Social Justice in an Open World: The Role of the United Nations
rents that were criss-crossing through the United Nations at the end of the twentieth century. In the words of former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development represented "a new social contract at the global level" reflecting "a sense of solidarity within nations and between nations".28The Secretary-General observed that "social problems, which once could be confined within borders, now spread across the world; once considered to be the exclusive responsibility of national Governments, these problems are now of global scale and require global attention". However, he also noted that "the potential for cooperation has never been greater. The East-West divide has disappeared and the North-South confrontation is gradually giving way to a more global approach. ... Not even the strongest economies today can escape the problems of social development, of poverty, unemployment and social disintegration. .. . True and lasting success in putting the Copenhagen agreements into action will require a coalition of all societal actors, working together towards the same objectives. Governments will need to act in partnership with experts, parliamentarians, grass-roots and religious organizations ... harnessing their talent and enthusiasm. Together we must continue our collective efforts to help shape a better common future for all nations, communities and people. The Copenhagen Declaration is replete with references to social justice and justice (unqualified in the latter case but generally reflecting the concept of just societies), to equity and equality, and to inequities and inequalities that must be redressed. Social development and social justice often appear together, in that order, as if to impress upon the reader that the second is an intrinsic component of the first. The idea is that in order for justice to prevail, societies must not be oriented simply towards the production and consumption of goods to achieve a better standard of living. They must eliminate extreme poverty and reduce relative poverty, and they must also pursue the goals of full employment, social integration (including all dimensions of equality between women and men), and health and education for all. Essentially, they "must respond more effectively to the material and spiritual needs of individuals, their families and the communities in which they live" (para. 3). An "ethical and spiritual vision for social development" emerges from the Copenhagen Declaration (para. 25); ethics and morality constitute an underlyingtheme. The notion of responsibility, for both Governmentsand citizens, appears frequently in the text. The need for creativity is mentioned, particularly in the context of the functions and approaches of education systems. Creativity is seen as relevant not only to artistic and academic pursuits, but also to entrepreneurship, to the functioning of a strong and efficient market economy, and to the development and implementation of appropriate public policies. In sum, as stated in the Programme of Action of