United Nations Children's Fund.

  The General Assembly, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 1982/51 of 28 July 1982, Having considered the report of the Executive Board of the United Nations Children's Fund on its session held at United Nations Headquarters from 10 to 21 May 1982, Reaffirming the principles and guidelines for programme activities established by the Executive Board of the United Nations Children's Fund, in particular its basic services approach with its efforts to reach the most disadvantaged as part of a comprehensive field-oriented and action-oriented development policy, and the maintenance of a low ratio of administration to programme costs, Acutely aware that the present global economic situation both adversely affects the ability of developing countries to implement efforts to extend basic services and makes the need for those services all the more critical, Concerned that the situation regarding financing for development, including in particular the situation of multilateral agencies depending upon voluntary contributions, has been adversely affected by a number of unfavourable factors,

1. Commends the policies and activities of the United Nations Children's Fund;

2. Endorses Economic and Social Council resolution 1982/51;

3. Reaffirms the role of the United Nations Children's Fund as the lead agency in the United Nations system responsible for co-ordinating the follow-up activities of the International Year of the Child related to the goals and objectives concerning children set forth in the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade;

4. Urges the Executive Director and the secretariat of the United Nations Children's Fund to continue and intensify their innovative efforts to adapt the basic services approach for children in the light of the current economic crisis, in accordance with the relevant decisions of the Executive Board of the Fund;

5. Commends the Executive Director and the secretariat of the United Nations Children's Fund for their imaginative efforts to enlarge the income of the Fund so that it may respond to the needs of developing countries;

6. Expresses its appreciation to Governments that have responded to the needs of the United Nations Children's Fund and expresses the hope that more Member States will follow their example;

7. Appeals to all Governments, especially to those whose voluntary contributions may not reflect their capacity to contribute, to increase their contributions, preferably the contributions to the general resources, if possible on a multiyear basis, so that, in the light of the present economic situation, the United Nations Children's Fund may meet its responsibilities to developing countries in responding to the urgent needs of children.