24 May 1989

15th plenary meeting

Social welfare, development and science and technology

The Economic and Social Council,

Noting that scientific and technological progress is an important factor in the social and economic development of society,

Reaffirming the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 2542 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969, in which States are called upon to equitably share scientific and technological advances, to intensify international co-operation in this field and to use science and echnology for the benefit of the social development of society,

Reaffirming also the Declaration on the Use of Scientific and Technological Progress in the Interests of Peace and for the Benefit of Mankind, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 3384 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, in which all States are called upon to promote international co-operation to ensure that the results of scientific and technological developments are used in the interests of strengthening international peace and security, freedom and independence, and also for the purpose of the economic and social development of peoples and the realization of human rights in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,

Considering that implementation of the above-mentioned Declarations will contribute to the social and economic development of peoples and international co-operation in the interests of scientific and technological progress, as well as to the strengthening of peace,

Emphasizing that international co-operation of States for the promotion of scientific and technological progress is in the interest of the social and economic development of all peoples,

Convinced that, in a time of rapid scientific and technological progress, the resources of humankind and the work of scientists make an important contribution to the peaceful economic and social development of nations and to the improvement of the living standards of all peoples,

Aware that technical co-operation, including the possibility of transfer of technology, is one of the ways of achieving better social progress in developing countries,

1. Calls upon all States to encourage co-operation to ensure scientific and technological progress for the welfare of their peoples, as well as of all human beings and their social and economic development, and to contribute to promoting economic development and eliminating grave social problems in the world;

2. Stresses the necessity of using scientific and technological progress as a major aspect of the implementation process of fundamental political, economic, social and cultural human rights in their entirety, as laid down in the International Covenants on Human Rights;

3. Calls upon all Governments to make every effort to use scientific and technological achievements for the promotion of peaceful social and economic development, and to prevent their misuse to the disadvantage of human beings;

4. Requests the Secretary-General, when elaborating the next report on the world social situation, to take due account of the effects of science and technology on processes of social welfare and development on the basis of available information from Governments and from organizations of the United Nations system;

5. Invites the Commission for Social Development, in its discussion of the world social situation, to pay increasing attention to the effects of science and technology on the processes of social welfare and development;

6. Requests the Secretary-General or interested Governments to consider in the near future convening, within existing resources, an expert seminar on the effects of science and technology on social welfare and development.