1. For the
first time in history, at the invitation of the United Nations, we gather as
heads of State and Government to recognize the significance of social
development and human well-being for all and to give to these goals the highest
priority both now and into the twenty-first century.
2. We
acknowledge that the people of the world have shown in different ways an urgent
need to address profound social problems, especially poverty, unemployment and
social exclusion, that affect every country. It is our task to address both
their underlying and structural causes and their distressing consequences in
order to reduce uncertainty and insecurity in the life of people.
3. We
acknowledge that our societies must respond more effectively to the material
and spiritual needs of individuals, their families and the communities in which
they live throughout our diverse countries and regions. We must do so not only
as a matter of urgency but also as a matter of sustained and unshakeable
commitment through the years ahead.
4. We are
convinced that democracy and transparent and accountable governance and
administration in all sectors of society are indispensable foundations for the
realization of social and people-centred sustainable
development.
5. We share the
conviction that social development and social justice are indispensable for the
achievement and maintenance of peace and security within and among our nations.
In turn, social development and social justice cannot be attained in the
absence of peace and security or in the absence of respect for all human rights
and fundamental freedoms. This essential interdependence was recognized 50
years ago in the Charter of the United Nations and has since grown ever
stronger.
6. We are
deeply convinced that economic development, social development and
environmental protection are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components
of sustainable development, which is the framework for our efforts to achieve a
higher quality of life for all people. Equitable social development that
recognizes empowering the poor to utilize environmental resources sustainably is a necessary foundation for sustainable
development. We also recognize that broad-based and sustained economic growth
in the context of sustainable development is necessary to sustain social
development and social justice.
7. We
recognize, therefore, that social development is central to the needs and
aspirations of people throughout the world and to the responsibilities of
Governments and all sectors of civil society. We affirm that, in both economic
and social terms, the most productive policies and investments are those that
empower people to maximize their capacities, resources and opportunities. We
acknowledge that social and economic development cannot be secured in a
sustainable way without the full participation of women and that equality and
equity between women and men is a priority for the international community and
as such must be at the centre of economic and social development.
8. We
acknowledge that people are at the centre of our concerns for sustainable
development and that they are entitled to a healthy and productive life in
harmony with the environment.
9. We gather
here to commit ourselves, our Governments and our nations to enhancing social
development throughout the world so that all men and women, especially those
living in poverty, may exercise the rights, utilize the resources and share the
responsibilities that enable them to lead satisfying lives and to contribute to
the well-being of their families, their communities and humankind. To support
and promote these efforts must be the overriding goals of the international
community, especially with respect to people suffering from poverty,
unemployment and social exclusion.
10. We make
this solemn commitment on the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of the United
Nations, with a determination to capture the unique possibilities offered by
the end of the cold war to promote social development and social justice. We
reaffirm and are guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations
and by agreements reached at relevant international conferences, including the
World Summit for Children, held at New York in 1990; 1/ the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development, held at Rio de Janeiro in 1992; 2/
the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna in 1993; 3/ the Global
Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,
held at Bridgetown, Barbados in 1994; 4/ and the International Conference on
Population and Development, held at Cairo in 1994. 5/ By this Summit we launch
a new commitment to social development in each of our countries and a new era
of international cooperation between Governments and peoples based on a spirit
of partnership that puts the needs, rights and aspirations of people at the
centre of our decisions and joint actions.
11. We gather
here in Copenhagen in a Summit of hope, commitment and action. We gather with
full awareness of the difficulty of the tasks that lie ahead but with a
conviction that major progress can be achieved, must be achieved and will be
achieved.
12. We commit
ourselves to this Declaration and Programme of Action for enhancing social
development and ensuring human well-being for all throughout the world now and
into the twenty-first century. We invite all people in all countries and in all
walks of life, as well as the international community, to join us in our common
cause.
13. We are
witnessing in countries throughout the world the expansion of prosperity for
some, unfortunately accompanied by an expansion of unspeakable poverty for
others. This glaring contradiction is unacceptable and needs to be corrected
through urgent actions.
14.
Globalization, which is a consequence of increased human mobility, enhanced
communications, greatly increased trade and capital flows, and technological
developments, opens new opportunities for sustained economic growth and
development of the world economy, particularly in developing countries.
Globalization also permits countries to share experiences and to learn from one
another's achievements and difficulties, and promotes a cross-fertilization of
ideals, cultural values and aspirations. At the same time, the rapid processes
of change and adjustment have been accompanied by intensified poverty,
unemployment and social disintegration. Threats to human well-being, such as
environmental risks, have also been globalized.
Furthermore, the global transformations of the world economy are profoundly
changing the parameters of social development in all countries. The challenge
is how to manage these processes and threats so as to enhance their benefits
and mitigate their negative effects upon people.
15. There has
been progress in some areas of social and economic development:
(a) The global
wealth of nations has multiplied sevenfold in the past 50 years and
international trade has grown even more dramatically;
(b) Life
expectancy, literacy and primary education, and access to basic health care,
including family planning, have increased in the majority of countries and
average infant mortality has been reduced, including in developing countries;
(c) Democratic
pluralism, democratic institutions and fundamental civil liberties have
expanded. Decolonization efforts have achieved much progress, while the
elimination of apartheid is a historic achievement.
16. Yet we
recognize that far too many people, particularly women and children, are
vulnerable to stress and deprivation. Poverty, unemployment and social
disintegration too often result in isolation, marginalization and violence. The
insecurity that many people, in particular vulnerable people, face about the
future - their own and their children's - is intensifying:
(a) Within many
societies, both in developed and developing countries, the gap between rich and
poor has increased. Furthermore, despite the fact that some developing
countries are growing rapidly the gap between developed and many developing
countries, particularly the least developed countries, has widened;
(b) More than
one billion people in the world live in abject poverty, most of whom go hungry
every day. A large proportion, the majority of whom are women, have very
limited access to income, resources, education, health care or nutrition,
particularly in Africa and the least developed countries;
(c) There are
also serious social problems of a different nature and magnitude in countries
with economies in transition and countries experiencing fundamental political,
economic and social transformations;
(d) The major
cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the
unsustainable pattern of consumption and production, particularly in
industrialized countries, which is a matter of grave concern, aggravating
poverty and imbalances;
(e) Continued
growth in the world's population, its structure and distribution, and its
relationship with poverty and social and gender inequality challenge the
adaptive capacities of Governments, individuals, social institutions and the
natural environment;
(f) Over 120
million people world wide are officially unemployed and many more are
underemployed. Too many young people, including those with formal education,
have little hope of finding productive work;
(g) More women
than men live in absolute poverty and the imbalance continues to grow, with
serious consequences for women and their children. Women carry a
disproportionate share of the problems of coping with poverty, social
disintegration, unemployment, environmental degradation and the effects of war;
(h) One of the
world's largest minorities, more than 1 in 10, are people with disabilities,
who are too often forced into poverty, unemployment and social isolation. In
addition, in all countries older persons may be particularly vulnerable to
social exclusion, poverty and marginalization;
(i) Millions of people world wide are refugees or internally
displaced persons. The tragic social consequences have a critical effect on the
social stability and development of their home countries, their host countries
and their respective regions.
17. While these
problems are global in character and affect all countries, we clearly
acknowledge that the situation of most developing countries, and particularly
of Africa and the least developed countries, is critical and requires special
attention and action. We also acknowledge that these countries, which are
undergoing fundamental political, economic and social transformation, including
countries in the process of consolidating peace and democracy, require the
support of the international community.
18. Countries
with economies in transition, which are also undergoing fundamental political,
economic and social transformation, require the support of the international
community as well.
19. Other
countries that are undergoing fundamental political, economic and social
transformation require the support of the international community as well.
20. The goals
and objectives of social development require continuous efforts to reduce and
eliminate major sources of social distress and instability for the family and
for society. We pledge to place particular focus on and give priority attention
to the fight against the world-wide conditions that pose severe threats to the
health, safety, peace, security and well-being of our people. Among these
conditions are chronic hunger; malnutrition; illicit drug problems; organized
crime; corruption; foreign occupation; armed conflicts; illicit arms
trafficking, terrorism, intolerance and incitement to racial, ethnic, religious
and other hatreds; xenophobia; and endemic, communicable and chronic diseases.
To this end, coordination and cooperation at the national level and especially
at the regional and international levels should be further strengthened.
21. In this
context, the negative impact on development of excessive military expenditures,
the arms trade, and investment for arms production and acquisition must be addressed.
22.
Communicable diseases constitute a serious health problem in all countries and
are a major cause of death globally; in many cases, their incidence is
increasing. These diseases are a hindrance to social development and are often
the cause of poverty and social exclusion. The prevention, treatment and
control of these diseases, covering a spectrum from tuberculosis and malaria to
the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS),
must be given the highest priority.
23. We can
continue to hold the trust of the people of the world only if we make their
needs our priority. We know that poverty, lack of productive employment and
social disintegration are an offence to human dignity. We also know that they
are negatively reinforcing and represent a waste of human resources and a
manifestation of ineffectiveness in the functioning of markets and economic and
social institutions and processes.
24. Our
challenge is to establish a people-centred framework
for social development to guide us now and in the future, to build a culture of
cooperation and partnership, and to respond to the immediate needs of those who
are most affected by human distress. We are determined to meet this challenge
and promote social development throughout the world.
25. We heads of
State and Government are committed to a political, economic, ethical and
spiritual vision for social development that is based on human dignity, human
rights, equality, respect, peace, democracy, mutual responsibility and
cooperation, and full respect for the various religious and ethical values and
cultural backgrounds of people. Accordingly, we will give the highest priority
in national, regional and international policies and actions to the promotion
of social progress, justice and the betterment of the human condition, based on
full participation by all.
26. To this
end, we will create a framework for action to:
(a) Place
people at the centre of development and direct our economies to meet human
needs more effectively;
(b) Fulfil our responsibility for present and future
generations by ensuring equity among generations and protecting the integrity
and sustainable use of our environment;
(c) Recognize
that, while social development is a national responsibility, it cannot be
successfully achieved without the collective commitment and efforts of the
international community;
(d) Integrate
economic, cultural and social policies so that they become mutually supportive,
and acknowledge the interdependence of public and private spheres of activity;
(e) Recognize
that the achievement of sustained social development requires sound, broadly
based economic policies;
(f) Promote
democracy, human dignity, social justice and solidarity at the national,
regional and international levels; ensure tolerance, non-violence, pluralism
and non-discrimination, with full respect for diversity within and among
societies;
(g) Promote the
equitable distribution of income and greater access to resources through equity
and equality of opportunity for all;
(h) Recognize
the family as the basic unit of society, and acknowledge that it plays a key
role in social development and as such should be strengthened, with attention
to the rights, capabilities and responsibilities of its members. In different
cultural, political and social systems various forms of family exist. It is
entitled to receive comprehensive protection and support;
(i) Ensure that disadvantaged and vulnerable persons and
groups are included in social development, and that society acknowledges and
responds to the consequences of disability by securing the legal rights of the
individual and by making the physical and social environment accessible;
(j) Promote
universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all, including the right to development; promote the
effective exercise of rights and the discharge of responsibilities at all
levels of society; promote equality and equity between women and men; protect
the rights of children and youth; and promote the strengthening of social
integration and civil society;
(k) Reaffirm
the right of self-determination of all peoples, in particular of peoples under
colonial or other forms of alien domination or foreign occupation, and the
importance of the effective realization of this right, as enunciated, inter alia, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action 3/
adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights;
(l) Support
progress and security for people and communities whereby every member of
society is enabled to satisfy his or her basic human needs and to realize his
or her personal dignity, safety and creativity;
(m) Recognize
and support indigenous people in their pursuit of economic and social
development, with full respect for their identity, traditions, forms of social
organization and cultural values;
(n) Underline
the importance of transparent and accountable governance and administration in
all public and private national and international institutions;
(o) Recognize
that empowering people, particularly women, to strengthen their own capacities
is a main objective of development and its principal resource. Empowerment
requires the full participation of people in the formulation, implementation
and evaluation of decisions determining the functioning and well-being of our
societies;
(p) Assert the
universality of social development and outline a new and strengthened approach
to social development, with a renewed impetus for international cooperation and
partnership;
(q) Improve the
possibility of older persons achieving a better life;
(r) Recognize
that the new information technologies and new approaches to access to and use
of technologies by people living in poverty can help in fulfilling social
development goals; and therefore recognize the need to facilitate access to
such technologies;
(s) Strengthen
policies and programmes that improve, ensure and broaden the participation of
women in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life, as equal
partners, and improve their access to all resources needed for the full
exercise of their fundamental rights;
(t) Create the
political, legal, material and social conditions that allow for the voluntary
repatriation of refugees in safety and dignity to their countries of origin,
and the voluntary and safe return of internally displaced persons to their
places of origin and their smooth reintegration into their societies;
(u) Emphasize
the importance of the return of all prisoners of war, persons missing in action
and hostages to their families, in accordance with international conventions,
in order to reach full social development.
27. We
acknowledge that it is the primary responsibility of States to attain these
goals. We also acknowledge that these goals cannot be achieved by States alone.
The international community, the United Nations, the multilateral financial
institutions, all regional organizations and local authorities, and all actors
of civil society need to positively contribute their own share of efforts and
resources in order to reduce inequalities among people and narrow the gap
between developed and developing countries in a global effort to reduce social
tensions, and to create greater social and economic stability and security.
Radical political, social and economic changes in the countries with economies
in transition have been accompanied by a deterioration in their economic and
social situation. We invite all people to express their personal commitment to
enhancing the human condition through concrete actions in their own fields of
activities and through assuming specific civic responsibilities.
28. Our global
drive for social development and the recommendations for action contained in
the Programme of Action are made in a spirit of consensus and international
cooperation, in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter
of the United Nations, recognizing that the formulation and implementation of
strategies, policies, programmes and actions for social development are the
responsibility of each country and should take into account the economic,
social and environmental diversity of conditions in each country, with full
respect for the various religious and ethical values, cultural backgrounds and
philosophical convictions of its people, and in conformity with all human
rights and fundamental freedoms. In this context, international cooperation is
essential for the full implementation of social development programmes and
actions.
29. On the
basis of our common pursuit of social development, which aims at social
justice, solidarity, harmony and equality within and among countries, with full
respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as policy
objectives, development priorities and religious and cultural diversity, and
full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, we launch a global
drive for social progress and development embodied in the following
commitments.
We commit
ourselves to creating an economic, political, social, cultural and legal
environment that will enable people to achieve social development.
To this end, at
the national level, we will:
(a) Provide a
stable legal framework, in accordance with our constitutions, laws and
procedures, and consistent with international law and obligations, which
includes and promotes equality and equity between women and men, full respect
for all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, access to
justice, the elimination of all forms of discrimination, transparent and
accountable governance and administration and the encouragement of partnership
with free and representative organizations of civil society;
(b) Create an
enabling economic environment aimed at promoting more equitable access for all
to income, resources and social services;
(c) Reinforce,
as appropriate, the means and capacities for people to participate in the
formulation and implementation of social and economic policies and programmes
through decentralization, open management of public institutions and
strengthening the abilities and opportunities of civil society and local
communities to develop their own organizations, resources and activities;
(d) Reinforce
peace by promoting tolerance, non-violence and respect for diversity, and by
settling disputes by peaceful means;
(e) Promote
dynamic, open, free markets, while recognizing the need to intervene in
markets, to the extent necessary, to prevent or counteract market failure,
promote stability and long-term investment, ensure fair competition and ethical
conduct, and harmonize economic and social development, including the
development and implementation of appropriate programmes that would entitle and
enable people living in poverty and the disadvantaged, especially women, to
participate fully and productively in the economy and society;
(f) Reaffirm,
promote and strive to ensure the realization of the rights set out in relevant
international instruments and declarations, such as the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, 6/ the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 7/ and
the Declaration on the Right to Development, 8/ including those relating to
education, food, shelter, employment, health and information, particularly in
order to assist people living in poverty;
(g) Create the
comprehensive conditions to allow for the voluntary repatriation of refugees in
safety and dignity to their countries of origin, and the voluntary and safe
return of internally displaced persons to their places of origin and their
smooth reintegration into their societies.
At the
international level, we will:
(h) Promote
international peace and security and make and support all efforts to settle
international disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations;
(i) Strengthen international cooperation for achieving
social development;
(j) Promote and
implement policies to create a supportive external economic environment,
through, inter alia, cooperation in the formulation
and implementation of macroeconomic policies, trade liberalization,
mobilization and/or provision of new and additional financial resources that
are both adequate and predictable and mobilized in a way that maximizes the
availability of such resources for sustainable development, using all available
funding sources and mechanisms, enhanced financial stability, and more
equitable access of developing countries to global markets, productive
investments and technologies and appropriate knowledge, with due consideration
to the needs of countries with economies in transition;
(k) Strive to
ensure that international agreements relating to trade, investment, technology,
debt and official development assistance are implemented in a manner that
promotes social development;
(l) Support,
particularly through technical and financial cooperation, the efforts of
developing countries to achieve rapid, broadly based sustainable development.
Particular consideration should be given to the special needs of small island
and land-locked developing countries and the least developed countries;
(m) Support,
through appropriate international cooperation, the efforts of countries with
economies in transition to achieve rapid broadly based sustainable development;
(n) Reaffirm
and promote all human rights, which are universal, indivisible, interdependent
and interrelated, including the right to development as a universal and
inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights, and strive
to ensure that they are respected, protected and observed.
We commit
ourselves to the goal of eradicating poverty in the world, through decisive
national actions and international cooperation, as an ethical, social,
political and economic imperative of humankind.
To this end, at
the national level, in partnership with all actors of civil society and in the
context of a multidimensional and integrated approach, we will:
(a) Formulate
or strengthen, as a matter of urgency, and preferably by the year 1996, the
International Year for the Eradication of Poverty, 9/ national policies and
strategies geared to substantially reducing overall poverty in the shortest
possible time, reducing inequalities and eradicating absolute poverty by a
target date to be specified by each country in its national context;
(b) Focus our
efforts and policies to address the root causes of poverty and to provide for
the basic needs of all. These efforts should include the elimination of hunger
and malnutrition; the provision of food security, education, employment and
livelihood, primary health-care services including reproductive health care,
safe drinking water and sanitation, and adequate shelter; and participation in
social and cultural life. Special priority will be given to the needs and
rights of women and children, who often bear the greatest burden of poverty,
and to the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and persons;
(c) Ensure that
people living in poverty have access to productive resources, including credit,
land, education and training, technology, knowledge and information, as well as
to public services, and participate in decision-making on a policy and
regulatory environment that would enable them to benefit from expanding
employment and economic opportunities;
(d) Develop and
implement policies to ensure that all people have adequate economic and social
protection during unemployment, ill health, maternity, child-rearing,
widowhood, disability and old age;
(e) Ensure that
national budgets and policies are oriented, as necessary, to meeting basic
needs, reducing inequalities and targeting poverty, as a strategic objective;
(f) Seek to
reduce inequalities, increase opportunities and access to resources and income,
and remove any political, legal, economic and social factors and constraints
that foster and sustain inequality.
At the
international level, we will:
(g) Strive to
ensure that the international community and international organizations,
particularly the multilateral financial institutions, assist developing
countries and all countries in need in their efforts to achieve our overall
goal of eradicating poverty and ensuring basic social protection;
(h) Encourage
all international donors and multilateral development banks to support policies
and programmes for the attainment, in a sustained manner, of the specific
efforts of the developing countries and all countries in need relating to
people-centred sustainable development and to meeting
basic needs for all; to assess their existing programmes in consultation with
the concerned developing countries to ensure the achievement of the agreed
programme objectives; and to seek to ensure that their own policies and
programmes will advance the attainment of agreed development goals that focus
on meeting basic needs for all and eradicating absolute poverty. Efforts should
be made to ensure that participation by the people concerned is an integral
part of such programmes;
(i) Focus attention on and support the special needs of
countries and regions in which there are substantial concentrations of people
living in poverty, in particular in South Asia, and which therefore face
serious difficulties in achieving social and economic development.
We commit
ourselves to promoting the goal of full employment as a basic priority of our
economic and social policies, and to enabling all men and women to attain
secure and sustainable livelihoods through freely chosen productive employment
and work.
To this end, at
the national level, we will:
(a) Put the
creation of employment, the reduction of unemployment and the promotion of
appropriately and adequately remunerated employment at the centre of strategies
and policies of Governments, with full respect for workers' rights and with the
participation of employers, workers and their respective organizations, giving
special attention to the problems of structural, long-term unemployment and
underemployment of youth, women, people with disabilities, and all other
disadvantaged groups and individuals;
(b) Develop
policies to expand work opportunities and productivity in both rural and urban
sectors by achieving economic growth, investing in human resource development,
promoting technologies that generate productive employment, and encouraging
self-employment, entrepreneurship, and small and medium-sized enterprises;
(c) Improve
access to land, credit, information, infrastructure and other productive
resources for small and micro-enterprises, including those in the informal
sector, with particular emphasis on the disadvantaged sectors of society;
(d) Develop
policies to ensure that workers and employers have the education, information
and training needed to adapt to changing economic conditions, technologies and labour markets;
(e) Explore
innovative options for employment creation and seek new approaches to
generating income and purchasing power;
(f) Foster
policies that enable people to combine their paid work with their family responsibilities;
(g) Pay
particular attention to women's access to employment, the protection of their
position in the labour market and the promotion of
equal treatment of women and men, in particular with respect to pay;
(h) Take due
account of the importance of the informal sector in our employment development
strategies with a view to increasing its contribution to the eradication of
poverty and to social integration in developing countries, and to strengthening
its linkages with the formal economy;
(i) Pursue the goal of ensuring quality jobs, and safeguard
the basic rights and interests of workers and to this end, freely promote
respect for relevant International Labour
Organization conventions, including those on the prohibition of forced and
child labour, the freedom of association, the right
to organize and bargain collectively, and the principle of non-discrimination.
At the
international level, we will:
(j) Ensure that
migrant workers benefit from the protections provided by relevant national and
international instruments, take concrete and effective measures against the
exploitation of migrant workers, and encourage all countries to consider the
ratification and full implementation of the relevant international instruments
on migrant workers;
(k) Foster
international cooperation in macroeconomic policies, liberalization of trade
and investment so as to promote sustained economic growth and the creation of
employment, and exchange experiences on successful policies and programmes
aimed at increasing employment and reducing unemployment.
We commit
ourselves to promoting social integration by fostering societies that are
stable, safe and just and that are based on the promotion and protection of all
human rights, as well as on non-discrimination, tolerance, respect for
diversity, equality of opportunity, solidarity, security, and participation of
all people, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and persons.
To this end, at
the national level, we will:
(a) Promote
respect for democracy, the rule of law, pluralism and diversity, tolerance and
responsibility, non-violence and solidarity by encouraging educational systems,
communication media and local communities and organizations to raise people's
understanding and awareness of all aspects of social integration;
(b) Formulate
or strengthen policies and strategies geared to the elimination of
discrimination in all its forms and the achievement of social integration based
on equality and respect for human dignity;
(c) Promote
access for all to education, information, technology and know-how as essential
means for enhancing communication and participation in civil, political,
economic, social and cultural life, and ensure respect for civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights;
(d) Ensure the
protection and full integration into the economy and society of disadvantaged
and vulnerable groups and persons;
(e) Formulate
or strengthen measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights
of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing
acts of racism and xenophobia in sectors of many societies, and to promote
greater harmony and tolerance in all societies;
(f) Recognize
and respect the right of indigenous people to maintain and develop their
identity, culture and interests, support their aspirations for social justice
and provide an environment that enables them to participate in the social,
economic and political life of their country;
(g) Foster the
social protection and full integration into the economy and society of
veterans, including veterans and victims of the Second World War and other
wars;
(h) Acknowledge
and encourage the contribution of people of all age groups as equally and
vitally important for the building of a harmonious society, and foster dialogue
between generations in all parts of society;
(i) Recognize and respect cultural, ethnic and religious
diversity, promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national,
ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities, and take measures to facilitate
their full participation in all aspects of the political, economic, social,
religious and cultural life of their societies and in the economic progress and
social development of their countries;
(j) Strengthen
the ability of local communities and groups with common concerns to develop
their own organizations and resources and to propose policies relating to
social development, including through the activities of non-governmental
organizations;
(k) Strengthen
institutions that enhance social integration, recognizing the central role of
the family and providing it with an environment that assures its protection and
support. In different cultural, political and social systems, various forms of
the family exist;
(l) Address the
problems of crime, violence and illicit drugs as factors of social
disintegration.
At the
international level, we will:
(m) Encourage
the ratification of, the avoidance as far as possible of the resort to
reservations to, and the implementation of international instruments and
adherence to internationally recognized declarations relevant to the
elimination of discrimination and the promotion and protection of all human rights;
(n) Further
enhance international mechanisms for the provision of humanitarian and
financial assistance to refugees and host countries and promote appropriate
shared responsibility;
(o) Promote
international cooperation and partnership on the basis of equality, mutual
respect and mutual benefit.
We commit
ourselves to promoting full respect for human dignity and to achieving equality
and equity between women and men, and to recognizing and enhancing the
participation and leadership roles of women in political, civil, economic,
social and cultural life and in development.
To this end, at
the national level, we will:
(a) Promote
changes in attitudes, structures, policies, laws and practices in order to
eliminate all obstacles to human dignity, equality and equity in the family and
in society, and promote full and equal participation of urban and rural women
and women with disabilities in social, economic and political life, including
in the formulation, implementation and follow-up of public policies and
programmes;
(b) Establish
structures, policies, objectives and measurable goals to ensure gender balance
and equity in decision-making processes at all levels, broaden women's
political, economic, social and cultural opportunities and independence, and
support the empowerment of women, including through their various
organizations, especially those of indigenous women, those at the grass-roots
level, and those of poverty-stricken communities, including through affirmative
action, where necessary, and also through measures to integrate a gender
perspective in the design and implementation of economic and social policies;
(c) Promote
full and equal access of women to literacy, education and training, and remove
all obstacles to their access to credit and other productive resources and to
their ability to buy, hold and sell property and land equally with men;
(d) Take
appropriate measures to ensure, on the basis of equality of men and women,
universal access to the widest range of health-care services, including those
relating to reproductive health care, consistent with the Programme of Action
of the International Conference on Population and Development; 5/
(e) Remove the
remaining restrictions on women's rights to own land, inherit property or
borrow money, and ensure women's equal right to work;
(f) Establish
policies, objectives and goals that enhance the equality of status, welfare and
opportunity of the girl child, especially in regard to health, nutrition,
literacy and education, recognizing that gender discrimination starts at the
earliest stages of life;
(g) Promote
equal partnership between women and men in family and community life and
society, emphasize the shared responsibility of men and women in the care of
children and support for older family members, and emphasize men's shared
responsibility and promote their active involvement in responsible parenthood
and responsible sexual and reproductive behaviour;
(h) Take
effective measures, including through the enactment and enforcement of laws,
and implement policies to combat and eliminate all forms of discrimination,
exploitation, abuse and violence against women and girl children, in accordance
with relevant international instruments and declarations;
(i) Promote and protect the full and equal enjoyment by
women of all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
(j) Formulate
or strengthen policies and practices to ensure that women are enabled to participate
fully in paid work and in employment through such measures as positive action,
education, training, appropriate protection under labour
legislation, and facilitating the provision of quality child care and other
support services.
At the
international level, we will:
(k) Promote and
protect women's human rights and encourage the ratification of, if possible by
the year 2000, the avoidance, as far as possible, of the resort to reservations
to, and the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 10/ and other relevant
instruments, as well as the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking
Strategies for the Advancement of Women, 11/ the Geneva Declaration for Rural
Women, 12/ and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on
Population and Development;
(l) Give
specific attention to the preparations for the Fourth World Conference on
Women, to be held at Beijing in September 1995, and to the implementation and
follow-up of the conclusions of that Conference;
(m) Promote
international cooperation to assist developing countries, at their request, in
their efforts to achieve equality and equity and the empowerment of women;
(n) Devise
suitable means to recognize and make visible the full extent of the work of
women and all their contributions to the national economy, including
contributions in the unremunerated and domestic sectors.
We commit
ourselves to promoting and attaining the goals of universal and equitable
access to quality education, the highest attainable standard of physical and
mental health, and the access of all to primary health care, making particular
efforts to rectify inequalities relating to social conditions and without
distinction as to race, national origin, gender, age or disability; respecting
and promoting our common and particular cultures; striving to strengthen the
role of culture in development; preserving the essential bases of people-centred sustainable development; and contributing to the
full development of human resources and to social development. The purpose of
these activities is to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive
employment and foster social integration.
To this end, at
the national level, we will:
(a) Formulate
and strengthen time-bound national strategies for the eradication of illiteracy
and universalization of basic education, which
includes early childhood education, primary education and education for the
illiterate, in all communities, in particular for the introduction, if
possible, of national languages in the educational system and by support of the
various means of non-formal education, striving to attain the highest possible
standard of learning;
(b) Emphasize
lifelong learning by seeking to improve the quality of education to ensure that
people of all ages are provided with useful knowledge, reasoning ability,
skills, and the ethical and social values required to develop their full
capacities in health and dignity and to participate fully in the social,
economic and political process of development. In this regard, women and girls
should be considered a priority group;
(c) Ensure that
children, particularly girls, enjoy their rights and promote the exercise of
those rights by making education, adequate nutrition and health care accessible
to them, consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 13/ and
recognizing the rights, duties and responsibilities of parents and other
persons legally responsible for children;
(d) Take
appropriate and affirmative steps to enable all children and adolescents to
attend and complete school and to close the gender gap in primary, secondary,
vocational and higher education;
(e) Ensure full
and equal access to education for girls and women, recognizing that investing
in women's education is the key element in achieving social equality, higher
productivity and social returns in terms of health, lower infant mortality and
the reduced need for high fertility;
(f) Ensure
equal educational opportunities at all levels for children, youth and adults
with disabilities, in integrated settings, taking full account of individual
differences and situations;
(g) Recognize
and support the right of indigenous people to education in a manner that is
responsive to their specific needs, aspirations and cultures, and ensure their
full access to health care;
(h) Develop
specific educational policies, with gender perspective, and design appropriate
mechanisms at all levels of society in order to accelerate the conversion of
general and specific information available world wide into knowledge, and the
conversion of that knowledge into creativity, increased productive capacity and
active participation in society;
(i) Strengthen the links between labour
market and education policies, realizing that education and vocational training
are vital elements in job creation and in combating unemployment and social
exclusion in our societies, and emphasize the role of higher education and
scientific research in all plans of social development;
(j) Develop
broad-based education programmes that promote and strengthen respect for all
human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development,
promote the values of tolerance, responsibility and respect for the diversity
and rights of others, and provide training in peaceful conflict resolution, in
recognition of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education
(1995-2005); 14/
(k) Focus on
learning acquisition and outcome, broaden the means and scope of basic
education, enhance the environment for learning and strengthen partnerships
among Governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, local
communities, religious groups and families to achieve the goal of education for
all;
(l) Establish
or strengthen both school-based and community-based health education programmes
for children, adolescents and adults, with special attention to girls and
women, on a whole range of health issues, as one of the prerequisites for
social development, recognizing the rights, duties and responsibilities of
parents and other persons legally responsible for children consistent with the
Convention on the Rights of the Child;
(m) Expedite
efforts to achieve the goals of national Health-for-All strategies, based on
equality and social justice in line with the Alma-Ata Declaration on Primary
Health Care, 15/ by developing or updating country action plans or programmes
to ensure universal, non-discriminatory access to basic health services,
including sanitation and drinking water, to protect health, and to promote
nutrition education and preventive health programmes;
(n) Strive to
ensure that persons with disabilities have access to rehabilitation and other
independent living services and assistive technology to enable them to maximize
their well-being, independence and full participation in society;
(o) Ensure an
integrated and intersectoral approach so as to
provide for the protection and promotion of health for all in economic and
social development, taking cognizance of the health dimensions of policies in
all sectors;
(p) Seek to
attain the maternal and child health objectives, especially the objectives of
reducing child and maternal mortality, of the World Summit for Children, the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the International
Conference on Population and Development;
(q) Strengthen
national efforts to address more effectively the growing HIV/AIDS pandemic by
providing necessary education and prevention services, working to ensure that
appropriate care and support services are available and accessible to those
affected by HIV/AIDS, and taking all necessary steps to eliminate every form of
discrimination against and isolation of those living with HIV/AIDS;
(r) Promote, in
all educational and health policies and programmes, environmental awareness,
including awareness of unsustainable patterns of consumption and production.
At the
international level, we will:
(s) Strive to
ensure that international organizations, in particular the international
financial institutions, support these objectives, integrating them into their
policy programmes and operations as appropriate. This should be complemented by
renewed bilateral and regional cooperation;
(t) Recognize
the importance of the cultural dimension of development to ensure respect for
cultural diversity and that of our common human cultural heritage. Creativity
should be recognized and promoted;
(u) Request the
specialized agencies, notably the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization and the World Health Organization, as well as other
international organizations dedicated to the promotion of education, culture
and health, to give greater emphasis to the overriding goals of eradicating
poverty, promoting full and productive employment and fostering social
integration;
(v) Strengthen
intergovernmental organizations that utilize various forms of education to
promote culture; disseminate information through education and communication
media; help spread the use of technologies; and promote technical and
professional training and scientific research;
(w) Provide
support for stronger, better coordinated global actions against major diseases
that take a heavy toll of human lives, such as malaria, tuberculosis, cholera,
typhoid fever and HIV/AIDS; in this context, continue to support the joint and
co-sponsored United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS; 16/
(x) Share
knowledge, experience and expertise and enhance creativity, for example by
promoting the transfer of technology, in the design and delivery of effective
education, training and health programmes and policies, including
substance-abuse awareness, prevention and rehabilitation programmes, which will
result, inter alia, in endogenous capacity-building;
(y) Intensify
and coordinate international support for education and health programmes based
on respect for human dignity and focused on the protection of all women and
children, especially against exploitation, trafficking and harmful practices,
such as child prostitution, female genital mutilation and child marriages.
We commit
ourselves to accelerating the economic, social and human resource development
of Africa and the least developed countries.
To this end, we
will:
(a) Implement,
at the national level, structural adjustment policies, which should include
social development goals, as well as effective development strategies that
establish a more favourable climate for trade and
investment, give priority to human resource development and further promote the
development of democratic institutions;
(b) Support the
domestic efforts of Africa and the least developed countries to implement
economic reforms, programmes to increase food security, and commodity
diversification efforts through international cooperation, including
South-South cooperation and technical and financial assistance, as well as
trade and partnership;
(c) Find
effective, development-oriented and durable solutions to external debt
problems, through the immediate implementation of the terms of debt forgiveness
agreed upon in the Paris Club in December 1994, which encompass debt reduction,
including cancellation or other debt-relief measures; invite the international
financial institutions to examine innovative approaches to assist low-income
countries with a high proportion of multilateral debt, with a view to
alleviating their debt burdens; and develop techniques of debt conversion
applied to social development programmes and projects in conformity with Summit
priorities. These actions should take into account the mid-term review of the
United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s 17/ and
the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s, 18/
and should be implemented as soon as possible;
(d) Ensure the
implementation of the strategies and measures for the development of Africa
decided by the international community, and support the reform efforts,
development strategies and programmes decided by the African countries and the
least developed countries;
(e) Increase
official development assistance, both overall and for social programmes, and
improve its impact, consistent with countries' economic circumstances and
capacities to assist, and consistent with commitments in international
agreements;
(f) Consider
ratifying the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those
Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in
Africa, 19/ and support African countries in the implementation of urgent
action to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought;
(g) Take all
necessary measures to ensure that communicable diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS,
malaria and tuberculosis, do not restrict or reverse the progress made in
economic and social development.
We commit ourselves
to ensuring that when structural adjustment programmes are agreed to they
include social development goals, in particular eradicating poverty, promoting
full and productive employment, and enhancing social integration.
To this end, at
the national level, we will:
(a) Promote
basic social programmes and expenditures, in particular those affecting the
poor and the vulnerable segments of society, and protect them from budget
reductions, while increasing the quality and effectiveness of social expenditures;
(b) Review the
impact of structural adjustment programmes on social development, including,
where appropriate, by means of gender-sensitive social impact assessments and
other relevant methods, in order to develop policies to reduce their negative effects
and improve their positive impact; the cooperation of international financial
institutions in the review could be requested by interested countries;
(c) Promote, in
the countries with economies in transition, an integrated approach to the
transformation process, addressing the social consequences of reforms and human
resource development needs;
(d) Reinforce
the social development components of all adjustment policies and programmes,
including those resulting from the globalization of markets and rapid
technological change, by designing policies to promote more equitable and
enhanced access to income and resources;
(e) Ensure that
women do not bear a disproportionate burden of the transitional costs of such
processes.
At the
international level, we will:
(f) Work to
ensure that multilateral development banks and other donors complement
adjustment lending with enhanced targeted social development investment
lending;
(g) Strive to
ensure that structural adjustment programmes respond to the economic and social
conditions, concerns and needs of each country;
(h) Enlist the
support and cooperation of regional and international organizations and the
United Nations system, in particular the Bretton
Woods institutions, in the design, social management and assessment of
structural adjustment policies, and in implementing social development goals
and integrating them into their policies, programmes and operations.
We commit
ourselves to increasing significantly and/or utilizing more efficiently the
resources allocated to social development in order to achieve the goals of the
Summit through national action and regional and international cooperation.
To this end, at
the national level, we will:
(a) Develop
economic policies to promote and mobilize domestic savings and attract external
resources for productive investment, and seek innovative sources of funding,
both public and private, for social programmes, while ensuring their effective
utilization;
(b) Implement
macroeconomic and micro-economic policies to ensure sustained economic growth
and sustainable development to support social development;
(c) Promote
increased access to credit for small and micro-enterprises, including those in
the informal sector, with particular emphasis on the disadvantaged sectors of
society;
(d) Ensure that
reliable statistics and statistical indicators are used to develop and assess
social policies and programmes so that economic and social resources are used
efficiently and effectively;
(e) Ensure
that, in accordance with national priorities and policies, taxation systems are
fair, progressive and economically efficient, cognizant of sustainable
development concerns, and ensure effective collection of tax liabilities;
(f) In the
budgetary process, ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public
resources, and give priority to providing and improving basic social services;
(g) Undertake
to explore new ways of generating new public and private financial resources,
inter alia, through the appropriate reduction of
excessive military expenditures, including global military expenditures and the
arms trade, and investments for arms production and acquisition, taking into
consideration national security requirements, so as to allow possible
allocation of additional funds for social and economic development;
(h) Utilize and
develop fully the potential and contribution of cooperatives for the attainment
of social development goals, in particular the eradication of poverty, the
generation of full and productive employment, and the enhancement of social
integration.
At the
international level, we will:
(i) Seek to mobilize new and additional financial resources
that are both adequate and predictable and are mobilized in a way that
maximizes the availability of such resources and uses all available funding
sources and mechanisms, inter alia, multilateral,
bilateral and private sources, including on concessional
and grant terms;
(j) Facilitate
the flow to developing countries of international finance, technology and human
skill in order to realize the objective of providing new and additional
resources that are both adequate and predictable;
(k) Facilitate
the flow of international finance, technology and human skill towards the
countries with economies in transition;
(l) Strive for
the fulfilment of the agreed target of 0.7 per cent
of gross national product for overall official development assistance as soon
as possible, and increase the share of funding for social development
programmes, commensurate with the scope and scale of activities required to
achieve the objectives and goals of the present Declaration and the Programme
of Action of the Summit;
(m) Increase
the flow of international resources to meet the needs of countries facing
problems relating to refugees and displaced persons;
(n) Support
South-South cooperation, which can take advantage of the experience of
developing countries that have overcome similar difficulties;
(o) Ensure the
urgent implementation of existing debt-relief agreements and negotiate further
initiatives, in addition to existing ones, to alleviate the debts of the
poorest and heavily indebted low-income countries at an early date, especially
through more favourable terms of debt forgiveness,
including application of the terms of debt forgiveness agreed upon in the Paris
Club in December 1994, which encompass debt reduction, including cancellation
or other debt-relief measures; where appropriate, these countries should be
given a reduction of their bilateral official debt sufficient to enable them to
exit from the rescheduling process and resume growth and development; invite
the international financial institutions to examine innovative approaches to assist
low-income countries with a high proportion of multilateral debt, with a view
to alleviating their debt burdens; develop techniques of debt conversion
applied to social development programmes and projects in conformity with Summit
priorities;
(p) Fully
implement the Final Act of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations
20/ as scheduled, including the complementary provisions specified in the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade
Organization, 20/ in recognition of the fact that broadly based growth in
incomes, employment and trade are mutually reinforcing, taking into account the
need to assist African countries and the least developed countries in
evaluating the impact of the implementation of the Final Act so that they can
benefit fully;
(q) Monitor the
impact of trade liberalization on the progress made in developing countries to
meet basic human needs, giving particular attention to new initiatives to
expand their access to international markets;
(r) Give
attention to the needs of countries with economies in transition with respect
to international cooperation and financial and technical assistance, stressing
the need for the full integration of economies in transition into the world
economy, in particular to improve market access for exports in accordance with
multilateral trade rules, taking into account the needs of developing
countries;
(s) Support
United Nations development efforts by a substantial increase in resources for
operational activities on a predictable, continuous and assured basis,
commensurate with the increasing needs of developing countries, as stated in
General Assembly resolution 47/199, and strengthen the capacity of the United
Nations and the specialized agencies to fulfil their
responsibilities in the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for
Social Development.
We commit
ourselves to an improved and strengthened framework for international, regional
and subregional cooperation for social development,
in a spirit of partnership, through the United Nations and other multilateral
institutions.
To this end, at
the national level, we will:
(a) Adopt the
appropriate measures and mechanisms for implementing and monitoring the outcome
of the World Summit for Social Development, with the assistance, upon request,
of the specialized agencies, programmes and regional commissions of the United
Nations system, with broad participation of all sectors of civil society.
At the regional
level, we will:
(b) Pursue such
mechanisms and measures as are necessary and appropriate in particular regions
or subregions. The regional commissions, in
cooperation with regional intergovernmental organizations and banks, could convene,
on a biennial basis, a meeting at a high political level to evaluate progress
made towards fulfilling the outcome of the Summit, exchange views on their
respective experiences and adopt appropriate measures. The regional commissions
should report, through the appropriate mechanisms, to the Economic and Social
Council on the outcome of such meetings.
At the
international level, we will:
(c) Instruct
our representatives to the organizations and bodies of the United Nations
system, international development agencies and multilateral development banks
to enlist the support and cooperation of these organizations and bodies to take
appropriate and coordinated measures for continuous and sustained progress in
attaining the goals and commitments agreed to by the Summit. The United Nations
and the Bretton Woods institutions should establish
regular and substantive dialogue, including at the field level, for more
effective and efficient coordination of assistance for social development;
(d) Refrain
from any unilateral measure not in accordance with international law and the
Charter of the United Nations that creates obstacles to trade relations among
States;
(e) Strengthen
the structure, resources and processes of the Economic and Social Council and
its subsidiary bodies, and other organizations within the United Nations system
that are concerned with economic and social development;
(f) Request the
Economic and Social Council to review and assess, on the basis of reports of
national Governments, the regional commissions, relevant functional commissions
and specialized agencies, progress made by the international community towards
implementing the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development, and to
report to the General Assembly, accordingly, for its appropriate consideration
and action;
(g) Request the
General Assembly to hold a special session in the year 2000 for an overall
review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the Summit and to
consider further actions and initiatives.