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V. Major trends and policies in food and agriculture


A. World food summit
B. International agricultural adjustment
C. Broadening the mandate of the commission on plant genetic resources
D. Phytosanitary standards
E. Code of conduct for responsible fisheries
F. Revised FAO plan of action for women in development and progress report
G. United nations/FAO world food programme pledging target for 1997-98
H. Desert locust situation and action required


A. World food summit

49. The Conference agreed that, in its substantive scope, the World Food Summit should take into account the consensus already achieved in other international conferences on subjects having a bearing on food security without reopening the debate on those issues. It renewed the call for the Summit to give due attention to the multifaceted nature of food security to the dual challenge of food production and its sustainability, to the roles and needs of all social groups in connection with food security, and to both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of food security, taking into account its own suggestions, as well as those made by the CFS Committee on World Food Security (CFS), and the Council.

50. The Conference welcomed the Director-General's proposal that the Summit not call for new funding mechanisms or institutions and expressed a desire to see concrete, achievable objectives in the draft Summit Plan of Action, as this could promote practical action and measurable progress in the period after the Summit. In this context, it underlined the importance of making adequate arrangements for follow-up to the Summit.

51. The Conference encouraged greater efforts to involve other organizations - both intergovernmental and non-governmental - in the Summit and its preparatory process, and stressed the importance of ensuring a process which involved all stakeholders. In this connection, the Conference welcomed the interest expressed by the international non-governmental organization observers at the Conference in supporting the Summit, and in participating throughout its preparatory process.

52. Several Member Nations took the occasion to inform the Conference of the preparations under way at national level. The Conference took note of the fact that a considerable number of Member Nations had designated National Secretaries to coordinate country-level activities related to the World Food Summit. Some countries announced their intention to provide material support to the Summit - in the form of either financial resources or expertise to assist the Secretariat in carrying out various preparatory activities.

53. The Conference supported the proposed approach to Summit preparations. In particular, it approved the designation of the Committee on World Food Security as focal point for Summit preparations.

54. An exchange of views among delegations reflected differing approaches to the format of the Summit.

55. The Conference noted that a Trust Fund would be established to attract voluntary contributions to help cover travel costs related to developing countries' participation and various types of preparatory activities. The Conference noted that contributions - in cash or in kind - would also be sought from private sources, including potential commercial sponsors. The Conference was informed that regular reports on Trust Fund receipts and expenditures would be provided.

56. The Conference, unanimously supporting the proposal of the Director-General to convene a World Food Summit at the level of Heads of State or Government in November 1996, adopted the following Resolution:

Resolution 2/95

World Food Summit

THE CONFERENCE

Reaffirming the "inalienable right to be free from hunger and malnutrition", as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition, adopted by the World Food Conference in 1974, and the need to achieve food security for all, as included in the Fiftieth Anniversary Declaration on Food and Agriculture,

Cognizant of the fact that hunger and malnutrition, can constitute a threat to the security of nations, regions and the global community,

Aware that 800 million people still do not have access to enough food to meet their basic daily needs for nutritional well-being, that 199 million children under the age of five suffer from protein and energy deficiencies, and that despite progress in reducing the incidence of undernutrition, hunger may continue to afflict some 730 million by the year 2010 unless action is taken,

Recalling the contributions made by governments to international consensus achieved by the World Food Conference in 1974, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, the International Conference on Nutrition in 1992, the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, the World Summit for Social Development in 1995 and the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 as well as the agreements made in other international conferences and summits in recent years,

Recalling also the constructive contribution made by non-governmental organizations, representatives of the private sector, the academic and research communities, the media and other groups to the successful preparation of such conferences, to their deliberations and to effective subsequent follow-up action,

Conscious of the fact that many policies in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, industry, commerce, transport, labour, gender issues, health, and finance have important impacts on national food security, and that ultimate responsibility for establishing the environment necessary for the achievement of national and household food security belongs to the highest level of political leadership,

Aware of the importance of the world's leaders coming together to assess the state of global food security and focus attention specifically on securing the most basic of human needs - food,

Recognizing that activities to ensure food security at all levels, in particular at the household level, should be carried out within the framework of sustainable development as defined in Agenda 21,

Welcoming the expressions of support from numerous high-level intergovernmental fore for the convening of a world food summit,

Expressing its appreciation of the Director-General's efforts in carrying out a comprehensive series of consultations on the matter, and in ensuring that preparations at the technical level are of high quality, while keeping costs to a minimum,

Taking note of the recommendations of the Hundred and Eighth Session of the Council that the Conference approve the convening of the World Food Summit in Rome in November 1996 and make the necessary provisions in the Programme of Work and Budget for 1996-97 to permit its success,

Expressing its gratitude for the early contribution to the Summit process made by the Government of Canada in hosting the Ministerial Meeting on World Food Security and the commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of FAO:

1. Decides to convene, under Article VI.5 of the FAO Constitution, a World Food Summit at the level of Heads of State or Government, in Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996;

2. Accepts with deep appreciation the generous offer of the Government of Italy to act as host to the Summit and to provide political, material and diplomatic support to FAO for its organization;

3. Decides that in considering all aspects of food security and in addressing the root causes of hunger and malnutrition in all parts of the world, the Summit shall have as its objectives: a) to serve as a forum at the highest political level to marshal the global consensus and commitment needed to redress a most basic problem of humankind - food insecurity; b) to raise global awareness of the food security problem and promote the search for solutions; c) to take stock of recent developments and prospects for the world food situation including consideration of regional variations and trade in agricultural products; d) to establish a policy framework and to adopt a Plan of Action for implementation by governments, international institutions and all sectors of civil society to achieve sustained progress towards universal food security; e) to reinforce international cooperation in combating hunger and undernutrition; and f) to contribute, through the achievement of greater food security, to global stability and peace;

4. Decides further that the Plan of Action will translate these objectives into concrete activities and will aim at constantly improving global food security at all levels, in particular at household level, from both a quantitative and nutritional point of view, within the framework of sustainable development;

5. Approves the preparations made by the Director-General for the World Food Summit;

6. Approves the proposal of the Director-General to invite to the Summit and to preparatory meetings, as appropriate:

a) representatives of all Members and Associate Members of FAO or of the United Nations, of its Specialized Agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency;
b) observer(s) from the Holy See;
c) observer(s) from the Sovereign Order of Malta;
d) observer(s) from the Palestine Liberation Organization;
e) representatives of the United Nations, its Specialized Agencies and of the International Atomic Energy Agency;
f) observers from other relevant intergovernmental organizations;
g) observers from relevant non-governmental
organizations and private-sector associations;

7. Invites governments to be represented at the level of Heads of State or Government;8. Decides that the format of the Summit will allow for sequential statements by observers and government delegations, culminating in its second half with the delivery of statements by Heads of State or Government;9. Decides that the Committee on World Food Security shall serve as the focal point for all aspects concerning the preparation of the Summit;10. Calls upon the Regional Conferences in 1996 to address food security issues especially those concerns which are region-specific in nature, and through their contributions to lend the needed regional dimension to the draft Summit documents;11. Invites countries to participate actively in the preparations and follow-up activities at all appropriate levels, and to encourage the participation of non-governmental organizations, the private sector and academic institutions in the preparatory process, follow-up actions and, as appropriate, at the Summit;12. Invites intergovernmental organizations within and outside the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to cooperate actively in preparations for the World Food Summit, at national, sub-regional and regional levels, and in supporting follow-up action;13. Welcomes the Director-General's decision to open a special Trust Fund and to mobilize voluntary contributions from public and private sources to facilitate the preparations for and holding of the World Food Summit;14. Requests further that the Committee on World Food Security report through the Council to the Twenty-ninth Session of the Conference in 1997, on all aspects of the World Food Summit and its follow-up.

(Adopted 31 October 1995)

B. International agricultural adjustment

57. The Conference reviewed progress in International Agricultural Adjustment on the basis of the Director-General's Eighth Progress Report.

58. Many delegates referred in their interventions to specific topics of the Progress Report, as well as to recent developments and policy changes in their own countries. Particular attention was paid to the topics of Guidelines 7 and 8 which covered policies affecting international agricultural trade and the stability of world markets.

59. In this connection, the Conference recommended that FAO should strengthen its capability to provide technical assistance to Member Nations, particularly developing countries, in assessing the need to change their food and agricultural policies to meet their policy commitments under the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and to take full advantage of the market opportunities arising out of the Uruguay Round Agreement. Such assistance should also cover the area of food quality and safety standards in the context of the Codex Alimentarius, as well as that of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. FAO should contribute to enhancing the capability of Member Nations, particularly the developing ones, in implementing the undertakings of the Uruguay Round and in preparing for the next round of trade negotiations on agriculture, including possible new subjects, notably sustainability and the environment.

60. Particular mention was made of the need for FAO, in cooperation with other international organizations concerned, to contribute to the implementation of the decision incorporated into the Final Act of the Uruguay Round on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least-Developed and Net Food-Importing Developing Countries.

61. Member Nations, in a position to do so, were urged to contribute extrabudgetary resources in support of FAO's technical assistance work in connection with the follow-up to the Uruguay Round.

62. The Conference noted that these needs for continued and strengthened technical assistance on the part of FAO were fully recognized in the Reports of the Council, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) and were also included in the main strategic thrusts of FAO's Medium-term Plan for 1996-2001.

63. Many delegates considered that there was a continued need for the review of progress in International Agricultural Adjustment under all Guidelines to be concentrated in one single document. At the same time, they recognized that there was an imperative need to economize resources and avoid duplication with other documents. They considered that the opportunities offered by other documents, prepared for the Committees of the Council, the Council or the Conference, to review progress in International Agricultural Adjustment on specific Guidelines or sets of Guidelines were an acceptable alternative to having the review of progress on the Agenda of the Conference every four years.

64. In the light of the above-reported discussion, the Conference decided that periodic progress reports on International Agricultural Adjustment covering all the Guidelines should, however, continue to be prepared every four years in the spirit of the recommendations made by the Conference at its Twenty-sixth Session (Rome, 9-27 November 1991). These progress reports should be submitted to the Conference for information.

C. Broadening the mandate of the commission on plant genetic resources

65. The Conference reaffirmed the crucial importance of genetic resources for agricultural production and food security. The Conference agreed to broaden the mandate of the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources to cover all aspects of genetic resources of relevance to food and agriculture. It further agreed to implement the broadened mandate in a step-by-step process, starting with animal genetic resources, and that the broadening must not interfere with the ongoing negotiations for the revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources and the preparation of the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources (Leipzig, Germany, 17-23 June 1996).

66. The Conference agreed that the name of the new Commission would be the "Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture". The Conference recognized that broadening the coverage of the Commission would allow the Organization to deal in a more integrated manner with agrobiodiversity issues, including the follow-up to Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The Conference stressed the importance of an integrated approach and full cooperation with the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Commission on Sustainable Development, and recognized that the broadened Commission would facilitate such cooperation.

67. For areas of food and agricultural genetic resources not currently covered by the Commission, interim expert working groups were first to be established to prepare future work in the given sectors. Consequently, the Conference requested the Director-General to establish an Ad Hoc Group of Experts on Animal Genetic Resources to prepare the future work of the Animal Genetic Resources Intergovernmental Technical Working Group and report on progress to the Director-General, who would bring its recommendations, as appropriate, to the attention of the Fourteenth Session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) (Rome, 7-11 April 1997) and to the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, taking into consideration the progress in the revision of the Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources.

68. The Conference further agreed that the broadened Commission should be assisted by geographically-balanced sectoral working groups of an intergovernmental technical nature. Pending the establishment of such working groups, the relevant technical Committees of the Council and other relevant technical bodies should continue their work on specialized areas of biodiversity.

69. The Conference adopted the following Resolution:

Resolution 3/95

The Broadening of the mandate of the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources to cover genetic resources relevant to food and agriculture

THE CONFERENCE

Recalling its Resolution 9/83 authorizing the establishment of a Commission on Plant Genetic Resources (hereinafter referred to as the Commission), and Council Resolution 1/85 establishing the Commission under Article VI. 1 of the Constitution,

Having noted the recommendations of the Council, at its Hundred and Eighth Session, to broaden the mandate of the Commission to that of a Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture,

Having considered the relevant provisions of the Basic Texts of the Organization and in particular Article VI.1 of the Constitution and the "Principles and Procedures which should govern Conventions and Agreements concluded under Articles XIV and XV of the Constitution, and Commissions and Committees established under Article VI of the Constitution", set out in Part R of the Basic Texts of the Organization,

Considering that recent developments, including the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), have increased international awareness of the need for an integrated approach to agrobiodiversity, including with the Convention on Biological Diversity,

Considering that the broadening of the mandate of the Commission will facilitate an integrated approach to agrobiodiversity and coordination with governments, which are increasingly dealing with policy issues regarding biological diversity in an integrated manner,

Considering that a Commission with a broadened mandate would guide and monitor FAO's policies and activities on genetic resources for food and agriculture, and provide for effective cooperation with the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Commission on Sustainable Development, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Centres and in particular the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), and with other interested international governmental and non-governmental organizations,

Recognizing that the approaches to plant, forestry, animal and fisheries resources are different and require specialized expertise in each field, best supplied through a number of intergovernmental technical sectoral working groups:

1. Decides to broaden the mandate of the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources to cover all components of biodiversity of relevance to food and agriculture;

2. Further decides that the Commission shall be known hereafter as "the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture";

3. Further decides that the implementation of the broadened mandate of the Commission shall be carried out through a step-by-step approach, beginning with animal genetic resources, in a manner that will not adversely affect the important processes under way within the Commission for the preparation of the Fourth International Technical Conference to be held in mid-1996 and for negotiating the revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, which are the pressing priority activities of the Commission;

4. Requests the Council, at its Hundred and Tenth Session, to adopt suitable statutes for the broadened mandate of the Commission, on an interim basis and, if necessary, to review them at a future session in the light of the relevant developments.

(Adopted 31 October 1995)

D. Phytosanitary standards

70. The Conference emphasized the importance of phytosanitary standard-setting in relation to international trade and the implementation of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). It noted the problems developing countries may encounter in applying these standards and agreed that the Secretariat assist them in implementation, including seeking resources as appropriate.

71. The Conference adopted the "Guidelines for Pest Risk Analysis", reproduced in Appendix F to this report and the "Code of Conduct for the Import and Release of Exotic Biological Control Agents", reproduced in Appendix G to this report.

72. The Conference also adopted the Phytosanitary Standard on "Requirements for the Establishment of Pest Free Areas", reproduced in Appendix H to this report. The delegation of China reserved its position on paragraph 2.3, "Uninfested part of a country situated within a generally-infested area". In adopting the Standard, the Conference noted that the accelerated procedure followed in this case, i.e., without review of the text by the Committee on Agriculture (COAG), should not set a precedent for the adoption of future Standards. As some delegates suggested an early review of this Standard, it was agreed that such a review should take place by December 1999 or such other date as may be agreed upon by COAG.

73. The Conference endorsed the deletion of Step 9. "Official acceptance by individual members" in the "Steps in the Development of Harmonized International Standards and Guidelines".

74. The Conference accorded high priority to the revision of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and agreed with the Secretariat's proposals in this regard. The Conference emphasized the importance of full participation in the review process by all countries, particularly developing countries, and encouraged the Secretariat to seek extrabudgetary resources for this purpose. Additional issues identified for consideration during the revision of the IPPC included phytosanitary certificates, phytosanitary certificates for re-export and the possibility for the European Community to become a contracting party.

E. Code of conduct for responsible fisheries

75. The Conference recalled that the need for the development of the concept and the respective instruments for achieving responsible fisheries requested by the Nineteenth Session of the Committee on Fisheries (Rome, 8-12 April 1991), had been further defined in the 1992 Cancún Declaration, which was considered a milestone in the development of the Code.

76. The Conference acknowledged that the elaboration of the Code had been finalized in a short time, which demonstrated the keen commitment by all parties, irrespective of their national fishing interests, to ensure that fisheries continued to provide a vital source of food, employment, foreign currency and economic and social welfare both for present and future generations.

77. The Conference recalled that from April 1991 a series of Technical Consultations had been organized within FAO for the elaboration and negotiation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. It noted that as part of this process the Agreement to Promote Compliance with Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas had been adopted at the last Session of the Conference, and that this Agreement was an integral component of the Code of Conduct.

78. The Conference recognized that the Code of Conduct was intended to strengthen fisheries conservation and management and, in so doing, would contribute towards the implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), and the recently-concluded United Nations Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks.

79. The Conference underlined that the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries was a comprehensive instrument that addressed all those involved in fisheries, and would apply to all types of fisheries, both within exclusive economic zones and on the high seas, in inland waters, as well as aquaculture. It noted that although it would be implemented by States on a voluntary basis, the Code contained certain provisions which might be given, or which had already been given, binding effect.

80. The Conference expressed its appreciation to the Secretariat for the efforts which had been deployed to elaborate the Code and commended the government of Mexico for organizing the Cancún Conference in collaboration with FAO, and for supporting the process of negotiations. The Conference also thanked members which had actively participated in the negotiations.

81. The Conference adopted the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, reproduced in Appendix I to this Report, and also adopted the following Resolution:

Resolution 4/95

The Code of Conduct for Responsible

THE CONFERENCE

Recognizing the vital role of fisheries in world food security, and economic and social development, as well as the need to ensure the sustainability of the living aquatic resources and their environment for present and future generations,

Recalling that the Committee on Fisheries on 19 April 1991 had recommended the development of the concept of responsible fishing and the possible formulation of an instrument on the matter,

Considering that the Declaration of Cancún, which emanated from the International Conference on Responsible Fisheries of May 1992, organized by the Gvernment of Mexico in collaboration with FAO, had called for the preparation of a Code of Conduct on Responsible Fisheries,

Bearing in mind that with the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, and the adoption of the Agreement for the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, as was anticipated in the 1992 Rio Declaration and the provisions of Agenda 21 of UNCED, there is an increased need for subregional and regional cooperation, and that significant responsibilities are placed upon FAO in accordance with its mandate,

Recalling further that the Conference in 1993 adopted the FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, and that this Agreement would constitute an integral part of the Code of Conduct,

Noting with satisfaction that FAO, in accordance with the decisions of its Governing Bodies, had organized a series of technical meetings to formulate the Code of Conduct, and that these meetings have resulted in agreement being reached on the text of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries,

Acknowledging that the Rome Consensus on World Fisheries, which emanated from the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries of 14-15 March 1995, urged governments and international organizations to respond effectively to the current fisheries situation, inter alia, by completing the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and to consider adopting the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas:

1. Decides to adopt the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries;

2. Calls on States, international organizations, whether governmental or non-governmental, and all those involved in fisheries to collaborate in the fulfilment and implementation of the objectives and principles contained in this Code;

3. Urges that special requirements of developing countries be taken into account in implementing the provisions of this Code;

4. Requests FAO to make provision in the Programme of Work and Budget for providing advice to developing countries in implementing this Code and for the elaboration of an Interregional Assistance Programme for external assistance aimed at supporting implementation of the Code;

5. Further requests FAO, in collaboration with members and interested relevant organizations, to elaborate, as appropriate, technical guidelines in support of the implementation of the Code;

6. Calls upon FAO to monitor and report on the implementation of the Code and its effects on fisheries, including action taken under other instruments and resolutions by UN organizations, and in particular, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly to give effect to the Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks leading to the Agreement for the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks;

7. Urges FAO to strengthen Regional Fisheries Bodies in order to deal more effectively with fisheries conservation and management issues in support of subregional, regional and global cooperation and coordination in fisheries.

(Adopted 31 October 1995)

82. The Conference further adopted the following Resolution:

Resolution 5/95

Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas

THE CONFERENCE

Recalling that at its Twenty-seventh Session in November 1993, it had approved in accordance with Article XIV-1 of the Constitution the text of the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas and had acclaimed the Agreement as a momentous achievement and a milestone in the international management of high seas fisheries as well as urging members to accept the Agreement as soon as possible so as to bring it into force at the earliest possible time,

Bearing in mind that this Agreement constitutes an integral part of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries adopted at this Session of the Conference,

Acknowledging that in the management of high seas fisheries, the adoption of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and the completion of the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, has accentuated the need to bring into force as soon as possible the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas,

Recognizing the importance of building up the register of fishing vessels authorized to fish on the high seas and the flow of information on such vessels provided for under the Agreement,

Noting that to date only seven countries have accepted the Agreement, and that a further 18 acceptances are necessary to bring it into force,

1. Urges members and eligible non-members of FAO to accept the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas so as to bring it into force as soon as possible.

(Adopted 31 October 1995)

F. Revised FAO plan of action for women in development and progress report

83. The Conference commended the Fourth Progress Report on Implementation of the Plan of Action for the Integration of Women in Development and the revised FAO Plan of Action for Women in Development (1996-2001). It endorsed the three draft decisions relating to these documents. In particular the Conference:

a) reviewed and adopted the Fourth Progress Report;

b) agreed with a recommendation stemming from the Meeting of Permanent Representatives to Examine Draft Decisions for the Twenty-eighth Session of the Conference (Rome, 19 September 1995) to submit the Fifth Progress Report on Implementation of the Plan of Action to the Twenty-ninth Conference Session in 1997;

c) adopted the revised FAO Plan of Action for Women in Development (1996-2001).

84. The Conference took note of the request to provide the Hundred and Eleventh Session of the Council with an information note regarding the actions taken by FAO in support of the implementation of the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, China, September 1995).

85. The Conference accepted the proposal from several delegates to use the word "equality" in place of the word "equity" in the revised FAO Plan of Action following the language chosen for the Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women.

86. The Conference commended FAO's efforts to place a gender perspective in the mainstream of its activities. The Conference further suggested that the Secretariat ensure that gender-sensitive programming was monitored and evaluated so that future reports would present an analysis of progress and restraints.

87. The Conference urged the Secretariat to develop and use quantifiable indicators to the fullest extent possible in its planning and reporting on programmes.

88. The Government of Argentina expressed a reservation about the inclusion of "female reproductive health" in paragraph 34 of the revised Plan of Action for Women in Development.

G. United nations/FAO world food programme pledging target for 1997-98

89. The Conference noted that WFP's regular pledging target for the biennium 1997-98 had been recommended by the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes (CFA) and endorsed by the FAO Council for approval of the Conference. Separately, the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) had endorsed the target for the approval of the UN General Assembly. The Conference noted that the target had been reduced from the level of preceding biennia.

90. Some delegates, while noting the increasing need for development food aid, expressed concern over the falling level of resource availability for development as a share of total WFP resources. The progressive reduction in the attainment of previous targets was also stressed. The Conference noted the dramatic increase in relief activities due to the high level of emergency requirements to which WFP was responding at the request of the international community. In acknowledging WFP's valuable role in promoting development and its outstanding work in emergency operations, the Conference encouraged donors to make every effort to increase the availability of development food aid to WFP.

91. The Conference took note of WFP's efforts to improve its financial management and accountability systems. It also noted the need to review the regular pledging system as new mechanisms could be necessary to render the current outdated system more effective.

92. In conclusion, the Conference unanimously approved the pledging target of US$1 300 million proposed by the Executive-Director of WFP for the 1997-98 biennium.

93. The Conference then unanimously adopted the following Resolution:

Resolution 6/95

Target for WFP pledges for the period 1997-98

THE CONFERENCE

Recalling the provisions of Resolution 4/65 that the World Food Programme is to be reviewed before each pledging conference,

Noting that the review of the Programme was undertaken by the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes of the World Food Programme at its Thirty-seventh Session and by the FAO Council at its Hundred and Seventh Session,

Having considered Resolution 1/108 of the FAO Council as well as the recommendations of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes,

Recognizing the value of multilateral food aid as implemented by WFP since its inception and the necessity for continuing its action both as a form of capital investment and for meeting emergency food needs:

1. Establishes for the two years 1997 and 1998 a target for voluntary contributions of US$1 300 million;

2. Urges Member States of the United Nations and Members and Associate Members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and appropriate donor organizations to make every effort to ensure the full attainment of the target;

3. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of FAO, to convene a pledging conference for this purpose at United Nations Headquarters in 1996.

(Adopted 31 October 1995)


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