United Nations Charter on International, Economic and Social Cooperation

With the purpose of creating the conditions of stability and well-being necessary for peaceful and friendly relations between nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, the Organization will promote:

Higher standards of living, permanent work for all, and conditions of economic and social progress and development.

The solution of international problems of an economic, social and health nature, and other related problems; and international cooperation in the cultural and educational order; and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction based on race, sex, language or religion, and the effectiveness of such rights and freedoms.

All Members undertake to take measures jointly or separately, in cooperation with the Organization, for the achievement of the stated purposes.

The different specialized organizations established by intergovernmental agreements, which have broad international powers defined in their statutes, and relating to matters of an economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and other related nature, will be linked to the Organization. Such specialized agencies thus linked to the Organization will hereinafter be referred to as "the specialized agencies."

The Organization will make recommendations in order to coordinate the standards of action and the activities of the specialized agencies.

The Organization will initiate, when appropriate, negotiations between the interested States to create the new specialized organizations that may be necessary to achieve the stated purposes.

Responsibility for the performance of the aforementioned functions of the Organization will correspond to the General Assembly and, under its authority, to the Economic and Social Council, which will have for this purpose