TJmITD NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIEMTIFIC AND CULTURAZ ORGMIZATION

ss- 80 /corri., 806 /6 PARIS, 9 July 1980 Original: French

SWOSIUM ON THE STUDY OF NEW H u I d W RIGET'S: THE "RIGHTS OF SOLIDARITY"

Mexico, 12-15 August 1980

TKE RIGHTS OF SOLIDARITY: AN ATTENPT AT cmcmma ANALYSIS prepared by

A Working Group of the Standing Committee of International Non-Govermental Orgdzations (NGOs) having a consultative

relationEiSip (categopies A and a) ''with Unesco

'Phe following NG03 were menibers of the Working Grmp't3 Drafting Committee:

Consultative Council of Jewish Orguizations Cc-ordinatine Cormittee for International Voluntary Service

F'riends World Cornittee fcr Consultation (Quakers) Internat ional As soci at ion of Democratic Lawyers Interna,tion&l Catholic Chi13 Bureau international Young CathGïic Students Universal Esperanto Association World Federation of Trade Unions World Peace Council World Union of Cetholic Women' 8 Organizations

(Co-ordinator of the Working Group

The views expressed in this document are solely the responsibility of the authors m d do not necessarily reflect the views of Unesco.

SS-BO/COMF 806/6

. NGO/80/46/DH/I 1 Paris, 30 June ?980

NGO (Uaesco) Working Group on the Teaching of' Human Rights

THE RIGHTS OF SOLIDARITY: AN. ATTEJET AT CCNGEFTUAL ANALYSIS

1.

"soliderity rights" but it also gives some serious thoucht to identification of such rights and the role that could be Flayed by non-goverw-ental organizations in promoting and implementing them.

2.

rights". Declaration cjf Hums Rights, EtPTroved by the General Assembly of the United Nation6 on 10 December 1948, and in two covenants &ich comylernent the Derleration: the Internationsl Covenant on Ecmomic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenmt on Civil end Political Rights (smplmented by an Optional Protocol)

3.

holds true fcr studies and activities undertaken in connection with the establish- ment of a new internetional econonic order. violations of such rights are also very revealins in this regard.

This stuüy is presented within the framework agreed on between Unesco and the NNGO Standhg Cornnittee. It is basically á conceptual analysis of

Until now, the focus has been on two "generations*' of b a n rtFfhts: first, 9tcivil and political rip;htsa' and, second, "economic, social and cultural

It will be recalled th&€ these rights were set forth in the Universal

which came into ferce on 3 January and 23 March 1976 respectively.

Studies carried out in the field of human rights and the experience gained in implementing them have a marked effect on their recqnition, and the same

Attmpts to identify the causes of

4.

definition and measurement of those human rights already recognized and those whose recognition would seem to be necessary in the context of a New International Economic Order".

-The Uneseo w e r t Meeting held in Paris from 19 to 23 June I978 sought "to identify, using an a;?proach based on huma needs, the evolving criteria for

5.

us, gave rice, fram the outset, to certain misgivings:

,In fact t G s concept of "new" rights - they axe clso referTed to ES "aoliGarity rights" or "third generation rights" - as it was presented to Why speak oP"new" rights when the "old" õnes are not properly respected? Is there not a danger that these "new" rights will supplant the "old"?

Might it nct be true that the mere rights introduced the less weight they csxry?

Does not the term "third generation" hply that the "first generation" rights have become dEted?

The NGO Working Grou? accordingly held e, considerable number of meetings to study the problems raised by these rights.

6.

up by Unesco arid exunined by fhe Expert Meeting in June 7973: the right to develop- ment, the right to Fecce, the right to a healthy a d ecologically balanced enviyen- ment, the right of everyone to enjcy the conon heritage of mankind and, lastly, the right to communication.

It used the list of rights dIe;vrr.

ss-80/c0m.806/6 - page 2 7. The Group aiso considered other rights such as the "right to international

humunitarian assisterice" and various aspects of alreaäy recognized rights.

- A tentative analysis

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suriplant rights that have beer! already fomillated; on the coxztrlllfy, they qiif'y aad complement them. his totality. They are indivisi3le.

9.

it is up to us to work for a more cohesive and fraternaï world. to stress here what we mean by solidarity. Il paternalism" which maintains inequalj.tks, but rather the recogmition of OUF conmon destiny and the desire to enable each individual to exercise hie rights a d essume his share of responsibility for safeguarding and improving the f'uture of mankind.

Given the mbigwity of the tema "new" rights and '%hird generation" rights, we preferred to use the term "solidarity rights". The "new" rights do not

They belong to all men, to each individual and to m m in

The idea of "solidtwity" presupposes the idea of R "new code of ethics". A6 Martin Luther King would say, men are Che only pople on the earth and

It is important Whatwe have in mind is not the

10. The implenentation of solidarity rights should l e d to the estdblishment of a new lnternationd. order_givi.ng new hpetus to the development of humanity

and resulting in genuine materid and nord progress for the b a n fanilg and, as Mr. Amadou-IJIahtar M'Eow, Director Cenerel of Unesco, has said "the creative develop ment of every nation, every community and every individual".

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"duties of solidarityt7 ; that is inherent in the very concept of solidarity, and the need for ''recigmcity" of such duties is somethi% else that has to te stressed. Finally, solidarity obviously rules out the oppression of the "weak" by the "strong", at both political and economic levels.

The MGOs would like to stress , in particular, thzt "rights" are inconceivable without corresponding "äutieg" . T& "rights of solidarity" obviously entail

12. As the Report of Unesco's Expert Meeting poilits. out, "law is concern& with the prerogatives or powers of the individuai", but in so far as solidarity

rights are concerned it depends to FA large extent on the local, regional, nationd. international or Trivate ccmnunities whether the persons who belong to them cen enjoy the rights that c m legitimately be claimed from these communities.

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these rights are incdepuately implemented in e very large part of the world. are major naterieil obstacles to the fU1 enjoynent of these rights in certain regions suffering frcm underüevelopnent.

14.

It should be noted that the economic, sociai and culturd rights laid àuwn in the Universe3 Declplration end in the Intemationel Covenan? relating to

There

Any consideration of solidarity riehts must, therefore, give priority to the study and promotion of a n'ew international economic order.

15. Solidarity rights are inseparable from funda,mental freedons - they are more- over, alsodated with them - and they Will have a better chance of being

recognised es rights and implemented if the freedoms of individuals and peoples are themselves recognized and honcured. Hunan rights should be coneidered as a.n absolute imperative: the representatives of the vorld's major relicions, at their meeting in Bmgkok in December 1979, accepted the Declaration of Human Rights as the "first moral principle binding on all human.beings".

16.

m y deplorable violations of hiunSn rights in the world and a large number of NGOs are exposing them and will continue to do so.

But human rights are not established because they are proclaimed as such and the Widespread abuse of power in this field must be condemned. There are

SS-8û/Cû1@'.806/6 - page 3 17. T:he authority of iaternational bodies should, therefore, be reinforced to

ensure that human rights are respected, hplemented and promoted. .

18. Fssential to the promotion of human rights is education in this field, which shcul<i begin 86 soon as possible both at school and out of mhool.

also be made clear that such training should involve not only the teaching of- -- human rip$% as a subject of study but also education furtherin. the cause of " hmjm I_

rights. This purpose lies at the very he:& of Unescogs work, but at the s m e time the NGOs are already naking a very useful contribution in this field, and one which c a be expected to increase in future. A l w g e number of ncn- governmental organizations of teachers at different levels of the educational system are furthering the cause of humen rights in sciimls, while others m e active outside schools, where succes8 depends heavily on enlisting pii'Glic support for the pornotion of human rights.

Other solidarity rights

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rights", care should be taken to give more caplete formulation to rlghts which are alreaiiy recognized, For purpeses of illustration, reference can be made to the right to international humanitarian assistmce or the right of iin,.;uistic minorilies to be brought up 3rd given instruction in their mother t o m e s - at least at the primery levei; this rule should al80 5e applied to'imigrant workers and their families in the host countries.

It should

Many other aspects of human rights related to solidarity m n g human beings are often inadequately-'formulEtted. In eny project concerning the "new

Final remarks . .

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specialized services in their analysis and formulation of '!solidarity rights" and that consideration Will be given to its analysis end to the remarks, suggestiona and proposals which it contains.

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the stage of formulating solidarity' rights.

The Working Group of Non-Governmental Organizations having a cnnsultative relationship with Unesco hopes thet this study will be of use to Unesco's

The Group remains at Unesco's disposal for any further studies of these rights, It would also like to'be consulted when Unesco's work has reached

22. Finally, NGOs affiliated to Unescc can say with confidence that they will continue and, indeed, expand their action to promote and implement liman

rights, each in its particular sphere of competence and within the context of its particulsr aims, and, more generally speaking, guided by kine view, as mentioned eelier, that the Universal Declarction of HÜum Rights is the "first moral principle binding on all.. hutnan beings".

. . '/. . I

SOLIDARITY RIGHTS

I, THE RIGHT TO DEVELOFWEXT

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resources necessary to the development of the human being. clear for a long t h e that the full development of the individual cannot be isoleted from his social and pzditicalwcontext. Secome key elements of the context in which the development process takes piace.

We see the rizht to development as having various dimensions: individual, .group, national and international. It implies access to the various

However, it has 'been

Social justice and equity have

SS-8O/CONFs8O6/6 - p ~ g e 4 24.

on justice and security have-becme collective undertakings. It should no locger be pssible to live in luxury in the midst of miraery a d suffering.

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nor communities can prosper at another's expense. The notion of solidarity im~lies an awweness of sharing a common social destiny with onels neighbour and of forining park of a common human consciousness.

For this reason, the achievement of better living conditions in an atmosphere of harmony and the hplementation of economic Md social development based

Communities at whatever level have the right and the dutyto ensure that men have what is necessary for their individuel development .. Neither individuals

26. It is essentid. to define a national and international develapaient strategy which should ccmprise:

a political will to bring about structural changes in rural and urbán societies ;

the establishment of development plans which srmide for land reforms and industrialization schemes and, in the develcped nations, for sectoral c h w e s - especially in the industrial sector - which are likely to facilitate and enhance eccnomic co-operation within-tthe framework of a new internehionel economic order;

the use of science and &^propriate technology to raise the standard of living of the population;

control of the key sectors of the national economy; decentralization of education, ekinistretion and production; public pwticipation (consumers, workers, citizens , etc. ).

27. "he right to education, which encourwes endogenous development and 8 sense of responsibility,- is one of Unesco's major concerns.

28.

as manpower and natural wealth - and the right to use them a6 it sees fit. is possible only within the framework of political independence which, in turn, implies recognition of a pegple's right to self-determixiation.

In order to develop along these lines, a cormunity needs all its resources - psychological resources such 8s national feeling and material resources such

This

29. What is novel about this right?

in 1945, at the end of World War II, it was naturel that any violation c>f a person's or nation's physical integrity should give rise to protest, and this led to the first universal agreement to recognize the civil and poìitical rights of the human being. We have already witnessed two decades of international develop- ment strategies. Many hopes have been raised, but few promises kept.

30. The various types and farms of exploitation and domination have persisted, resulting in unjust economic agreements and unbalanced bilateral mrangements,

the destabilization of political regimes, the squandering of resources for military purposes and the tentacular spread of multinational corporations.

31. All this explains the urgency of international mlidarity and the inperative need to build cm econonic order based fron the beginnine on new forms of

economic relations. Programne cf Action edopted by the Sixth Special 3ession.d the-United Nations in May 1974 and in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States ado;?ted by the General Assembly of the Unite6 Nations in Decenber 1974.

The groundwork for this was l&d in the Declaration and

SS-Sû/CONF.806/6 - page 5 32.

the ri@t to have access tc what is required for its all-rcund developent: natural resources - trater, lmd, ores and energy; humaa resources - knowledTe, science, technology, international, financiel, politicel and legal institutions; end cultural recomes - histciry, philciso-hy, the products of art and civilizction. And, at the srne time, that individual, ths;t nation, has a duty to contribute to the development of other individuals, of other nations. Such solidarity is a perequkite sf peace, security and the relaation of international tension.

AZ1 international ne@iations should be geared to e globd stratem for accelerating the development process. Every indiviüual, every nation, ha^

33. The reasm for subscribing to the W c e p t of the right to developent is not to propound a new l e p l notion or to formulate a series of claias which

m e already set out in existing conventions or even to 'try to find sane zliraculous solution to the problems of the present day. glcbd. nature and interdepn2ence of huma needs and to mobilize international solidarity within the context of a new internationd economic and social order in which a31 countries, regmdless of their economic or political sgatema, m e inseparable partners.

It is rather to derianstrate the

II. THE RIGKT 'TO FEACE

The right to pace viewed as a new solidarity right

34. In the passwe relating to education for peace in the Unesco Constitution, it is na%ed that govemental arrangements are not enowh to secure pence

and that it "must therefore be founded... q o n the intell.ectua1 and nc,ral solidarity of mankind".

35. F'rm ancient tines, all yhilosophies and religions have manifested concern for the respect for h m m life and nm*s inescapable need for peace.

nineteenth century, ?h~!rscn wrote that mankind's duty:to abolish wer was second only to its duty to abolish slavery.

36.

1776 and 1789 (Independence of the United States of America and the French Revolution) where it fimt fomd expression m d , more recently, in various dom- nents o9 the Nuremberg Court (which drew ee distinction between War crines, crimes wainst hwmnity a d crines cgainst the pkace) and of the United Nations and its S?ecialized Agencies, particulmly Unescc, and in vesicus reports of WGOs.

In the

Like all sclidesity rights, the right tc Teacc has been referred tc in various charters, conventions, declarations a d ccvenants since thcse of

37. M m is p m t oîthe whole, there is only one fmily of man on earth. the aspiration for Feme is on individual aspiration, it cm find valid

expression only in the comunity, where it can be recognized as a need and aesume tie status of a right. What initially w a ~ apparently c. strictly individual right imeaiately becomes a i&tytowmds al1 menlbers of society.

33.

ri8ghts concerning the basic freedom of expression end action. for preveriting the violation of human r%ghts c m be much more effective than leEi;.d. intervention efter violation. a DiJirit of friendship, mutual respect of beliefs, end sdidaxity. of then have been dishonoured by recourse to violence and even extermin&tion, they are none the less models that deserve to be used under better circumstances, benef idal influence of the Iritern8,tional Ccurt of Justice and other international authorities in the face of tiìre8ts to the -ewe since i946 cannot be denied.

Although

If it cm be s h m n that the right to peace is a solidarity right, it will serve as m e.dded stimulus to the hplementaGion of already existing hurian

Peaceful procedures

Many agreements have been concluded in the past in Althouch some

The

ss-80/c0~~,806/6 - page 6 39. A climate of public opinion must be created which is m r e conducive to

international c-operation than to the anna rece.

The evolution of our civilizakicns and its impact on the establishment of the r a peace

40.

the world at large and become as outnoûed as did, in the middle of this century, unconditional patriotism, well-intentioned colonialism, uncontrolled technological and economic progress and European cuJturel and mcral superiority - ideas which without any doubt sowed the seeds of two wars costing the lives of tens of nillions of people.

As we come to the close of the tweatieth century, the preservation of the peace by preparing fGr 8 wax of dissuasion could be a debatable nation in

The right to peace

41. In the eyes of many, there must first be e "will to peace" before it becomes a right or a duty.

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hand, cause a cataclysm, a large number of'people seem to be aware of the fact that :

While it 5s difficult to make people realize that arming themselves to the teeth Will not necessarily guarantee their security but may, cn the other

war is nct a law of nature; it jeoprdizes the life of future eenerations and impedes development: the first human right is the right to life;

pence is not only the abaence of wxc; it shouìd be 8 gradual process fostering the harmonious cohesion of different human groups m d economies of the world;

even though peace is a human right, it cannot be imposed;

peace is no more inevitable than war: societies should prepare to live in peace, assuing their responsibilities within systems which saf'eguard life on earth and human values.

The right to 9eace is above all e human right and there can be no pesce without reapcct for a d defence of human rights.

43.

Peace stratem

44. Certain broad lines of action should be followed. They are:

ososition to violence;

oposition to the arms race pursued under the pressure of military-industrial blccâ ;

internationd co-operation;

f'ull and objective information concerning everything thet is either canducive or inimical to a climate of peace;

education for peace (see the Find Report of the NCO (Unesco) Collective Consuitatlon, 14-16 January 1980; &so the Unesco document for the World Conference on Dismament, 9-13 June 1980, with code number SS-aO/COmF.401/12);

coiitinuation of reeearch conducive tc promoting a public Confidence in the viability of the idea of a peace stratew as opSosed to a var strategy in a world based on the notion of solidnzity.

45. There ie univereal awEtreneBs tpday of the fact that d 1 civilizations me equal 3rd that didogue between civilizetions is possible,

III. TEE RIGHT TO THE CWMON HERITAßE OF MAHKIîTD (in its cultural dimension)

46. ,The notion of heritwe:

Thia notion eovers everything that has been bequeathed to us by earlier generatione. values judged worthy of being hmded Cown, a body cf trditions Seviaed to favour hiroius prosesa.

It implies, however, a heritage of quality, the transmíssion of

47. Assets constituting the common heritage of mankind are:

hi story ; moral and spirituLd traditions; the heritage of education; artistic literary and philosophical creations; scientific and technolopical achievements; legal and sacial achievements; the natu-ral heritage (the ocean bed, intersteller space, etc.).

48. What are the grcwds for this right?

Man requires roots, Kan cut off from his family or national heritwe is incqable of ochievins balance either within himself CY in his relations with the outside world. He ftlils to echíwe his full dimension as a na. Man cannot do vithout the knowledge hm8ed daun by previous generations; without it he would labour under eerious handicap. He w a d lack, for exarqle:

e sense of historical perspective; e comprehensive knowledge of msn; clear judgement ; scope for progess.

49. How is tlie enjoyment of a d respect for the right to the common heritage to be ensured? . .

(a) Though educrtion inculceking respect for a given heritage which r?Gt only is not hostile tG new contributions but in fact encmra.ges then by:

providing modes cf written and oral eGressicn; teaching naticml and international history, with the necessary objectivity;

providing a p m o m i c view cf -hilosophical Fositions on the major Troblems of sankind thrcwh the @&e$;

i r d d i n e knowledge of the thinkinG and creative achievements of earlier periods p

ss-80/c0m~.806j6 - p q e 8 Through a variety of activities sheddiri@; light on the pest: exhjbitions, lectures, discussions, cultural excursions and other activities which give the present contact Kith past generatione;

Through a judicious consideration of the whole body of folklore and of cociaì ami religious traditions;

By cautioning againat 8 more or less puerile mentality which syetm- aticeilly dismisses the past in favour of the latest fashion or is disdainful of past achievements and there3y exercises a pernicicus influence on minds which are still hifihly malleable; .

By developing a concept of miture linked to the life of society and rooted in the bistory of humanity whose true protagonists are the peoples of the wcrïd;

By studyiw the obstacles ?eccnomh, social and cthers) not only to the eecess of the people at large to culture but to their active parti- cipation at all levels of cuitmal life;

By ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to participate in cultural life, especially those who are temporarily or permanently cut off from their cuiturclmilieu;

By preventing scientific research, which is an integral part of the cultural heritage, from focusing solely on commercially profitable short-tern objectives; . .

By adastine; education to social realities;

By returning cultural property to its country of origin or, failing that, by re-lacing or povidhg cm-gens&tion for it, Uneaco seeing: to it that such property as is returned is not used for the benefit of a minority cir fcr cmercial gain;

By protecting the natural heritage and safeguarding the riches of the past.

50. In short, to deprive men of any part of their heritage is aa iaadnissible violation of an essential right.

IV. TIIE RIGHT .TO COWICATION

The rinht to information

51.

I;bf%#Wtaon as the right "ta seek, receive m d imp=% infomtion and laem Z k i f ~ ~ ~ h any edi in atrd regardless of frontiers".

Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclahs the ri@t to freedcm of opinion and expression" and defines the right to It

Connunieaticn as a hunan right

52.

to inform and be inforned, as Article i9 of the Universal Declaration already lays down. Comaunication should be, above ell, the establishment of a rehtionship vith someone, an exchange of information and ideas asid a true dialogue between men.

We believe that ccsnmunication is more than infornation; it is a two-way process which implies that everyone is able to impart and receive information,

SS-80/CûNF.806/6 - page 9 53.

ncy 5e encountered - apart from the possible lack of desire to communicate - Buch 8.i , for example differences and the absence of a ccmmon lanpuage..

Ccmmmnieatim thus conceived inplies respect for the other party and a genuhe effort by erch side to understand the other. A veriety of obstscles

cértain politicd structures, underdevelopczent , cultural .

.. 54. Cmuication as we have just described it is essentially direct conmunicution

s m n ~ persons or groups of persons mainly through the medium of langunge,

Role of the nass media

55.

a somewhat 2if'f'erent meoliing: it may apply to the fiction of "communicating some= thiI?g to somebody", td the %hing comunicated or even to the technicd means enabling peoole to communicate. In the present situation, this ty-pe of commini- cation consists mainly in the transmission of a "meosagefp which the "receiver" generally receives in R pessive manner.

- Comnrunication is also carried out through "mass camunications" or the "mass media", as they axe called. In this case, the word "cmicationq' takes on

56.

ertBblish, as far as possi3le, true exchange in this field. res-onsible for Frcviding an objective, free rcnC balanced flow of information, whereas the "receivers" should h8ve the wherewithal to monitor a system which is at present in the h m d s of the political authorities or private ffrma.

57.

sane guidelines concerning the rights which should be enjoyed by infomtion receivers: the right to publish, the Tight of correction and the riQ;ht of reply; the rip$lt to withhold infomation, the ripJht of accesa to information sources and xedia, and others.

Laat is required, tkierefore, is action to change the s2twtion by introducing into communication the notion of reciprocity and pwticipation 80 es to

The media are

!Che eighteenth sessicn of the &nerd Conference of Unesco, to which the recent NGO (Unesco) Qqgosium on the Right tc Communication referred, offered

The effect cf underdevelqmnt on exrimunication

58. The multiplicity anil soyhistication of the new meam of communication, which are largely in the hands of the industrialized countries, iapede bilateral

and multilaterd. cornunicetion a d the diffusion of information by individuals, mall nations and devzloping countries, preparation and diffusion, the domestic information of the developing nations themselves emanates, as s d e , from the industri'dized countries.

For exam?le, frcm the standpoint of both

The new international ccamminic3tion order

59.

definition of the 'right to ecmmmication" in its various forms to complete the t948 Universal Decbration of Human Rights,

It is thus clear that it is necessary to establish rn international l e g a instment on corinmication m d , to start with, to dreft a clear and precise

60,

88 the right of indiviüuds or groups of individuals forming part of a community, which thus has a responsibility m 6 (t duty to ensure respect for and enjoyment of this new right "regardless of ficnticrc".

It should be noted thet the right to communication, more so than the other so-called "solidarity" rights now being studied 3y Unescc), c m be regarded

61. A new international ccamunication order should not neglect any aspect of the right to cornunication: respect for and an effort to understand the other

parties concerned and their cultures; the search for e mode of international langw&e cmmnicatior, (as wes rccomended by a recent NGO symposium) ; participation of the receivere in the manapanent end operation of the media; techoloEica1 balance as among the various regions of the world, and others.

~~-8û/ComF. 8û6/6 - page #. .u

2

V. RIGHT TO A

62. At the world level,

10

nEALTNY AND ECOLOGICALLY BALANCED E2WIRûIiMENT

the environment is perceived a8 the natural and cultural heritage of different peoples, and QS <mt of the conmon heritage of mankind,

The problems of the environment stem from manifold economic, politiccl, social and technological causes. grcwth will probably b v e further repercuesions an the environment.

63.

affect the q-mlity of life.

Accordingly, world-wide evolution towards a new ty-pe of

The d m w e done to the environment, water and air pollution, the degradation of nature and of certain working and living conditions are all factors which

64.

the very existence of future generations. The general public nust be made aware of such dangers REI deforestation with no plans for reefforestation; destruction of the flore and fauna; the (lisposal in the natural environment of noxious metal and chemicel by-products which are not biodegradable and cannot be reinserted

In the interests of solidarity, the present-äw exploitation of natural resources should not be allowed to prejudice the balanced developnent and

into e, natural-cycle; and the dangers resulting from the use logical and nuclear weapons.

Environment and the hrzi>itat

65.

natural surrcwidínge . There is an urgent need for concerted acticn to improve and provide then with minimum sanit,my facilities, with

of chemical, bacterio-

rural habitat ions due regard for the

66. It i5 also necessary to put R stcp to un5ridled ur3anizaticrn which has become a dehwnizing influence, weekening ties of solidarity end creating solitude

and insecurity. Housing should be designed on the basis of aesthetic, functional, hunm and social considerations, and not commercial considerations, as et present.

Environment and working concitions

67.

a direct consequence of a policy based on m a x b profits at the expense of e c o n d c and social pagrees, resulting in the squrrndering of energ, l m d and raw materials. The often harmful role of multinational firms in this regad should be -pointed out.

The prcii;lems riou arising in this field are by no means the inevitable result of technological aiivance, industriel development and urbanization. They are

68.

and unhealthy working conditions ancl the recurrence of sicknesses associated with changes in the work enviroraent of'ten affect a sizeable number of workers. It is accordingly necessary to take steps to provide workers with better protection m d to improve their skills and development. the action an6 the denands of trade unions throughout the world have contributed considerably to the bpwvement of working and living conditions.

The quality of working conditions is a key aspect of the environnent. lolrge nuiriber cjf industrial accidents, the prsistence or worsening5 of onerous

The

The history of the recent past shows that

69. It is becoming increasingly clear today that to cther purposes ant! that some material and

scientific discoveries must te applied tcj solving

war industries must be converted human resources and certain environmental problems.

û'i%ER SOLIDPRIW IIIGRTS

VI, 'RE RIGHT To INTERNATIWAL nuMANITE.LBINJ ASSISTANCE

70.

in this eqpzdity.

W i n d is OiXE and all hiiunan beings are equal in dipity anfi rights simply because they m e mm3ers of the human race. The source Gf hman rights lies

l e duty of intemational solidarity

71.

in the existence of pro~mnmes of technical assistance, develcpnent a s s i s W e policiee and the wcrk of volunteers.

!That the peoples of the vorld m e bound by ties of solidarity which hTose F, duty ulxn then is today no longer open to question. Proof of this is found

72. This being so, the organization of international humaaitarian assistace depnds on the establishaent of a2prcpriate arranrJements not only by those

who 2rovide assistance but also by the leaders of the beneficiary countries. goes without sayins that such assistance must in no way constitute interference in the internal affairs cf the countries concerned.

The search for scliitionr

It

'73. International humanitarian assistance should be mcde available in some instances by an international instrumentality with grester capabilities for

providing aid in pmticularly desperate cases.

74. The efforts made hy the International Committee of 6he Red Cross (ICRC) to reaffirm and m21lf.y the Geneva Conventions and, in particulm, -4rticle 3 of

the General Provisions of the Four 1949 Conventions, constitute the first steps towards a solution. {This Article deals with the fate of vlctbs of conflicts uf a non-international chwaeter.

75. Without excluding other types of action, it may he suggested that, if ap-ro- priate, in the event of armed conflict non-international in chmacter a

mediator acceptable to all ywties or an Ombudsman 'De called upon to assist in the apglicat ion of the conventions.

76.

ives that have been =de in this direction have been extremely cautious, it would be worth lookins into soluticns that might be acceptable to all.

77.

such difficulties can '>e simounted only by appealing to public opinhn and that it wmld therefore 5e advisable - through iGtemathnnl orpmimtions and the media of social communication, particularly the press - to create a clinate of oDinion favoursble ti) the dissemination of these iCeaS and studies, inviting experks on international law to exemhe them thormghìy and pmsuadins fovernments to take then into acccmt with the crillaboraticn of all MGOs intereste? in this partidm Fieid. accordingly propose that reccgnition be accorded to a "right to internath@ humani tarian ass i stmce" . 78. This rizht has already been piven pertial recognition (the right to inter-

natiunal intellectual m d spiritual assistance was set forth in the 1949 1iiternztiona.l Geneva Conventicns of the Re6 Cross, but solely in cases of armed conf'ïict) and what is now stwgested is that it be extended to cover any situation of need as determined ?y the organized international ccmunity.

The problems raised by the question of national sovereignty are recosized by many intergovernmental and poverm@ntal authorities, but since the initiat-

Aware cf the difficulties that will be encountered in the process of obtain- ine reconnition for the right Lo international assistance, the NGOs feel that

We