A/RES/37/6 GA

16 General Assembly-Thirty-seventh Session 37/5. Credentials of representatives to the thirty- well as the right of the Kampuchean people to self-deter- seventh session of the General Assembly mination free from outside interference, A The General Assembly Approves the first report of the Credentials Committee. 8 B The General Assembly 45th plenary meeting 26 October 1982 Approves the second report of the Credentials Committee. 9 110th plenary meeting 17 December 1982 37/6. The situation in Kampuchea The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 34/22 of 14 November 1979, 35/6 of 22 October 1980 and 36/5 of 21 October 1981, Recalling further the Declaration on œampuchea10 and resolution I (1)11 adopted by the International Conference on Kampuchea, which offer the negotiating framework for a comprehensive political settlement of the Kampuchean problem, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-Geneal, 12 sub­ mitted in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 36/5, Noting the recent develoJ?ments resulting_ in the coalition with Samdech Norodom Sihanouk as President of Demo­ cratic Kampuchea, Deploring that foreign armed intervention and ocžupation continue and that foreign forces have not been withdrawn from Kampuchea, thus causing continuing hostilities in that country and seriously threatening international peace and security, Greatly concerned that the continuing_ deployment of for­ eign forces in Kampuchea near the TŸai-Kampuchean bor­ der has maintained tension in the region, Gravely disturbed that the continued fighting and insta­ bility in Kampuchea have forced Kampucheans to flee to the Thai-Kampuchean border in search of food and safety, Recognizing that the assistance extended by the interna­ tional community has continued to reduce the food shortages and health problems of the Kampuchean people, Emphasizing that it is the inalienable right of the Kam- puchean people who have sou ht refuge in neighbouring countries to return safely to the1r homeland, Emphasizing further that no effective solution to the hu­ manitarian problems can be achieved without a co1;11pre­ hensive political settlement of the Kampuchean conflict, Convinced that, to bring about durable peace in SouJh­ East Asia, there is an urgent need for a compre_hensi¡e political solution to the Kampuchean problem which will provide for the withdrawal of all foreign force¢ a£d e_nsure respect for the sovereignty, independence, temtonal mteg­ rity and neutral and non-aligned status of Kampuchea, as 8 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-seventh Session, An­ nexes, agenda item 3, document A/37/543. 9 /bid., document A/37/543/Add.l ,o Report of the International Conference on Kampuchea, New York, /3-17 July /98/ (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.1.20). annex I. 11 /bid., annex II. 12 A/37/496. Convinced further that, after the comprehensive political settlement of the Kampuchean question th¤ough ¥aceful means, the countries of the South-East Asian region can pursue efforts to establish ¦ zone of peace, §reedom_ and neutrality in South-East Asia so as t¨ lessen 1©ternat1onal tensions and to achieve lasting peace m the region, Reaffirming the need for all States ªo adher« strictly_ to the principles of the Charter of the Umted Nat10ns, ¬h1ch call for respect for the national independe­ce, sov®reignty and territorial integrity of all States, ©on-mtervent10n and non-interference in the internal affa1rs of States, non­ recourse to the threat or use of force, and peaceful settle­ ment of disputes, I. Reaffirms its resolutions 34/22, 35/6 and 36/5 and calls for their full implementation; 2. Reiterates its conviction that the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Kampuchea, th¯ restoration °d. pr«s­ ervation of its independence, sovereignty and temtonal _m­ tegrity, the right of the Kampu±hean people to determme their own destiny and the commitment by all States to_ non­ interference and non-intervention in the internal affairs of Kampuchea are the principal components of any just and lasting resolution to the Kampuchean problem; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Ad Hoe Committee of the International Conference on Kampuchea13 and requests that the Committee continue its work, pending the reconvening of the Conference; 4. Authorizes the Ad Hoe Committee to convene when necessary and to carry out the tasks entrusted to it in its mandate; 5. Reaffirms its decision to reconvene the Conference at an appropriate time in accordance with Conference res­ olution I (I); 6. Renews its appeal to all States of South-East Asia and others concerned to attend future sessions of the Conference; 7. Requests the Conference to report to the General Assembly on its future sessions; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to co©sult with and assist the Conference and the Ad Hoe Committee and to provide them on a regular basis with the necessary facilities to carry out their functions; 9. Expresses its appreciation once ag:in to the_ Secre­ tary-General for taking approp²ate steps. m followmg the situation closely and requests him to contm³e to do so and to exercise his good offices in order to contnbute to a com­ prehensive political settlement; 10. Expresses its deep appreciation once again to donor countries the United Nations and its agencies and other national ´d international humanitarian organizations which have rendered relief assistance to the Kampuchean people, and appeals to them to continue exiµti¶g arrangemen·s to assist those Kampucheans who are still m need, especially along the Thai-Kampuchean border and in the holding centres in Thailand; 11. Reiterates its deep appreciation to the Secretary­ General for his efforts in co-ordinating humanitarian rehef assistance and in monitoring its distribution, and requests him to continue such efforts as are necessary; 12. Urges the countries of South-East Asia, once a ¸o¹­ prehensive political solution to the Kampuchºan conflict 1s achieved to exert renewed efforts to establish a zone of peace, fr»edom and neutrality in South-East Asia; 11 NCONF.109/6. II. Resolutions adopted without reference to a Main Committee 17 13. Reiterates the hope that, following a comprehensive political solution, an intergovernmental committee will lte established to consider a programme of assistance to Kam­ puchea for the reconstruction of its economy and for the economic and social development of all States in the region; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Gen­ eral Assembly at its thirty-eighth session on the implemen­ tation of the present resolution; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-eighth session the item entitled ''The situation in Kampuchea". 48th plenary meeting 28 October /982 37/7. World Charter for Nature The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the revised draft World Charter for Nature, 14 Recalling that, in its resolution 35/7 of 30 October 1980, it expressed its conviction that the benefits which could be obtained from nature depended on the maintenance of nat­ ural processes and on the diversity of life forms and that those benefits were jeopardized by the excessive exploitation and the destruction of natural habitats, Further recalling that, in the same resolution, it recog­ nized the need for appropriate measures at the national and international levels to protect nature and promote interna­ tional co-operation in that field, Recalling that, in its resolution 36/6 of 27 October 1981, it again expressed its awareness of the crucial importance attached by the international community to the promotion and development of co-operation aimed at protecting and safeguarding the balance and quality of nature and invited the Secretary-General to transmit to Member States the text of the revised version of the draft World Charter for Nature contained in the report of the Ad Hoe Group of Experts on the draft World Charter for Nature, 15 as well as any further observations by States, with a view to appropriate consid­ eration by the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session, Conscious of the spirit and terms of its resolutions 35/7 and 36/6, in which it solemnly invited Member States, in the exercise of their permanent sovereignty over their natural resources, to conduct their activities in recognition of the supreme importance of protecting natural systems, main­ taining the balance and quality of nature and conserving natural resources, in the interests of present and future generations, Having considered the supplementary report of the Secretary-General, 16 Expressing its gratitude to the Ad Hoe Group of Experts which, through its work, has assembled the necessary ele­ ments for the General Assembly to be able to complete the consideration of and adopt the revised draft World Charter for Nature at its thirty-seventh session, as it had previously recommended, Adopts and solemnly proclaims the World Charter for Nature contained in the annex to the present resolution. 48th plenary meeting 28 October /982 14 A/36/539. 15 Ibid., annex I. 16 A/37/398 and Add. I. ANNEX World Charter for Nature The General Assembly, Reaffirming the fundamental purposes of the United Nations, in particular the maintenance of international peace and security, the development of friendly relations among nations and the achievement of international co­ operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, technical, intellectual or humanitarian character, Aware that: (a) Mankind is a part of nature and life depends on the uninterrupted functioning of natural systems which ensure the supply of energy and nutrients. (b) Civilization is rooted in nature, which has shaped human culture and influenced all artistic and scientific achievement, and living in harmony with nature gives man the best opportunities for the development of his creativity, and for rest and recreation, Convinced that: (a) Every form of life is unique, warranting respect regardless of its worth to man, and, to accord other organisms such recognition, man must be guided by a moral code of action, ( b) Man can alter nature and exhaust natural resources by his action or its consequences and, therefore, must fully recognize the urgency of maintaining the stability and quality of nature and of conserving natural resources, Persuaded that: (a) Lasting benefits from nature depend upon the maintenance of es­ sential ecological processes and life support systems, and upon the diversity of life forms, which are jeopardized through excessive exploitation and habitat destruction by man, (b) The degradation of natural systems owing to excessive consumption and misuse of natural resources, as well as to failure to establish an ap­ propriate economic order among peoples and among States, leads to the breakdown of the economic, social and political framework of civilization, (c) Competition for scarce resources creates conflicts, whereas the conservation of nature and natural resources contributes to justice and the maintenance of peace and cannot be achieved until mankind learns to live in peace and to forsake war and armaments, Reaffirming that man must acquire the knowledge to maintain and en­ hance his ability to use natural resources in a manner which ensures the preservation of the species and ecosystems for the benefit of present and future generations, Firmly convinced of the need for appropriate measures, at the national and international, individual and collective, and private and public levels, to protect nature and promote international co-operation in this field, Adopts, to these ends, the present World Charter for Nature, which proclaims the following principles of conservation by which all human conduct affecting nature is to be guided and judged. I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES I. Nature shall be respected and its essential processes shall not be impaired. 2. The genetic viability on the earth shall not be compromised; the population levels of all life forms, wild and domesticated, must be at least sufficient for their survival, and to this end necessary habitats shall be safeguarded. 3. All areas of the earth, both land and sea, shall be subject to these principles of conservation; special protection shall be given to unique areas, to representative samples of all the different types of ecosystems and to the habitats of rare or endangered species. 4. Ecosystems and organisms, as well as the land, marine and at­ mospheric resources that are utilized by man, shall be managed to achieve and maintain optimum sustainable productivity, but not in such a way as to endanger the integrity of those other ecosystems or species with which they coexist. 5. Nature shall be secured against degradation caused by warfare or other hostile activities. II FUNCTIONS 6. In the decision-making process it shall be recognized that man's needs can be met only by ensuring the proper functioning of natural systems and by respecting the principleø set forth in the present Charter.

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