Draft resolution on Ad Hoc Committee adopted unanimously
On Friday, 22 November 2002, the Third Committee of the General Assembly considered the report of the first session of the Ad Hoc Committee and adopted the draft resolution, contained therein, on its future work, which included a decision to hold the second session of the Ad Hoc Committee from 16-27 June 2003 at United Nations Headquarters (New York).
There was a delay in the consideration of the report and its draft resolution, since questions were raised about whether there were financial implications that were not evident at the time of first session of the Ad Hoc Committee, last August. The matter was reviewed by the Budget Division this past week, which prepared a statement of "programme budget implications" for consideration of delegates.
The issues raised in the "statement of programme budget implications" on the Ad Hoc Committee resolution will be considered by the Fifth Committee (Finance and Budget) of the current General Assembly.
The resolution adopted by the Third Committee will then be presented for adoption at a plenary session of the General Assembly in the "report" of the Third Committee on the agenda item.
Below is an extract of the UN Press Release on the 58th meeting of the Third Committee (22/11/2002); this is not an official document.
United Nations Press Release GA/SHC/3730 - 22/1/2002
Fifty-seventh General Assembly / Third Committee
58th Meeting (22 November 2002)
Summary
By a resolution approved this afternoon unanimously by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Cultural), the General Assembly would decide that the Ad Hoc Committee considering a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities would hold its second meeting, within existing resources, from 16-27 June 2003, at United Nations Headquarters.
The text would also have the Assembly decide to establish a voluntary fund to support the participation on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and experts from developing countries, in particular for the least developed countries, in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, and invite governments, civil society and the private sector to contribute to that voluntary fund.
Background
The Committee... [had] before it the Secretary-General's note transmitting the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities (document A/57/357). The report highlights the work undertaken by the Ad Hoc Committee at its first meeting, held from 29 July to 9 August at Headquarters. It details the agenda and organization of work of the meeting and lists the Committee's officers and documentation.
Also included in the report is a draft resolution on the Ad Hoc Committee on a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, recommended for adoption by the Assembly. That draft would have the Assembly decide that the Ad Hoc Committee should hold, within existing resources, at least one meeting in 2003 of a duration of ten working days, prior to the Assembly's fifty-eighth session.
Action taken
The Committee had before it a draft resolution on the Ad Hoc Committee to consider proposals on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities(document A/57/357).
The Secretary of the Committee read out the programme budget implications, which stated that if the text is approved, the second session of the Ad Hoc Committee would be held from 16-27 June 2003, and expenditures of $90,000 would be required, which would be absorbed to the extent possible. Should that not prove possible, the necessary funds would be sought in the context of the second performance report of the Assembly's fifty-eighth session. The Assembly was further requested to clarify the conditions and modalities of the support to be provided to participants from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and experts from developing countries.
The representative of Ecuador [Ambasador Luis Gallegos, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee] elaborated on the work of the Ad Hoc Committee and future activities.
The representative of the United States said his Government supported the resolution; however, it was deeply disappointed with the Secretariat for receiving the programme budget implication so late. He hoped that any cost would be absorbed by the regular budget and would be dealt with in the Fifth Committee.
The representative of Japan said he supported the substance of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee, but fully shared the opinion of the United States delegation. On several occasions, budgetary implications had only been received on the day of action. It was hoped this would not be repeated next year.
The representative of Canada joined its voice to the statements just delivered. It was strange that a document that had been adopted during the summer with no financial implications now had totally different implications.
The United Kingdom also echoed the disappointment of other delegations concerning the tardiness of the programme budget implications.
The Committee then adopted the draft resolution without a vote.
|
