UN General Assembly
1994

development programmes. If the international community does not have the political will to deal effectively with the crises occurring in so many economies, the world will continue to lack stability and will remain vulnerable to upheavals and setbacks that could undermine the foundations of the future. 7 In the context of the recently held International Conference on Population and Development and the forthcoming Fourth World Conference on Women, a World Summit for Social Development is therefore a timely initiative as it will provide an opportunity to embark on an in-depth analysis of human development in all its aspects. These international meetings should afford all of us the opportunity to address in an integrated manner the issues of poverty, unemployment and social integration. In Latin America and the Caribbean various encouraging initiatives have been taken to deal effectively with the imperatives of economic and social development and to enhance the capability of the countries of the region to respond to the pressing challenges ahead. Joint efforts aimed at the strengthening of regional integration and cooperation have been made.