theircapacity toprovide employment, housing, infrastructure andrelated services. Thenumberofpeoplelivinginabsolute poverty without adequate food -8- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Libraryandshelter hasincreased atanalarming rate. TheUnited Nations willneedto strengthen itsactivities inanalysing population patterns andtheconsequences of rapidincrease initseconomic, social, political andenvironmental dimensions. The1994meeting onpopulation willprovide guidance totheactivities ofthe Organization inthisregard. TheUnited Nations willalsocontinue toimplement theprovisions oftheGlobal Strategy forShelter totheYear2000inordertomeet thechallenge posedbythepresent population growthrates. ** * 33.TheUnited Nations hasbeenthecatalyst forthedevelopment andadoption of plansofaction andguidelines thatprovide elements ofaglobalsocialstrategy. Thisincludes guiding principles fordevelopmental socialwelfare policies and programmes concerning theyoung, thedisabled andtheaging, andthe recommendations oftheUnited Nations Congresses onthePrevention ofCrimeandthe Treatment ofOffenders, withtheforthcoming Eighth Congress expected toprovide further guidance fortheactivities oftheOrganization. TheUnited Nations and itsorganizations areandwillremainactively engaged inpromoting theaimsand objectives oftheseplans, programmes andstrategies. 34.Theemphasis givenintheprevious medium-term planperiod torecogn~z1ng and facilitating theimportant rolethatwomenplayineconomic andsocial development willneedtobecontinued, withnewattention beingdevoted totechnical assistance toenable womentoparticipate fullyinthedevelopment effort." TheNairobi Forward-Looking Strategies fortheAdvancement ofWomentotheYear2000provide a global framework forconcrete actiontopromote equality aswellaswomen's rolein peace-making anddevelopment. In1995aglobal United Nations conference onthe advancement ofwomenwillbeheldtoassess progress andrefinestrategies. 35.Thedevelopment ofhumanresources hasincreasingly beenrecognized asan important element notonlyforsocial progress butfortheoverall process of development. Efforts. byMember States toshifttheemphasis intheirplansand programmes towards health, education andtraining willneedtobesupported through research andanalysis aswellastechnical assistance. * * * 36.Theinternational community hasbecome increasingly conscious oftheneedto intensify andwidenthescopeofitsefforts against theillicit useandtraffic of narcotic drugs. TheUnited Nations hasbeenandwillneedtoremainatthe forefront oftheseefforts, asitisnowregarded asthemainfocusofconcerted action inthisfield. Thescourge ofdrugabuseiscausing wide-spread deprivation andmisery. Insomeinstances itisalsoleading totheerosion ofadministrative andjudicial structures endangering political stability. Ithasalready thwarted thedevelopment efforts ofanumber ofcountries. Recognition oftheimportance of demand reduction hashelped indeveloping amoreco-operative environment for effectively fighting abuseofdrugs. Thedecisions adopted bytheGeneral Assembly andtheGlobal Programme ofAction tocombat drugabuse, adopted attheseventeenth special session, provide theOrganization withnewandexpanded mandates. Fresh emphasis willneedtobeplaced onitsactivities insupport ofb~lanced efforts by theinternational community tocombat drugabuseeffectively. TheUnited Nations willneedtomonitor closely theimplementation ofinternational treaties and enhance itsassistance toMember Statesinsupport oftheirefforts toprevent -9-andshelter hasincreased atanalarming rate. TheUnited Nations willneedto strengthen itsactivities inanalysing population patterns andtheconsequences of
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the challenges and efforts of the United Nations in addressing various global issues, including poverty, population growth, women's empowerment, human resources development, and drug abuse. These issues are interconnected and have significant economic, social, and environmental implications. The text highlights the need for the UN to strengthen its activities in analyzing population patterns, promoting economic development, and providing technical assistance to member states.

**Category**
Economic development, Health, Humanitarian aid and relief