The United Nations General Assembly unanimously approved a resolution promoting a New Global Human Order at its 65th session held on December 10.
In a press release, the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre said it welcomed the continued recognition of the UN General Assembly and the UN’s role in promoting the new global human order. It also looked forward to the implementation of the resolution’s fundamental principles in influencing global development efforts.
The resolution, “The role of the United Nations in promoting a New Global Human Order” was initiated by the late President Dr Cheddi Jagan “as a passionate plea to world leaders to create a new approach to international relations in order to deal with the growing problems of social inequality, poverty, hunger, social insecurity and disorder.” It was co-sponsored by 54 countries.
The concept was previously discussed at the UN General Assembly through resolutions approved in 2000, 2002 and 2007. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his report on the implementation of the 2007 Resolution, highlighted its link to key UN initiatives. The Guyana government first made the proposal at the World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen in 1995. Since then, it has been supported at a number of international forums, including the Caribbean Community, the Non-Aligned Movement, the South Summit, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Group of 77.
The resolution, which was first discussed in the General Assembly at its 55th session in 2000, is intended to promote multilateral approaches to the solution of global problems through the adoption of a holistic framework of development that focuses on integrating the economic, environmental, social, cultural and political aspects of development experience and to identify critical gaps that need to be addressed in the fashioning of this holistic approach.
Many of the ideas summarized in the new order are contained in the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Summit for Social Development, which established a consensus to place people at the centre of sustainable development, promote productive employment and foster social integration into international policy discourse. “Social integration, which calls for respect for human rights, the elimination of all forms of discrimination, the provision of equal opportunities and the fulfilment of the needs of the disadvantaged and vulnerable, is one of the elements of the new global human order,” the Centre noted.
The concept focuses on reversing the growing disparities between rich and poor countries and on human development and it echoes the central vision of the Millennium Declaration. “This entails growth with equity, the eradication of poverty, the expansion of productive employment, the promotion of gender equality and social integration,” it added said. It also said that a long-term approach that is people-centred and aimed at promoting their social and economic welfare is also necessary. The statement noted that the emphasis on human developments and closing the gap between the rich and the poor, both between and within countries, are among the most promising aspects of the concepts.
