Social Justice in an Open World: The Role of the United Nations
Annex l
Commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development1* Commitment 1 We commit ourselves to creating an economic, political, social, cultural and legal environment that will enable people to achieve social development. To this end, at the national level, we will: Provide a stable legal framework ... which includes and promotes equality and equity between women and men, full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, access to justice, the elimination of all forms of discrimination, transparent and accountable governance and administration and the encouragement of partnershipwith free and representative organizations of the civil society; Create an enabling economic environment aimed at promoting more equitable access for all to income, resources and social services; Reinforce, as appropriate, the means and capacities for people to participate in the formulation and implementation of social and economic policies and programmes .. . ; Reinforce peace by promoting tolerance, non-violence and respect for diversity, and by settling disputes by peaceful means; Promote dynamic, open, free markets, while recognizing the need to intervene in markets, to the extent necessary, to prevent or counteract market failure, promote stability and long-term investment, [and] ensure fair competition and ethical conduct ... ; Reaffirm, promote and strive to ensure the realization of the rights set out in relevant international instruments and declarations, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . .. ; Create the comprehensive conditions to allow for the voluntary repatriation of refugees in safety and dignity to their countries of origin, and the voluntary and safe return of internally displaced persons to their places of origin and their smooth reintegration into their societies.
'This excerpt is taken from part C of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development (available from http:/www. un.org/esa/socdev/wssd/agreementsA.
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