232. In accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Organization aims at the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principles of sovereign equality of all its Members, equal rights and self-determination of peoples and at achieving international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character. The role and functions of the United Nations in international economic and social cooperation, as defined in the Charter and as further elaborated in various international agreements, including in the outcomes of major United Nations conferences, range wide and deep and should be fulfilled.
233. Among the key characteristics of the United Nations are its universal membership and comprehensive mandate. The United Nations occupies a unique position for addressing the challenges of promoting development in the context of the globalization of the world economy and deepening interdependence among nations. It must play a central and more active and effective role in promoting international cooperation for development and providing policy guidance on global development issues. The responsibilities of the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields should be fulfilled, taking into account the importance of its activities in these spheres vis-à-vis those in other fields.
234. The United Nations constitutes a unique forum for building international consensus on global priorities for which there exists no substitute. Forging consensus and commitments through, inter alia, various international conferences, on international economic, social and related issues is one of the most important functions of the United Nations system. To this end, the capacity of the United Nations and its various bodies to undertake analytical and policy-oriented work in the economic and social fields must be fully utilized.
235. The United Nations is also singularly well placed to forge international consensus in the field of development through intergovernmental processes and instruments. Furthermore, the United Nations plays a prominent role in raising public awareness and in promoting and advocating internationally agreed principles and commitments, and their implementation, in this context. It also implements concrete programmes which aim to respond to developmental and humanitarian needs and to promote social justice and the protection of the environment through its activities at the field level and through the collection and dissemination of information.
236. The United Nations has the unique mandate to address issues of peace and development in an integrated manner. In addition, the United Nations has a vital role to play in mobilizing the international community to respond in a comprehensive and coordinated way to rehabilitation and reconstruction but also to longer-term development needs in connection with humanitarian emergency situations. At the same time, a balance should be ensured between these activities and the Organization's consideration of and actions on development issues.
237. The United Nations, in cooperation with the Bretton Woods institutions, other bodies of the United Nations system, including its specialized agencies, and the World Trade Organization (WTO), has a key role in fostering greater coherence, complementarity and coordination in economic policy-making at the global level, including, inter alia, macroeconomic policy issues, and in ensuring the principles of transparency and effective participation and representation, as well as the effective implementation of internationally agreed policies and goals. In this context, the respective competencies of these institutions should be taken into account.
238. An important feature of the United Nations is its operational activities for development in the field. Their fundamental characteristics should be, inter alia, their universal, voluntary, and grant nature, their neutrality and their multilateralism, as well as their ability to respond to the needs of the developing countries in a flexible manner. The United Nations development system should take into account the specific needs and requirements of the countries with economies in transition and other recipient countries. Furthermore, because of its mandate, the Organization is well suited to promote a balanced approach to development. Therefore, the challenge for the United Nations and its funds and programmes is to effectively support Governments, particularly those of the developing countries, in their efforts to address increasingly complex issues of development in an interdependent world.
239. The Organization will become more effective and relevant in responding to the needs of the Member States only as a result of ensuring adequate and predictable funding; high-quality performance in the field of international cooperation for development; transparency and full accountability to its Member States; revitalization of its institutional structures; avoidance of overlapping and duplication; and responsiveness to changing conditions and trends.
240. There is a need for a clear relationship between the policy work of the United Nations and its operational role.