United Nations A/RES/60/1

Distr.: General
General Assembly 24 October 2005

Sixtieth session
Agenda items 46 and 120

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 16 September 2005

[without reference to a Main Committee (A/60/L.1)]

60/1. 2005 World Summit Outcome

The General Assembly

Adopts the following 2005 World Summit Outcome:

2005 World Summit Outcome

I. Values and principles

1. We, Heads of State and Government, have gathered at United Nations
Headquarters in New York from 14 to 16 September 2005.
2. We reaffirm our faith in the United Nations and our commitment to the
purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law,
which are indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world,
and reiterate our determination to foster strict respect for them.
3. We reaffirm the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 1 which we adopted at
the dawn of the twenty-first century. We recognize the valuable role of the major
United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields,
including the Millennium Summit, in mobilizing the international community at the
local, national, regional and global levels and in guiding the work of the United
Nations.
4. We reaffirm that our common fundamental values, including freedom, equality,
solidarity, tolerance, respect for all human rights, respect for nature and shared
responsibility, are essential to international relations.
5. We are determined to establish a just and lasting peace all over the world in
accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter. We rededicate ourselves
to support all efforts to uphold the sovereign equality of all States, respect their
territorial integrity and political independence, to refrain in our international
relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the
purposes and principles of the United Nations, to uphold resolution of disputes by

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1
See resolution 55/2.

05-48760
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peaceful means and in conformity with the principles of justice and international
law, the right to self-determination of peoples which remain under colonial
domination and foreign occupation, non-interference in the internal affairs of States,
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for the equal rights of
all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, international cooperation
in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian
character and the fulfilment in good faith of the obligations assumed in accordance
with the Charter.
6. We reaffirm the vital importance of an effective multilateral system, in
accordance with international law, in order to better address the multifaceted and
interconnected challenges and threats confronting our world and to achieve progress
in the areas of peace and security, development and human rights, underlining the
central role of the United Nations, and commit ourselves to promoting and
strengthening the effectiveness of the Organization through the implementation of
its decisions and resolutions.
7. We believe that today, more than ever before, we live in a global and
interdependent world. No State can stand wholly alone. We acknowledge that
collective security depends on effective cooperation, in accordance with
international law, against transnational threats.
8. We recognize that current developments and circumstances require that we
urgently build consensus on major threats and challenges. We commit ourselves to
translating that consensus into concrete action, including addressing the root causes
of those threats and challenges with resolve and determination.
9. We acknowledge that peace and security, development and human rights are
the pillars of the United Nations system and the foundations for collective security
and well-being. We recognize that development, peace and security and human
rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing.
10. We reaffirm that development is a central goal in itself and that sustainable
development in its economic, social and environmental aspects constitutes a key
element of the overarching framework of United Nations activities.
11. We acknowledge that good governance and the rule of law at the national and
international levels are essential for sustained economic growth, sustainable
development and the eradication of poverty and hunger.
12. We reaffirm that gender equality and the promotion and protection of the full
enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all are essential to
advance development and peace and security. We are committed to creating a world
fit for future generations, which takes into account the best interests of the child.
13. We reaffirm the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of
all human rights.
14. Acknowledging the diversity of the world, we recognize that all cultures and
civilizations contribute to the enrichment of humankind. We acknowledge the
importance of respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity
throughout the world. In order to promote international peace and security, we
commit ourselves to advancing human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere,
as well as to encouraging tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among
different cultures, civilizations and peoples.

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15. We pledge to enhance the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, accountability

and credibility of the United Nations system. This is our shared responsibility and
interest.
16. We therefore resolve to create a more peaceful, prosperous and democratic
world and to undertake concrete measures to continue finding ways to implement
the outcome of the Millennium Summit and the other major United Nations
conferences and summits so as to provide multilateral solutions to problems in the
four following areas:
• Development
• Peace and collective security
• Human rights and the rule of law
• Strengthening of the United Nations

II. Development
17. We strongly reiterate our determination to ensure the timely and full
realization of the development goals and objectives agreed at the major United
Nations conferences and summits, including those agreed at the Millennium Summit
that are described as the Millennium Development Goals, which have helped to
galvanize efforts towards poverty eradication.
18. We emphasize the vital role played by the major United Nations conferences
and summits in the economic, social and related fields in shaping a broad
development vision and in identifying commonly agreed objectives, which have
contributed to improving human life in different parts of the world.
19. We reaffirm our commitment to eradicate poverty and promote sustained
economic growth, sustainable development and global prosperity for all. We are
encouraged by reductions in poverty in some countries in the recent past and are
determined to reinforce and extend this trend to benefit people worldwide. We
remain concerned, however, about the slow and uneven progress towards poverty
eradication and the realization of other development goals in some regions. We
commit ourselves to promoting the development of the productive sectors in
developing countries to enable them to participate more effectively in and benefit
from the process of globalization. We underline the need for urgent action on all
sides, including more ambitious national development strategies and efforts backed
by increased international support.
Global partnership for development
20. We reaffirm our commitment to the global partnership for development set out
in the Millennium Declaration,1 the Monterrey Consensus 2 and the Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation. 3
21. We further reaffirm our commitment to sound policies, good governance at all
levels and the rule of law, and to mobilize domestic resources, attract international

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2
Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development (Report of the
International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United
Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex).
3
Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Report of the World Summit
on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.03.II. A.1 and corrigendum), chap I, resolution 2, annex).

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flows, promote international trade as an engine for development and increase

international financial and technical cooperation for development, sustainable debt
financing and external debt relief and to enhance the coherence and consistency of
the international monetary, financial and trading systems.
22. We reaffirm that each country must take primary responsibility for its own
development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot
be overemphasized in the achievement of sustainable development. We also
recognize that national efforts should be complemented by supportive global
programmes, measures and policies aimed at expanding the development
opportunities of developing countries, while taking into account national conditions
and ensuring respect for national ownership, strategies and sovereignty. To this end,
we resolve:
(a) To adopt, by 2006, and implement comprehensive national development
strategies to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives,
including the Millennium Development Goals;
(b) To manage public finances effectively to achieve and maintain
macroeconomic stability and long-term growth and to make effective and
transparent use of public funds and ensure that development assistance is used to
build national capacities;
(c) To support efforts by developing countries to adopt and implement
national development policies and strategies through increased development
assistance, the promotion of international trade as an engine for development, the
transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms, increased investment flows and
wider and deeper debt relief, and to support developing countries by providing a
substantial increase in aid of sufficient quality and arriving in a timely manner to
assist them in achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the
Millennium Development Goals;
(d) That the increasing interdependence of national economies in a
globalizing world and the emergence of rule-based regimes for international
economic relations have meant that the space for national economic policy, that is,
the scope for domestic policies, especially in the areas of trade, investment and
industrial development, is now often framed by international disciplines,
commitments and global market considerations. It is for each Government to
evaluate the trade-off between the benefits of accepting international rules and
commitments and the constraints posed by the loss of policy space. It is particularly
important for developing countries, bearing in mind development goals and
objectives, that all countries take into account the need for appropriate balance
between national policy space and international disciplines and commitments;
(e) To enhance the contribution of non-governmental organizations, civil
society, the private sector and other stakeholders in national development efforts, as
well as in the promotion of the global partnership for development;
(f) To ensure that the United Nations funds and programmes and the
specialized agencies support the efforts of developing countries through the
common country assessment and United Nations Development Assistance
Framework process, enhancing their support for capacity-building;
(g) To protect our natural resource base in support of development.

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Financing for development

23. We reaffirm the Monterrey Consensus2 and recognize that mobilizing financial
resources for development and the effective use of those resources in developing
countries and countries with economies in transition are central to a global
partnership for development in support of the achievement of the internationally
agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. In this
regard:
(a) We are encouraged by recent commitments to substantial increases in
official development assistance and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development estimate that official development assistance to all developing
countries will now increase by around 50 billion United States dollars a year by
2010, while recognizing that a substantial increase in such assistance is required to
achieve the internationally agreed goals, including the Millennium Development
Goals, within their respective time frames;
(b) We welcome the increased resources that will become available as a
result of the establishment of timetables by many developed countries to achieve the
target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance
by 2015 and to reach at least 0.5 per cent of gross national product for official
development assistance by 2010 as well as, pursuant to the Brussels Programme of
Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, 4 0.15 per cent
to 0.20 per cent for the least developed countries no later than 2010, and urge those
developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts in this regard
in accordance with their commitments;
(c) We further welcome recent efforts and initiatives to enhance the quality
of aid and to increase its impact, including the Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness, and resolve to take concrete, effective and timely action in
implementing all agreed commitments on aid effectiveness, with clear monitoring
and deadlines, including through further aligning assistance with countries’
strategies, building institutional capacities, reducing transaction costs and
eliminating bureaucratic procedures, making progress on untying aid, enhancing the
absorptive capacity and financial management of recipient countries and
strengthening the focus on development results;
(d) We recognize the value of developing innovative sources of financing,
provided those sources do not unduly burden developing countries. In that regard,
we take note with interest of the international efforts, contributions and discussions,
such as the Action against Hunger and Poverty, aimed at identifying innovative and
additional sources of financing for development on a public, private, domestic or
external basis to increase and supplement traditional sources of financing. Some
countries will implement the International Finance Facility. Some countries have
launched the International Finance Facility for immunization. Some countries will
implement in the near future, utilizing their national authorities, a contribution on
airline tickets to enable the financing of development projects, in particular in the
health sector, directly or through financing of the International Finance Facility.
Other countries are considering whether and to what extent they will participate in
these initiatives;

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4
A/CONF.191/13, chap. II.

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(e) We acknowledge the vital role the private sector can play in generating
new investments, employment and financing for development;
(f) We resolve to address the development needs of low-income developing
countries by working in competent multilateral and international forums, to help
them meet, inter alia, their financial, technical and technological requirements;
(g) We resolve to continue to support the development efforts of middle-
income developing countries by working, in competent multilateral and
international forums and also through bilateral arrangements, on measures to help
them meet, inter alia, their financial, technical and technological requirements;
(h) We resolve to operationalize the World Solidarity Fund established by the
General Assembly and invite those countries in a position to do so to make
voluntary contributions to the Fund;
(i) We recognize the need for access to financial services, in particular for
the poor, including through microfinance and microcredit.

Domestic resource mobilization

24. In our common pursuit of growth, poverty eradication and sustainable
development, a critical challenge is to ensure the necessary internal conditions for
mobilizing domestic savings, both public and private, sustaining adequate levels of
productive investment, increasing human capacity, reducing capital flight, curbing
the illicit transfer of funds and enhancing international cooperation for creating an
enabling domestic environment. We undertake to support the efforts of developing
countries to create a domestic enabling environment for mobilizing domestic
resources. To this end, we therefore resolve:
(a) To pursue good governance and sound macroeconomic policies at all
levels and support developing countries in their efforts to put in place the policies
and investments to drive sustained economic growth, promote small and medium-
sized enterprises, promote employment generation and stimulate the private sector;
(b) To reaffirm that good governance is essential for sustainable
development; that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive
to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained
economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation; and that freedom,
peace and security, domestic stability, respect for human rights, including the right
to development, the rule of law, gender equality and market-oriented policies and an
overall commitment to just and democratic societies are also essential and mutually
reinforcing;
(c) To make the fight against corruption a priority at all levels and we
welcome all actions taken in this regard at the national and international levels,
including the adoption of policies that emphasize accountability, transparent public
sector management and corporate responsibility and accountability, including efforts
to return assets transferred through corruption, consistent with the United Nations
Convention against Corruption. 5 We urge all States that have not done so to consider
signing, ratifying and implementing the Convention;
(d) To channel private capabilities and resources into stimulating the private
sector in developing countries through actions in the public, public/private and

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5
Resolution 58/4, annex.

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private spheres to create an enabling environment for partnership and innovation

that contributes to accelerated economic development and hunger and poverty
eradication;
(e) To support efforts to reduce capital flight and measures to curb the illicit
transfer of funds.

Investment
25. We resolve to encourage greater direct investment, including foreign
investment, in developing countries and countries with economies in transition to
support their development activities and to enhance the benefits they can derive
from such investments. In this regard:
(a) We continue to support efforts by developing countries and countries
with economies in transition to create a domestic environment conducive to
attracting investments through, inter alia, achieving a transparent, stable and
predictable investment climate with proper contract enforcement and respect for
property rights and the rule of law and pursuing appropriate policy and regulatory
frameworks that encourage business formation;
(b) We will put into place policies to ensure adequate investment in a
sustainable manner in health, clean water and sanitation, housing and education and
in the provision of public goods and social safety nets to protect vulnerable and
disadvantaged sectors of society;
(c) We invite national Governments seeking to develop infrastructure
projects and generate foreign direct investment to pursue strategies with the
involvement of both the public and private sectors and, where appropriate,
international donors;
(d) We call upon international financial and banking institutions to consider
enhancing the transparency of risk rating mechanisms. Sovereign risk assessments,
made by the private sector should maximize the use of strict, objective and
transparent parameters, which can be facilitated by high-quality data and analysis;
(e) We underscore the need to sustain sufficient and stable private financial
flows to developing countries and countries with economies in transition. It is
important to promote measures in source and destination countries to improve
transparency and the information about financial flows to developing countries,
particularly countries in Africa, the least developed countries, small island
developing States and landlocked developing countries. Measures that mitigate the
impact of excessive volatility of short-term capital flows are important and must be
considered.

Debt
26. We emphasize the high importance of a timely, effective, comprehensive and
durable solution to the debt problems of developing countries, since debt financing
and relief can be an important source of capital for development. To this end:
(a) We welcome the recent proposals of the Group of Eight to cancel 100 per
cent of the outstanding debt of eligible heavily indebted poor countries owed to the
International Monetary Fund, the International Development Association and
African Development Fund and to provide additional resources to ensure that the
financing capacity of the international financial institutions is not reduced;

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(b) We emphasize that debt sustainability is essential for underpinning

growth and underline the importance of debt sustainability to the efforts to achieve
national development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals,
recognizing the key role that debt relief can play in liberating resources that can be
directed towards activities consistent with poverty eradication, sustained economic
growth and sustainable development;
(c) We further stress the need to consider additional measures and initiatives
aimed at ensuring long-term debt sustainability through increased grant-based
financing, cancellation of 100 per cent of the official multilateral and bilateral debt
of heavily indebted poor countries and, where appropriate, and on a case-by-case
basis, to consider significant debt relief or restructuring for low- and middle-income
developing countries with an unsustainable debt burden that are not part of the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, as well as the exploration of
mechanisms to comprehensively address the debt problems of those countries. Such
mechanisms may include debt for sustainable development swaps or multicreditor
debt swap arrangements, as appropriate. These initiatives could include further
efforts by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to develop the debt
sustainability framework for low-income countries. This should be achieved in a
fashion that does not detract from official development assistance resources, while
maintaining the financial integrity of the multilateral financial institutions.

Trade
27. A universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral
trading system, as well as meaningful trade liberalization, can substantially
stimulate development worldwide, benefiting countries at all stages of development.
In that regard, we reaffirm our commitment to trade liberalization and to ensure that
trade plays its full part in promoting economic growth, employment and
development for all.
28. We are committed to efforts designed to ensure that developing countries,
especially the least-developed countries, participate fully in the world trading
system in order to meet their economic development needs, and reaffirm our
commitment to enhanced and predictable market access for the exports of
developing countries.
29. We will work towards the objective, in accordance with the Brussels
Programme of Action,4 of duty-free and quota-free market access for all least
developed countries’ products to the markets of developed countries, as well as to
the markets of developing countries in a position to do so, and support their efforts
to overcome their supply-side constraints.
30. We are committed to supporting and promoting increased aid to build
productive and trade capacities of developing countries and to taking further steps in
that regard, while welcoming the substantial support already provided.
31. We will work to accelerate and facilitate the accession of developing countries
and countries with economies in transition to the World Trade Organization
consistent with its criteria, recognizing the importance of universal integration in
the rules-based global trading system.

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32. We will work expeditiously towards implementing the development

dimensions of the Doha work programme. 6

Commodities
33. We emphasize the need to address the impact of weak and volatile commodity
prices and support the efforts of commodity-dependent countries to restructure,
diversify and strengthen the competitiveness of their commodity sectors.

Quick-impact initiatives
34. Given the need to accelerate progress immediately in countries where current
trends make the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals
unlikely, we resolve to urgently identify and implement country-led initiatives with
adequate international support, consistent with long-term national development
strategies, that promise immediate and durable improvements in the lives of people
and renewed hope for the achievement of the development goals. In this regard, we
will take such actions as the distribution of malaria bed nets, including free
distribution, where appropriate, and effective anti-malarial treatments, the expansion
of local school meal programmes, using home-grown foods where possible, and the
elimination of user fees for primary education and, where appropriate, health-care
services.

Systemic issues and global economic decision-making

35. We reaffirm the commitment to broaden and strengthen the participation of
developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international
economic decision-making and norm-setting, and to that end stress the importance
of continuing efforts to reform the international financial architecture, noting that
enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries and countries with
economies in transition in the Bretton Woods institutions remains a continuous
concern.
36. We reaffirm our commitment to governance, equity and transparency in the
financial, monetary and trading systems. We are also committed to open, equitable,
rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial
systems.
37. We also underscore our commitment to sound domestic financial sectors,
which make a vital contribution to national development efforts, as an important
component of an international financial architecture that is supportive of
development.
38. We further reaffirm the need for the United Nations to play a fundamental role
in the promotion of international cooperation for development and the coherence,
coordination and implementation of development goals and actions agreed upon by
the international community, and we resolve to strengthen coordination within the
United Nations system in close cooperation with all other multilateral financial,
trade and development institutions in order to support sustained economic growth,
poverty eradication and sustainable development.
39. Good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving
sustainable development. In order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international

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6
See A/C.2/56/7, annex.

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economic environment, it is important to promote global economic governance

through addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment
patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries.
To this effect, the international community should take all necessary and appropriate
measures, including ensuring support for structural and macroeconomic reform, a
comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing the market
access of developing countries.

South-South cooperation
40. We recognize the achievements and great potential of South-South cooperation
and encourage the promotion of such cooperation, which complements North-South
cooperation as an effective contribution to development and as a means to share best
practices and provide enhanced technical cooperation. In this context, we note the
recent decision of the leaders of the South, adopted at the Second South Summit and
contained in the Doha Declaration 7 and the Doha Plan of Action, 8 to intensify their
efforts at South-South cooperation, including through the establishment of the New
Asian-African Strategic Partnership and other regional cooperation mechanisms,
and encourage the international community, including the international financial
institutions, to support the efforts of developing countries, inter alia, through
triangular cooperation. We also take note with appreciation of the launching of the
third round of negotiations on the Global System of Trade Preferences among
Developing Countries as an important instrument to stimulate South-South
cooperation.
41. We welcome the work of the United Nations High-Level Committee on South-
South Cooperation and invite countries to consider supporting the Special Unit for
South-South Cooperation within the United Nations Development Programme in
order to respond effectively to the development needs of developing countries.
42. We recognize the considerable contribution of arrangements such as the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund initiated by a group of
developing countries, as well as the potential contribution of the South Fund for
Development and Humanitarian Assistance, to development activities in developing
countries.

Education
43. We emphasize the critical role of both formal and informal education in the
achievement of poverty eradication and other development goals as envisaged in the
Millennium Declaration,1 in particular basic education and training for eradicating
illiteracy, and strive for expanded secondary and higher education as well as
vocational education and technical training, especially for girls and women, the
creation of human resources and infrastructure capabilities and the empowerment of
those living in poverty. In this context, we reaffirm the Dakar Framework for Action
adopted at the World Education Forum in 2000 9 and recognize the importance of the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization strategy for the
eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty, in supporting the Education for

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7
A/60/111, annex I.
8
Ibid., annex II.
9
See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World
Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000).

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All programmes as a tool to achieve the millennium development goal of universal

primary education by 2015.
44. We reaffirm our commitment to support developing country efforts to ensure
that all children have access to and complete free and compulsory primary education
of good quality, to eliminate gender inequality and imbalance and to renew efforts to
improve girls’ education. We also commit ourselves to continuing to support the
efforts of developing countries in the implementation of the Education for All
initiative, including with enhanced resources of all types through the Education for
All fast-track initiative in support of country-led national education plans.
45. We commit ourselves to promoting education for peace and human
development.

Rural and agricultural development

46. We reaffirm that food security and rural and agricultural development must be
adequately and urgently addressed in the context of national development and
response strategies and, in this context, will enhance the contributions of indigenous
and local communities, as appropriate. We are convinced that the eradication of
poverty, hunger and malnutrition, particularly as they affect children, is crucial for
the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Rural and agricultural
development should be an integral part of national and international development
policies. We deem it necessary to increase productive investment in rural and
agricultural development to achieve food security. We commit ourselves to
increasing support for agricultural development and trade capacity-building in the
agricultural sector in developing countries. Support for commodity development
projects, especially market-based projects, and for their preparation under the
Second Account of the Common Fund for Commodities should be encouraged.

Employment
47. We strongly support fair globalization and resolve to make the goals of full
and productive employment and decent work for all, including for women and
young people, a central objective of our relevant national and international policies
as well as our national development strategies, including poverty reduction
strategies, as part of our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
These measures should also encompass the elimination of the worst forms of child
labour, as defined in International Labour Organization Convention No. 182, and
forced labour. We also resolve to ensure full respect for the fundamental principles
and rights at work.

Sustainable development: managing and protecting our common environment

48. We reaffirm our commitment to achieve the goal of sustainable development,
including through the implementation of Agenda 21 10 and the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation.3 To this end, we commit ourselves to undertaking concrete actions
and measures at all levels and to enhancing international cooperation, taking into
account the Rio principles. 11 These efforts will also promote the integration of the

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10
Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June
1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the
Conference, resolution 1, annex II.
11
Ibid., annex I.

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three components of sustainable development – economic development, social

development and environmental protection – as interdependent and mutually
reinforcing pillars. Poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of
production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base
of economic and social development are overarching objectives of and essential
requirements for sustainable development.
49. We will promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, with the
developed countries taking the lead and all countries benefiting from the process, as
called for in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. In that context, we support
developing countries in their efforts to promote a recycling economy.
50. We face serious and multiple challenges in tackling climate change, promoting
clean energy, meeting energy needs and achieving sustainable development, and we
will act with resolve and urgency in this regard.
51. We recognize that climate change is a serious and long-term challenge that has
the potential to affect every part of the globe. We emphasize the need to meet all the
commitments and obligations we have undertaken in the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change 12 and other relevant international agreements,
including, for many of us, the Kyoto Protocol. 13 The Convention is the appropriate
framework for addressing future action on climate change at the global level.
52. We reaffirm our commitment to the ultimate objective of the Convention: to
stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents
dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
53. We acknowledge that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest
possible cooperation and participation in an effective and appropriate international
response, in accordance with the principles of the Convention. We are committed to
moving forward the global discussion on long-term cooperative action to address
climate change, in accordance with these principles. We stress the importance of the
eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, to be held in
Montreal in November 2005.
54. We acknowledge various partnerships that are under way to advance action on
clean energy and climate change, including bilateral, regional and multilateral
initiatives.
55. We are committed to taking further action through practical international
cooperation, inter alia:
(a) To promote innovation, clean energy and energy efficiency and
conservation; improve policy, regulatory and financing frameworks; and accelerate
the deployment of cleaner technologies;
(b) To enhance private investment, transfer of technologies and capacity-
building to developing countries, as called for in the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation, taking into account their own energy needs and priorities;
(c) To assist developing countries to improve their resilience and integrate
adaptation goals into their sustainable development strategies, given that adaptation
to the effects of climate change due to both natural and human factors is a high

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12
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822.
13
FCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex.

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priority for all nations, particularly those most vulnerable, namely, those referred to
in article 4.8 of the Convention;
(d) To continue to assist developing countries, in particular small island
developing States, least developed countries and African countries, including those
that are particularly vulnerable to climate change, in addressing their adaptation
needs relating to the adverse effects of climate change.
56. In pursuance of our commitment to achieve sustainable development, we
further resolve:
(a) To promote the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development and the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”;
(b) To support and strengthen the implementation of the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious
Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, 14 to address causes of
desertification and land degradation, as well as poverty resulting from land
degradation, through, inter alia, the mobilization of adequate and predictable
financial resources, the transfer of technology and capacity-building at all levels;
(c) That the States parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity 15 and
the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 16 should support the implementation of the
Convention and the Protocol, as well as other biodiversity-related agreements and
the Johannesburg commitment for a significant reduction in the rate of loss of
biodiversity by 2010. The States parties will continue to negotiate within the
framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, bearing in mind the Bonn
Guidelines, 17 an international regime to promote and safeguard the fair and
equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. All
States will fulfil commitments and significantly reduce the rate of loss of
biodiversity by 2010 and continue ongoing efforts towards elaborating and
negotiating an international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit-
sharing;
(d) To recognize that the sustainable development of indigenous peoples and
their communities is crucial in our fight against hunger and poverty;
(e) To reaffirm our commitment, subject to national legislation, to respect,
preserve and maintain the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and
local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant to the conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity, promote their wider application with the
approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and
practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their
utilization;
(f) To work expeditiously towards the establishment of a worldwide early
warning system for all natural hazards with regional nodes, building on existing
national and regional capacity such as the newly established Indian Ocean Tsunami
Warning and Mitigation System;

_______________
14
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480
15
Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619.
16
UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex.
17
UNEP/CBD/COP/6/20, annex I, decision VI/24A.

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(g) To fully implement the Hyogo Declaration 18 and the Hyogo Framework
for Action 2005–2015 19 adopted at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, in
particular those commitments related to assistance for developing countries that are
prone to natural disasters and disaster-stricken States in the transition phase towards
sustainable physical, social and economic recovery, for risk-reduction activities in
post-disaster recovery and for rehabilitation processes;
(h) To assist developing countries’ efforts to prepare integrated water
resources management and water efficiency plans as part of their national
development strategies and to provide access to safe drinking water and basic
sanitation in accordance with the Millennium Declaration1 and the Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation,3 including halving by 2015 the proportion of people who
are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and who do not have access to
basic sanitation;
(i) To accelerate the development and dissemination of affordable and
cleaner energy efficiency and energy conservation technologies, as well as the
transfer of such technologies, in particular to developing countries, on favourable
terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, bearing
in mind that access to energy facilitates the eradication of poverty;
(j) To strengthen the conservation, sustainable management and
development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations,
including through enhanced international cooperation, so that trees and forests may
contribute fully to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals,
including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, taking full account of the
linkages between the forest sector and other sectors. We look forward to the
discussions at the sixth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests;
(k) To promote the sound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes
throughout their life cycle, in accordance with Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation, aiming to achieve that by 2020 chemicals are used and
produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on
human health and the environment using transparent and science-based risk
assessment and risk management procedures, by adopting and implementing a
voluntary strategic approach to international management of chemicals, and to
support developing countries in strengthening their capacity for the sound
management of chemicals and hazardous wastes by providing technical and
financial assistance, as appropriate;
(l) To improve cooperation and coordination at all levels in order to address
issues related to oceans and seas in an integrated manner and promote integrated
management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas;
(m) To achieve significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million
slum-dwellers by 2020, recognizing the urgent need for the provision of increased
resources for affordable housing and housing-related infrastructure, prioritizing
slum prevention and slum upgrading, and to encourage support for the United
Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation and its Slum Upgrading
Facility;

_______________
18
A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1.
19
Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to
Disasters (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2).

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(n) To acknowledge the invaluable role of the Global Environment Facility

in facilitating cooperation with developing countries; we look forward to a
successful replenishment this year along with the successful conclusion of all
outstanding commitments from the third replenishment;
(o) To note that cessation of the transport of radioactive materials through
the regions of small island developing States is an ultimate desired goal of small
island developing States and some other countries and recognize the right of
freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. States should maintain
dialogue and consultation, in particular under the aegis of the International Atomic
Energy Agency and the International Maritime Organization, with the aim of
improved mutual understanding, confidence-building and enhanced communication
in relation to the safe maritime transport of radioactive materials. States involved in
the transport of such materials are urged to continue to engage in dialogue with
small island developing States and other States to address their concerns. These
concerns include the further development and strengthening, within the appropriate
forums, of international regulatory regimes to enhance safety, disclosure, liability,
security and compensation in relation to such transport.

HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other health issues

57. We recognize that HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious
diseases pose severe risks for the entire world and serious challenges to the
achievement of development goals. We acknowledge the substantial efforts and
financial contributions made by the international community, while recognizing that
these diseases and other emerging health challenges require a sustained international
response. To this end, we commit ourselves to:
(a) Increasing investment, building on existing mechanisms and through
partnership, to improve health systems in developing countries and those with
economies in transition with the aim of providing sufficient health workers,
infrastructure, management systems and supplies to achieve the health-related
Millennium Development Goals by 2015;
(b) Implementing measures to increase the capacity of adults and adolescents
to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection;
(c) Fully implementing all commitments established by the Declaration of
Commitment on HIV/AIDS 20 through stronger leadership, the scaling up of a
comprehensive response to achieve broad multisectoral coverage for prevention,
care, treatment and support, the mobilization of additional resources from national,
bilateral, multilateral and private sources and the substantial funding of the Global
Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as well as of the HIV/AIDS
component of the work programmes of the United Nations system agencies and
programmes engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS;
(d) Developing and implementing a package for HIV prevention, treatment
and care with the aim of coming as close as possible to the goal of universal access
to treatment by 2010 for all those who need it, including through increased
resources, and working towards the elimination of stigma and discrimination,
enhanced access to affordable medicines and the reduction of vulnerability of

_______________
20
Resolution S-26/2, annex.

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persons affected by HIV/AIDS and other health issues, in particular orphaned and
vulnerable children and older persons;
(e) Ensuring the full implementation of our obligations under the
International Health Regulations adopted by the fifty-eighth World Health Assembly
in May 2005, 21 including the need to support the Global Outbreak Alert and
Response Network of the World Health Organization;
(f) Working actively to implement the “Three Ones” principles in all
countries, including by ensuring that multiple institutions and international partners
all work under one agreed HIV/AIDS framework that provides the basis for
coordinating the work of all partners, with one national AIDS coordinating authority
having a broad-based multisectoral mandate, and under one agreed country-level
monitoring and evaluation system. We welcome and support the important
recommendations of the Global Task Team on Improving AIDS Coordination among
Multilateral Institutions and International Donors;
(g) Achieving universal access to reproductive health by 2015, as set out at
the International Conference on Population and Development, integrating this goal
in strategies to attain the internationally agreed development goals, including those
contained in the Millennium Declaration, aimed at reducing maternal mortality,
improving maternal health, reducing child mortality, promoting gender equality,
combating HIV/AIDS and eradicating poverty;
(h) Promoting long-term funding, including public-private partnerships
where appropriate, for academic and industrial research as well as for the
development of new vaccines and microbicides, diagnostic kits, drugs and
treatments to address major pandemics, tropical diseases and other diseases, such as
avian flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome, and taking forward work on market
incentives, where appropriate through such mechanisms as advance purchase
commitments;
(i) Stressing the need to urgently address malaria and tuberculosis, in
particular in the most affected countries, and welcoming the scaling up, in this
regard, of bilateral and multilateral initiatives.

Gender equality and empowerment of women

58. We remain convinced that progress for women is progress for all. We reaffirm
that the full and effective implementation of the goals and objectives of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action 22 and the outcome of the twenty-third special
session of the General Assembly is an essential contribution to achieving the
internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the
Millennium Declaration, and we resolve to promote gender equality and eliminate
pervasive gender discrimination by:
(a) Eliminating gender inequalities in primary and secondary education by
the earliest possible date and at all educational levels by 2015;
(b) Guaranteeing the free and equal right of women to own and inherit
property and ensuring secure tenure of property and housing by women;

_______________
21
World Health Assembly resolution 58.3.
22
Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II.

16
 A/RES/60/1

(c) Ensuring equal access to reproductive health;

(d) Promoting women’s equal access to labour markets, sustainable
employment and adequate labour protection;
(e) Ensuring equal access of women to productive assets and resources,
including land, credit and technology;
(f) Eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and
the girl child, including by ending impunity and by ensuring the protection of
civilians, in particular women and the girl child, during and after armed conflicts in
accordance with the obligations of States under international humanitarian law and
international human rights law;
(g) Promoting increased representation of women in Government decision-
making bodies, including through ensuring their equal opportunity to participate
fully in the political process.
59. We recognize the importance of gender mainstreaming as a tool for achieving
gender equality. To that end, we undertake to actively promote the mainstreaming of
a gender perspective in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of
policies and programmes in all political, economic and social spheres, and further
undertake to strengthen the capabilities of the United Nations system in the area of
gender.

Science and technology for development

60. We recognize that science and technology, including information and
communication technology, are vital for the achievement of the development goals
and that international support can help developing countries to benefit from
technological advancements and enhance their productive capacity. We therefore
commit ourselves to:
(a) Strengthening and enhancing existing mechanisms and supporting
initiatives for research and development, including through voluntary partnerships
between the public and private sectors, to address the special needs of developing
countries in the areas of health, agriculture, conservation, sustainable use of natural
resources and environmental management, energy, forestry and the impact of
climate change;
(b) Promoting and facilitating, as appropriate, access to and the
development, transfer and diffusion of technologies, including environmentally
sound technologies and corresponding know-how, to developing countries;
(c) Assisting developing countries in their efforts to promote and develop
national strategies for human resources and science and technology, which are
primary drivers of national capacity-building for development;
(d) Promoting and supporting greater efforts to develop renewable sources of
energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal;
(e) Implementing policies at the national and international levels to attract
both public and private investment, domestic and foreign, that enhances knowledge,
transfers technology on mutually agreed terms and raises productivity;
(f) Supporting the efforts of developing countries, individually and
collectively, to harness new agricultural technologies in order to increase
agricultural productivity through environmentally sustainable means;

17
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(g) Building a people-centred and inclusive information society so as to

enhance digital opportunities for all people in order to help bridge the digital divide,
putting the potential of information and communication technologies at the service
of development and addressing new challenges of the information society by
implementing the outcomes of the Geneva phase of the World Summit on the
Information Society and ensuring the success of the second phase of the Summit, to
be held in Tunis in November 2005; in this regard, we welcome the establishment of
the Digital Solidarity Fund and encourage voluntary contributions to its financing.

Migration and development

61. We acknowledge the important nexus between international migration and
development and the need to deal with the challenges and opportunities that
migration presents to countries of origin, destination and transit. We recognize that
international migration brings benefits as well as challenges to the global
community. We look forward to the high-level dialogue of the General Assembly on
international migration and development to be held in 2006, which will offer an
opportunity to discuss the multidimensional aspects of international migration and
development in order to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize their
development benefits and minimize their negative impacts.
62. We reaffirm our resolve to take measures to ensure respect for and protection
of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and members of their families.
63. We reaffirm the need to adopt policies and undertake measures to reduce the
cost of transferring migrant remittances to developing countries and welcome efforts
by Governments and stakeholders in this regard.

Countries with special needs

64. We reaffirm our commitment to address the special needs of the least
developed countries and urge all countries and all relevant organizations of the
United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, to make concerted
efforts and adopt speedy measures for meeting in a timely manner the goals and
targets of the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for
the Decade 2001–2010.4
65. We recognize the special needs of and challenges faced by landlocked
developing countries and therefore reaffirm our commitment to urgently address
those needs and challenges through the full, timely and effective implementation of
the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked
Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport
Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries 23 and the São Paulo
Consensus adopted at the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development. 24 We encourage the work undertaken by United Nations
regional commissions and organizations towards establishing a time-cost
methodology for indicators to measure the progress in implementation of the Almaty
Programme of Action. We also recognize the special difficulties and concerns of
landlocked developing countries in their efforts to integrate their economies into the

_______________
23
Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and
Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport
Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I.
24
TD/412, part II.

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multilateral trading system. In this regard, priority should be given to the full and
timely implementation of the Almaty Declaration 25 and the Almaty Programme of
Action.23
66. We recognize the special needs and vulnerabilities of small island developing
States and reaffirm our commitment to take urgent and concrete action to address
those needs and vulnerabilities through the full and effective implementation of the
Mauritius Strategy adopted by the International Meeting to Review the
Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of
Small Island Developing States, 26 the Barbados Programme of Action 27 and the
outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly. 28 We further
undertake to promote greater international cooperation and partnership for the
implementation of the Mauritius Strategy through, inter alia, the mobilization of
domestic and international resources, the promotion of international trade as an
engine for development and increased international financial and technical
cooperation.
67. We emphasize the need for continued, coordinated and effective international
support for achieving the development goals in countries emerging from conflict
and in those recovering from natural disasters.

Meeting the special needs of Africa

68. We welcome the substantial progress made by the African countries in
fulfilling their commitments and emphasize the need to carry forward the
implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development 29 to promote
sustainable growth and development and deepen democracy, human rights, good
governance and sound economic management and gender equality and encourage
African countries, with the participation of civil society and the private sector, to
continue their efforts in this regard by developing and strengthening institutions for
governance and the development of the region, and also welcome the recent
decisions taken by Africa’s partners, including the Group of Eight and the European
Union, in support of Africa’s development efforts, including commitments that will
lead to an increase in official development assistance to Africa of 25 billion dollars
per year by 2010. We reaffirm our commitment to address the special needs of
Africa, which is the only continent not on track to meet any of the goals of the
Millennium Declaration by 2015, to enable it to enter the mainstream of the world
economy, and resolve:
(a) To strengthen cooperation with the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development by providing coherent support for the programmes drawn up by
African leaders within that framework, including by mobilizing internal and

_______________
25
Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and
Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport
Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex II.
26
Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005
(United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.
27
Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,
Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and
corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.
28
Resolution S-22/2, annex.
29
A/57/304, annex.

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external financial resources and facilitating approval of such programmes by the

multilateral financial institutions;
(b) To support the African commitment to ensure that by 2015 all children
have access to complete, free and compulsory primary education of good quality, as
well as to basic health care;
(c) To support the building of an international infrastructure consortium
involving the African Union, the World Bank and the African Development Bank,
with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development as the main framework, to
facilitate public and private infrastructure investment in Africa;
(d) To promote a comprehensive and durable solution to the external debt
problems of African countries, including through the cancellation of 100 per cent of
multilateral debt consistent with the recent Group of Eight proposal for the heavily
indebted poor countries, and, on a case-by-case basis, where appropriate, significant
debt relief, including, inter alia, cancellation or restructuring for heavily indebted
African countries not part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative that
have unsustainable debt burdens;
(e) To make efforts to fully integrate African countries in the international
trading system, including through targeted trade capacity-building programmes;
(f) To support the efforts of commodity-dependent African countries to
restructure, diversify and strengthen the competitiveness of their commodity sectors
and decide to work towards market-based arrangements with the participation of the
private sector for commodity price-risk management;
(g) To supplement the efforts of African countries, individually and
collectively, to increase agricultural productivity, in a sustainable way, as set out in
the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme of the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development as part of an African “Green Revolution”;
(h) To encourage and support the initiatives of the African Union and
subregional organizations to prevent, mediate and resolve conflicts with the
assistance of the United Nations, and in this regard welcomes the proposals from the
Group of Eight countries to provide support for African peacekeeping;
(i) To provide, with the aim of an AIDS-, malaria- and tuberculosis-free
generation in Africa, assistance for prevention and care and to come as close as
possible to achieving the goal of universal access by 2010 to HIV/AIDS treatment
in African countries, to encourage pharmaceutical companies to make drugs,
including antiretroviral drugs, affordable and accessible in Africa and to ensure
increased bilateral and multilateral assistance, where possible on a grant basis, to
combat malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases in Africa through the
strengthening of health systems.

III. Peace and collective security

69. We recognize that we are facing a whole range of threats that require our
urgent, collective and more determined response.
70. We also recognize that, in accordance with the Charter, addressing such threats
requires cooperation among all the principal organs of the United Nations within
their respective mandates.
71. We acknowledge that we are living in an interdependent and global world and
that many of today’s threats recognize no national boundaries, are interlinked and

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must be tackled at the global, regional and national levels in accordance with the
Charter and international law.
72. We therefore reaffirm our commitment to work towards a security consensus
based on the recognition that many threats are interlinked, that development, peace,
security and human rights are mutually reinforcing, that no State can best protect
itself by acting entirely alone and that all States need an effective and efficient
collective security system pursuant to the purposes and principles of the Charter.

Pacific settlement of disputes

73. We emphasize the obligation of States to settle their disputes by peaceful
means in accordance with Chapter VI of the Charter, including, when appropriate,
by the use of the International Court of Justice. All States should act in accordance
with the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly
Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations. 30
74. We stress the importance of prevention of armed conflict in accordance with
the purposes and principles of the Charter and solemnly renew our commitment to
promote a culture of prevention of armed conflict as a means of effectively
addressing the interconnected security and development challenges faced by peoples
throughout the world, as well as to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations for
the prevention of armed conflict.
75. We further stress the importance of a coherent and integrated approach to the
prevention of armed conflicts and the settlement of disputes and the need for the
Security Council, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the
Secretary-General to coordinate their activities within their respective Charter
mandates.
76. Recognizing the important role of the good offices of the Secretary-General,
including in the mediation of disputes, we support the Secretary-General’s efforts to
strengthen his capacity in this area.

Use of force under the Charter of the United Nations

77. We reiterate the obligation of all Member States to refrain in their international
relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the Charter.
We reaffirm that the purposes and principles guiding the United Nations are, inter
alia, to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations
among nations based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-
determination of peoples and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen
universal peace, and to that end we are determined to take effective collective
measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace and for the
suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about
by peaceful means, in conformity with the principles of justice and international
law, the adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations that might
lead to a breach of the peace.
78. We reiterate the importance of promoting and strengthening the multilateral
process and of addressing international challenges and problems by strictly abiding

_______________
30
Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex.

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by the Charter and the principles of international law, and further stress our
commitment to multilateralism.
79. We reaffirm that the relevant provisions of the Charter are sufficient to address
the full range of threats to international peace and security. We further reaffirm the
authority of the Security Council to mandate coercive action to maintain and restore
international peace and security. We stress the importance of acting in accordance
with the purposes and principles of the Charter.
80. We also reaffirm that the Security Council has primary responsibility in the
maintenance of international peace and security. We also note the role of the
General Assembly relating to the maintenance of international peace and security in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter.

Terrorism
81. We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed
by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes, as it constitutes one of the most
serious threats to international peace and security.
82. We welcome the Secretary-General’s identification of elements of a counter-
terrorism strategy. These elements should be developed by the General Assembly
without delay with a view to adopting and implementing a strategy to promote
comprehensive, coordinated and consistent responses, at the national, regional and
international levels, to counter terrorism, which also takes into account the
conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. In this context, we commend the
various initiatives to promote dialogue, tolerance and understanding among
civilizations.
83. We stress the need to make every effort to reach an agreement on and conclude
a comprehensive convention on international terrorism during the sixtieth session of
the General Assembly.
84. We acknowledge that the question of convening a high-level conference under
the auspices of the United Nations to formulate an international response to
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations could be considered.
85. We recognize that international cooperation to fight terrorism must be
conducted in conformity with international law, including the Charter and relevant
international conventions and protocols. States must ensure that any measures taken
to combat terrorism comply with their obligations under international law, in
particular human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law.
86. We reiterate our call upon States to refrain from organizing, financing,
encouraging, providing training for or otherwise supporting terrorist activities and
to take appropriate measures to ensure that their territories are not used for such
activities.
87. We acknowledge the important role played by the United Nations in combating
terrorism and also stress the vital contribution of regional and bilateral cooperation,
particularly at the practical level of law enforcement cooperation and technical
exchange.
88. We urge the international community, including the United Nations, to assist
States in building national and regional capacity to combat terrorism. We invite the
Secretary-General to submit proposals to the General Assembly and the Security
Council, within their respective mandates, to strengthen the capacity of the United

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Nations system to assist States in combating terrorism and to enhance the

coordination of United Nations activities in this regard.
89. We stress the importance of assisting victims of terrorism and of providing
them and their families with support to cope with their loss and their grief.
90. We encourage the Security Council to consider ways to strengthen its
monitoring and enforcement role in counter-terrorism, including by consolidating
State reporting requirements, taking into account and respecting the different
mandates of its counter-terrorism subsidiary bodies. We are committed to
cooperating fully with the three competent subsidiary bodies in the fulfilment of
their tasks, recognizing that many States continue to require assistance in
implementing relevant Security Council resolutions.
91. We support efforts for the early entry into force of the International
Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism 31 and strongly
encourage States to consider becoming parties to it expeditiously and acceding
without delay to the twelve other international conventions and protocols against
terrorism and implementing them.

Peacekeeping
92. Recognizing that United Nations peacekeeping plays a vital role in helping
parties to conflict end hostilities and commending the contribution of United
Nations peacekeepers in that regard, noting improvements made in recent years in
United Nations peacekeeping, including the deployment of integrated missions in
complex situations, and stressing the need to mount operations with adequate
capacity to counter hostilities and fulfil effectively their mandates, we urge further
development of proposals for enhanced rapidly deployable capacities to reinforce
peacekeeping operations in crises. We endorse the creation of an initial operating
capability for a standing police capacity to provide coherent, effective and
responsive start-up capability for the policing component of the United Nations
peacekeeping missions and to assist existing missions through the provision of
advice and expertise.
93. Recognizing the important contribution to peace and security by regional
organizations as provided for under Chapter VIII of the Charter and the importance
of forging predictable partnerships and arrangements between the United Nations
and regional organizations, and noting in particular, given the special needs of
Africa, the importance of a strong African Union:
(a) We support the efforts of the European Union and other regional entities
to develop capacities such as for rapid deployment, standby and bridging
arrangements;
(b) We support the development and implementation of a ten-year plan for
capacity-building with the African Union.

_______________
31
Resolution 59/290, annex.

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94. We support implementation of the 2001 Programme of Action to Prevent,

Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its
Aspects. 32
95. We urge States parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention 33 and
Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons 34 to fully
implement their respective obligations. We call upon States in a position to do so to
provide greater technical assistance to mine-affected States.
96. We underscore the importance of the recommendations of the Adviser to the
Secretary-General on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by United Nations
Peacekeeping Personnel, 35 and urge that those measures adopted in the relevant
General Assembly resolutions based upon the recommendations be fully
implemented without delay.

Peacebuilding
97. Emphasizing the need for a coordinated, coherent and integrated approach to
post-conflict peacebuilding and reconciliation with a view to achieving sustainable
peace, recognizing the need for a dedicated institutional mechanism to address the
special needs of countries emerging from conflict towards recovery, reintegration
and reconstruction and to assist them in laying the foundation for sustainable
development, and recognizing the vital role of the United Nations in that regard, we
decide to establish a Peacebuilding Commission as an intergovernmental advisory
body.
98. The main purpose of the Peacebuilding Commission is to bring together all
relevant actors to marshal resources and to advise on and propose integrated
strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery. The Commission should
focus attention on the reconstruction and institution-building efforts necessary for
recovery from conflict and support the development of integrated strategies in order
to lay the foundation for sustainable development. In addition, it should provide
recommendations and information to improve the coordination of all relevant actors
within and outside the United Nations, develop best practices, help to ensure
predictable financing for early recovery activities and extend the period of attention
by the international community to post-conflict recovery. The Commission should
act in all matters on the basis of consensus of its members.
99. The Peacebuilding Commission should make the outcome of its discussions
and recommendations publicly available as United Nations documents to all
relevant bodies and actors, including the international financial institutions. The
Peacebuilding Commission should submit an annual report to the General Assembly.
100. The Peacebuilding Commission should meet in various configurations.
Country-specific meetings of the Commission, upon invitation of the Organizational

_______________
32
See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in
All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24.
33
Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines
and on Their Destruction (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597).
34
Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain
Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate
Effects (CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B).
35
A/59/710, paras. 68-93.

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Committee referred to in paragraph 101 below, should include as members, in

addition to members of the Organizational Committee, representatives from:
(a) The country under consideration;
(b) Countries in the region engaged in the post-conflict process and other
countries that are involved in relief efforts and/or political dialogue, as well as
relevant regional and subregional organizations;
(c) The major financial, troop and civilian police contributors involved in
the recovery effort;
(d) The senior United Nations representative in the field and other relevant
United Nations representatives;
(e) Such regional and international financial institutions as may be relevant.
101. The Peacebuilding Commission should have a standing Organizational
Committee, responsible for developing its procedures and organizational matters,
comprising:
(a) Members of the Security Council, including permanent members;
(b) Members of the Economic and Social Council, elected from regional
groups, giving due consideration to those countries that have experienced post-
conflict recovery;
(c) Top providers of assessed contributions to the United Nations budgets
and voluntary contributions to the United Nations funds, programmes and agencies,
including the standing Peacebuilding Fund, that are not among those selected in (a)
or (b) above;
(d) Top providers of military personnel and civilian police to United Nations
missions that are not among those selected in (a), (b) or (c) above.
102. Representatives from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and
other institutional donors should be invited to participate in all meetings of the
Peacebuilding Commission in a manner suitable to their governing arrangements, in
addition to a representative of the Secretary-General.
103. We request the Secretary-General to establish a multi-year standing
Peacebuilding Fund for post-conflict peacebuilding, funded by voluntary
contributions and taking due account of existing instruments. The objectives of the
Peacebuilding Fund will include ensuring the immediate release of resources needed
to launch peacebuilding activities and the availability of appropriate financing for
recovery.
104. We also request the Secretary-General to establish, within the Secretariat and
from within existing resources, a small peacebuilding support office staffed by
qualified experts to assist and support the Peacebuilding Commission. The office
should draw on the best expertise available.
105. The Peacebuilding Commission should begin its work no later than
31 December 2005.

Sanctions
106. We underscore that sanctions remain an important tool under the Charter in our
efforts to maintain international peace and security without recourse to the use of
force, and resolve to ensure that sanctions are carefully targeted in support of clear

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objectives, to comply with sanctions established by the Security Council and to

ensure that sanctions are implemented in ways that balance effectiveness to achieve
the desired results against the possible adverse consequences, including socio-
economic and humanitarian consequences, for populations and third States.
107. Sanctions should be implemented and monitored effectively with clear
benchmarks and should be periodically reviewed, as appropriate, and remain for as
limited a period as necessary to achieve their objectives and should be terminated
once the objectives have been achieved.
108. We call upon the Security Council, with the support of the Secretary-General,
to improve its monitoring of the implementation and effects of sanctions, to ensure
that sanctions are implemented in an accountable manner, to review regularly the
results of such monitoring and to develop a mechanism to address special economic
problems arising from the application of sanctions in accordance with the Charter.
109. We also call upon the Security Council, with the support of the Secretary-
General, to ensure that fair and clear procedures exist for placing individuals and
entities on sanctions lists and for removing them, as well as for granting
humanitarian exemptions.
110. We support efforts through the United Nations to strengthen State capacity to
implement sanctions provisions.

Transnational crime
111. We express our grave concern at the negative effects on development, peace
and security and human rights posed by transnational crime, including the
smuggling of and trafficking in human beings, the world narcotic drug problem and
the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, and at the increasing vulnerability
of States to such crime. We reaffirm the need to work collectively to combat
transnational crime.
112. We recognize that trafficking in persons continues to pose a serious challenge
to humanity and requires a concerted international response. To that end, we urge all
States to devise, enforce and strengthen effective measures to combat and eliminate
all forms of trafficking in persons to counter the demand for trafficked victims and
to protect the victims.
113. We urge all States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to
the relevant international conventions on organized crime and corruption and,
following their entry into force, to implement them effectively, including by
incorporating the provisions of those conventions into national legislation and by
strengthening criminal justice systems.
114. We reaffirm our unwavering determination and commitment to overcome the
world narcotic drug problem through international cooperation and national
strategies to eliminate both the illicit supply of and demand for illicit drugs.
115. We resolve to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations Office on Drugs
and Crime, within its existing mandates, to provide assistance to Member States in
those tasks upon request.

Women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts

116. We stress the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of
conflicts and in peacebuilding. We reaffirm our commitment to the full and effective
implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on

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women and peace and security. We also underline the importance of integrating a
gender perspective and of women having the opportunity for equal participation and
full involvement in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security, as well as
the need to increase their role in decision-making at all levels. We strongly condemn
all violations of the human rights of women and girls in situations of armed conflict
and the use of sexual exploitation, violence and abuse, and we commit ourselves to
elaborating and implementing strategies to report on, prevent and punish gender-
based violence.

Protecting children in situations of armed conflict

117. We reaffirm our commitment to promote and protect the rights and welfare of
children in armed conflicts. We welcome the significant advances and innovations
that have been achieved over the past several years. We welcome in particular the
adoption of Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005. We call upon
States to consider ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child 36 and the
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement
of children in armed conflict. 37 We also call upon States to take effective measures,
as appropriate, to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict,
contrary to international law, by armed forces and groups, and to prohibit and
criminalize such practices.
118. We therefore call upon all States concerned to take concrete measures to
ensure accountability and compliance by those responsible for grave abuses against
children. We also reaffirm our commitment to ensure that children in armed
conflicts receive timely and effective humanitarian assistance, including education,
for their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

IV. Human rights and the rule of law

119. We recommit ourselves to actively protecting and promoting all human rights,
the rule of law and democracy and recognize that they are interlinked and mutually
reinforcing and that they belong to the universal and indivisible core values and
principles of the United Nations, and call upon all parts of the United Nations to
promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with their mandates.
120. We reaffirm the solemn commitment of our States to fulfil their obligations to
promote universal respect for and the observance and protection of all human rights
and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights 38 and other instruments relating to human rights and
international law. The universal nature of these rights and freedoms is beyond
question.

Human rights
121. We reaffirm that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated,
interdependent and mutually reinforcing and that all human rights must be treated in
a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis. While the
significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural
and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, all States, regardless of their

_______________
36
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531.
37
Resolution 54/263, annex I.
38
Resolution 217 A (III).

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political, economic and cultural systems, have the duty to promote and protect all
human rights and fundamental freedoms.
122. We emphasize the responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the Charter,
to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any
kind as to race, colour, sex, language or religion, political or other opinion, national
or social origin, property, birth or other status.
123. We resolve further to strengthen the United Nations human rights machinery
with the aim of ensuring effective enjoyment by all of all human rights and civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.
124. We resolve to strengthen the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights, taking note of the High Commissioner’s plan of action, to enable
it to effectively carry out its mandate to respond to the broad range of human rights
challenges facing the international community, particularly in the areas of technical
assistance and capacity-building, through the doubling of its regular budget
resources over the next five years with a view to progressively setting a balance
between regular budget and voluntary contributions to its resources, keeping in
mind other priority programmes for developing countries and the recruitment of
highly competent staff on a broad geographical basis and with gender balance, under
the regular budget, and we support its closer cooperation with all relevant United
Nations bodies, including the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council
and the Security Council.
125. We resolve to improve the effectiveness of the human rights treaty bodies,
including through more timely reporting, improved and streamlined reporting
procedures and technical assistance to States to enhance their reporting capacities
and further enhance the implementation of their recommendations.
126. We resolve to integrate the promotion and protection of human rights into
national policies and to support the further mainstreaming of human rights
throughout the United Nations system, as well as closer cooperation between the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and all relevant
United Nations bodies.
127. We reaffirm our commitment to continue making progress in the advancement
of the human rights of the world’s indigenous peoples at the local, national, regional
and international levels, including through consultation and collaboration with them,
and to present for adoption a final draft United Nations declaration on the rights of
indigenous peoples as soon as possible.
128. We recognize the need to pay special attention to the human rights of women
and children and undertake to advance them in every possible way, including by
bringing gender and child-protection perspectives into the human rights agenda.
129. We recognize the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed full
enjoyment of their rights without discrimination. We also affirm the need to finalize
a comprehensive draft convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.
130. We note that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to
national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to political and
social stability and peace and enrich the cultural diversity and heritage of society.
131. We support the promotion of human rights education and learning at all levels,
including through the implementation of the World Programme for Human Rights
Education, as appropriate, and encourage all States to develop initiatives in this
regard.

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Internally displaced persons

132. We recognize the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement 39 as an
important international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons
and resolve to take effective measures to increase the protection of internally
displaced persons.

Refugee protection and assistance

133. We commit ourselves to safeguarding the principle of refugee protection and
to upholding our responsibility in resolving the plight of refugees, including through
the support of efforts aimed at addressing the causes of refugee movement, bringing
about the safe and sustainable return of those populations, finding durable solutions
for refugees in protracted situations and preventing refugee movement from
becoming a source of tension among States. We reaffirm the principle of solidarity
and burden-sharing and resolve to support nations in assisting refugee populations
and their host communities.

Rule of law
134. Recognizing the need for universal adherence to and implementation of the
rule of law at both the national and international levels, we:
(a) Reaffirm our commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter
and international law and to an international order based on the rule of law and
international law, which is essential for peaceful coexistence and cooperation among
States;
(b) Support the annual treaty event;
(c) Encourage States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties
to all treaties that relate to the protection of civilians;
(d) Call upon States to continue their efforts to eradicate policies and
practices that discriminate against women and to adopt laws and promote practices
that protect the rights of women and promote gender equality;
(e) Support the idea of establishing a rule of law assistance unit within the
Secretariat, in accordance with existing relevant procedures, subject to a report by
the Secretary-General to the General Assembly, so as to strengthen United Nations
activities to promote the rule of law, including through technical assistance and
capacity-building;
(f) Recognize the important role of the International Court of Justice, the
principal judicial organ of the United Nations, in adjudicating disputes among States
and the value of its work, call upon States that have not yet done so to consider
accepting the jurisdiction of the Court in accordance with its Statute and consider
means of strengthening the Court’s work, including by supporting the Secretary-
General’s Trust Fund to Assist States in the Settlement of Disputes through the
International Court of Justice on a voluntary basis.

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39
E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex.

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Democracy
135. We reaffirm that democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed
will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural
systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives. We also reaffirm that
while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy,
that it does not belong to any country or region, and reaffirm the necessity of due
respect for sovereignty and the right of self-determination. We stress that
democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms
are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
136. We renew our commitment to support democracy by strengthening countries’
capacity to implement the principles and practices of democracy and resolve to
strengthen the capacity of the United Nations to assist Member States upon their
request. We welcome the establishment of a Democracy Fund at the United Nations.
We note that the advisory board to be established should reflect diverse
geographical representation. We invite the Secretary-General to help to ensure that
practical arrangements for the Democracy Fund take proper account of existing
United Nations activity in this field.
137. We invite interested Member States to give serious consideration to
contributing to the Fund.

Responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing

and crimes against humanity
138. Each individual State has the responsibility to protect its populations from
genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. This
responsibility entails the prevention of such crimes, including their incitement,
through appropriate and necessary means. We accept that responsibility and will act
in accordance with it. The international community should, as appropriate,
encourage and help States to exercise this responsibility and support the United
Nations in establishing an early warning capability.
139. The international community, through the United Nations, also has the
responsibility to use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means,
in accordance with Chapters VI and VIII of the Charter, to help to protect
populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against
humanity. In this context, we are prepared to take collective action, in a timely and
decisive manner, through the Security Council, in accordance with the Charter,
including Chapter VII, on a case-by-case basis and in cooperation with relevant
regional organizations as appropriate, should peaceful means be inadequate and
national authorities are manifestly failing to protect their populations from
genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. We stress the
need for the General Assembly to continue consideration of the responsibility to
protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against
humanity and its implications, bearing in mind the principles of the Charter and
international law. We also intend to commit ourselves, as necessary and appropriate,
to helping States build capacity to protect their populations from genocide, war
crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and to assisting those which
are under stress before crises and conflicts break out.
140. We fully support the mission of the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General
on the Prevention of Genocide.

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Children’s rights
141. We express dismay at the increasing number of children involved in and
affected by armed conflict, as well as all other forms of violence, including
domestic violence, sexual abuse and exploitation and trafficking. We support
cooperation policies aimed at strengthening national capacities to improve the
situation of those children and to assist in their rehabilitation and reintegration into
society.
142. We commit ourselves to respecting and ensuring the rights of each child
without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the race, colour, sex, language,
religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property,
disability, birth or other status of the child or his or her parent(s) or legal
guardian(s). We call upon States to consider as a priority becoming a party to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child.36

Human security
143. We stress the right of people to live in freedom and dignity, free from poverty
and despair. We recognize that all individuals, in particular vulnerable people, are
entitled to freedom from fear and freedom from want, with an equal opportunity to
enjoy all their rights and fully develop their human potential. To this end, we
commit ourselves to discussing and defining the notion of human security in the
General Assembly.

Culture of peace and initiatives on dialogue among cultures, civilizations

and religions
144. We reaffirm the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace 40
as well as the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations and its Programme
of Action 41 adopted by the General Assembly and the value of different initiatives
on dialogue among cultures and civilizations, including the dialogue on interfaith
cooperation. We commit ourselves to taking action to promote a culture of peace
and dialogue at the local, national, regional and international levels and request the
Secretary-General to explore enhancing implementation mechanisms and to follow
up on those initiatives. In this regard, we also welcome the Alliance of Civilizations
initiative announced by the Secretary-General on 14 July 2005.
145. We underline that sports can foster peace and development and can contribute
to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding, and we encourage discussions in
the General Assembly for proposals leading to a plan of action on sport and
development.

V. Strengthening the United Nations

146. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthen the United Nations with a view to
enhancing its authority and efficiency, as well as its capacity to address effectively,
and in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter, the full range of
challenges of our time. We are determined to reinvigorate the intergovernmental
organs of the United Nations and to adapt them to the needs of the twenty-first
century.

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40
Resolutions 53/243 A and B.
41
See resolution 56/6.

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147. We stress that, in order to efficiently perform their respective mandates as

provided under the Charter, United Nations bodies should develop good cooperation
and coordination in the common endeavour of building a more effective United
Nations.
148. We emphasize the need to provide the United Nations with adequate and
timely resources with a view to enabling it to carry out its mandates. A reformed
United Nations must be responsive to the entire membership, faithful to its founding
principles and adapted to carrying out its mandate.

General Assembly
149. We reaffirm the central position of the General Assembly as the chief
deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations, as well
as the role of the Assembly in the process of standard-setting and the codification of
international law.
150. We welcome the measures adopted by the General Assembly with a view to
strengthening its role and authority and the role and leadership of the President of
the Assembly and, to that end, we call for their full and speedy implementation.
151. We call for strengthening the relationship between the General Assembly and
the other principal organs to ensure better coordination on topical issues that require
coordinated action by the United Nations, in accordance with their respective
mandates.

Security Council
152. We reaffirm that Member States have conferred on the Security Council
primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,
acting on their behalf, as provided for by the Charter.
153. We support early reform of the Security Council - an essential element of our
overall effort to reform the United Nations - in order to make it more broadly
representative, efficient and transparent and thus to further enhance its effectiveness
and the legitimacy and implementation of its decisions. We commit ourselves to
continuing our efforts to achieve a decision to this end and request the General
Assembly to review progress on the reform set out above by the end of 2005.
154. We recommend that the Security Council continue to adapt its working
methods so as to increase the involvement of States not members of the Council in
its work, as appropriate, enhance its accountability to the membership and increase
the transparency of its work.

Economic and Social Council

155. We reaffirm the role that the Charter and the General Assembly have vested in
the Economic and Social Council and recognize the need for a more effective
Economic and Social Council as a principal body for coordination, policy review,
policy dialogue and recommendations on issues of economic and social
development, as well as for implementation of the international development goals
agreed at the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the
Millennium Development Goals. To achieve these objectives, the Council should:
(a) Promote global dialogue and partnership on global policies and trends in
the economic, social, environmental and humanitarian fields. For this purpose, the
Council should serve as a quality platform for high-level engagement among

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Member States and with the international financial institutions, the private sector
and civil society on emerging global trends, policies and action and develop its
ability to respond better and more rapidly to developments in the international
economic, environmental and social fields;
(b) Hold a biennial high-level Development Cooperation Forum to review
trends in international development cooperation, including strategies, policies and
financing, promote greater coherence among the development activities of different
development partners and strengthen the links between the normative and
operational work of the United Nations;
(c) Ensure follow-up of the outcomes of the major United Nations
conferences and summits, including the internationally agreed development goals,
and hold annual ministerial-level substantive reviews to assess progress, drawing on
its functional and regional commissions and other international institutions, in
accordance with their respective mandates;
(d) Support and complement international efforts aimed at addressing
humanitarian emergencies, including natural disasters, in order to promote an
improved, coordinated response from the United Nations;
(e) Play a major role in the overall coordination of funds, programmes and
agencies, ensuring coherence among them and avoiding duplication of mandates and
activities.
156. We stress that in order to fully perform the above functions, the organization
of work, the agenda and the current methods of work of the Economic and Social
Council should be adapted.

Human Rights Council

157. Pursuant to our commitment to further strengthen the United Nations human
rights machinery, we resolve to create a Human Rights Council.
158. The Council will be responsible for promoting universal respect for the
protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction
of any kind and in a fair and equal manner.
159. The Council should address situations of violations of human rights, including
gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon. It should also
promote effective coordination and the mainstreaming of human rights within the
United Nations system.
160. We request the President of the General Assembly to conduct open, transparent
and inclusive negotiations, to be completed as soon as possible during the sixtieth
session, with the aim of establishing the mandate, modalities, functions, size,
composition, membership, working methods and procedures of the Council.

Secretariat and management reform

161. We recognize that in order to effectively comply with the principles and
objectives of the Charter, we need an efficient, effective and accountable
Secretariat. Its staff shall act in accordance with Article 100 of the Charter, in a
culture of organizational accountability, transparency and integrity. Consequently
we:
(a) Recognize the ongoing reform measures carried out by the Secretary-
General to strengthen accountability and oversight, improve management

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performance and transparency and reinforce ethical conduct, and invite him to
report to the General Assembly on the progress made in their implementation;
(b) Emphasize the importance of establishing effective and efficient
mechanisms for responsibility and accountability of the Secretariat;
(c) Urge the Secretary-General to ensure that the highest standards of
efficiency, competence, and integrity shall be the paramount consideration in the
employment of the staff, with due regard to the principle of equitable geographical
distribution, in accordance with Article 101 of the Charter;
(d) Welcome the Secretary-General’s efforts to ensure ethical conduct, more
extensive financial disclosure for United Nations officials and enhanced protection
for those who reveal wrongdoing within the Organization. We urge the Secretary-
General to scrupulously apply the existing standards of conduct and develop a
system-wide code of ethics for all United Nations personnel. In this regard, we
request the Secretary-General to submit details on an ethics office with independent
status, which he intends to create, to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session;
(e) Pledge to provide the United Nations with adequate resources, on a
timely basis, to enable the Organization to implement its mandates and achieve its
objectives, having regard to the priorities agreed by the General Assembly and the
need to respect budget discipline. We stress that all Member States should meet their
obligations with regard to the expenses of the Organization;
(f) Strongly urge the Secretary-General to make the best and most efficient
use of resources in accordance with clear rules and procedures agreed by the
General Assembly, in the interest of all Member States, by adopting the best
management practices, including effective use of information and communication
technologies, with a view to increasing efficiency and enhancing organizational
capacity, concentrating on those tasks that reflect the agreed priorities of the
Organization.
162. We reaffirm the role of the Secretary-General as the chief administrative
officer of the Organization, in accordance with Article 97 of the Charter. We request
the Secretary-General to make proposals to the General Assembly for its
consideration on the conditions and measures necessary for him to carry out his
managerial responsibilities effectively.
163. We commend the Secretary-General’s previous and ongoing efforts to enhance
the effective management of the United Nations and his commitment to update the
Organization. Bearing in mind our responsibility as Member States, we emphasize
the need to decide on additional reforms in order to make more efficient use of the
financial and human resources available to the Organization and thus better comply
with its principles, objectives and mandates. We call on the Secretary-General to
submit proposals for implementing management reforms to the General Assembly
for consideration and decision in the first quarter of 2006, which will include the
following elements:
(a) We will ensure that the United Nations budgetary, financial and human
resource policies, regulations and rules respond to the current needs of the
Organization and enable the efficient and effective conduct of its work, and request
the Secretary-General to provide an assessment and recommendations to the General
Assembly for decision during the first quarter of 2006. The assessment and
recommendations of the Secretary-General should take account of the measures
already under way for the reform of human resources management and the budget
process;

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(b) We resolve to strengthen and update the programme of work of the

United Nations so that it responds to the contemporary requirements of Member
States. To this end, the General Assembly and other relevant organs will review all
mandates older than five years originating from resolutions of the General Assembly
and other organs, which would be complementary to the existing periodic reviews of
activities. The General Assembly and the other organs should complete and take the
necessary decisions arising from this review during 2006. We request the Secretary-
General to facilitate this review with analysis and recommendations, including on
the opportunities for programmatic shifts that could be considered for early General
Assembly consideration;
(c) A detailed proposal on the framework for a one-time staff buyout to
improve personnel structure and quality, including an indication of costs involved
and mechanisms to ensure that it achieves its intended purpose.
164. We recognize the urgent need to substantially improve the United Nations
oversight and management processes. We emphasize the importance of ensuring the
operational independence of the Office of Internal Oversight Services. Therefore:
(a) The expertise, capacity and resources of the Office of Internal Oversight
Services in respect of audit and investigations will be significantly strengthened as a
matter of urgency;
(b) We request the Secretary-General to submit an independent external
evaluation of the auditing and oversight system of the United Nations, including the
specialized agencies, including the roles and responsibilities of management, with
due regard to the nature of the auditing and oversight bodies in question. This
evaluation will take place within the context of the comprehensive review of the
governance arrangements. We ask the General Assembly to adopt measures during
its sixtieth session at the earliest possible stage, based on the consideration of
recommendations of the evaluation and those made by the Secretary-General;
(c) We recognize that additional measures are needed to enhance the
independence of the oversight structures. We therefore request the Secretary-
General to submit detailed proposals to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session
for its early consideration on the creation of an independent oversight advisory
committee, including its mandate, composition, selection process and qualification
of experts;
(d) We authorize the Office of Internal Oversight Services to examine the
feasibility of expanding its services to provide internal oversight to United Nations
agencies that request such services in such a way as to ensure that the provision of
internal oversight services to the Secretariat will not be compromised.
165. We insist on the highest standards of behaviour from all United Nations
personnel and support the considerable efforts under way with respect to the
implementation of the Secretary-General’s policy of zero tolerance regarding sexual
exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel, both at Headquarters and in the
field. We encourage the Secretary-General to submit proposals to the General
Assembly leading to a comprehensive approach to victims’ assistance by
31 December 2005.
166. We encourage the Secretary-General and all decision-making bodies to take
further steps in mainstreaming a gender perspective in the policies and decisions of
the Organization.

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167. We strongly condemn all attacks against the safety and security of personnel
engaged in United Nations activities. We call upon States to consider becoming
parties to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated
Personnel 42 and stress the need to conclude negotiations on a protocol expanding the
scope of legal protection during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly.

System-wide coherence
168. We recognize that the United Nations brings together a unique wealth of
expertise and resources on global issues. We commend the extensive experience and
expertise of the various development-related organizations, agencies, funds and
programmes of the United Nations system in their diverse and complementary fields
of activity and their important contributions to the achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals and the other development objectives established by various
United Nations conferences.
169. We support stronger system-wide coherence by implementing the following
measures:

Policy
• Strengthening linkages between the normative work of the United Nations
system and its operational activities
• Coordinating our representation on the governing boards of the various
development and humanitarian agencies so as to ensure that they pursue a
coherent policy in assigning mandates and allocating resources throughout the
system
• Ensuring that the main horizontal policy themes, such as sustainable
development, human rights and gender, are taken into account in decision-
making throughout the United Nations

Operational activities
• Implementing current reforms aimed at a more effective, efficient, coherent,
coordinated and better-performing United Nations country presence with a
strengthened role for the senior resident official, whether special
representative, resident coordinator or humanitarian coordinator, including
appropriate authority, resources and accountability, and a common
management, programming and monitoring framework
• Inviting the Secretary-General to launch work to further strengthen the
management and coordination of United Nations operational activities so that
they can make an even more effective contribution to the achievement of the
internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium
Development Goals, including proposals for consideration by Member States
for more tightly managed entities in the fields of development, humanitarian
assistance and the environment

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42
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2051, No. 35457.

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Humanitarian assistance
• Upholding and respecting the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality,
impartiality and independence and ensuring that humanitarian actors have safe
and unhindered access to populations in need in conformity with the relevant
provisions of international law and national laws
• Supporting the efforts of countries, in particular developing countries, to
strengthen their capacities at all levels in order to prepare for and respond
rapidly to natural disasters and mitigate their impact
• Strengthening the effectiveness of the United Nations humanitarian response,
inter alia, by improving the timeliness and predictability of humanitarian
funding, in part by improving the Central Emergency Revolving Fund
• Further developing and improving, as required, mechanisms for the use of
emergency standby capacities, under the auspices of the United Nations, for a
timely response to humanitarian emergencies

Environmental activities
• Recognizing the need for more efficient environmental activities in the United
Nations system, with enhanced coordination, improved policy advice and
guidance, strengthened scientific knowledge, assessment and cooperation,
better treaty compliance, while respecting the legal autonomy of the treaties,
and better integration of environmental activities in the broader sustainable
development framework at the operational level, including through capacity-
building, we agree to explore the possibility of a more coherent institutional
framework to address this need, including a more integrated structure, building
on existing institutions and internationally agreed instruments, as well as the
treaty bodies and the specialized agencies

Regional organizations
170. We support a stronger relationship between the United Nations and regional
and subregional organizations, pursuant to Chapter VIII of the Charter, and
therefore resolve:
(a) To expand consultation and cooperation between the United Nations and
regional and subregional organizations through formalized agreements between the
respective secretariats and, as appropriate, involvement of regional organizations in
the work of the Security Council;
(b) To ensure that regional organizations that have a capacity for the
prevention of armed conflict or peacekeeping consider the option of placing such
capacity in the framework of the United Nations Standby Arrangements System;
(c) To strengthen cooperation in the economic, social and cultural fields.

Cooperation between the United Nations and parliaments

171. We call for strengthened cooperation between the United Nations and national
and regional parliaments, in particular through the Inter-Parliamentary Union, with a
view to furthering all aspects of the Millennium Declaration in all fields of the work
of the United Nations and ensuring the effective implementation of United Nations
reform.

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Participation of local authorities, the private sector and civil society, including
non-governmental organizations

172. We welcome the positive contributions of the private sector and civil society,
including non-governmental organizations, in the promotion and implementation of
development and human rights programmes and stress the importance of their
continued engagement with Governments, the United Nations and other
international organizations in these key areas.
173. We welcome the dialogue between those organizations and Member States, as
reflected in the first informal interactive hearings of the General Assembly with
representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private
sector.
174. We underline the important role of local authorities in contributing to the
achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the
Millennium Development Goals.
175. We encourage responsible business practices, such as those promoted by the
Global Compact.

Charter of the United Nations

176. Considering that the Trusteeship Council no longer meets and has no
remaining functions, we should delete Chapter XIII of the Charter and references to
the Council in Chapter XII.
177. Taking into account General Assembly resolution 50/52 of 11 December 1995
and recalling the related discussions conducted in the General Assembly, bearing in
mind the profound cause for the founding of the United Nations and looking to our
common future, we resolve to delete references to “enemy States” in Articles 53, 77
and 107 of the Charter.
178. We request the Security Council to consider the composition, mandate and
working methods of the Military Staff Committee.

8th plenary meeting

16 September 2005

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