17th plenary meeting

28 May 1987

Twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development

The Economic and Social Council,

Recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolution:

"The General Assembly,

"Recalling the Declaration on Social Progress and Development based on the Charter of the United Nations and solemnly proclaimed on 11 December 1969 in its resolution 2542 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969,

"Recalling also its resolutions 2543 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969, 32/117 of 16 December 1977, 34/59 of 29 November 1979 and 41/142 of 4 December 1986 on the implementation of the Declaration,

"Convinced of the continuing need to achieve the full realization of the principles and objectives contained in the Declaration, which contribute to peaceful and friendly relations between nations,

"Noting that the year 1989 will mark the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration,

"1. Reaffirms the lasting validity and importance of the principles and objectives proclaimed in the Declaration on Social Progress and Development;

"2. Decides to observe in 1989 the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration;

"3. Invites all States, the specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to take appropriate measures, such as those set out in the annex to the present resolution, which are based on the measures recommended in General Assembly resolution 41/150 on the fortieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to support appropriate activities aimed at encouraging the promotion of human rights and social justice;

"4. Invites all States to inform the Secretary-General of their views and comments concerning the impact of the Declaration, since its adoption, on the formulation and implementation of the national policies and measures of their Governments, as well as how the principles, objectives, and means and methods set out in the Declaration are taken into account in their policies, plans and programmes and in their bilateral and multilateral relations in the field of development;

"5. Invites all States to convey to the Secretary-General their views and comments on possible ways and means of increasing the contribution of the appropriate organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to achieving the full realization of the principles and objectives contained in the Declaration;

"6. Requests the Secretary-General to include the information received pursuant to paragraphs 4 and 5 above in the report requested in paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 41/142, to be submitted to the Assembly at its forty-fourth session through the Commission for Social Development and the Economic and Social Council;

"7. Requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures to observe the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration, bearing in mind the recommended possible measures contained in the annex to the present resolution, in order to draw attention to and emphasize the importance of the Declaration, and the role played and the work done by the United Nations to ensure the effective fulfilment of the objectives of the Declaration;

"8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fourth session an item entitled 'Twentieth anniversary of the proclamation of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development';

"9. Also decides to devote one plenary meeting during its forty-fourth session to the observance of the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration, which falls on 11 December 1989, and requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary preparations for the programme of that meeting."

Annex

RECOMMENDED POSSIBLE MEASURES FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION ON SOCIAL PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT

1. The following measures are recommended for possible action at the national level:

(a) Formal proclamation of 11 December 1989 as Social Progress and Development Day;

(b) Issuance of special messages on 11 December 1989 by heads of State or Government or other prominent civil personalities;

(c) Special meeting of parliamentary and other public and private institutions on Social Progress and Development Day;

(d) Establishment or strengthening of national or local institutions for the promotion of social progress and development and social justice, and the encouragement of teaching programmes on social progress and development at various educational levels;

(e) Dissemination of the text of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development in national languages;

(f) Issuance of social progress and development postage stamps, first-day covers and special cancellations during 1989;

(g) Participation by non-governmental organizations in the observance of the anniversary, and the organization of activities by such organizations;

(h) Organization of activities within the framework and in support of current United Nations decades and international years being prepared on social development.

2. It is recommended that the following measures, among others, should be taken by the Secretary-General at the United Nations level:

(a) Issuance by 11 December 1989 in all official languages of the United Nations of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development;

(b) Organization of commemorative events, according to standard practice, at United Nations Headquarters, at the United Nations Offices at Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna, as well as at United Nations information centres, on or around 11 December 1989.