The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 44/172 of 19 December 1989, 44/228 of 22 December 1989 and other relevant General Assembly resolutions, as well as decisions of by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in particular the recommendation by which the Conference invited the General Assembly to establish, under its auspices, an intergovernmental negotiating committee for the elaboration of an international convention to combat desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa,
Recalling also its resolution 47/188 of 22 December 1992, by which it established the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, with a view to finalizing such a convention by June 1994,
Recalling further that in Agenda 21, chapter 12, in particular paragraphs 12.1 to 12.4 thereof, desertification and/or drought is recognized as a problem of global dimension, in that it affects one sixth of the world population and one quarter of the total land area of the world and requires a broad response, as set out in paragraph 12.4 of Agenda 21, and that concrete measures have to be taken in all regions, particularly in Africa, within the framework of the convention,
Reiterating the objective of finalizing the convention by June 1994, and of implementing it as soon as possible,
Noting with appreciation the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee at its first and second substantive sessions,
Having considered the note by the Secretary-General concerning the progress of the negotiations on the convention,
1. Urges the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, to complete the negotiations successfully by June 1994, in accordance with resolution 47/188;
2. Decides that the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee shall hold one session after the adoption of the convention in order to review the situation in the interim period pending its entry into force, in particular with regard to the implementation of provisions adapted to the specific needs of each region;
3. Also decides that the session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee after the adoption of the convention shall be held not later than 31 January 1995, and requests the Secretary-General to make appropriate arrangements for the functioning of the ad hoc secretariat and the multidisciplinary panel of experts to service that session;
4. Further decides that the negotiating process 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 its resolution 47/188 specifically for that purpose for the duration of the negotiations and administered by the head of the ad hoc secretariat under the authority of the Secretary-General, with the possibility of carrying over contributed resources from one fiscal year to the next;
5. Notes the contributions to the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in the conduct of its mandate made by the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Conference on Trade Development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and other relevant international organizations dealing with desertification, drought and development, and invites them to continue to provide such support;
6. Notes with appreciation the initial contributions made to the trust fund and invites Governments, regional economic integration organizations and other interested organizations, including non-governmental organizations, to continue their support for the fund;
7. Invites the international community, in particular the developed countries and other countries in a position to do so, to make voluntary contributions to the secretariat of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee and/or the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office of the United Nations Development Programme and any other relevant international and regional organizations to allow them to assist countries affected by drought and/or desertification in all regions, particularly in Africa, in their preparation for the negotiating process;
8. Notes with appreciation the contributions made to the special voluntary fund established pursuant to its 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, including non-governmental organizations, to continue to contribute generously to the fund;
9. Notes the arrangements made by the Secretary-General and the welcome support of relevant or interested organizations, organs, programmes and concerned agencies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental, subregional and regional organizations in the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, and invites them to continue to participate actively in the work of the Committee in the future;
10. Urges Governments to continue, in close collaboration with the regional commissions and national, subregional and regional organizations, to organize activities to support the process of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, involving, as appropriate, the scientific and industrial communities, trade unions, the relevant non-governmental organizations and other interested groups;
11. Notes the assistance provided by the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office to the countries covered under its mandate in their preparations for and participation in the negotiating process and invites the Office to continue to support the Governments concerned and to continue to mobilize resources for that purpose;
12. Also notes the constructive contribution of relevant non-governmental organizations to the success of the negotiating process, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee and taking into account procedures used in the process of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and encourages them, particularly non-governmental organizations from developing countries, to continue to contribute to the success of the negotiating process;
13. Reiterates its request to the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to continue to submit progress reports on the negotiations to the Commission on Sustainable Development and other appropriate bodies;
14. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Governments, relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and scientific and other institutions concerned;
15. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution;
16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-ninth session, under the item entitled "Implementation of decisions and recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development", the sub-item entitled "Elaboration of an international convention to combat desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa".
86th plenary meeting
21 December 1993
