Literacy campaigns and the supply of food

XVIII. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE
1933. Literacy campaigns and the supply of food

The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its resolution 1496 (XV) of 27 October 1960 in which an appeal was made to Member States to take suitable measures to relieve the suffering of food-deficient people in other nations and assist them in their economic development and in their efforts towards a better life, and its resolution 1714 (XVI) of 19 December 1961 which approved the establishment of an experimental World Food Programme, Taking into consideration the valuable work of the United Nations Children's Fund on behalf of aid to children in the developing countries, Considering that the literacy campaigns in the developing countries are likely to be more successful if at the same time the food deficiencies frequently existing among their people are remedied, particularly among the school-age population, Noting that the majority of the developing countries show a deficiency of food consumption and that such a situation has an adverse effect on the people, particularly on the school-age population, as well as on the labour force, Noting further that absenteeism among school children is closely associated with the need for school children to work, mainly in rural areas, in order to supplement the family income or to produce needed food, Emphasizing that illiteracy among the working population constitutes a serious obstacle to vocational and technical training and, consequently, to economic and social development,

1. Invites Member States to make full use of the available international assistance, including that provided under the World Food Programme, on behalf of literacy campaigns for the school-age population as well as for adults of both sexes;

2. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, jointly and in consultation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, to include in the studies to be made pursuant to paragraph 2 of General Assembly resolution 1714 (XVI), section II, the question of supplying food in connexion with literacy projects, including the free distribution of food to the school-age population, and, where feasible, in connexion with broader community development or adult literacy projects;

3. Further invites Member States to examine the feasibility of including this type of co-operation in any bilateral or regional agreements made by them concerning economic and educational development.

1276th plenary meeting
11 December 1963.