c t o b e r a n d N o v e m b e r 1 9 8 7 . The D i r e c t o r of W H O1s S p e c i a l P r o g r a m m e a d d r e s s e d the G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e and E d u c a t i o n a l S e c t i o n in s u p p o r t of t h i s c o l l a b o r a t i o n o n 28 O c t o b e r 1 9 8 7 . W H O w i l l s u p p o r t U N E S C O ' s a c t i v i t y a s a n i n t e g r a l part of the g l o b a l A I D S p l a n .
(3) The W o r l d B a n k is c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h the S p e c i a l P r o g r a m m e in s t u d i e s on t h e e c o n o m i c and d e m o g r a p h i c impact of A I D S . P r e l i m i n a r y e s t i m a t e s w i l l be a v a i l a b l e in e a r l y 1 9 8 8 of b o t h the d i r e c t t r e a t m e n t - r e l a t e d c o s t s and the i n d i r e c t c o s t s of the y e a r s of s o c i a l and e c o n o m i c p r o d u c t i v i t y l o s t o w i n g to i n f e c t i o n w i t h the A I D S v i r u s .
(4) The W o r l d T o u r i s m O r g a n i z a t i o n ( W T O ) e n d o r s e d a b r o c h u r e p r e p a r e d by W H O e n t i t l e d ,
" A I D S , I n f o r m a t i o n for T r a v e l l e r s " w h i c h a l s o r e a s s u r e s t h e m t h a t c o n c e r n a b o u t A I D S s h o u l d n o t p r e v e n t t r a v e l to a n y part of the w o r l d . W T O is d i s t r i b u t i n g the b r o c h u r e t h r o u g h its o w n v a s t n e t w o r k and i n v i t e s t r a v e l a g e n c i e s , f o r e x a m p l e , to r e p r o d u c e it in t h e r e q u i r e d q u a n t i t i e s . O f f i c i a l t r a n s l a t i o n s e x i s t in E n g l i s h , F r e n c h and S p a n i s h .
1 See a l s o d o c u m e n t E B 8 1 / 2 4 .
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Page 2 (5) W H O and U N I C E F i s s u e d a j o i n t s t a t e m e n t on i m m u n i z a t i o n and A I D S , and a l s o i s s u e d
u p d a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n to f i e l d s t a f f c o n c e r n i n g the s t e r i l i z a t i o n of s y r i n g e s and n e e d l e s . The s t a t e m e n t r e i t e r a t e s t h a t a l l i n j e c t i o n s should be g i v e n w i t h a s t e r i l e s y r i n g e and a s t e r i l e needle. UNICEF participated in the consultation on HIV and routine childhood immunization, in the consultation on breast-feeding/breast milk and HIV infection and in national donor and o t h e r m e e t i n g s o n A I D S .
(6) U N F P A is c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h the S p e c i a l P r o g r a m m e in a s s e s s i n g the r o l e of f a m i l y p l a n n i n g and m a t e r n a l and c h i l d h e a l t h p r o g r a m m e s in A I D S p r e v e n t i o n and c o n t r o l a c t i v i t i e s . U N F P A p a r t i c i p a t e d in the c o n s u l t a t i o n o n c o n t r a c e p t i v e m e t h o d s and H I V i n f e c t i o n and the c o n s u l t a t i o n on b r e a s t - f e e d i n g / b r e a s t m i l k and H I V i n f e c t i o n . A j o i n t p o l i c y d o c u m e n t is c u r r e n t l y u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
(7) The I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o u r C o n f e r e n c e p a s s e d a r e s o l u t i o n o n A I D S at its s e v e n t y - f o u r t h ( M a r i t i m e ) s e s s i o n , held i n G e n e v a in S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 7 . The G o v e r n i n g B o a r d of ILO i s
requested to consider undertaking, in close collaboration with WHO, a study on the health p r o b l e m s of s e a f a r e r s . A I D S e d u c a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s w i l l be d i s c u s s e d a t t h e n e x t s e s s i o n of t h e j o i n t I L O / W H O C o m m i t t e e o n t h a t s u b j e c t .
I V . I N T E R N A T I O N A L Y E A R O F S H E L T E R F O R T H E H O M E L E S S ( 1 9 8 7 )
8 . T h e F o r t i e t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y a d o p t e d r e s o l u t i o n W H A 4 0 . 1 8 on the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Y e a r of S h e l t e r for the H o m e l e s s . The r e s o l u t i o n n o t e s the p o s i t i v e i n f l u e n c e that a d e q u a t e
s h e l t e r h a s o n the h e a l t h of t h e i n d i v i d u a l and u r g e s M e m b e r S t a t e s to p r o m o t e h u m a n h e a l t h t h r o u g h t h e i m p r o v e m e n t of l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s . It r e q u e s t s the r e g i o n a l c o m m i t t e e s to take t h e i n i t i a t i v e in s t u d y i n g i m p r o v e m e n t s i n h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n s t h a t r e s u l t f r o m a d e q u a t e h o u s i n g ; and r e q u e s t s t h e D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l to m a i n t a i n and s t r e n g t h e n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h r e l e v a n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s .
9. F o r e m o s t a m o n g W H O ' s c o n t r i b u t i o n s to the Y e a r w a s t h e c o n s u l t a t i o n oil " H o u s i n g : t h e I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r H e a l t h " held i n G e n e v a f r o m 9 to 15 June 1 9 8 7 . T h i s C o n s u l t a t i o n w a s a f o l l o w - u p to t h o s e a s p e c t s of t h e T e c h n i c a l D i s c u s s i o n s held d u r i n g the T h i r t y - n i n t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y i n 1 9 8 6 o n "The r o l e of i n t e r s e c t o r a l c o o p e r a t i o n i n n a t i o n a l s t r a t e g i e s for h e a l t h f o r a l l " w h i c h f o c u s e d o n the i s s u e s of h e a l t h and h a b i t a t . The C o n s u l t a t i o n
d e v e l o p e d 1 1 h e a l t h p r i n c i p l e s f o r h o u s i n g and s i x l i n e s of a c t i o n f o r i m m e d i a t e a t t e n t i o n o n t h e part of n a t i o n a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l h e a l t h a u t h o r i t i e s . P r i o r to t h i s , a w o r k s h o p w a s h e l d a t r e g i o n a l l e v e l i n M a d r a s , India ( S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 6 ) f o r the S o u t h - E a s t A s i a R e g i o n , and a s u b - r e g i o n a l s e m i n a r w a s held in S a l t a , A r g e n t i n a (November 1 9 8 6 ) , b o t h c o n c e n t r a t i n g on i s s u e s r e l a t e d to h e a l t h and h a b i t a t and n e w a p p r o a c h e s t o h e a l t h and h o u s i n g , c o n s i d e r i n g in p a r t i c u l a r w h a t c o u n t r i e s c a n d o n e x t to c o p e w i t h h e a l t h p r o b l e m s in s l u m s . The E u r o p e a n R e g i o n h a s b e e n g i v i n g s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n t o the h o u s i n g n e e d s of s u c h p o p u l a t i o n g r o u p s a s y o u n g p e o p l e , t h e e l d e r l y , m i g r a n t w o r k e r s , i l l e g a l m i g r a n t s , r e f u g e e s , g y p s i e s and n o m a d s . The r e c e n t l y e s t a b l i s h e d " H e a l t h y C i t i e s " p r o j e c t w i l l a l s o f o c u s o n i m p r o v e m e n t of s l u m s and s u b s t a n d a r d h o u s i n g and w i l l t a c k l e t h e p r o b l e m of h o m e l e s s n e s s in d e r e l i c t c i t y c e n t r e s . A s p e c i a l i s s u e of W o r l d H e a l t h m a g a z i n e a p p e a r e d i n J u l y 1987 o n t h e t h e m e " S h e l t e r and
H o u s i n g " •
V. COLLABORATION WITH SPECIFIC UNITED NATIONS BODIES AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THE UNITED N A T I O N S S Y S T E M
U n i t e d N a t i o n s E c o n o m i c and S o c i a l C o u n c i l
1 0 . The S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s and t h r o u g h h i m , t h e E c o n o m i c and S o c i a l Council, have been informed of WHO action of importance to the United Nations system,
i n c l u d i n g r e s o l u t i o n W H A 4 0 . 2 6 o n the g l o b a l s t r a t e g y f o r the p r e v e n t i o n and c o n t r o l of A I D S , and r e s o l u t i o n W H A 4 0 . 3 6 o n the f o r t i e t h a n n i v e r s a r y of W H O . The D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l a d d r e s s e d the second r e g u l a r s e s s i o n of t h e C o u n c i l i n 1 9 8 7 , o u t l i n i n g c l e a r l y the r o l e and f u n c t i o n of W H O a s the d i r e c t i n g and c o o r d i n a t i n g a u t h o r i t y o n i n t e r n a t i o n a l h e a l t h w o r k . He b r o u g h t the C o u n c i l u p to d a t e o n p r o g r e s s m a d e and t h e p r o s p e c t s for a c h i e v i n g t h e g o a l of h e a l t h f o r a l l b y t h e y e a r 2 0 0 0 . He a l s o i n f o r m e d t h e C o u n c i l a b o u t the g l o b a l c o o r d i n a t i n g a n d d i r e c t i n g r o l e of W H O in the f i g h t a g a i n s t A I D S . The C o u n c i l s u b s e q u e n t l y a d o p t e d t w o r e s o l u t i o n s , the o n e r e l a t e d to A I D S r e f e r r e d to a b o v e and a n o t h e r , e n t i t l e d " F o r t i e t h A n n i v e r s a r y of the W o r l d H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n , 1 9 8 8 " , w h i c h i n v i t e s the G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y of
EB81/35 Add.l Page 2 the United Nations to commemorate the a n n i v e r s a r y at its forty-third session in a m a n n e r befitting W H O ' s a c h i e v e m e n t s and future role in i n t e r n a t i o n a l h e a l t h . B o t h resolutions h a v e been transmitted to the General Assembly at its forty-second session for a p p r o p r i a t e a c t i o n . United Nations I n d u s t r i a l Development Organization
1 1 . Since its d e s i g n a t i o n as a specialized a g e n c y , cooperation w i t h UNIDO has been strengthened t h r o u g h h i g h - l e v e l policy d i s c u s s i o n s i n 1986 and 1987 to identify a r e a s of m u t u a l technical interest in the context of i n d u s t r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t , particularly v a c c i n e and d r u g p r o d u c t i o n . There is great scope for W H O / U N I D O c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h countries to i n c r e a s e and improve their productive c a p a c i t y . A better understanding of h o w countries m i g h t e f f e c t i v e l y use the specific expertise of the two o r g a n i z a t i o n s , in particular W H O1s
responsibility to ensure accepted standards and quality c o n t r o l , is being r e a c h e d . S e v e r a l joint ventures w i t h countries are being c o n s i d e r e d , for e x a m p l e , c o l l a b o r a t i o n in the
production of W H O ' s Basic R a d i o l o g i c a l System (BRS) X-ray m a c h i n e s for developing c o u n t r i e s . United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic R e c o v e r y and D e v e l o p m e n t , 1 9 8 6 - 1 9 9 0 1 2 . W H O has taken a c t i o n to comply w i t h resolution S-13/21 adopted by the Thirteenth S p e c i a l Session of the United Nations G e n e r a l Assembly devoted to A f r i c a , held in 1 9 8 6 , w h i c h
requests the United Nations system to support the Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development (UNPAAERD), 1 9 8 6 - 1 9 9 0 . A special effort is being m a d e to
rehabilitate h e a l t h services damaged in emergencies caused by d r o u g h t and f a m i n e . In the S u d a n , for e x a m p l e , the rehabilitation of d i s t r i c t health services is currently being u n d e r t a k e n .
1 3 . At the Special Session the e c o n o m i c aspects of the crisis w e r e e m p h a s i z e d . A c o n f e r e n c e on the human d i m e n s i o n w a s scheduled to take place in L i b r e v i l l e , G a b o n , in 1 9 8 7 . A n
important contribution to strengthening the social aspects w a s the a c t i o n taken by the Conference of M i n i s t e r s of Health organized b y the Organization of African Unity ( O A U ) in Cairo from 29 to 30 A p r i l 1 9 8 7 , to transmit the "Declaration on Health as a Foundation of Development" and a supporting resolution to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government during their twenty-third ordinary s e s s i o n , in M d i s A b a b a . The W H O R e g i o n a l Offices for Africa and the Eastern M e d i t e r r a n e a n contributed to the o r g a n i z a t i o n of the m e e t i n g and W H O prepared part of the d o c u m e n t a t i o n . B o t h the Declaration and the supporting r e s o l u t i o n w e r e adopted by the A s s e m b l y , thus ensuring the political commitment of the w h o l e African r e g i o n to the realization of health g o a l s for their p e o p l e . It is important to note that the Declaration stresses the importance of action for health at the d i s t r i c t or l o c a l level w i t h i n a decentralized intersectoral approach to d e v e l o p m e n t .
V I . TECHNICAL COOPERATION A M O N G D E V E L O P I N G COUNTRIES
1 4 . Since the United Nations Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries held in Buenos Aires in 1 9 7 8 , reporting to WHO governing bodies and the United Nations H i g h - l e v e l Committee o n the R e v i e w of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries h a s been done at regular i n t e r v a l s . A c c o r d i n g l y , the following i n f o r m a t i o n is provided i n response to resolution W H A 3 8 . 2 3 , w h i c h requests the D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l to report in
even-numbered y e a r s to the Executive Board and the Health Assembly on progress m a d e by W H O i n its catalytic and supportive role to stimulate t e c h n i c a l c o o p e r a t i o n among developing
countries ( T C D C ) .
1 5 . W h i l e m a i n t a i n i n g that TCDC m u s t originate w i t h i n developing c o u n t r i e s and be financed largely by t h e m , W H O has placed increasing importance on its c a t a l y t i c role in the promotion and support of TCDC and continues to facilitate this p r o c e s s . Gains h a v e been registered particularly in t r a i n i n g , through the provision of f e l l o w s h i p s , preparation of health
learning m a t e r i a l s and m a n u a l s , g r o u p t r a i n i n g , seminars and w o r k s h o p s and support to f o r m a l academic courses； in the strengthening of i n s t i t u t i o n s , networks and collaborating centres；
in research; in health information transfer; in pool procurement and g r o u p purchases of d r u g s and vaccines； and in the employment of consultants from one developing c o u n t r y in a n o t h e r .
1 6 . In October 1986 W H O re-^designated the Centre for Health C o o p e r a t i o n w i t h Non-Aligned and Developing C o u n t r i e s , in Zagreb ( Y u g o s l a v i a ) as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Health
EB81/35 Add.l
Page 2 D e v e l o p m e n t and T C D C for a f u r t h e r p e r i o d of t h r e e y e a r s w i t h m o r e c l e a r l y d e f i n e d t e r m s of
r e f e r e n c e . The C e n t r e had played a n i m p o r t a n t r o l e in d e v e l o p i n g t h e m e d i u m - t e r m p r o g r a m m e f o r T C D C f o r h e a l t h for a l l ( 1 9 8 4 - 1 9 8 9 ) , a d o p t e d in M a y 1 9 8 4 by t h e M e e t i n g of M i n i s t e r s of H e a l t h of the N o n - A l i g n e d and o t h e r D e v e l o p i n g C o u n t r i e s , d u r i n g t h e T h i r t y - e i g h t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y .
1 7 . T h e E i g h t h C o n f e r e n c e of H e a d s of S t a t e and G o v e r n m e n t of t h e N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s in H a r a r e , Z i m b a b w e , in S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 6 , w h i l e c o n s i d e r i n g the m e d i u m - t e r m p l a n c a l l e d u p o n c o u n t r i e s to u n d e r t a k e a p p r o p r i a t e and u r g e n t m e a s u r e s for its i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . In r e s p o n s e t h e m i n i s t e r s of h e a l t h of c o u n t r i e s m e m b e r s of the N o n - A l i g n e d M o v e m e n t , a t t h e i r m e e t i n g d u r i n g t h e F o r t i e t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y in 1 9 8 7 , d e c i d e d to c o n c e n t r a t e t h e i r e f f o r t s o n a f e w a r e a s s u c h a s l e a d e r s h i p d e v e l o p m e n t , p r o v i s i o n of e s s e n t i a l d r u g s , s u p p o r t to
d e v e l o p m e n t of d i s t r i c t h e a l t h s y s t e m s b a s e d o n p r i m a r y h e a l t h c a r e , and t r a i n i n g in h e a l t h f i n a n c i n g and m a n a g e m e n t . These p r o g r a m m e s w o u l d b e o r g a n i z e d a t the r e g i o n a l l e v e l i n s p e c i f i c i n s t i t u t i o n s in c o u n t r i e s w i l l i n g to p l a y a l e a d i n g r o l e . D e c i s i o n s w e r e t a k e n to s t r e a m l i n e m e c h a n i s m s f o r i n f o r m a t i o n e x c h a n g e , t o m o n i t o r p r o g r e s s and r e p o r t o n
a c h i e v e m e n t s or d i f f i c u l t i e s e n c o u n t e r e d i n i m p l e m e n t i n g p r o g r a m m e s . The m i n i s t e r i a l m e e t i n g r e q u e s t e d W H O to s u p p o r t t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s .
1 8 . A g l o b a l TCDC a c t i v i t y w h i c h h a s b e e n p a r t i c u l a r l y s u c c e s s f u l i s in t h e a r e a of d i a r r h o e a l d i s e a s e s c o n t r o l ( C D D )； 104 c o u n t r i e s , w h i c h i n c l u d e a n e s t i m a t e d 98% of t h e p o p u l a t i o n of the d e v e l o p i n g w o r l d , h a v e d e v e l o p e d sound plans of o p e r a t i o n f o r C D D p r o g r a m m e s . E x p e r i e n c e s i n t h e f i r s t p a r t i c i p a t i n g c o u n t r i e s p l a y e d a n i m p o r t a n t r o l e in d e v e l o p i n g m o r e r e c e n t p l a n s . S t a f f f r o m d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s a r e n o w t h e m a j o r i t y in m a n a g e m e n t p l a n n i n g . F o r t y - t w o d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s p r o d u c e o r a l r e h y d r a t i o n s a l t s ( O R S )
p a c k e t s . Of t h e s e , 10 c o u n t r i e s c a n be c o n s i d e r e d s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t , and t h r e e a r e e x p o r t i n g p a c k e t s to n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s . This is a m o d e l T C D C a c t i v i t y w h e r e n o t o n l y the
e x p e r i e n c e b u t the p r o d u c t s of d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s a r e b e i n g s h a r e d .
1 9 . F u r t h e r d e t a i l s , p a r t i c u l a r l y o n r e g i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e c o n t e x t of T C D C , w i l l be p r o v i d e d i n t h e B i e n n i a l R e p o r t of t h e D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l on the W o r k of W H O 1 9 8 6 - 1 9 8 7 . L e a d e r s h i p d e v e l o p m e n t t h r o u g h T C D C
2 0 . O n e of the p r i n c i p a l l i n e s of a c t i o n w i t h i n TCDC is l e a d e r s h i p d e v e l o p m e n t . The i n i t i a l m o v e to d e v e l o p c r i t i c a l m a s s e s of h e a l t h l e a d e r s w a s m a d e t h r o u g h t h e F i r s t and S e c o n d
I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o l l o q u i a o n TCDC f o r H e a l t h for A l l , in B r i o n i , Y u g o s l a v i a , i n O c t o b e r 1 9 8 4 and 1 9 8 5 . In M a r c h 1 9 8 6 the Third I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o l l o q u i u m w a s held i n C u b a , the F o u r t h w a s h e l d in T h a i l a n d in J u n e and J u l y 1 9 8 6 , and t h e F i f t h a g a i n in Y u g o s l a v i a in O c t o b e r 1 9 8 6 . W h i l e W H O p r o v i d e d b o t h t e c h n i c a l and f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t , the m a j o r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r o r g a n i z i n g and s e r v i c i n g the c o l l o q u i a and f o r p r o v i d i n g n a t i o n a l e x p e r t i s e w a s a s s u m e d by t h e h o s t c o u n t r i e s in the s p i r i t of T C D C . A f i r s t " I n t e r r e g i o n a l d i a l o g u e o n h e a l t h f o r a l l l e a d e r s h i p r e s o u r c e and s u p p o r t n e t w o r k " , c o - s p o n s o r e d by the G o v e r n m e n t of India and W H O , t o o k p l a c e i n N e w D e l h i i n J u l y and A u g u s t 1 9 8 6 , to i n i t i a t e the p r o c e s s of c r e a t i n g s u c h a n e t w o r k . The f i r s t I n t e r c o u n t r y C o l l o q u i u m f o r H e a l t h for A l l L e a d e r s h i p D e v e l o p m e n t w a s h e l d in T h a i l a n d i n J u l y 1 9 8 7 , and s p o n s o r e d b y the R e g i o n a l O f f i c e f o r t h e E a s t e r n
M e d i t e r r a n e a n . An i n t e r - c o u n t r y c o l l o q u i u m f o r P o r t u g u e s e - s p e a k i n g A f r i c a n c o u n t r i e s t o o k p l a c e i n M a p u t o in N o v e m b e r 1 9 8 7 , o n i n t e r s e c t o r a l a c t i o n f o r h e a l t h , t h e r o l e and
i n v o l v e m e n t of w o m e n in h e a l t h and d e v e l o p m e n t , and c o m m u n i t y p a r t i c i p a t i o n . The f i r s t n a t i o n a l c o l l o q u i u m o n l e a d e r s h i p f o r h e a l t h f o r a l l w a s c o n v e n e d i n C h i n a in N o v e m b e r 1 9 8 6 , o r g a n i z e d b y t h e C h i n e s e l e a d e r s w h o h a d p a r t i c i p a t e d i n the S e c o n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o l l o q u i u m in B r i o n i i n 1 9 8 5 , i n o r d e r to d i s c u s s the r e c e n t p o l i c y o r i e n t a t i o n s i n C h i n a and t h e i r i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r h e a l t h and h e a l t h s e r v i c e s .
2 1 . A l t o g e t h e r s o m e 2 5 0 p e o p l e f r o m h e a l t h and r e l a t e d s e c t o r s f r o m a b o u t 5 0 c o u n t r i e s p a r t i c i p a t e d in t h e s e and o t h e r c o l l o q u i a or d i a l o g u e s . The m a i n e m p h a s i s w a s o n
h e a l t h - f o r - a l l s t r a t e g y d e v e l o p m e n t in c o u n t r i e s and o n m e c h a n i s m s and s p e c i f i c a r e a s f o r T C D C . In T h a i l a n d , for e x a m p l e , p a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e a b l e to w i t n e s s t h e t r a n s f e r of t e c h n i c a l k n o w l e d g e f r o m o n e d e v e l o p i n g v i l l a g e to a n o t h e r . The s t r o n g d e m o n s t r a t i o n e f f e c t of i n i t i a l l e a d e r s h i p d e v e l o p m e n t h a s s e r v e d to s h i f t the e m p h a s i s f r o m i n t e r n a t i o n a l t o n a t i o n a l
e f f o r t s to b u i l d s e l f - r e l i a n c e t h r o u g h i n t e r c o u n t r y n e t w o r k s . W H O w i l l c o n t i n u e to a c t a s a c a t a l y s t and c h a n n e l t h e s e i n i t i a t i v e s , p r o v i d i n g t e c h n i c a l and f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t in the f o r m of s m a l l g r a n t s .
EB81/35 Add.l Page 2 2 2 . It is e v i d e n t t h a t the v a l u e of t e c h n i c a l c o o p e r a t i o n i n h e a l t h is i n c r e a s i n g l y
a p p r e c i a t e d a m o n g d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , c o u n t r i e s c o n t i n u e to e x p e r i e n c e d i f f i c u l t i e s in f i n a n c i n g T C D C . It a p p e a r s that the p r i n c i p l e of t o t a l T C D C is n o t f e a s i b l e
f o r m o s t d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s . The s a m e a p p l i e s in some c a s e s to the p r o v i s i o n of t e c h n i c a l e x p e r t i s e . In some r e g i o n s l a n g u a g e h a m p e r s c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n c o u n t r i e s so that T C D C h a s e i t h e r to be o r g a n i z e d w i t h c o m m u n i t y of l a n g u a g e as a m a j o r c r i t e r i o n or d e v e l o p e d in
l o n g - t e r m p r o g r a m m e s in o r d e r to o v e r c o m e t h i s b a r r i e r and i n c r e a s e t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s for p r o d u c t i v e e x c h a n g e . S o m e r e g i o n s e n c o u n t e r s p e c i f i c p r o b l e m s , s u c h a s p o l i t i c a l i n s t a b i l i t y w h i c h h i n d e r s T C D C ; s o m e c o u n t r i e s1 h i g h d e m a n d f o r c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h o t h e r c o u n t r i e s m a y b e d i f f i c u l t to f u l f i l； s o m e s t u d e n t s m a y riot m e e t the m i n i m u m r e q u i r e m e n t s for c e r t a i n k i n d s of t r a i n i n g o f f e r e d b y i n s t i t u t i o n s i n o t h e r d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s . In g e n e r a l , t h e f i r s t t w o y e a r s of a r e g i o n a l p r o j e c t m a y h a v e to b e d e v o t e d to i n s t i t u t i o n - b u i l d i n g and the TCDC c o m p o n e n t l e f t u n t i l l a t e r - a s i t u a t i o n w h i c h r e q u i r e s p a t i e n c e and p e r s e v e r a n c e . W H O ' s c a t a l y t i c r o l e w i l l c o n t i n u e to be i m p o r t a n t i n s u p p o r t i n g c o u n t r y and r e g i o n a l e f f o r t s to find a p p r o p r i a t e s o l u t i o n s to p r o b l e m s t h e y e n c o u n t e r in p l a n n i n g and i m p l e m e n t i n g T C D C .
EXECUTIVE BOARD Eighty-first Session
Provisional agenda item 28.1
ORGANISATION M O N D I A L E DE LA W O R L D H E A L T H ORGANIZATION
29 December 1987 EB81/35 Add.l
COLLABORATION WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM - GENERAL MATTERS
As indicated in document EB81/35 (the m a i n report on this agenda i t e m ) , the Director-General wishes to inform the Executive Board, through this a d d e n d u m , of action taken by the forty-second session of the United Nations General Assembly that is relevant to W H O . The information in this document updates the information provided on two matters in document E B 8 1 / 3 5 , namely: observation of the Fortieth Anniversary of WHO (section V , paragraph 10)； and the critical economic situation in Africa (section V , paragraphs 12-13). It further informs the Board of actions taken on the following important issues: operational activities for development； the environment;
women and development； and the international campaign against traffic in d r u g s .
Report by the Director-General
CONTENTS
Page Observation of the Fortieth Anniversary of WHO
II. The critical economic situation in Africa III. Operational activities for development IV. The environment
V . Women and development
V I . International campaign against traffic in drugs
EB81/35 Add.l
Page 2 I . O B S E R V A T I O N OF T H E F O R T I E T H A N N I V E R S A R Y OF W H O
1 . The U n i t e d N a t i o n s G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y , a f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g r e s o l u t i o n 1 9 8 7 / 7 6 e n t i t l e d
" F o r t i e t h A n n i v e r s a r y of the W o r l d H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n , 1 9 8 8 " , a d o p t e d by the E c o n o m i c and S o c i a l C o u n c i l o n 8 J u l y 1 9 8 7 , d e c i d e d b y its r e s o l u t i o n 4 2 / 1 6 8 to o b s e r v e the a n n i v e r s a r y at i t s f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n in a m a n n e r b e f i t t i n g W H O1 s a c h i e v e m e n t s and f u t u r e r o l e in
i n t e r n a t i o n a l h e a l t h . It a l s o e x p r e s s e d its a p p r e c i a t i o n for WHO'S i m p o r t a n t a c h i e v e m e n t s in f u l f i l l i n g its c o n s t i t u t i o n a l m a n d a t e t o d i r e c t and c o o r d i n a t e i n t e r n a t i o n a l h e a l t h w o r k . I I . T H E C R I T I C A L E C O N O M I C S I T U A T I O N IN A F R I C A
2 . The G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e v i e w e d the s t a t u s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s P r o g r a m m e of A c t i o n for A f r i c a n E c o n o m i c R e c o v e r y and D e v e l o p m e n t , 1 9 8 6 - 1 9 9 0 , and its g l o b a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for the c r i t i c a l e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n in A f r i c a . In r e s o l u t i o n 4 2 / 1 6 3 , the G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y d e c i d e d to e s t a b l i s h a n ad hoc c o m m i t t e e of the w h o l e of the G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a s the m o s t a p p r o p r i a t e m e c h a n i s m to p r e p a r e the r e v i e w and a p p r a i s a l of the United N a t i o n s P r o g r a m m e of A c t i o n . Tlie ad h o c C o m m i t t e e w i l l m e e t for 10 w o r k i n g d a y s iri S e p t e m b e r 1988 p r i o r to the G e n e r a l
A s s e m b l y ' s f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n . The r e s o l u t i o n r e q u e s t s the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l to e n s u r e the n e c e s s a r y p r e p a r a t i o n of t h i s m e e t i n g , in c l o s e c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h the c o n c e r n e d o r g a n s and o r g a n i z a t i o n s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m . D u r i n g the d e b a t e , d e l e g a t e s e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n
that the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y had n o t b e e n a b l e , so f a r , to p r o v i d e s u f f i c i e n t r e s o u r c e s to s u p p o r t and s u p p l e m e n t A f r i c a n e f f o r t s . The A s s e m b l y thus c a l l e d f o r e f f e c t i v e d e b t r e l i e f m e a s u r e s f o r A f r i c a n c o u n t r i e s , and for l a s t i n g s o l u t i o n s in the c o m m o d i t i e s a r e a , and e m p h a s i z e d the joint r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for f i n d i n g e f f e c t i v e and d u r a b l e s o l u t i o n s to the
e c o n o m i c , f i n a n c i a l and d e b t p r o b l e m s of the A f r i c a n c o u n t r i e s . I I I . O P E R A T I O N A L A C T I V I T I E S FOR D E V E L O P M E N T
3 . One of the i m p o r t a n t s u b j e c t s that w a s d e b a t e d at l e n g t h this y e a r , f i r s t in the E c o n o m i c and S o c i a l C o u n c i l and s u b s e q u e n t l y a t the G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y , w a s " O p e r a t i o n a l
a c t i v i t i e s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m " . C a s e s t u d i e s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t by s p e c i a l m i s s i o n s , in c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h g o v e r n m e n t s and t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s i d e n t c o o r d i n a t o r s in a few
s e l e c t e d c o u n t r i e s , to o b t a i n f i r s t - h a n d i n f o r m a t i o n r e l e v a n t to i s s u e s such a s : p r o g r a m m i n g a t c o u n t r y l e v e l ; o r g a n i z a t i o n of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m ' s o f f i c e s in the f i e l d ;
p r o c u r e m e n t and p r o j e c t e x e c u t i o n ; the r o l e of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s i d e n t c o o r d i n a t o r and U n i t e d N a t i o n s D e v e l o p m e n t P r o g r a m m e ( U N D P ) r e s i d e n t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ; the role and
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of g o v e r n m e n t s ; and the o b s t a c l e s and c h a l l e n g e s f a c e d by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m at the field l e v e l .
4 . A f t e r a f a r - r e a c h i n g d e b a t e in c o m m i t t e e , the U n i t e d N a t i o n s G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a d o p t e d r e s o l u t i o n 4 2 / 1 9 6 , w h i c h r e a f f i r m s c e r t a i n b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s r e l e v a n t to o p e r a t i o n a l
a c t i v i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g the f o l l o w i n g :
- o p e r a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m a r e u n d e r t a k e n a t the r e q u e s t of the d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s and are d e s i g n e d to r e s p o n d s o l e l y to the c o u n t r i e s1
d e v e l o p m e n t n e e d s and p r i o r i t i e s a s they d e t e r m i n e t h e m ;
- t h e E c o n o m i c and S o c i a l C o u n c i l h a s a c e n t r a l role a s a f o r u m for o v e r a l l p o l i c y g u i d a n c e and c o o r d i n a t i o n of the o p e r a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m ; - t h e r e is need for a s u b s t a n t i a l and r e a l i n c r e a s e in the f l o w of c o n c e s s i o n a l
r e s o u r c e s to e n s u r e the d e v e l o p m e n t p r o c e s s of d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s .
5 . The r e s o l u t i o n a l s o r e a f f i r m e d U N D P1 s c e n t r a l f u n d i n g and c o o r d i n a t i n g r o l e . F u r t h e r , the G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a f f i r m e d the p r i m a r y r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of e a c h d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r y for c o o r d i n a t i n g o p e r a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s at n a t i o n a l l e v e l and the c o m p l e m e n t a r y role of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m in r e i n f o r c i n g and s t r e n g t h e n i n g the c a p a b i l i t y of d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s to this e f f e c t . The r e s o l u t i o n s p e l l s o u t d e t a i l e d g u i d e l i n e s for c o u n t r y p r o g r a m m i n g , e n s u r i n g c o h e r e n c e of a c t i o n and e f f e c t i v e i n t e g r a t i o n of the v a r i o u s s e c t o r a l inputs of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m at the f i e l d l e v e l , e f f e c t i v e m e a s u r e s to i m p r o v e p r o c u r e m e n t and p r o j e c t e x e c u t i o n , and h a r m o n i z a t i o n of p r o c e d u r e s .
ЕВ31/35 Add.
ра $е 3 6 . ШО participated in the debate and underlined the crucial importance of a global policy framework as a basic requisite for facilitating formulation of national development
strategies. WHO also pointed out that efforts for coordination at national level should be based on collaborative work between agencies founded on complementarity of a c t i o n , w i t h national governments playing the key role in the process. Without such complementarity no amount of bureaucratic reorganization of the United Nations system's structure was going to make any significant impact. The success of WHO in promoting, fostering and strengthening national strategies for the realization of health for all by the year 2000 was cited as an example in this regard.
7 . In view of the General Assembly's specific request to the governing bodies of all agencies of the United Nations system to consider this subject in d e t a i l , and to transmit their views to the next session of the Economic arid Social Council, the Director-General will bring this matter to the attention of the Forty-first World Health Assembly.
IV. THE ENVIRONMENT
8 . A number of significant issues related to the environment in the context of development and international cooperation were discussed at the forty-second session of the General Assembly. These issues were dealt with in two reports, namely：
一 "The environmental perspective for the year 2000 and b e y o n d " , prepared by the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme; and
- t h e report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, entitled "Our common future", published in 1987 arid commonly known as the Brundtland Commission report.
9 . The World Commission on Environment and Development, in its review of the challenges related to population, food safety, e n e r g y , i n d u s t r y , and urbanization, highlighted many of the major problems and concerns related to economic and social development policies and programmes, which need to be conducive to sustainable development. The report confirmed the new perception that economic growth and preservation of the environment are imperatives - not options to be chosen or rejected - and that they are central and indivisibly linked elements in human г^е 11-being.
10. The General Assembly adopted two resolutions 一 42/186 ("The environmental perspective to the year 2000 and beyond") and 42/187 ("Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development") 一 which provide guidelines for development and long-term environmental activities by governments, United Nations agencies and organizations as well as others c o n c e r n e d . WHO has given due consideration to the resolutions and acknowledges the
invitation to report to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session (1989), through the Economic and Social Council, on progress made towards sustainable development.
1 1 . In response to these resolutions, steps have been taken to carry out a review of WHO's policies, programmes, budgets and activities aimed at contributing to sustainable
development. In view of the multidisciplinary nature of the review and of the need to encompass aspects of several WHO programmes, an ad hoc working group to be coordinated through the Promotion of Environmental Health Programme, has been established by the Director-General. The group will prepare appropriate suggestions and a draft report to be submitted to the eighty-third session of the Executive Board in January 1989 for
consideration and forwarding to the Forty-second World Health Assembly in May 1989 for a p p r o v a l .
12. The United Nations General Assembly also adopted resolution 42/183 on "Traffic in toxic and dangerous products and wastes". In this resolution the Assembly recognizes the useful role which the organizations of the United Nations system, including W H O , w i l l play in assisting in the prevention and control of the potentially harmful effects of traffic in toxic and dangerous products and wastes. The resolution requests the Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive report in collaboration with the appropriate United Nations bodies on this question for consideration at the General Assembly1 s forty-fourth session in 1989.
EB81/35 Add.l
Page 2 V, WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT
1 3 . A number of issues concerning the effective mobilization and integration of women in development were discussed by the General Assembly and several resolutions were a d o p t e d . The most important resolution deals with the MImplementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking
Strategies for the Advancement of Women" (resolution 42/62). This resolution "once again calls upon the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies to establish five-year targets at each level for the percentage of women in professional and decision-making positions, in accordance with the criteria established by the General Assembly, in particular that of equitable geographical
distribution, in order that a definite upward trend in the application of Assembly resolution 41/206 D of 11 December 1986 be registered in the number of professional and decision-making positions held by women by 1990 and to set additional targets every five y e a r s " . The resolution also "requests the Secretary-General to invite governments, organizations of the United Nations system, including the regional commissions and the specialized agencies, and intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, to report periodically, through the Commission on the Status of W o m e n , to the Economic and Social Council on the activities undertaken at all levels to implement the Forward-looking Strategies". The resolution also urges that particular attention be given to the situation of disabled women and that steps be taken to ensure their participation in each sector of society.
V I . INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST TRAFFIC IN DRUGS
14. The General Assembly discussed this subject with a number of documents before i t , including the report of the Secretary-General on the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Trafficking, V i e n n a , 17-26 June 1987； the report of the Secretary-General on the Draft Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Drugs and Psychotropic Substances; and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 41/127 on
"International campaign against traffic in d r u g s " .
15. The Assembly adopted three resolutions, on: (1) the preparation of a draft convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (42/111)； (2) the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (42/112)； and (3) the international campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking (42/113). These resolutions spell out in detail the various actions required against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. These actions include: the convening of a plenipotentiary conference in 1988 for the signing of a convention on illicit drugs and psychotropic substances; a call for governments and organizations of the United Nations system to formulate programmes based on the framework provided by the comprehensive, multidisciplinary outline for future actions on drug abuse control arising out of the international conference； and a request to governments of countries facing drug abuse to take the necessary measures to reduce significantly the illicit demand for drugs and psychotropic substances, with the aim of creating in society a deep respect for its own health, fitness and well-being through education. The General Assembly decided to observe 26 June of each year as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.