UN Documentation: Development

In the 1960s, membership in the UN continued to expand and issues of development came to the attention of the international community through actions both within and outside of the UN. Some of the key UN resolutions, reports and events are highlighted.

As the introduction to the Secretary-General's report on Proposals for Action (E/3613 + Corr.2) states, 

"At the opening of the United Nations development decade, we are beginning to understand the real aims of development and the nature of the development process. We are learning that development concerns not only man's material needs, but also the improvement of the social conditions of his life and his broad human aspirations. Development is not just economic growth, it is growth plus change."

During this time, the practice of calling for international observances, such as international days, years and decades, grew as a practice to highlight development issues and concerns.

Decades:

• 1960-1970: First United Nations Development Decade: A/RES/1710 (XVI)

1960

• Second Conference on the Law of the Sea
  • Geneva, 17 Mar.-26 Apr. 1960
  • Report: A/CONF.19/8 (Vol. I & II) (60.V.6)

1961

• Dag Hammarskjöld died in office
• U Thant appointed Secretary-General 
• International Health and Medical Research Year: A/RES/1283 (XIII)
• World Food Programme (WFP) established
• Specialized Agency agreement with International Development Association (IDA, part of the World Bank Group)
• UN Conference on New Sources of Energy
  • Rome, 21-31 Aug. 1961
  • Report: E/3577/Rev.1-ST/ECA/72 (62.I.21)

1962

• Economic and social consequences of disarmament : report of the Secretary-General transmitting the study of his Consultative Group (E/3593/Rev.1; 62.IX.1)
• The United Nations Development Decade : Proposals for Action : Report of the Secretary-General (E/3613 + Corr.2; 62.II.B.2)

1963

• Joint Declaration of the Developing Countries made at the 18th session of the General Assembly, 11 November 1963
  • First action by the Group of 75 (became G-77) 
  • A/RES/1897 (XVIII) Annex

1964:

• UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) established
• 23 March - 16 June 1964, First session of UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD I)
  • E/CONF.46/141 (Vol. I): Final Act and Report  
  • E/CONF.46/141 (Vol. II): Policy Statements
  • G-77 Joint Declaration of 15 June 1964 included in the Final Act and Report, page 66-68
• Towards a New Trade Policy for Development : Report by the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development
  • Known as the Prebisch Report
  • E/CONF.46/3
  • See CEPAL's guide on Raul Prebisch for additional information

1965

• International Cooperation Year: A/RES/1907 (XVIII)
• World Population Conference (2nd)
  • Belgrade, 30 Aug.-10 Sept. 1965
  • Report
    • Vol. I: E/CONF.41/2 (66.XIII.5) Summary Report
    • Vol. II: E/CONF.41/3 (66.XIII.6) Fertility, Family Planning, Mortality
    • Vol. III: E/CONF.41/4 (66.XIII.7) Projections, Measurement of Population Trends
    • Vol. IV: E/CONF.41/5 (66.XIII.8) Migration, Urbanization, Economic Development
• Council Membership increases, in accordance with A/RES/1991 (XVIII)
  • UN Security Council: from 11 to 15
  • Economic and Social Council: from 18 to 27
• A/RES/2029 (XX): Consolidation of the Special Fund and the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance in a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• A/RES/2106 (XX): International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination
  • Procedural history for the ICERD

1966

• A/RES/2186 (XXI): Establishment of the United Nations Capital Development Fund
• A/RES/2200 (XXI): International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
  • Procedural history for the ICESCR
  • Procedural history for the ICCPR

1967

• International Tourist Year: A/RES/2148 (XXI)
• A/RES/2188 (XXI): General review of the programmes and activities in the economic, social, technical cooperation and related fields of the United Nations, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations Children's Fund and all other institutions and agencies related to the United Nations system

1968

• International Year for Human Rights: A/RES/2081 (XX)
• International Conference on Human Rights
  • Tehran, 22 Apr. - 13 May 1968
  • Final Act: A/CONF.32/41 (68.XIV.2)
  • Procedural History from the Audiovisual Library of International Law
• UNCTAD II
  • New Delhi, 1 Feb.-29 Mar. 1968

  • TD/97 Vol. I: Report and Annexes: TD/97 + Corr.1 + 3 (68.II.D.14) EN|FR|SP

  • TD/97 Vol. II: Commodity Problems and Policies (68.II.D.15)

1969

• Partners in development : Report of the Commission on International Development
  • Commission financed by the World Bank
  • Known as the Pearson Commission, after Chairman Lester B. Pearson
  • DHL call number: IBRD (02) C734 (English, French, Spanish)
• Study of the Capacity of the UN Development System
  • Called for by the Governing Council of UNDP
  • Known as the Capacity Study or Jackson Report
  • DP/5 Vol.I & Vol. II 
• A/RES/2411 (XXIII): International Development Strategy

1970

• International Education Year: A/RES/2306 (XXII), A/RES/2412 (XXIII)

These websites gather comprehensive historic information on a particular aspect of the UN and supplement this guide.