UN General Assembly
1986

In putting forth this proposal, we do not proceed from abstract and Utopian ideas, but from a clear understanding of the imperatives at this juncture of politics and history. In order to guarantee international peace and security, urgent and purposeful actions are needed to curb the arms race, to reduce the military arsenals and to achieve real disarmament. It is imperative to eliminate the existing hotbeds of tension in various parts of the world and not to allow new ones to flare up. It is also necessary to restructure the whole system of international economic relations on a just and democratic basis, to overoome the backwardness of developing countries and to halt their economic exploitation. A comprehensive system of international security includes, as an integral part, active co-operation in humanitarian matters in order to ensure full enjoyment of human rights, above all the right to life and the right to peace, with respect for the sovereignty of States. The adoption by the world Organization of an authoritative document containing the fundamental principles of such a system which would serve as a guidepost in securing the requisite material, political, legal, moral, psychological and other guarantees of security, is the order of the day.