24 May 1990

13th Plenary Meeting

1990/25. Achievement of social justice

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 42/49 of 30 November 1987 and 44/55 of 8 December 1989 and Council resolutions 1988/46 of May 1988 and 1989/71 of 24 May 1989,

Recalling also 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,

Recognizing that more extensive international and regional co-operation is important for promoting social justice,

Bearing in mind that, in accordance with the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, social progress and development must be founded on respect for the dignity and value of the human person and must ensure the promotion of human rights and social justice,

Mindful of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future, the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women,the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the International Plan of Action on Aging,

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 better integrated and mutually supportive economic and social development policies, aimed at the achievement of social justice,

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

2. Reaffirms that the common purpose of the international community must be to forge from varied economic, social and political conditions a global environment of sustained development, full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and social justice and peace;

3. Reaffirms the importance of co-operation among countries in promoting a climate conducive to the achievement by individual countries of the goals of development and social justice and progress;

4. Considers that such co-operation and its promotion should continue to be a major focus of activities of the United Nations in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations;

5. Calls upon Member States, in elaborating policies in the field of social development and the social situation of all population groups, to take into consideration the importance of achieving social justice for all;

6. Recommends that the Secretary-General, in preparing studies and reports on social problems, examine the question of social justice and the ways in which it can be achieved;

7. Requests the Commission for Social Development to consider the question of social justice and possible avenues of international co-operation for promoting social progress.