International Year of the Child.

31. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE*
169. International Year of the Child

The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on measures and modalities to ensure the adequate preparation, support and financing of an international year of the child,[1] Economic and Social Council decision 178 (LXI) of 5 August 1976 on an international year of the child and the additional report of the Secretary-General[2] prepared in the light of the discussions in the Economic and Social Council, Recognizing the fundamental importance in all countries, developing and industrialized, of programmes benefiting children not only for the well-being of the children but also as part of broader efforts to accelerate economic and social progress, Recalling in this connexion its resolutions 2626 (XXV) of 24 October 1970 containing the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade, 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974 containing the Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order and 3362 (S-VII) of 16 September 1975 on development and international economic co-operation, Deeply concerned that, in spite of all efforts, far too many children, especially in developing countries, are undernourished, are without access to adequate health services, are missing the basic educational preparation for their future and are deprived of the elementary amenities of life, Convinced that an international year of the child could serve to encourage all countries to review their programmes for the promotion of the well-being of children and to mobilize support for national and local action programmes according to each country's conditions, needs and priorities, Affirming that the concept of basic services for children is a vital component of social and economic development and that it should be supported and implemented by the co-operative efforts of the international and national communities, Bearing in mind that the year 1979 will be the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child[3] and could serve as an occasion to promote further its implementation, Aware that, for an international year of the child to be effective, adequate preparation and the widespread support of Governments, non-governmental organization and the public will be required, Believing that administrative costs for the international year should be kept to the minimum necessary, Taking note of the statement made by the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund before the Second Committee,[4]

1. Proclaims the year 1979 International Year of the Child;

2. Decides that the International Year of the Child should have the following general objectives:

(a) To provide a framework for advocacy on behalf of children and for enhancing the awareness of the special needs of children on the part of decision-makers and the public;

(b) To promote recognition of the fact that programmes for children should be an integral part of economic and social development plans with a view to achieving, in both the long term and the short term, sustained activities for the benefit of children at the national and international levels;

3. Urges Governments to expand their efforts at the national and community levels to provide lasting improvements in the well-being of their children, with special attention to those in the most vulnerable and particularly disadvantaged groups;

4. Calls upon the appropriate organs and organizations of the United Nations system to contribute to the preparation and implementation of the objectives of the International Year of the Child;

5. Designates the United Nations Children's Fund as the lead agency of the United Nations system responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the International Year of the Child, and the Executive Director of the Fund to be responsible for its co-ordination;

6. Invites non-governmental organizations and the public to participate actively in the International Year of the Child and to co-ordinate their programmes for the Year as fully as possible, especially at the national level;

7. Appeals to Governments to make contributions or pledges for the International Year of the Child through the United Nations Children's Fund to ensure the adequate financing of activities for the preparation and carrying out of the Year;

8. Expresses the hope that Governments, non-governmental organizations and the public will respond generously with contributions to attain the objectives of the International Year of the Child and, through the United Nations Children's Fund and other channels of external aid, to increase substantially the resources available for services benefiting children;

9. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-second session, through the Economic and Social Council at its sixty-third session, on progress in preparing for the International Year of the Child, including its financing and the level of contributions pledged.

106th plenary meeting
21 December 1976

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[1] E/5844. [2] A/31/323. [3] Resolution 1386 (XIV). [4] Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Second Committee, 60th meeting, paras. 28-32.