AAS 80 - La Santa Sede

828 Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale
necessarily pass through the respect for each human being, through
the définition and récognition of the basic human rights, and through
the respect for the inalienable rights of individuáis and of the com­
munities of peoples. The adoption of the Universal Déclaration
was followed over the years by many Déclarations and Conventions
on extremely important aspects of human rights, in favor of women,
of children, of handicapped persons, of equality between races, and
especially the two international covenants on economie, social and
cultural rights and on civil and politicai rights, together with an
optional Protocol. In 1981, the General Assembly also adopted a
solemn Déclaration against every form of religious intolérance. The
United Nations must also be given proper credit for having set up
the Commission for Human Rights as a monitoring organ to follow
carefully the positive and negative developments in this important
fìeld. The commitment of the United Nations to human rights goes
hand in hand with its commitment to peace. Expérience has taught
that disrespect or lack of respect for human rights, oppression of
the weak, discrimination because of sex, color, origin, race or religion
create conflict and jeopardize peace. Here again, what concerns
human beings in any one place affeets ali human beings everywhere.
Through the différent specialized institutions and programs, the
United Nations develops its commitment to a more just and équitable
international society. This work and commitment include the struggle
against diseases and illiteracy; action undertaken for the advancement
of women ; protecting the rights of children and the handicapped ;
the development of international law ; the peaeeful use of atomic
energy; the protection and préservation of famous monuments which
belong to the cultural patrimony of humanity; the defense of the
environment; the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and under-
development; and the defense of the homeless.
8. The existence and activities of the United Nations Organization,
its achievements and also its failures, underline in a drama-tic way
the need for reinforcing international authority at the service of the
global common good. It is already a sign of great progress that the
importance of global social issues and the need for effectively promot-
ing peace are becoming more universally recognized. It is also a sign
o f hope that an international Organization, f or med by the great
majority of States, tries, within the limited means at its disposai,