30 May 1991

12th plenary meeting

Strategies for social development cooperation

The Economic and Social Council,

Reaffirming the Declaration on Social Progress and Development proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 2542 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969,

Mindful of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future, endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 42/125 of 7 December 1987,

Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/55 of 24 May 1989 on the social dimension of the international development strategy for the fourth United Nations development decade,

Deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration of the social situation in many developing countries, in particular the least developed among them,

1. Notes with appreciation the convening of the Meeting of the Expert Group on the Social Impact of the Critical Economic Environment on Developing Countries: Strategies for Social Development Cooperation at Jarvenpaa, Finland, from 17 to 21 September 1990, under the joint auspices of the United Nations and the Government of Finland;

2. Endorses the views and suggestions contained in the report of the Expert Group and requests the Secretary-General to arrange for its wide dissemination, drawing particular attention to the suggestions and recommendations contained therein;

3. Invites organizations of the United Nations system, other international organizations and Member States to review their goals and operating procedures in the light of the considerations and suggestions offered by the Expert Group;

4. Calls upon all Member States to ensure that social concerns are fully integrated in all development cooperation projects and activities;

5. Further calls upon all Member States, in a spirit of cooperation and partnership between developed and developing countries, to promote sustained and sustainable development that reconciles economic growth with the improvement of living standards, social welfare, environmental protection and democracy;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to organize activities, including additional research, designed to elaborate further practical measures and techniques to achieve the goals of social progress and development;

7. Urges Member States to associate themselves actively with such activities;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council at its first regular session of 1993, through the Commission for Social Development, on progress achieved and obstacles encountered in implementing the social development goals and objectives of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade, and on the progress made in elaborating the suggestions and recommendations of the Expert Group.