text: 1990stheattention oftheinternational community willbefocused oneconomic and socialdevelopment andespecially onthewaragainst poverty, hunger anddisease -5- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Libraryandonupholding humanrights andhumandignity. Thechallenge beforethe Organization in1992-1997 wouldbetoconsolidate therecentpolitical gainsand takeadvantage oftheincipient broad-based convergence ofviewsonmostofthe critical issuesbeforetheinternational community foraccelerating pr'ogress on economic, social andhumanitarian issues. 18.TheDeclaration onInternational Economic Co-operation, inparticular the Revitalization ofEconomic Growth andDevelopment oftheDeveloping Countries (General Assembly resolution 8-18/3), adopted attherecently concluded eighteenth special session oftheAssembly, reflects anewconsensus onglobal economic issues. Itreaffirms theroleoftheOrganization asa"unique forum"wherethe fullrangeofeconomic andsocialissues canbeaddressed inanintegrated manner. Thisnewconsensus, whileacknowledging theresponsibility ofeachcountry forits owndevelopment andstressing theimportance ofnational policies, emphasizes the obligation oftheinternational community tocreate aglobal environment that facilitates economic growth andsocialdevelopment indeveloping countries. The UnitedNations wouldberequired toassisttheinternational community to accomplish thegoalsandcommitments contained intheDeclaration, whichnotonly provide afreshfocusanddirection foritsactivities butarealsolikelytohave apositive impact onforthcoming majordeliberations oneconomic andsocial questions. 19.Thedecisions andoutcome ofthosedeliberations aswellasdevelopments in thepolitical arena,including progress inthefieldofdisarmament, willgreatly influence theworkoftheOrganization intheeconomic, social andrelated areas. Mostoftheissues ontheUnited Nations agendaareclosely interrelated; lackof progress inoneareacanretard developments intheother. Thiscloseconnection within andamongtheissuesapplies withequalforcetotheoverall linkage between political, economic, social, humanitarian andotherquestions, whichhastobe borneinmindwhileplanning andcarrying outtheOrganization's futureactivities. 20.Inthisconnection, thereisneedtoensurethatalongwithaddressing the persistent andchronic economic andsocialproblems, theOrganization mustalsobe abletorespond quickly andeffectively toemerging issues andnewchallenges. Thiswillrequire aconscious redirection ofitsworkinmonitoring andanalysing economic andsocialtrends, withtheirpolitical consequences. TheOrganization wouldthushavetostrengthen itscapacity forearlyidentification ofpotential problems intheworldeconomy andtheirbroader implications andpointtheway towards theirsolution. 21.Someofthespecific areasofactivities inth~planperiodthatmerit elaboration areidentified inthefollowing paragraphs. Itshouldbeunderstood thatwhilemostoftheseactivities arebasedonlongstanding mandates, freshand moreprecise directions havebeenprovided inmanyareasbytherecentdecisions of theGeneral Assembly, particularly atitsseventeenth special session devoted to drugabusecontrol andtheeighteenth special session oneconomic growth and development. Inaddition, theelaboration oftheintarnational development strategy forthefourthUnitedNations development decade andthedecisions ofthe SecondUnited Nations Conference ontheLeastDeveloped Countries, theeighth session oftheUnited Nations Conference onTradeandDevelopment, the1992United Nations Conference onEnvironment andDevelopment, andthe1994meeting on population willalsodetermine theworkoftheOrganization intheplanperiod and itssearchforeffective meanstoimprove theinternational economic andsocial environment. ........ -6-andonupholding humanrights andhumandignity. Thechallenge beforethe Organization in1992-1997 wouldbetoconsolidate therecentpolitical gainsand takeadvantage oftheincipient broad-based convergence ofviewsonmostofthe critical issuesbeforetheinternational community foraccelerating pr'ogress on economic, social andhumanitarian issues.
analysis: The text discusses the United Nations' role in promoting economic and social development, addressing poverty, hunger, and disease, and upholding human rights and dignity. It also touches on the need to respond to emerging issues and new challenges, and to strengthen the organization's capacity for early identification of potential problems in the world economy. These themes suggest that the text is primarily focused on economic development and humanitarian aid, with some overlap into other areas such as health, education, and employment.