International Year of the Child.

33. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE*
83. International Year of the Child

The General Assembly, Recalling 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, 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974 containing the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States and 3362 (S-VII) of 16 September 1975 on development and international economic co-operation, Recalling also its resolution 31/169 of 21 December 1976, in which it proclaimed the year 1979 International Year of the Child, Recalling further its resolution 32/109 of 15 December 197 Economic and Social Council resolutions 2105 (LXIII) of 3 August 1977 and 1978/40 of 1 August 1978, Recognizing the fundamental importance in all countries, both developing and developed, of programmes benefiting children, not only for promoting their well-being but also as part of broader efforts to accelerate the economic and social development process, Believing that the concept of basic services for children is a vital component of social and economic development, Noting with satisfaction the progress made in the preparation for the International Year of the Child at the national, regional and international levels, Convinced that the International Year of the Child provides a unique opportunity for all countries to undertake an in-depth review and evaluation of their policies for children and to establish programmes of action to be undertaken, and for the world community to renew and reaffirm its determination to meet children's needs and to secure their fundamental rights, Bearing in mind, in this connexion, the preparations for a new international development strategy, Having considered the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund on the activities being undertaken in the United Nations system in connexion with the International Year of the Child,[1]

1. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Children's Fund for the manner in which it has discharged the responsibilities entrusted to it as lead agency by the General Assembly in resolution 31/169;

2. Reaffirms that the major focus of the International Year of the Child is at the national level and, in this regard, urges countries to intensify their preparations for the Year and to determine priorities for action and set appropriate targets as the basis for short-term, medium-term and long-term planning and programming benefiting children;

3. Notes with appreciation the active participation of organizations of the United Nations system and of non-governmental organizations to ensure the success of the International Year of the Child, and also the valuable co-ordination being achieved through the Interagency Advisory Group for the International Year of the Child;

4. Reaffirms that the International Year of the Child, in accordance with its objectives, should provide an impetus to be followed by a rising level of resources for services benefiting children, through the United Nations Children's Fund and other channels, in order to enable developing countries to extend, strengthen and implement their programmes for children;

5. Expresses its gratitude to those Governments that have contributed to the costs of the secretariat of the International Year of the Child and urges all Governments to contribute to its full financing;

6. Requests the United Nations Children's Fund to prepare a comprehensive, action-oriented report on the basis of information received from Governments and from specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies concerned on their respective projects and programmes initiated in connexion with the International Year of the Child and on the follow-up activities foreseen for the years ahead, and furthermore requests that the report be submitted to the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session and that a preliminary version of that report be considered by the Executive Board of the Fund at its 1979 session and by the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1979;

7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-fourth session an item entitled "International Year of the Child: plans and action to improve the situation of children in the world, particularly in the developing countries", and recommends, in view of its importance, that this item be considered by the General Assembly in plenary meeting, in observance of the Year;

8. Invites the current President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund to issue messages at the beginning of 1979 on the Inter national Year of the Child and urges that these messages be widely disseminated all over the world;

9. Invites all heads of State or Government to issue special messages in connexion with the International Year of the Child.

85th plenary meeting
15 December 1978

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[1] A/33/338, annex.