World Social Situation

A/RES/2771(XXVI)No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, published in 1972.

What other versions does this mandate have?

13 versions · 1964–1992

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/46/95

1992A/RES/46/95World social situationLatestCompare with previous version
1991A/RES/45/87World social situationCompare with previous version
1990A/RES/44/56World social situationCompare with previous version
1986A/RES/40/100World social situationCompare with previous version
1983A/RES/37/54World social situationCompare with previous version

Versions are identified automatically by matching titles within the same organ (~97% accuracy on a manual audit).

What subjects does this mandate have?

16 topics

Brain Drain Child Welfare Development Strategies Disarmament Income Distribution International Monetary Situation Population Control Recommendations Science and Technology Social Change Social Conditions Social Development Terms of Trade Unemployment Women's Advancement Youth

What does this mandate say?

18 operative paragraphs

Endorses the provisions of Economic and Social Council resolution 1581 B (L) of 21 May 1971;

Reaffirms the urgency of taking effective measures aimed at halting the deterioration of the world social situation and promoting social progress and development;

Emphasizes the pressing need to raise levels of living in the developing countries, to reduce disparities between developed and developing countries and within countries, to accelerate economic and social reforms, and for all countries to pursue progressive and well co-ordinated policies for the promotion of economic and social progress and development throughout the world;

Emphasizes further that colonialism, racial discrimination, apartheid, alien domination, foreign occupation, aggressive wars and other policies of oppression and exploitation, and the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms and economic exploitation by foreign monopolies constitute principal obstacles to social progress and development in many parts of the world and that urgent attention is required, particularly for the amelioration of the social situation of the peoples living in those parts of the world;

Stresses that the primary responsibility for the development of developing countries rests upon thems~lves, but that th_eir own own efforts, however great, will not be sufficient to enable them to achieve the desired development goals as expeditiously as they must, unless they are assisted through increased financial resources and more favourable economic and c<?mmercial policies on the part of the developed countnes;

Urges Governments of developed countries to fulfil their obligation to implement the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade, and in particular to attain the targets for trade, financial resources and the provisions for the transfer of science and technology for the development of developing countries embodied in the Strategy-and where possible to exceed those targetswhich is essential to the amelioration of the world social situation;

Reaffirms the inherent rights of all peoples and the permanent sovereignty of all countries, particularly of developing countries, over their natural resources, calls upon Governments and international organizations concerned to refrain from any action which may detract from the exercise by other States of permanent sovereignty over their natural resources and emphasizes the importance for the developing countries of coordinating their actions within economic subregional, regional and continental organizations so as to derive the maximum benefits from their natural resources;

Draws the attention of all States and the United Nations bodies and specialized agencies concerned to the following conclusions and recommendations based upon the consideration of the 1970 Report on the World Social Situation:

The improvement of social conditions in many parts of the world has become, as never before,

dependent upon the improvement of international political and economic relations. The social situation of the peoples under colonial and alien domination,

or under foreign occupation, is a source of great concern. Their liberation is a prerequisite for the improvement of their social conditions.

( b) A substantial rise in the incomes of the developing countries, required for the reduction of inequality between developed and developing countries, presupposes, among other things, a positive approach by the developed countries to the questions of trade and aid; the resources necessary for the attainment of this objective could be achieved, among other means, through a drastic reduction in military expenditures, leading finally to general and complete disarmament under effective international control as well as through the exploitation of the resources of the sea-bed and the ocean floor beyond national jurisdiction for the benefit of all mankind, taking into account the special needs and interests of the developing countries, as referred to in General Assembly resolution 2749 (XXV) of 17 December 1970.

( c) Economic growth has generally been accompanied by a considerable widening of disparities in the distribution of income, wealth and services.

Effective measures for promoting economic growth with social justice should receive the highest priority.

Social progress will depend, to a very large extent,

upon the early and vigorous implementation of a wide range of structural and institutional reforms,

such as agrarian reforms, reforms aimed at securing just distribution of national wealth and income, and s1;1ch programmes_ as measures for family planning aimed at controllmg the rate of population growth in countries which consider that that rate hampers their development.

The growth of unemployment and under- ~mploy~~nt, par~icularly in t~e developing countries,

1s acqumng senous proportions. Rapid expansion of e~ployment oi::po~tunities should be regarded as an important ob_Jective of dev~lopment planning.

J:ar greater attention should be given to the applicat10n of _labour inten_s~ve techniques for the purpose of drawing under-utilized Jabour in rural and urban areas into extensive programmes of development.

( e) The implementation of the International Developm~nt . Strategy in all its interrelated aspects is an obligation of both developed and developing countries. A substantial improvement in the level

of living of the masses in developing countries should be a central objective of the Second United Nations Development Decade. Improvement in the quality and distribution of social services, particularly in the fields of education, health, agriculture, housing, social welfare and social defence, should be recognized as an integral part of the over-all development effort.

Increased utilization of science and technology will greatly help social progress and development. Equally important is its equitable sharing by the developed and developing countries. The Advisory Committee on the Application of Science and Technology to Development should study the im~lementation of the provisions of the present resolution and of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development on the question of science and technology in relation to social development.

The unfavourable terms of trade, including the instability of prices of primary commodities which constitute the bulk of exports of many developing countries, are undermining the efforts of these countries to improve their social situation. These terms have been further aggravated by the recent disquieting developments in international economic relations and, in particular, by the instability of the international monetary system. The Economic and Social Council, in its consideration of the monetary and financial situation, should pay special attention to the influence of the current crisis on social progress in different countries, particularly in developing countries, and mention it in its report to the General Assembly.

The outflow of qualified personnel from developing countries to developed countries seriously hampers economic and social development in developing countries.

Broad popular participation, not only in the implementation of development programmes but also in the formulation of policies and plans and other forms of decision-making, should be regarded as both an objective and a means of development.

Due attention should be paid to the needs and aspirations of the younger generation. Effective policy measures designed to involve fully the younger generation in the promotion of social progress and development should be undertaken.

Adequate measures should be taken to remove discriminatory practices against women in all spheres. Greater attention should be paid to women's education, vocational training and guidance so as to ensure their full integration and participation in all aspects of economic and social life.

( l) Adequate attention should be given to multidisciplinary community services in the field of family and child welfare, particularly in situations of rapid urbanization and social change affecting family levels of living and especially the welfare of preschool children.

Calls upon Governments and the United Nations bodies and specialized agencies concerned to co-operate with the Secretary-General in the preparation of the next report on the world social situation;

Requests the Secretary-General to submit the next report on the world social situation to the General Assembly at its thirtieth session, through the Economic and Social Council, for consideration in conjunction with the mid-term over-all review and appraisal of the Second United Nations Development Decade and to evaluate and analyse trends relating to social development-their causes and manifestations and the experiences thereon-throughout the world, including the situation in colonial, dependent and o~- cupied Territories, within the framework of the umfied approach to development, ?earing in ~ind . the provisions of the present resolution, the deliberations on this item at the current session of the General Assembly, the fiftieth session of the E~onomic and Soc~al Council and the twenty-second session of the Commission for Social Development, and the provisions of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development.

22 November 1971.

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