Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order

A/RES/3201(S-VI)View PDF

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A Resolution of the General Assembly, published in 1974.

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1 subject

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28 operative paragraphs

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Having convened a special session of the General which was established at a time when most of the Assembly to study for the first time the problems of developing countries did not even exist as inderaw materials and development, devoted to the conpendent States and which perpetuates inequality. sideration of the most imponant economic problems The present international economic order is in facing the world community,

direct conflict with current developments in inter-

Bearing in mind the spirit, purposes and principles national political and economic relations_ Since 1970, of the Charter of the United N atlons to promote the the world economy has experienced a series of grave economic advancement and social progress of all crises which have had severe repercussions, espepeoples,

cially on the developing countries because of their Solemnly proclaim our united determination to work generally greater vulnerability to external economic impulses. The developing world has become a pow- TIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER based on equity' sovereign erful factor that makes its influence felt in all fields equality, interdependence, common interest and coof international activity. These irreversible changes operation among all States, irrespective of their ecom the relationship of forces in the world necessitate nomic and social systems which shall correct inequalthe active, full and equal participation of the develities and redress existing injustices, make it possible oping countries in the formulation and application to eliminate the widening gap between the developed of all decisions that concern the international comand the developing countries and ensure steadily accelmunity. erating economic and social development and peace 3 AIi these changes have thrust into prominence and justice for present and future generations, and, to the reality of interdependence of all the members that end, declare:

of the world community. Current events have brought

The greatest and most significant achievement into sharp focus the realization that the interests of during the last decades has been the independence the developed countries and those of the developing from colonial and alien domination of a large numcountries can no longer be isolated from each other,

ber of peoples and nations which has enabled them that there is a close interrelationship between the to become members of the community of free peoprosperity of the developed countries and the growth ples. Technological progress has also been made in and development of the developin~ countries, and all spheres of economic activities in the last three that the prosperity of the international community decades, thus providing a solid potential for improvas a whole depends upon the prosperity of its coning the well-being of all peoples. However, the restituent parts. International co-operation for develmaining vestiges of alien and colonial domination,

opment is the shared goal and common duty of all foreign occupation, racial discrimination, apartheid countries. Thus the political, economic and social and neo-colonialism in all its forms continue to be well-being of present and future generations depends among the greatest obstacles to the full emancipation mott than ever on co.-<Jperation between all the

members of the international community on the basis of sovereign equality and the removal of the disequilibrium that exists between them.

The new international economic order should be founded on full respect for the following principles:

Sovereign equality of States, self-determination of all peoples, inadmissibility of the acquisition of territories by force, territorial integrity and noninterference in the internal affairs of other States;

The broadest co-operation of all the States members of the international community, based on equity, whereby tlfe prevailing dis(>arities in the world may be banished and prospenty secured for all;

( c) Full and effective participation on the basis of equality of all countries in the solving of world economic problems in the common interest of all countries, bearing in mind the necessity to ensure the accelerated development of all the developing countries, while devoting particular attention to the adoption of special measures in favour of the least developed, land-locked and island developing countries as well as those developing countries most seriously affected by economic crises and natural calamities, without losing sight of the interests of other developing countries;

The right of every country to adopt the economic and social system that it deems the most appropriate for i~s own development and not to be subjected to discrimination of any kind as a result;

Full permanent sovereignty of every State over its natural resources and all economic activities. In order to safeguard these resources, each State is entitled to exercise effective control over them and their exploitation with means suitable to its own situation, including the right to nationalization or transfer of ownership to its nationals, this right being an expression of the full permanent sovereignty of the State. No State may be subjected to economic, political or any other type of coercion to prevent the free and full exercise of this inalienable right;

(/) The right of all States, territories and peoples under foreign occupation, alien and colonial domination or apartheid to restitution and full compensation for the exploitation and depletion of, and damages to, the natural resources and all other resources of those States, territories and peoples;

Regulation and supervision of the activities of transnational corporations by taking measures in the interest of the national economies of the countries where such transnational corporations operate on the basis of the full sovereignty of those countries;

The right of the developing countries and the peoples of territories under colonial and racial domination and foreign occupation to achieve their liberation and to regain effective control over their natural resources and economic activities;

The extending of assistance to developing countries, peoples and territories which are under colonial and alien domination, foreign occupation, racial. discrimination or apartheid or are subjected to economic, politicarl or any other type of coercive measures to obtain from them the subordination of the exercise of their sovereign rights and to secure from them advantages of any kind, and to neocolonialism in all its forms, and which have establisheJ or are t:ndeavouring to establish effective control over their natural resources and economic activities that have been or are still under foreign control;

Just and equitable relationship between the prices of raw materials, primary commodities, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods exported by developing couJtries and the prices of raw materials, primary commodities, manufactures, capital goods and equipment imported by them with the aim of bringing about sustained improvement in their unsatisfactory terms of trade and the expansion of the world economy;

( k) Extension of active assistance to developing countries by the whole international community, free of any political or military conditions;

(I) Ensuring that one of the main aims of the reformed international monetary system shall be the promotion of the development of the developing countries and the adequate flow of real resources to them;

Improving the competitiveness of natural materials facing competition from synthetic substitutes;

Preferential and non-reciprocal treatment for developing countries, wherever feasible, in all fields of international economic co-operation whenever possible;

( v) Securing favourable conditions for the transfer of financial resources to developing countries;

Giving to the developing countries access to the achievements of modern science and technology, and promoting the transfer of technology and the creation of indigenous technology for the benefit of the developing countries in forms and in accordance with procedures which are suited to their economies;

The need for all States to put an end to the waste of natural resources, including food products;

( r) The need for developing countries to concentrate all their resources for· the cause of development;

( s) The strengthening, through individual and collective actions, of mutual economic, trade, financial and technical co-operation among the developing countries, mainly on a preferential basis;

Facilitating the role which producers' associations may play within the framework of international co-operation and, in pursuance of their aims, inter alia assisting in the promotion of sustained growth of the world economy and accelerating the development of developing countries.

The unanimous adoption of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade~ was an important step in the promotion of international economic co-operation on a just and equitable basis. The accelerated implementation of obligations and commitments assumed by the international community within the framework of the Strategy, particularly those concerning imperative development needs of developing countries, would contribute significantly to the fulfilment of the aims and objectives of the present Declaration.

The United Nations as a universal organization should be capable of dealin$ with problems of international economic co-operation in a compre-

hensive manner and ensuring equally the interests of all countries. It must have an even greater role in the establishment of a new international economic order. The Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States, for the preparation of which the present Declaration will provide an additional sou_rce . of inspiration, will constitute a significant contribu~on in this respect. All the States Members of the (!ruted Nations are therefore called upon to exert maximum efforts with a ·view to securing the implementation of the present Declaration, which is one of the principal guarantees for the creation of better conditions for all peoples to reach a life worthy of human dignity.

The present Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order shall be one of the most important bases of economic relations between all peoples and all nations.

3202 (S-VI). Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order

Adopts the following Programme of Action: PROGRAMME OF ACTION ON THE ESTABLISH- _MENT OF A NEW INTERNATIONAL ECO- NOMIC ORDER CONTENTS

Introduction ............. .

5 I. Fundamental problems of raw materials and primary commodities as related to trade and development 5 JI. International mone1ary system and financing of the development of developing countries . III. Industrialization IV. Transfer of technology v. Regulation and control over the activities of transnational corporations 8 VI. Charter of Economic . Rights and Duties of States Promotion of co-operation among developing VII.

countries 9 VIII. Assistance in the exercise of permanent sovereignty of States over natural resources ....... .

9 IX. Strengthening the role of the United Nations system in the field of international economic cooperation 10 X. Special Programme

In view of the continuing severe economic imbalance in the relations between developed and developing countries, and in the context of the constant and continuing aggravation of the imbalance of the economies of the developing countries and the consequent need for the mitigation of their current economic difficulties, urgent and effective measures need to be taken by the international community to assist the developing countries, while devoting particular attention to the least developed, land-locked and island developing countries and those developh.g countries most seriously

s affected by economic crises and natural calamities leading to serious retardation of development processes.

With a view to ensuring the application of the Declaration on the Establishment of a New Intema-. tional Economic Order,6 it will be necessary to adopt and implement within a specified period a programme of action of unprecedented scope and to bring about maximum economic co-operation and understanding among all States, particularly between developed and developing countries, based on the principles of dignity and sovereign equality. I.

l. Raw materials All efforts should be made:

To put an end to all forms of foreign occupation, racial discrimination, apartheid, colonial, neocolonial and alien domination and exploitation through the exercise of permanent sovereignty over natural resources;

To take measures for the recovery, exploitation, development, marketing and distribution of natural resources, particularly of developing countries, to serve their national inter~ts, to promote collective self-reliance among them and to strengthen mutually beneficial international economic co-operation with a view to bringing about the accelerated develQpment of developing countries;

To facilitate the functioning and to fu:r:ther the aims of producers' associations, including thc;ir joint marketing arrangements, orderly commodity trading, improvement in the export income of producing developing countries and in their terms of trade, and sustained growth of the world economy for the benefit of all;

To evolve a just and equitable relationship between the prices of raw materials, primary commodities, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods exported by developing countries and the prices of raw materials, primary commodities, food, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods arid capital equipment imported by them, .and to work for a link between the prices of exports of developing countries and the prices of their imports from developed countries;

( e) To take measures to reverse the continued trend of stagnation or decline in the real price of severnl commodities exported by developing countries, despite a general rise in commodity prices, resulting in a decline in the export earnings of these developing countries;

To take measures to expand the markets for natural products in relation to synthetics, taking into account the interests of the developing countries, and to utilize fully the ecological advantages of these products;

To take measures to promote the processing of raw materials in the producer developing rnuntrfos ..

2. Food All efforts should be made:

To take full account of specific problems •,)f: developing countries, particularly in times of food e Resolution 3201 (S-VI).

Resol•lion No.

Till• Dat, of adopt10t1 ! May 1974 3 l May 1974 l May 1974 7 13

urgently for THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW INTERNA-

11 Resolution 2626 (XXV).

FuNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS OF RAW MATERIALS AND PRIMARY COMMODITIES AS RELATED TO TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT

Seel.,,,.

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7 8 8 8

9 INTRODUCTION

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

Table of contents