Declaration on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations

A/RES/2627(XXV)No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, published in 1971.

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3 versions · 1971–2015

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/70/3

2015A/RES/70/3Declaration on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the United NationsLatestCompare with previous version
1995A/RES/50/6Declaration on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the United NationsCompare with previous version
1971A/RES/2627(XXV)Declaration on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations

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2 topics

Anniversaries Declarations (Text)

What does this mandate say?

12 operative paragraphs

In furtherance of the anniversary objectives of peace, justice and progress, we reaffirm our dedication to the Charter of the United Nations and our will to carry out the obligations contained in the Charter.

The United Nations, despite its limitations,

has, in its role as a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining the purposes mentioned in Article 1 of the Charter, made an important contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security, to develoJ?ing friendly relations based on respect for the pnnciple of equal rights and selfdetermination of' peoples and to achieving international co-operation in economic, social, cultural and humanitarian fields. We reaffirm our deep conviction that the United Nations can provide a most effective means to strengthen the freedom and independence of nations.

In pursuance of the purposes of the Charter,

we reaffirm. our determination to respect the prmciples of international law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among States. We will exert our utmost efforts to develop such relations among all States, irrespective of their political, economic and social systems, on the basis of strict observance of the principles of the Charter, and in particular the principle of sovereign equality of States, the principle that States shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, the principle that they shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means, the duty not to intervene in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, the duty of States to cooperate with one another in accordance with the Charter, and the principle that States shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the Charter. The progressive devel~ opment and codification of international law, in which important progress was made during the first twenty-five years of the United Nations, should be

3 A/8118. For the printed text of this document, see Official Records of the Security Council, Twenty-fifth Year, Supplement for October, November and December 1970, document

advanced in order to promote the rule of law among nations. In this connexion we particularly welcome the adoption today of the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.4

Despite the achievements of the United Nations, a grave situation of insecurity still confronts the Organization and armed conflicts occur in various parts of the world, while at the same time the arms race and arms expenditure continue and a large part of humanity is suffering from economic under-development. We reaffirm our determination to take concrete steps to fulfil the central task of the United Nations-the preservation of international peace and security-since the solution to many other crucial problems, notably those of disarmament and economic development, is inseparably linked thereto, and to reach agreement on more effective procedures for carrying out United Nations peace-keeping consistent with the Charter. We invite all Member States to resort more often to the peaceful settlement of inte1:1ational . disputes and conflicts by the means ~rov1~ed ~or m th~ <:;barter, n?!a~ly thro~gh negotiation, mqIDry, mediation, conc1hation, arbitration and judicial settlement, making use as appropriate of the relevant organs of the United Nations, as well as through resort to regional agencies or arrangements or other peaceful means of their own choice. ·

On the threshold of the Disarmament Decade, we welcome the important international agreements which have already been achieved in the limitation of armaments, especially nuclear arms. Conscious of the long and difficult search for ways to halt and ~verse . the arms race and of the grave threat to mternational peace posed by the continuing development of sophisticated weapons, we look forward to ~e early conclusion of further agreements of this kmd and to moving forward from arms limitation to a reduction of armaments and to disarmament everywhere, particularly in the nuclear field with the participation of all nuclear Powers. we' call upon all Governments to renew their determination to make concrete progress towards the elimination of the arms race and the achievement of the final goal -general and complete disarmament under effective international control.

We acclaim the role of the United Nations in t!3-e past twenty-five years in the process of the liberation of peoples of colonial, Trust and other Non- Self-Governing Territories. As a result of this wel- ~ome develo]?me!1t, the number of sovereign States m th~ OrgaD;IZation has been greatly increased and colorual e?lpues have virtually disappeared. Despite thes~ ach1evement.s, many Territories and peoples con~ue to be demed their right to self-determination and md~pendence, particularly in Namibia, Southern Rhodesia, Angola, Mozambique and Guinea (Bissau), in d~liberate and deplorable defiance of the 'l!mted Nations and world opinion by certain recalc1trant ~tates and by the illegal regime of Southern Rhod~s1a. We reaffirm the inalienable right of all ~olorual peoples to self-determination, freedom and mdependence and condemn all actions which deprive an:r. people of these rights. In recognizing the leg~ttmacy of the struggle of colonial peoples for t~err freedom by all appropriate means at their disposal, we call upon all Governments to comply

' Resolution 2625 (XXV). General Assembly-Twenty-fifth SeHion in this respect with the provisions of the Charter,

taking into account the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples

adopted by the United Nations in 1960. We re.- emphasize that these countries and peoples are entitled, in their just struggle, to seek and to receive al~ necessary moral and material help in accordance with the P,urposes and principles of the Charter.

We strongly condemn the evil policy of apartheid, which is a crime against the conscience d d' · f ank' d an igmty o m md an ' like nazism, is contrary to the principles of the Charter. We reaffirm our determination to spare no effort, including support to those who struggle against it, in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Charter, to secure the elimination of apartheid in South Africa. We also condemn all forms of oppression and tyranny wherever they occur and racism and the practice of racial discrimination in all its manif estations.

The United Nations has endeavoured in its :first twenty-five years to further the Charter objectives of promoting respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. The international conventions and declarations concluded . under its auspices give expression to the moral conscience of mankind and represent humanitarian standards for all members of the international community. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide constitute a landmark in international cooperation and in the recognition and protection of the rights of every individual without any distinction. Although some progress bas been achieved, serious violations of human rights are still being committed against individuals and groups in several regions of the world. We pledge ourselves to a continued and determined struggle against all violations of the rights and fundamental freedoms of human beings, by eliminating the basic causes of such violations, by promoting universal respect for the dignity of all people without regard to race, colour, sex, language or religion, and in particular through greater use of the facilities provided by the United Nations in accordance with the Charter.

During the past twenty-five years, efforts have been made, by adopting specific measures and by fashioning and employing new institutions, to give concrete substance to the fundamental objectives enshrined in the Charter, to create conditions of stability and well-being and to ensure a minimum standard of living consistent with human dignity. We. are convinced that such economic and social development is essential to peace, international security and justice. The nations of the world have, therefore, resolved to seek a better and more effective system of international co-operation whereby the prevailing disparities may be banished and prosperit,Y secured for all. International e.ff orts for econom1c and technical co-operation must be on a scale commensurate with that of the problem itself. In this context, the activities of the United Nations· system designed to secure the economic and social progress of all countries, in particular the developing countries, which have grown significantly in the past twenty-five years, should be further strengthened and

increased. Partial, sporadic and half-hearted measures will not suffice. On the occasion of this anniversary, we have proclaimed the 1970s to be the Second United Nations Development Decade, which coincides with and is linked to the Disarmament Decade, and have adopted the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade.5 We urge all Governments to give their full support to its most complete and effective implementation in order to realize the fundamental objectives of the Charter.

The new frontiers of science and technology demand ~eater international co-operation. We reaffirm our mtention to make full use, inter alia, through the United Nations, of the unprecedented opportunities created by advances in science and tec:tlnology for the benefit of peoples everywhere in such fields as outer space, the peaceful uses of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction and the improvement of the quality of the environment, so that the developed and developing countries can share equitably scientific and technical advances, thus contributing to the acceleration of economic development throughout the world.

The great increase in the membership of the Organization since 1945 testifies to its vitality; however, universality in terms of membership in the Organization has not yet been achieved. We express the hope that in the near future all other peaceloving States which accept and, in the judgement of the Organization, are able an,d willing to carry out the obligations ~f the Charter will become Members. It is furthermore desirable to find ways and means to strengthen the Organization's effectiveness in dealing with the growing volume and complexity of its work in all areas of its activities, and notably those relating to the strengthening of international peace and security, including a more rational division and co-ordination of work among the various agencies and organizations of the United Nations system.

Mankind is confronted today by a critical and urgent choice:

either increased peaceful cooperation and progress or disunity and conflict, even annihilation. We, the representatives of the States Members of the United Nations, solemnly observing the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, reaffirm our determination to do our utmost to ensure a lasting peace on earth and to /observe the purposes and principles embodied in wt Charter, and express full confidence that the actions of the United Nations will be conducive to the advancement of mankind along the road to peace, justice and progress.

1 1883rd plenary meeting,

24 October 1970.

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