A/RES/2771(XXVI) GA

Resolutions adopted on the reports of the Third Committee 77 2771 (XXVI). World social situation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2436 (XXIII) of 19 De- cember 1968 on the world social situation and 2542 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969 containing the Dec- laration on Social Progress and Development, Bearing in mind the goals and objectives embodied in the International Development Strategy for the Sec- ond United Nations Development Decade, contained in its resolution 2626 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Noting with appreciation the 1970 Report on the World Social Situation,8 Deeply concerned that the world social situation has continued to deteriorate, that the persistence of poverty, une~ployment, hunger, disease, illiteracy, inadequate housing and uncontrolled growth of population in cer- tain parts of the world has acquired new dimensions and that many causes of the growing disparities between the developed and developing countries hinder the ad- vancement of the developing countries, 1. Endorses the provisions of Economic and Social Council resolution 1581 B (L) of 21 May 1971; 2. Reaffirms the urgency of taking effective meas- ures aimed at halting the deterioration of the world social situation and promoting social progress and development; 3. Emphasizes the pressing need to raise levels of living in the developing countries, to reduce disparities between developed and developing countries and within countries, to accelerate economic and social reforms, and for all countries to pursue progressive and well co-ordinated policies for the promotion of economic and social progress and development throughout the world; 4. Emphasizes further that colonialism, racial dis- crimination, apartheid, alien domination, foreign occu- pation, aggressive wars and other policies of oppres- sion and exploitation, and the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms and economic ex- ploitation by foreign monopolies constitute principal obstacles to social progress and development in many parts of the world and that urgent attention is required, particularly for the amelioration of the social situation of the peoples living in those parts of the world; 5. Stresses that the primary responsibility for the development of developing countries rests upon them- s~lves, but that th_eir own own efforts, however great, will not be sufficient to enable them to achieve the desired development goals as expeditiously as they must, unless they are assisted through increased finan- cial resources and more favourable economic and c<?mmercial policies on the part of the developed coun- tnes; 6. Urges Governments of developed countries to fulfil their obligation to implement the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade, and in particular to attain the targets for trade, financial resources and the provisions for the transfer of science and technology for the development of developing countries embodied in the Strategy-and where possible to exceed those targets- which is essential to the amelioration of the world social situation; 8 Jbid. 7. Reaffirms the inherent rights of all peoples and the permanent sovereignty of all countries, particularly of developing countries, over their natural resources, calls upon Governments and international organiza- tions concerned to refrain from any action which may detract from the exercise by other States of permanent sovereignty over their natural resources and emphasizes the importance for the developing countries of co- ordinating their actions within economic subregional, regional and continental organizations so as to derive the maximum benefits from their natural resources; 8. Draws the attention of all States and the United Nations bodies and specialized agencies concerned to the following conclusions and recommendations based upon the consideration of the 1970 Report on the World Social Situation: (a) The improvement of social conditions in many parts of the world has become, as never before, dependent upon the improvement of international political and economic relations. The social situation of the peoples under colonial and alien domination, or under foreign occupation, is a source of great concern. Their liberation is a prerequisite for the improvement of their social conditions. ( b) A substantial rise in the incomes of the devel- oping countries, required for the reduction of in- equality between developed and developing coun- tries, presupposes, among other things, a positive approach by the developed countries to the questions of trade and aid; the resources necessary for the attainment of this objective could be achieved, among other means, through a drastic reduction in military expenditures, leading finally to general and complete disarmament under effective international control as well as through the exploitation of the resources of the sea-bed and the ocean floor beyond national jurisdiction for the benefit of all mankind, taking into account the special needs and interests of the developing countries, as referred to in General Assembly resolution 2749 (XXV) of 17 December 1970. ( c) Economic growth has generally been accom- panied by a considerable widening of disparities in the distribution of income, wealth and services. Effective measures for promoting economic growth with social justice should receive the highest priority. Social progress will depend, to a very large extent, upon the early and vigorous implementation of a wide range of structural and institutional reforms, such as agrarian reforms, reforms aimed at securing just distribution of national wealth and income, and s1;1ch programmes_ as measures for family planning aimed at controllmg the rate of population growth in countries which consider that that rate hampers their development. (d) The growth of unemployment and under- ~mploy~~nt, par~icularly in t~e developing countries, 1s acqumng senous proportions. Rapid expansion of e~ployment oi::po~tunities should be regarded as an important ob_Jective of dev~lopment planning. J:ar greater attention should be given to the applica- t10n of _labour inten_s~ve techniques for the purpose of drawing under-utilized Jabour in rural and urban areas into extensive programmes of development. ( e) The implementation of the International De- velopm~nt . Strategy in all its interrelated aspects is an obligation of both developed and developing countries. A substantial improvement in the level 78 General Assembly-Twenty-sixth Session of living of the masses in developing countries should be a central objective of the Second United Nations Development Decade. Improvement in the quality and distribution of social services, particularly in the fields of education, health, agriculture, housing, social welfare and social defence, should be recog- nized as an integral part of the over-all development effort. (f) Increased utilization of science and tech- nology will greatly help social progress and develop- ment. Equally important is its equitable sharing by the developed and developing countries. The Ad- visory Committee on the Application of Science and Technology to Development should study the im~le- mentation of the provisions of the present resolution and of the Declaration on Social Progress and De- velopment on the question of science and technology in relation to social development. (g) The unfavourable terms of trade, including the instability of prices of primary commodities which constitute the bulk of exports of many devel- oping countries, are undermining the efforts of these countries to improve their social situation. These terms have been further aggravated by the recent disquieting developments in international economic relations and, in particular, by the instability of the international monetary system. The Economic and Social Council, in its consideration of the monetary and financial situation, should pay special attention to the influence of the current crisis on social prog- ress in different countries, particularly in developing countries, and mention it in its report to the General Assembly. (h) The outflow of qualified personnel from de- veloping countries to developed countries seriously hampers economic and social development in de- veloping countries. (i) Broad popular participation, not only in the implementation of development programmes but also in the formulation of policies and plans and other forms of decision-making, should be regarded as both an objective and a means of development. (j) Due attention should be paid to the needs and aspirations of the younger generation. Effective policy measures designed to involve fully the younger generation in the promotion of social prog- ress and development should be undertaken. (k) Adequate measures should be taken to re- move discriminatory practices against women in all spheres. Greater attention should be paid to wom- en's education, vocational training and guidance so as to ensure their full integration and participation in all aspects of economic and social life. ( l) Adequate attention should be given to multi- disciplinary community services in the field of family and child welfare, particularly in situations of rapid urbanization and social change affecting family levels of living and especially the welfare of pre- school children. 9. Calls upon Governments and the United Nations bodies and specialized agencies concerned to co-operate with the Secretary-General in the preparation of the next report on the world social situation; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit the next report on the world social situation to the General Assembly at its thirtieth session, through the Eco- nomic and Social Council, for consideration in con- junction with the mid-term over-all review and ap- praisal of the Second United Nations Development Decade and to evaluate and analyse trends relating to social development-their causes and manifestations and the experiences thereon-throughout the world, including the situation in colonial, dependent and o~- cupied Territories, within the framework of the um- fied approach to development, ?earing in ~ind . the provisions of the present resolution, the deliberations on this item at the current session of the General As- sembly, the fiftieth session of the E~onomic and Soc~al Council and the twenty-second session of the Commis- sion for Social Development, and the provisions of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development. 1991 st plenary meeting, 22 November 1971. 2783 (XXVI). Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2106 (XX) of 21 Decem- ber 1965 in which it adopted and opened for signature and ratification the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and invited eligible States under article 17 of that Conven- tion to sign and ratify it without delay, Stressing the significance of the coming into force of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and of the bringing into being of the Committee on the Elimination of Ra- cial Discrimination, and requesting all States parties to the Convention to give full co-operation to that Com- mittee in order that it may fulfil iits mandate under the Convention, Noting the recommendations contained in Economic and Social Council resolution 1588 (L) of 21 May 1971, Having received the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,4 established under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, on the second year of its activities, Expressing its satisfaction at the ratification of or accession to the Convention by 55 States and at the intention expressed by various other States to ratify or accede to the Convention in the near future, l. Urges all States which are not yet parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to ratify or accede to the Convention as soon as possible and requests them to report to the General Assembly on the measures taken by them to this effect, on any obstacles that may have been encountered and on any interim measures that have been taken to comply strictly with the prin- ciples set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and in the Convention; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the second year of its activities, submitted under article 9 of the Convention; 3. Draws the attention of all States to the contents of that report; 4 Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/8418).

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