Strengthening of the work of the United Nations in the social field

XVI. RESOLUTION ADOPTED ON THE REPORT OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
1675. Strengthening of the work of the United Nations in the social field

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1392 (XIV) of 20 November 1959 in which it recognized that economic development and social development are interrelated and that social progress is an end in itself as well as a means of furthering economic development, Recalling further its resolutions 1393 (XIV) of 20 November 1959 on low-cost housing and 1508 (XV) of 12 December 1960 on low-cost housing and related community facilities, Taking note of recommendation No. 115 concerning workers' housing adopted by the International Labour Organisation at its forty-fifth Conference on 28 June 1961, Having considered chapters VI and VIII of the report of the Economic and Social Council to the General Assembly,[1]

1. Notes with satisfaction the action taken by the Economic and Social Council to strengthen the activities of the United Nations in the social field, particularly the decision to enlarge the Social Commission and to convene it annually, the establishment of the ad hoc group of experts on the relation of community development programmes to national development programmes including land reform, the establishment of the ad hoc group of experts on housing and urban development, and the Council's request that the Social Commission reappraise its basic direction with a view to giving increased attention to matters of social policy;

2. Welcomes Economic and Social Council resolution 841 (XXXII) of 3 August 1961 designed to bring about close co-ordination between the programmes of industrialization, rural development, urbanization and housing;

3. Calls the attention of Governments of Member States and the appropriate authorities of the United Nations and the specialized agencies to the necessity of closely co-ordinated action in dealing with the problems relating to those programmes;

4. Expresses its satisfaction that the Economic and Social Council will give consideration, at its thirty-third session, to having a combined plenary debate on world economic trends and the world social situation at its thirty-fourth session, thus giving practical recognition to the interdependence of economic and social factors in development;

5. Requests that the Economic and Social Council, on the basis of the information gathered in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1508 (XV), consider proposals to expand and co-ordinate international programmes and give assistance, at the request of Governments, to national programmes in the field of low-cost housing and related community facilities;

6. Expresses its strong support of the hope expressed in Economic and Social Council resolution 840 J (XXXII) of 2 August 1961 that all necessary provision will be made to enable the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to discharge effectively its responsibilities in the social field, in particular those relating to research, operational programmes, United Nations Children's Fund projects concerned with social services for children and those arising from the increased activities in the social field of the regional economic commissions.

1081st plenary meeting,
18 December 1961.

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[1] Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixteenth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/4820).