24 May 1989

15th plenary meeting

Achievement of social justice

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 42/49 of 30 November 1987 and Council resolution 1988/46 of 27 May 1988,

Considering the pledge made by States Members of the United Nations in the Charter to take joint and separate action to promote higher standards of living, full employment and conditions of economic and social progress and development,

Bearing in mind that, in accordance with the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, 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,

Convinced that more extensive international and regional co-operation is important for promoting social progress at the national level,

Mindful of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future,

Persuaded of the importance of taking measures to ensure co-ordination within the United Nations system in order to develop a comprehensive approach to developmental social welfare, including integrated and mutually supportive economic and social development policies, focused on the achievement of social justice,

1. Recognizes that social justice is one of the most important goals of social progress;

2. Calls upon States to take concepts of social justice as a basis for the preparation of their national development plans and programmes, giving priority to endeavouring to solve problems relating to employment, education, health care, nutrition, housing, social welfare and the raising of standards of living;

3. Recommends that the appropriate United Nations bodies and specialized agencies take into account the need to achieve social justice for all when considering social development issues and the observance of human rights;

4. Requests the Secretary-General, in his studies and reports concerning international social development issues, including the reports on the world social situation, to devote attention to social justice issues and, in particular, to ways of achieving the objective in question;

5. Requests the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-second session, when monitoring the implementation of international plans and programmes of action, specifically the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future, to consider ways and means of developing approaches to the achievement of social justice.