text: question ofhumanrights,whichaffectseveryone. TheUniversal Declaration ofHumanRights,adoptednear­ ly17yearsago,mustbecounted asoneofthegreat achievements oftheUnitedNations. TheDeclaration andthe Covenants andconventions thatgrewoutofitprovided the world,forthefirsttime,withaninternational codeofhuman rightswhichestablishes asnormsofinternational lawtheway inwhichtheStatemusttreatindividuals. Specificmechanisms havealsobeenestablished bytheUnitedNationstomonitor compliance withtheseagreements, andweareincreasingly providing advisory services andtechnical assistance to Governments inthefieldofhumanrights. Yetwemustrecognize that,despitetheseadvances, thElre isacontinuing needtokeepaclosewatchoverthewaythe rightsandfreedoms oftheindividual arerespected byStates. Massive violations ofhumanrightscontinue to,takeplace, oftenoftragicproportions. ManyStateshavenotyetratified therelevant international conventions, orbrought theirlaws orinstitutions intoconformity withtheinternational standards proclaimed bytheUnitedNations. Persecution forpolitical, religious orracialreasonscontinues. Minorities andindig­ enouspopulations areofteninadequately protected. There.are alsoinstances inwhichtheco-operation ofGovernments With theUnitedNations anditsorgansleavesmuchtobedesired.6 ReportoftheSecretary-General ontheworkoftheOrganization Statesofselectively withholding theirdulyassessed contribu- Letusinthisfortiethanniversary yearrededicate ourselves, tions,.Thiscanonlyhave.amostdetrimental effectonthejointlyandindividually, tothetaskofachieving theunim- futureviability ofourOrganization. pededapplication oftheUniversal Declaration andthe International Covenants. Tothisend,IappealtothoseStates thathavenotyetratifiedtheCovenants to,doso.Iappealto allStatestosupport, strengthen andtakepartinthepro­ cedures whichhavebeenestablished toexamine violations ofhumanrights,andassuretheirprotection .. Aparticularly important aspectofhumanrightsisracial discrimination, whichshouldhavenoplaceinanyformin oursocietyandwhichrepresents themostdangerous ofsocial andpolitical poisons. Inoneparticular andextreme instance, thepolicyofapartheid inSouthAfrica,theunwillingness toundertake timely,remedial measures hasnowproduced anominous andviolentsituation, onwhichtheSecurity Council hasrecently pronounced itself.Ineedhardlyre­ iteratemystrongly heldviewsontheabhorrent systemof ,apartheid andthemassive humantragedywhichhasresulted fromit.Ihopethat,evenatthisverylatehour,stepscan .'betakenandcontacts established whichmayaverttheworst. :1feelobligedtoaddherethatthefailuretobringNamibia 'toindepepdence throughtheUnitedNationsPlanis,together withapartheid, afundamental reasonforthetensionandsuf­ 'feringinsouthern Africa. Animmense andwidespread socialevilistheburgeoning problem ofnarcotic drugs,which,ruinsthelivesofuncounted .millions ofindividuals, andevenundermines theintegrity and stability ofGoverJ;llllents. Inlargeareasoftheworldthe plagueofdrugabuseandillicittrafficking, fuelledbythe immense profitswhichtheygenerate, hasreached an emergency stage.Asthisproblem increases inmagnitude, despitethegrowing effortsofGovernments todealwithit, evenmoreattention mustbegiventoimproving theco­ ordination ofefforts SOthataneffective rangeofstrategies maybedeveloped tomeetthenewchallenges posed.Clear­ ly,thedrugproblem cannolongerberegarded asamerely social,andlargelydomestic, concern. Itisagainstthisbackground thatIhaveproposed thatthe first,globalconference shouldbeconvened todealwithall aspectsofdrugabuseandillicittrafficking. Itrustthatsuch aconference wouldbeaction-oriented. Itshouldservetoraise thelevelofworld-wide awareness oftheescalating problems ofdrugabuse,mobilize thefullpotential oftheUnited Nations system,andresultinaprogramme ofactionatthe international, regional andnational levels.Themoment has arrivedfortheinternational community toexpanditsefforts inaglobalundertaking tomeetthisdeadlyperil. Actsofterrorism havenowspreadtovirtually allpartsof theglobe.Theyareexceptionally difficult tocopewithsince theyinvolvedesperate actsbydesperate peoplewillingto violatenational andinternational lawregardless oftherisk totheirownlives.Themosttragicaspectofthisproblem istheincreasing lossofinnocent civilianlives,whichIhave repeatedly condemned. Asindicated earlier,someofthe necessary international legalinstruments areinplace,and itistimeforconcerted effortstobemadebyGovernments toimplement them.Inthiscontext, Governments maywish toconsider whatfurther measures ofinternational co­ operation couldbeeffectively devised. Ibelievethatinconcerting aninternational response togreat common problems wemayalsobegintodevelop thekind ofsocialandpolitical solidarity andmutualconfidencewmch willeventually servewellinthemoretraditional fieldof political problems. Severalencouraging exampiet ofsuch tesponses doexist,andIwanttorecallsomeofthemvery briefly: International effortsforthe~eliefofrefugees andtheir voluntary returnorresettlement represent oneofthemost *** JavierPEREZDECuELLAR Secretary-GeneralInourjourney of40yearswehavehadmanyexperiences,
analysis: The text appears to be a speech or statement by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, highlighting the importance of human rights, the ongoing struggle against violations of human rights, and the need for international cooperation to address pressing global issues such as apartheid, drug abuse, and terrorism. The text does not focus on economic development, natural resources, or other specific sectors, but rather emphasizes the importance of human rights and international cooperation.