withUNFPA, similar totheJointCommittee onEducation withUNESCO andtheJoint Committee onHealthPolicywithWHO,thatwoulddealwithfamily planning andbirth spacing issues. 34.Initsresponse, thesecretariat welcomed thesupport ofdelegations forthe statement ofpolicy onbirthspacing andfamily planning assetoutinthesafe motherhood paper, notingthatUNICEF wascommitted toresponding togovernment policy. ManyUNICEFactivities, itwasstated, provided important indirect support forlowering fertility, andUNICEF wouldcontinue toworkwithWHOandUNFPAto strengthen bothhealthservices andtheknowledge andempowerment thatencouraged parents tospacethebirths oftheirchildren. (Seechap.IV,decisions 1990/7 and 1990/16 andannexI,paras. 70-75.) Nutrition 35.Several delegations addressed theneedtoreverse thedecline in breast-feeding andtoeliminate thedisabling effects ofmicronutrient -10-deficiencies, particularly thoseofiodine andvitamin A.Onedelegation referred toadequate nutrition asabasichumanright,whileotherdelegations notedthat nutrition deserved thesamehighpriority thathadproved sosuccessful inthe areasofimmunization andaRT.Thestrengthening ofUNICEF assistance tonutrition programmes wasencouraged byonedelegation because experience hadshownthatthe concentration onhealth carewithout anexcellent nutrition programme wouldnot reduc~ IMR. 36.Onedelegation statedthattheproposed nutrition strategy wasnotentirely convincing andthatitmightbepossible toeliminate theworstaspects of malnutrition byenabling families toplaytheirproper rolesinensuring thegood health andnutritional statusoftheirchildren. Another delegation encouraged UNICEF toincrease the6percentofitsresources currently devoted tonutrition. (Seechap.IV,decision 1990/19 andannexI,paras. 83-87.) Education 37.Delegations voicedtheirconcern aboutthelackofprogress inthefieldof education and,therefore, welcomed theorganization's decision toincrease resources allocated toeducation. Onedelegation requested clarification aboutthe practical implications ofsuchanincrease ifitmeant areduction inhealth activities andwondered towhatextent UNICEF wasequipped tocarryouta reorientation infavour ofeducation andhowitintended toimplement plansinthis area. Another delegation commented thatbasiceducation, likebasichealth, should berecognized asanessential economic investment, andprotected. Thefocus,it wasfelt,should beonbasic(primary) andnon-formal education, withanadded focusonhealth andnutrition, andthetarget groupshould bemothers andgirls. Another delegation spokeoftheimportant roleofparents asthechild's first educator, andstressed theneedforUNICEF tobearthisinmindasnewinitiatives inbasiceducation wereplanned sinceeducating children implied educating parents. Special reference wasalsomadetotheimportance ofeducational programmes toencourage meninsomesocieties toassumegreater responsibility for theupbringing ofchildren andthemaintenance ofthehousehold. 38.Themajority ofdelegations commended UNICEFparticipation inthepreparations forandconvening oftheWorldConference onEducation forAllheldinJomtien, Thailand, from5to9May1990andmadestrong statements ofsupport forthegoals andtargets adopted attheWorldConference. Itbrought intofocustheimportance offemaleeducation andearlychildhood stimulation andhighlighted the mUlti-pronged nature andimportant impact ofeducation onrealandsustainable development. TheWorldConference alsodeveloped aframework ofaction tomeetthe basiclearning needsofchildren, youthandadults. 39.Theimportance ofgreater co-ordination withUNESCO andotherrelevant organizations suchastheWorldBank, UNDPandtheInternational Labour Organisation (ILO)wasstressed, andmoredetailed information onthedivision of labour amongthevarious organizations wasrequested. Inaddition, onedelegation advised thatfulladvantage should betakenofnon-governmental activities, which functioned ascatalysts tocomprehensive governmental programmes, andthattherole
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a report on a conference or meeting where various delegations discussed and agreed upon policies and strategies related to international development, particularly in the areas of health, education, and humanitarian aid. The text mentions specific organizations, such as UNICEF, WHO, and UNESCO, and focuses on issues like family planning, nutrition, and education.

**Category**
Health, Education, Humanitarian aid and relief