Page 228 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International

Today it is becoming increasingly evident that it is now beyond the
capacity of any one State, acting on its own, to provide all the services and
protection which its citizens require, or to meet all their demands. Apart from
the United Nations system, a multiplicity of other actors - such as the media,
non-governmental, religious and business organizations, parliamentarians and
international lawyers - have indispensable roles to play. Acting at various levels
of the international system, they are all mechanisms working toward common
goals. New modalities of international cooperation are being imagined, defined
and implemented.

The major world conferences, held since 1990, which have focused on key
aspects of global concern: on Children, on Environment and Sustainable
Development, on Human Rights, on Natural Disaster Reduction, on
Population and Development, on Social Development, and on Women, are all
part of an effort to forge a new consensus and establish a practical plan of
action. They are, in a very real sense, the main elements of the Agenda that the
international community is giving itself for the next several decades. In 1996 we
will hold the last in the series of world conferences: Habitat II, on Human
Settlements.

Together these international conferences offer a number of general
principles that are of particular importance when charting our course into the
next century: Investing in People is a prerequisite to progress on any front;
Investing in civil society and in the institutions, organizations, structures, and
enterprises that sustain human communities is also vital. This is particularly
important where health and education is concerned; Strengthening of the
respect for Human Rights is a sine qua non if equitable progress is to be
achieved; Attention to social justice is crucial if development is to produce
positive results and if society is to prosper; Maintenance of law and order based
on a strong and well-defined Constitution is important in order to ensure the
solid foundation of society; Respect for the environment is indispensable; A
commitment to democracy is to be seen as both a cornerstone of development
and a driving force for progress on all fronts.

The United Nations system, in its entirety, concerns itself with every
aspect of human activity and contributes to the improvement of the human
condition. It is a source of know-how and expertise designed to help peoples
and Governments in their efforts to improve their lives. The United Nations
entities based in Geneva are particularly active in this regard.

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