UN General Assembly
1979

40. Despite the considerable efforts that have been, and are still being, made by the United Nations to achieve international peace and security—peace based on justice and Security based on the right of peoples to self-determination and to life and to freedom—one glance at the present international situation clearly shows us that we are still far from realizing the purposes for which this Organization was established or the objectives of humanity such as the achievement of peace, affluence and justice. Far too many peoples are still denied their right to self-determination and far too many peoples are still dominated by racist regimes and colonialism. The colonialist Powers are still clinging to their world privileges and monopolies, continuing in that way to exploit people, control their destinies and prevent them from exercising their national rights. The time has come to embark on a serious assessment of the international situation and of the work of this Organization over the 34 years that have passed since its inception. There can be no doubt that any objective assessment of the role of the United Nations, what it can do and what can be done to strengthen its various bodies and organs to make it more effective would require a revision of its Charter in such a way as to achieve equality and justice among its Members irrespective of their economic, political or military might.