Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought And/Or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

A/RES/49/234View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 89d Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, published in 1995.

What other versions does this mandate have?

3 versions · 1995–1997

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/51/180

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
1997	A/RES/51/180	Elaboration of an international convention to combat desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa	1,264	25%Compare
1996	A/RES/50/112	Elaboration of an international convention to combat desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa	1,323	41%Compare
1995	A/RES/49/234	Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa	1,520	–

What’s in this document?

21 operative paragraphs

Welcomes the adoption, on 17 June 1994, of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, and welcomes also the signing of the Convention in Paris on 14 and 15 October 1994 by a large number of States and one regional economic integration organization;

Urges States that have not yet signed the Convention to do so during the present session of the General Assembly and no later than 13 October 1995, in conformity with article 33 of the Convention, and urges States and organizations that have signed the Convention to proceed to its ratification so that it may enter into force as soon as possible;

Invites signatories of the Convention, in addition to the information provided at the time of signature, to continue to communicate to the interim secretariat of the Convention information on actions taken or envisaged for the implementation of the provisions of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee resolution 5/1 on urgent action for Africa; 3/

Decides that the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee shall continue to function in order:

To prepare for the first session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, as specified in the Convention;

To facilitate the implementation of the provisions of Committee resolution 5/1 on urgent action for Africa, through the exchange of information and the review of progress made thereon;

To initiate measures relating to the identification of an organization to house the global mechanism to promote actions leading to the mobilization and channelling of substantial financial resources, including its operational modalities;

To elaborate the rules of procedure of the Conference of the Parties;

To consider other relevant issues, including measures to ensure the implementation of the Convention and its regional annexes;

Decides also, for this purpose, to convene, in addition to the sixth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which is to be held in New York for up to two weeks from 9 January 1995, a two-week session of the Committee at Nairobi, from 7 to 18 August 1995, and, pending the entry into force of the Convention, to convene further necessary sessions in 1996 and 1997, the venue and timing of which shall be recommended by the Committee;

Invites the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, in this regard, to adopt and implement expeditiously a plan of work for the period leading to the first session of the Conference of the Parties, and requests the Secretary-General to make arrangements within the overall calendar of conferences for the Committee to hold its forthcoming sessions;

Requests all States, the United Nations system, including the regional commissions, relevant subregional and regional organizations and appropriate scientific and business communities, trade unions, relevant non-governmental organizations and other interested groups to take action for the prompt implementation of the Convention and its relevant regional annexes upon its entry into force and in this regard to respond effectively to the needs in the African, Asian and Latin American and Caribbean regions;

Urges all States, the United Nations system, including the regional commissions, relevant subregional and regional organizations and all other relevant actors to take actions and measures for the full and effective implementation of the provisions of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee resolution 5/1 on urgent action for Africa; 3/

Decides that the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee and the interim secretariat shall continue to be funded through existing United Nations budgetary resources, without negatively affecting its programmed activities, and through voluntary contributions to the trust fund established, pursuant to resolution 47/188, specifically for that purpose and administered by the head of the interim secretariat under the authority of the Secretary-General, with the possibility of using the fund, as appropriate, to support the participation of representatives of non-governmental organizations in the work of the Committee and of carrying over resources contributed from one fiscal year to the other;

Notes the arrangements made by the Secretary-General and the contributions of the United Nations Development Programme, including the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Bank and other relevant international organizations active in the fields of desertification, drought and development to the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in pursuance of its mandate, and invites them to intensify and expand such support in the future;

Welcomes the proposal of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, following the adoption of the Convention, and in conformity with the provisions of paragraph 38.27 of Agenda 21, 1/ that the Programme support the implementation of the Convention world wide, with particular attention to Africa, and invites the Programme and the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office to seek the necessary financial resources and other forms of support to be able to play that role more effectively;

Notes with appreciation the contributions made thus far to the trust fund, and invites Governments, regional economic integration organizations and other interested organizations to continue to make voluntary contributions to the fund to support the interim secretariat of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee and the work of the Committee;

Also notes with appreciation the contributions made to the special voluntary fund established pursuant to resolution 47/188 to assist developing countries affected by desertification and drought, in particular the least developed countries, to participate fully and effectively in the negotiating process, and invites Governments, regional economic integration organizations and other interested organizations to continue to contribute generously to the fund so as to allow those countries to participate fully and effectively in the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee;

Requests the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to submit progress reports on the Committee's work to the General Assembly, the Commission on Sustainable Development and other appropriate bodies of the United Nations;

Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Governments, relevant specialized agencies and programmes of the United Nations, international financial institutions, other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant institutions;

Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution relative to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, under the agenda item entitled "Implementation of decisions and recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development".

Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought And/Or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

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