30 May 1991

12th plenary meeting

Critical social situation in Africa

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 2542 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969 containing the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, which provides the framework for international cooperation in the field of social development,

Recalling also General Assembly resolutions 39/29 of 3 December 1984 and 40/40 of 2 December 1985, which led to the convening of the thirteenth special session of the General Assembly, devoted to the critical economic situation in Africa, at which the Assembly adopted by consensus resolution S-13/2 of 1 June 1986, to which the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990 is annexed,

Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/46 of 24 May 1989, in which the Secretary-General was requested, in consultation with the Organization of African Unity, the Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank, to prepare a report providing an in-depth evaluation of the critical social situation in Africa, paying particular attention to the obstacles to the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action,

Recognizing that progress in the social and economic fields is an essential priority for developing countries,

Taking into account the fact that in Africa's Priority Programme for Economic Recovery 1986-1990, the Governments of African States reaffirmed their primary responsibility for the economic and social development of their countries, identified areas for priority action, and undertook to mobilize and utilize domestic resources for the achievement of their priority objectives,

Reiterating that the African social and economic crisis is a development crisis that concerns the international community as a whole and that greater realization of the rich physical and human potential of the continent should be an integral part of a common strategy to promote the economic and social advancement of peoples,

Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by African Governments in redressing some of the acute social problems confronting them,

Stressing that the prospects for concerted implementation of Africa's Priority Programme for Economic Recovery 1986-1990 are being affected by an unfavourable external economic environment, debt-servicing obligations and the rate of flow of development finance,

1. Takes note of the interim report of the Secretary-General on the world social situation;

2. Appeals to the international community, the States members of the specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to increase their cooperation and assistance to enhance the efforts made by the African countries to establish or improve their infrastructure, through the creation of a favourable economic environment;

3. Regrets that the report of the Secretary-General on the critical social situation in Africa, prepared in response to Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/46, failed to meet the requirements set out in paragraph 3 of that resolution;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to direct the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, in cooperation with the African Development Bank and, as appropriate, the Organization of African Unity, to prepare once again, for submission to the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-third session, a report on the critical social situation in Africa, providing an in-depth evaluation of the critical social situation in Africa, paying particular attention to the obstacles to the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990, including the impact of structural adjustment policies on the social situation in Africa;

5. Decides that the Commission for Social Development should consider the report on the critical social situation in Africa at its thirty-third session in the context of its review of the world social situation.