Economic and social consequences of the armaments race and its extremely harmful effects on world peace and security

XXVI. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE
2831. Economic and social consequences of the armaments race and its extremely harmful effects on world peace and security

The General Assembly, Concerned about the ever spiralling arms race and military expenditures, which constitute a heavy burden for all peoples and have extremely harmful effects on world peace and security, Deeply convinced that the common aspirations of mankind for peace, security and progress require the urgent cessation of the arms race, particularly of the nuclear arms race, and the reduction of military expenditures, as well as the adoption of effective measures leading towards general and complete disarmament, Considering that a halt in the arms race and a significant reduction of military expenditures would promote the economic and social development of all countries and would increase the possibilities of providing additional resources to developing countries, Recalling its resolution 2667 (XXV) of 7 December 1970, in which it requested the Secretary-General to prepare, with the assistance of qualified consultant experts appointed by him, a report on the economic and social consequences of the arms race and of military expenditures,

1. Welcomes with satisfaction the report of the Secretary-General on the economic and social consequences of the arms race and of military expenditures[1] and expresses the hope that it will help to focus future disarmament negotiations on nuclear disarmament and on the goal of general and complete disarmament under effective international control;

2. Extends its thanks to the Secretary-General and to the consultant experts as well as to the Governments and international organizations that have rendered assistance in the preparation of the report;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to arrange for the reproduction of the report as a United Nations publication and to give it the widest possible publicity in as many languages as is considered desirable and practicable;

4. Recommends to all Governments the widest possible distribution of the report so as to acquaint public opinion in their countries with its contents, and invites the specialized agencies as well as intergovernmental, national and non-governmental organizations to use their facilities to make the report widely known;

5. Recommends that the conclusions of the report of the Secretary-General on the economic and social consequences of the arms race and of military expenditures should be taken into account in future disarmament negotiations;

6. Calls upon all States to intensify their efforts during the Disarmament Decade with a view to promoting negotiations on effective measures for the cessation of the nuclear arms race at the earliest possible date and for nuclear disarmament, as well as on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control;

7. Decides to keep the item entitled "Economic and social consequences of the armaments race and its extremely harmful effects on world peace and security" under constant review and to place it on the provisional agenda of its twenty-eighth session.

2022nd plenary meeting,
16 December 1971.

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[1] A/8469 and Add.1.