Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights: A Legal Resource Guide

2. Declaration on Social Progress and Development

Chapter 2 Declaration on Social Progress and Development The General Assembly, Mindful of the pledge of Members of the United Nations under the Charter to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organization to promote higher standards of living, full employment and conditions of economic and social progress and development, ReafWrming faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms and in the principles of peace, of the dignity and worth of the human person, and of social justice proclaimed in the Charter, Recalling the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination , the Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding between Peoples, the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and of resolutions of the United Nations, Bearing in mind the standards already set for social progress in the constitutions, conventions , recommendations and resolutions of the International Labour Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, ScientiWc and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund and of other organizations concerned, Convinced that man can achieve complete fulWlment of his aspirations only within a just social order and that it is consequently of cardinal importance to accelerate social and economic progress everywhere, thus contributing to international peace and solidarity, Convinced that international peace and security on the one hand, and social progress Proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 2542 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969. and economic development on the other, are closely interdependent and inXuence each other, Persuaded that social development can be promoted by peaceful coexistence, friendly relations and co-operation among States with different social, economic or political systems, Emphasizing the interdependence of economic and social development in the wider process of growth and change, as well as the importance of a strategy of integrated development which takes full account at all stages of its social aspects, Regretting the inadequate progress achieved in the world social situation despite the efforts of States and the international community, Recognizing that the primary responsibility for the development of the developing countries rests on those countries themselves and acknowledging the pressing need to narrow and eventually close the gap in the standards of living between economically more advanced and developing countries and, to that end, that Member States shall have the responsibility to pursue internal and external policies designed to promote social development throughout the world, and in particular to assist developing countries to accelerate their economic growth, Recognizing the urgency of devoting to works of peace and social progress resources being expended on armaments and wasted on conXict and destruction, Conscious of the contribution that science and technology can render towards meeting the needs common to all humanity, Believing that the primary task of all States and international organizations is to eliminate from the life of society all evils and obstacles to social progress, particularly such evils as inequality, exploitation, war, colonialism and racism, Desirous of promoting the progress of all mankind towards these goals and of overcoming all obstacles to their realization, Solemnly proclaims this Declaration on Social Progress and Development and calls for national and international action for its use as a common basis for social development policies: Part I: Principles Article 1 All peoples and all human beings, without distinction as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, family or social status, or political or other conviction , shall have the right to live in dignity and freedom and to enjoy the fruits of social progress and should, on their part, contribute to it. 242 Declarations Article 2 Social progress and development shall be founded on respect for the dignity and value of the human person and shall ensure the promotion of human rights and social justice , which requires: (a) The immediate and Wnal elimination of all forms of inequality, exploitation of peoples and individuals, colonialism and racism, including nazism and apartheid, and all other policies and ideologies opposed to the purposes and principles of the United Nations; (b) The recognition and effective implementation of civil and political rights as well as of economic...