Transfer to the United Nations of the advisory social welfare functions of UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration)

I. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
58. Transfer to the United Nations of the advisory social welfare functions of UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration)

Whereas Article 66 of the Charter of United Nations provides:

1. The Economic and Social Council shall perform such functions as fall within its competence in connection with the carrying out of the recommendations of the General Assembly.

2. It may, with the approval of the General Assembly, perform services at the request of Members of the United Nations and at the request of specialized agencies.

3. It shall perform such other functions as are specified elsewhere in the present Charter or as may be assigned to it by the General Assembly;

Whereas the Economic and Social Council, on 1 October 1946, recommended the transfer to the United Nations of certain urgent and important advisory functions in the field of social welfare carried on by UNRRA, special consideration being given to the needs of children;

Whereas the General Assembly, after examining the report and the recommendations presented by the Secretary-General in document A/132, recognizes the necessity of transferring to the United Nations the urgent and important advisory functions in the field of social welfare carried on by UNRRA;

The General Assembly, therefore,

A. Authorizes the Secretary-General:

1. In consultation with the Economic and Social Council, to make provision, with the co-operation of the specialized agencies where appropriate, for the continuance of the urgent and important advisory functions in the field of social welfare carried on by UNRRA; and, for this purpose,

2. to include in the budget of the United Nations for 1947 the funds necessary for the assumption of the following functions, all of which are necessary for the accomplishment of an effective programme:

(a) For a requisite number of social welfare experts to provide, on the request of Governments which show the need for them, such advisory services, and to put into practice, over an appropriate period, new technical methods in any branch of social welfare;

(b) For enabling a requisite number of suitably qualified social welfare officials to observe, and familiarize themselves with, the experience of other countries administering social welfare programmes;

(c) For providing advice, demonstration and instruction in connection with the manufacture of prosthetic appliances and the vocational training of physically handicapped persons; and for furnishing the necessary demonstration equipment and tools;

(d) For furnishing to the Member countries which have been devastated during the war, technical publications helpful in the training of social welfare workers.

The furnishing of the experts shall be undertaken by the Secretary-General in agreement with the Governments concerned, and the selection of grant-holders shall be made by the Secretary-General on the basis of proposals received from Governments. The amount of service to be furnished to the various Governments shall be decided by the Secretary-General, and shall be reviewed by the Social Commission at its next session. The kind of service mentioned under (a), (b), (c) and (d) to be rendered to each country shall be decided by the Government concerned.

B. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Social Commission on the measures which he takes in compliance with the terms of the present resolution, and requests the Commission during its first session to formulate recommendations concerning the continued action required to carry on the essential advisory activities of UNRRA in the field of social welfare.

Sixty-fifth plenary meeting,
14 December 1946.