NQ DATE
11/ 149 24 October 1973
UITI,' D NATIONS DAY
On the occasion of United Nations Day, the Prime Minister
Minister for Foreign Affairs, M,' r Whitlam, re-affirmed Australia's
adherence to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and the
Importance Australia attaches to the work of the United Nations
Organisation. le recalled that the U11 Charter came into force on
24 October 1945 and on the anniversary of that event it was
appropriate for the individual member countries of the world community
to focus attention on the activities of the United Nations and its
Specialized Agencies.
Mr Whitlam said that for Australia, the United Nations
continued to be the most important international instrument in
man's quest for an international order based on peace and racial
equality, mutual respect and the elimination of poverty and
illiteracy. He emphasised that Australia had all along maintained
that the Security Council should be actively involved in finding
a way out of the tragic struggle in the Middle East.
Mr Whitlam pointed out that some of the most significant
a'chievements of the United Nations had been in the social and
economic fields. He noted in particular that the guiding principles
for United Nations activities 4n these areas ,; ere contained in the
Charter and in such instruments as the Universal Declaration of Human
R-. ghts which has been one of the most enlightened achievements of
the Organisation. On 10 December this year, the United Nations will
celebrate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration
ir 1948. Mr Whitlam said the work of the United Nations in these
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fields had been a source of encouragement for the Australian
Government in the promotion of economic and social justice in our own
society as well as internationally. The Government has an Pctive policy
of giving effect to all relevant international instruments concerned
with the protection and enhancement of human rights.
11I Whitlam said that the UN Charter is aimed at promoting
the dignity and well-being of the ordinary man and woman and is not
an abstract document concerned only with the political interests 0
and objectives of Governments. Australia's part~ icip~ ation in the
United Nations is intended to further our concern that all peoples
should have the right to determine and pursue freely their political,*
social, cultura~ l and economic development.
The Prime Minister noted that this year the United Nations
is emphasizing international development and that today has also
been designated as World Development Informiation day. Hie said that
this was an appropriate time to assess Australia's commitment to
the development goals of the United Nntions.
Mr Whitlam recalled that the Government intended to expand
present assistance programs in Asia, Africa and the Pacific, and
to work towards an official aid target of 0.7 per cent of gross0
domestic product by the nd of the present decade, in keeping with
the principal aim of the International Strategy for the Second
Development Decade.