A/44/PV.191 General Assembly

91.  (eontinued» 'lWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE mOCLAMATJ)N OF THE DECLARATJ)N ON SOC~AL ~OGRBSS AND aJEVBWIfIENT The FRBSIDBN'l', This norning the Assellbly, in accordance vith the decision taken It,r;: its 3rd pJ.e:uuy !Meting, will devote this Me tilW! to the observance of \:he twentieth anniversary of the proclclI8tion of the Declaration on Social Proqress and Development, which is considered under itell 91~ On this day 20 y.,a rs ago the General Aasellbly adoPted the Declaration on Social ~ogrest ~d Development. The Declaration reaffir.ed the core ~8Saqe contained in the United Nati~ns Charter that the ultl~ate purpose of development is the betterment of the human condition. In elaborating on this basic theee. it Placed special emPhasis on the need to prollW:)te social 'juf'Jtice and the diqni ty and value of the human person. It underlined the crucial l~portance of international co~peration to make possible the rP.alization of human pOte~tial in all its dimensioM. The main pnctical purpose of the Declaration vas to provide a co_on basis for social de~elopment policies and for action at the national and international level$. I am plea~ed to not~ that the developing countries - whose ~Umbef and inf luence vi thin the member:Jhip of our Orc;l anha tion vas then growinq rapidly u~~r ~he full thrust of decolonization - played an important part in th~ deliberations and negotta tions l~di~ to the adoption of the Declara tion, as well as in derfining its principles, goals and means and met~ods of realization. After the adoption of the DeClacA tion~ the Pre151dent of the General AAsellbly at the twenty-fourth session, Miss Angle Brooks of Liberia, stated that it was the first international instrument vhich provided clear quidelinee not onlv for social policies but also for the inteqration of economic and social action for the improvement of societies and the well-beinq of the individual. Much water has passed under the bridqe oince then. The world has underqone Profound chanqes in many spheres - economic, social, demographic, tec~nological and poli tical. Yet the central message and many of the detailed provisions of the Declaration remain as valid today as when it was adopted. Indeed the very changes that I have noted have made them even ItW:Ire topical a.c; we have come to realize as never before that W~ are all in one boat, or under the same roof, with shared social concerns and common interests. ('the President) While the Declara tion thus remains highly topical and relevant in many of its essentials, time has clearly overtaken some of its provisions, which today appear somewhat dated, reflecting ephemeral concerns of 20 years a90 and approaches to Problems perfected in different circumstances from those p~evailing today. But that should not disturb us, indeed, it would be most surprising if w@ did not view certain things differentl~ today, and that we do so means that we can learn from experience. We cannot stand still~ and indeed we have not done so. Many issues and ideas only broadly sketched in the Declaration have been given clearer shape i~ the intervening years through patient research and negotiation and they are reflected in both in terna tional instruments and plar.s of action and, in many instances, indeed in practical action. In the intervtming 20 years life has clearly improved for many people around the world, which is proof that the goals of the Declaration are not beyond attainment - for some at l6'ist. We should now focus our attention and our ~::tions more closely on that large portion of humanity for whom life continues to be a daily struggle for survival, with few prospects for improvement in sight and indeed the very real prospect - and often the reality - of further impoverishment. In 1969 we were perhaps unduly optimistic that proqress was i~evitable - largely a auestion of time - and that economic growth would automa ticallY bring social advance. We have learned from bitter experience that progress is not inevitable~ that indeed it can be reversed. Social advance does not necessarily follow automatically on economic growth and growth itself is but a tende r plant. The plight and misery of millions of my fellow Africans have been vividly descdhP.d in many statements at this Assembly session. The problems of indebted countries or of countries tryirg to naviga le in the turbulent global economic wa ters and the (The President) social costs of economic adjustment and austerity have also been brought repeatedly to our attention. As ve commemorate the twsntieth anniversary of the Declaration let us explore the specific manner: in which tie can pronnte implementa tion of key objectives.. let us agree on priorities in the context of current global realities and ensure that they are adeQuately reflected in a new international development strategy. let us ta~e ad~antaqe of the improving global political environment to set a course of action of real and lasting benefit in improved living conditions, especially for the poorer countries. More importantly, let us commit ourselves to existing realities within the international community and ensure that the euphoria that has accomPanied recent political developments and the lessening of global tensions does not in any way become transla ted into diminished social progr.ess and development for third world countries. I should like now to inform the Assembly that the Secretaty-General of the United Nations has issued a message (SGJSM/2382~OC 4197) on the occasion of this anniversary. I now call upon the representative of Liberia, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States. Mr. JARRE'l'T (Liberia), The At dcan Group, on whose behalf I am honou red and privileged to speak, welcomes the opportwity tn participa te in this meeting commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development. On 11 December 1969 the General Assembly adopted and solemnly proclaimed the Veclara tion on Social Progress and Development, which defined the principles of social development, its obiectives and the methods and means of. achieving those objectives. (The President) As we commennrate the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, a numbee of fundamental Questions could be raised as to whether indeed we should be assembled here today to celebra te this occas ion, in view of experiences in many countries. The Secretary-General in the laRt paragraph of his report to the Economic and Social Council sta tesl "social conditions are deteriorating drastically. This situation involves nearly 1 billion people, mostly in Africa and lAtin America, and is so essential to other deliberations of the United Nations that it cannot be overlooked ••• ". (A/44/86, para. 139) The critical auestion we should ask ourselves iSl What happened to our commitments? WhY is it that hunger, malnutd tion, poverty and social disorders continue to be Pervasive? Have we addressed those issues or have we individually and collectively I1Illde any memil\9ful efforts to live by our commitments in terms t)f allocating apPropriate resources and providing the necessary political support for the social betterment and development of our: people'.j? Without giving comprehensive answers to those auestions ! would like to point to the efforts that African countries have made in an attempt to ensure the improvement of the social progress and development of the oontinent in keeping with the letter and spirit of the Declaration which we solemnly adopted 20 years ago. Ten years after the United Nations General Assembly acbpted the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, Heade of State or Government of the Organisation of African Unity met in July 1979 in Monrovia, Liberia, in order to review the economic and social condi tions in Africa. They pointed out that the effect of unfulfilled promises of global development strategies which had been IIlOre sharply felt in Africa than in other continents had (Mr. Jarrett,. Liberia) led them to take urgent action to provide necessary political support for achieving national and continental self-reliance in economic and social development. After an in-depth review of their economic and social conditions, African leaders decided to a<bpt the Monrovia Declarati.on of Commitment of Heads of State or Government of the Organiza tion of African Unity, in which they undertook individually and collectively to promote the economic and social development of African countries. The Monrovia Declaration puts sPecific emphasis on, interali~, human resource development, science and technology, subregional and regional economic integra tion and protect:ion of the environmente (Mr. Jarrett, Liberia) As a follow-up of this D:!claration~ an extraordinary summit meeting of African leaders, which was held in Lagos, Nigeria, decided to adopt sectoral and global priorities in the social and economic fields with a view to achieving fast and self-sustaining economic growth. These priorities are embodied in the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of ragos - a blueprint for Africa's socio-economic development. In spite of a combination of adverse external factors, African countries have put in place institutions which should facilitate implementation of the Monrovia Declaration and the Lagos Plan of Action. I refer to subregional economic groupings, such as the Economic Community of West African States, the Economic Colmlunity of Central Af dcan States, and the Preferentia1 Trade Area for Easte rn and Southern African States. These groupings now actively address on a day to day basis the economic and social issues of countries in their respective subregions. Overall, the Organhation of African Unity is now poised to set up an African economic community in accordance with the gllidelines embodied in the Final Act of Lagos. Thus, at the continental level, African States so far have taken a number of actions which are consistent with the principles, objecti~es and modalities for implemntation of the teclaration on Social Progress and Development. Another landmark in Africa's efforts to promote social progress has been in the area of human rights. The African Charter on Ibman and Peoples Rights is a clear manifestation of the commitment of African countries to the fundamental principles enshrined in the Charter of the Organization of African Unity, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The African Charter on Human and People's Rights was adoPted in 1981 in Nairobi, Kenya. I As of now, 41 States members of the Orqanization of African Unity (OAU) have signed and ratified it. The Charter clearly recognizes .the right to (Mr. JaLrett, Liberia) development and the basic fact that civil and poli tical rights cannot be dissociated from economic, social and cultural riqhts. The Declar&tion on Social Proqress and Development also Eecogni~es the impOrtance of the family in society. The OAU Ch&rter does this and goes further to underline the role of the State in protecting and assisting the family, as well as women, children, the aged and the disabled. Despite these efforts, African countries have during the last two dP.cadeA eXPerienced serious difficulties in providing for the social and economic needs and reauirements of their peoples. The last two &cades have vi tnessed a series I)f crises emanating from such exogenous factors as drought and desertification, a sharp decline in comnodity prices, a deterioration of the terms of trade, declining investments, inadequate resource flows to support economic reforms that are necessary for the acceleration of economic growth and development. The excruciating debt and debt-servicing burden have compounaed the situation to such an extent that today African Governments have been forced either to cut back or abandon programmes for socio-economic development. Such a state of affairs definitely reauires urgent international action. Furthermore, the advancement of social proqress and development in Africa is seriously impeded t1i South Africa's apartheid policy and inAtitutionalized racism, as well as by its aggression aqainst and destabilization of the front-line States. !eartheid has been declared a crime against humanity, hut yet the black majority of the population of South Africa continues to he deprived of their basic human rights, and fran participating freely in the poli tical affairs of their country. The !partheid regime has continued to stifle oppositil)R hy an unjustified sta~ of emergency I there is a denial of justice through detention without trial, and forcible removal of certain elements of the population. Meanwhile, a recent study by the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force and the Economic Commission for Africa indicates that between 1980 and lq88 the total cost of South i~rica's destabilization of and aggression against its neighbours is estimated at $60 billion in economic terms" in addi. tion, 1.5 million lives have been lost. These enormous losses deprive the front-line States of essential resources, both human and material, for the advancement of their economic and social well-being. Furthermore, there is the misery of 12 million displaced persons and refugees in southern Africa. It i~ for these and other related reasons that Africa oontinuGs to urqe the international community to take dP.:cisive action to dismantle the detestable .Nld anachronistic ~ystem of apartheid, and to foster the emerqence of a non-racial society in South Africa which will be responsive to the needs of all its people irreSPective of race or colour. As we approach the decade of the 1990s~ we ought to seize the opportunity of the relaxed global poli tical atmosphere to &chieve the aims and objectives of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development. We can 00 so only by strict o\dherence to the United Nations Charter, by which Member States pledqel'l, inter alia, to take joint and separate action, in co-operatio~ with the Organization, to pronote higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress through respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and for the dignity and worth of the human person. This affirmation, made almost half ~ century ago, remains valid today, and it is therefore our hope that we shall fully understand that mankind's search for a better world inextricably linkS us all in a oonmon struggle. The PRESIDENTI I now call on Mbass8100r Ilndteas Mavrommatis, the rePresentative of ~prus, who will speak on beh~lf of the Group of Asian States. Mr. MAVR<MMATlS (~prus) I The Group Ole As ian States welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the observance of the twentieth anniversary of the proclamation of the Declaration Ori Social ProgreAo and Development. It is beyond dOUbt that SOCial development is a key element in aChieving progress in other crucial issues confronting the wodd today - issues suCh as peace and securitv. pOlitical stability, protection of the environment, arid human rights, to mention just a few. 1bday ~ are observing the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development by the General Assembly in its resolu tion 2542 (XXIV) of 11 ~cember 1969. At the same time we cannot but express concern over the slowing down, and even sometimes regression, of social progress in a latge number of developing countries as a result of the grave economic problems these countries are facing. The heavy burden of foreLgn debt in conjunction with other aggrava ting factors, such as trade deficita, infla tion and unemploy ment, impose a tremendous obstacle to the progress of many countries and seriously curta il funds earmarked by Governments for social develoPJrent programmes. Nevertheless we are greartly encouraged by the fact that, as in other fields, interna tion&! co~peration on social issues has attai~ed some significant goals, as was attested to recently by Ms. Anstee, Director-General of the United Nations Office in Vienna, in her statement before the Third Committee with reference to the very same event that we are celebrating today. We are fully aware that, according to the Declaration, social proql:ess and development· ',all be founded on respect for the dignity and value of the human ~~~aon and shall ensure the promotion of human rights and social justice. This important goal necessitates, inter alia, the eradiction of policies and practices that hinder social progress, such as racism, racial discrimination and, in particular, apartheid. Other dangerous trends and habits which debilitate large numbers of individuals and hence incapacita te society must also be eradica ted' I am referring to the alarming proportions attained by the scourge of drug abuse and drug trafficking. In solemnly reaffirming today the principles and objectives of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, we stress the direct link between social and economic issues and we urge a more constructive oo~rdination of the work carried (Mr. Mavrolil1\atis, 9'prus) out in these parallel but intercela ted fields by the interna tional community in general, and by the various relevant bodies within the United Nations system in particular. We are convinced that more extensive interna tional and reg 10nal co--operatinn is needed for the promotion of social progress and development. It is our earnest hope that the promising strides made recently towards detente and the peaceful solution of international conflicts will be followed by an appropriate improvement in the Quality of life of millions of human beings who are at present denied the fulfilment of their most basic needs in terms of health care, housing, employment and even nutri tion. The efforts of the international community should not be concentrated solely and exclusively on the pursuit of peace and security. AdeQuate resources and careful planning must be devoted to the difficult but attainable endeavour to establish a just social and economic order that would enable thP. full enjoyment of a peaceful and secure world. The Asian group of countries stands ready to work with all other nations to prollDte the principles and objectives of the Declara tion. The PRESIDENT, I call now on the representative of German Democratic Republic, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European Sta teR. Mr. ZACHMANN (German Democratic Republic), In my capacity as Chairman of the Group of Eastern European States I wish to address tllis plenary meeting on thp. occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the adopt~~n of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development. The Eastern European Sta tes consider the Declara tion an important instrument for promoting national and intp.rnational efforts on behalf of social progress and development. They believe that the objectives and prinoiples of the Declaration have lost nothing of their topicality. TWenty years after the adoption of the Declara tion the preamble's proposi tion that (~r. Mavrommatis, Cyprus) "man can achieve complete fulfilment of his aspirations only within a just social order and that it is consequently of cardinal importance to accelerate 80cial and economic progress everywhere, thus contributing to interna tionat peace and solidarity· (resolution 2542 (XXIV) is still valid and attests to the f.arsightednesB of the authors. ~~v the awareness that international peace and security and economic and social progress fOlr all human beings 01'1 our planet are closely intertwined has become an essential element in reshaping international relations. Therefore the objectives of the Declara tion can be implemented only if all Sta tes co~peratP. on the basi~ of dialogue and accommodation of interests. JOint action and the IIIObiliza ticn of all na tional and interfla tional resources will make possible that "Social progreSB and development ••• aim at the continuous raising of the material and spiritual standards of living of all members of society, with respect for and in compliance with human rights and fundamental freedoms" (ibid., part· Il). It is an indisputable fact that the worsening of the economic situation, particularly in developing countries, is bound to lead to an aggrava ticn of social problems. This is reflected also in the 1989 report on the world social situation. But the developed countries also are beset with formidable problems, and they are confronted with the emergence of completely new ones, notahly in the social field. This sitllation makes it imperative for U9 to share responsibility - in political, moral and also practical terms - in the search for solutions that are acceptable to all. Here we see ample scope for Uni ted Na tions activi ties, as walol rightly stressed by the Secretary-General in his report contained in A/44/l16. We support the view that the O@clara tionbe taken into account in the formulation of the interna tional development stra tegy for the Fourth Ui'li ted Ha tions Development Decade and in the implementation of programmes of internati~nat action to be carried out during the Decade. The main objectives of the Declaration - namely, the elimination of t.Itlemployment, hunger, malnutri tion and poverty, the eradic"l tion of UU teracy, tile assurance of the right to universal access to culturel the provision of health Protection for the entire popula tion, the provhion of free, universal educa tion at the primary level, and the promotion of human rights and social justice - while sUll valid, have not yet been universally realized. The report of the Secretary -General says on that matte r, "The objectives have been quite generally pursued, althouqh in many countries economic adversity has obstructed progress in these area~A. Therefore the EaAtern European Stat~s have launched several initiatives in the framework of the Uni ted tb tions with a view to making a business-lilte a~td constructive contribution to the promotion of oo~perati~n among all nations in transla ting into practice the objectives of the Declara tiol\. Those initiatives include the following draft resolutions, 11Fbpular participation in its various forms as an important faclor in development and in the full realization of all human rightsll, IIAchievement of social justice ll, llSocial welfare, develoPment &nd science and technology 11, llHuman rights, science and technology 11, IIRig~t to worle", "'Ri.9ht to educationll, and 11 Indivisibility and interdePef~dence of economic, social, civil and pOlitical rights 11. Our interdependent world, with lts old and nev 'Problems, need~ is favourable international environment and the co-operation of States as eQuals, irrespective of their socio~conomic systems or poli tical, ideological, cultural or other values. Only in that way can Governments fulfil their responsibilities vi8-a-~is their peoples and helP to achieve the objectives of the Deolaration on Social ETogress and Development. ~ that end the Eastern European States will continue to add bOth their constructive contribution and their experience to the future efforts of the international col1lllunity. They will cb all they can to help increase the effectiveness of the United Nations and to strengthen the role of the ~orld Organization in that respect nlso. The PRES IDENT, I call on the repzoesentative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States. Mr$ lQotPEY (Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesl: It is an honour: for me, on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, to address thiR meeting commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the proclamation of the Declara tion on Soclal Progress and Development. Twenty years ago the General Assembly adopted the Declarati~n on Social Progress and Development. The ~clara tion defined the principles and objectives of social progress and the means and the methods of aChieving those objectives. It reaffirmed our faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms, and in the principles of peace, the dignity and worth of the human person, and social justice proclaimed in the United Nations Charter. It set out the individual's basic right to work and to the free choice of employment, and the right to enjoy the fruits of social progress. It declared the family to be the basic unit of society and called for the elimination of illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty and hunger. The international environment has undergone rapid political change since the adoption of the Declaration 20 years ago. However, social and economic development have tended to lag behind poli tical growth, and there are serious problems in those sPheres of life that reauire urgent solutions at the national and international levels. The principles and obiectives of the Declaration are just as relevant today as we confront the proble~~ of debt and adjustment, environmental degradation, poverty, hunger and the drug crisis. The Declaration also called for general and complete disarmament and the channellinq of the progressively released reSOurces to economic development, particularly for the benefit of developing oountries. That is a dream that remains largely unrealized, and the misalloca tioo of social and economic resources associated with the arms race is one of the root causes of suffering in the world today. The States members of. the Latin American and Caribbean Group are of the view that the twen tieth anniversary of the proclama tion of the Declara tion on Social Progress and Development provides the international community with a uniaue opportunity for rededicating itself to the aims of peace and social progress, and for adopting new programmes and strat~gies for promoting better standards of life in larqer freedom. (Mr. Fbmpey, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)