AS WRITTEN

ADDRESS BY H.E. RENZO GHIOTTI AND H.E. LUCIANO CIAVATTA
CAPTAINS REGENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SAN MARINO

AT THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995


 Mr. Chairman,

 The Captains Regent of the Republic of San Marino wish to thank most 
sincerely the Danish Authorities for their pleasant hospitality and the 
excellent organization of this Summit and avail themselves of this 
opportunity to express their highest appreciation for the preparatory work 
carried out by the United Nations under the guidance of the Secretary-
General, His Excellency Bouthros-Ghali.

 The Captains Regent are also extremely pleased to contribute to this 
historic Summit, in which the representatives of almost all Countries of 
the world are stressing the importance of an equitable social development 
as necessary basis for economic growth. This implies that man and his 
various needs arising from the different realities have to be placed at the 
centre of our concerns.

 To ensure a constant consolidation of peace and security throughout the 
world, all States and the entire international community have to commit 
themselves to creating the conditions for the enjoyment and exercise of all 
fundamental human rights for all individuals, families, social groups and 
populations.

 Even if the tragic realities that many regions of the world are 
experiencing might legitimate a pessimistic outlook for our common future, 
the steps forward made in the consolidation of democracy and betterment of 
the economic, health and social conditions must generate hope and a renewed 
commitment.

 For some decades, the Republic of San Marino, plagued by poverty and 
large-scale migration up to the 50's, has been enjoying a situation of 
rather widespread well-being. At present, the Republic boasts a social 
fabric free from serious imbalances and inequalities, thanks also to the 
state interventions in the social field which, while supporting the entire 
population, give special attention to the most vulnerable groups.

 The majority of the citizens of San Marino, although faced with the small 
and big problems affecting the present European postindustrial society, 
have preserved the principle of solidarity as the most important of the 
values they inherited from past generations and from the historic 
traditions of our country.

 We share the convinction that solidarity has always been and still is the 
right tool to combat egoism, the marginalization of the weakest and most 
disadvantaged individuals, the discrimination against women, the isolation 
of older persons and the indifference towards our fellow-men.

 Solidarity must be both an individual and a collective commitment; it is a 
right and a duty for all men, families, social groups and States, as well 
as for the international community gathered in Copenhagen today and 
resolved to adopt a Declaration that the Republic of San Marino supports 
with sincere determination.

 Considering the present social situation, one of the goals to be achieved 
is the real equality between women and men, the absence of which represents 
for any society an offence to human dignity.

 Even in the most advanced societies, women are still at a disadvantage in 
comparison with men; they carry the heaviest burden of economic crises and 
unemployment, suffer from social and cultural prejudices and are often left 
alone in coping with family responsibilities.

 We have to commit ourselves to adopting legislations, in line with the 
already enforced international provisions, which support gender equity and 
equality and, subsequently, to monitoring their full implementation.

 The increase in life expectancy recorded in the European countries, while 
encouraging, has led to a higher proportion of elderly people in our 
societies and, consequently, to a series of economic problems, among 
others, which must not be ignored.

 The high number of elderly people living alone, excluded from working 
activities, often ill and separated from their children calls for the 
intervention of public institutions and voluntary associations and requires 
the participation of all for their real integration in social life. We 
should strive to favour the permanence of elderly people within their 
families and, when this is not possible, to grant them the possibility of 
being assisted in appropriate institutions.

 Special attention has to be given to children and adolescents, who are 
often the most affected by the problems threatening our societies.

 It is unacceptable that in some regions of the world, on the threshold of 
the third millennium, hunger and disease continue to be the major causes of 
high infant mortality, that children, deprived of their right to childhood, 
still fall pray to labour exploitation or, even worse, to prostitution.

 Young people are also the principal victims of unemployment: a problem 
which has assumed world-wide proportions and affects all social groups. 
Even those who intend and are in a position to conclude their university 
education are faced with a very hard reality, to the extent that obtaining 
a job may become a real dramatic experience.

 Among the most vulnerable individuals in our western societies are the 
immigrants and the members of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. 
These are the victims of the manifestations of intolerance, racism and 
xenophobia which cause grave concern. In addressing these worrying 
phenomena, we have not only to identify and punish the offenders but also 
use our best endeavours to prevent such acts.

 If a broadly-based equitable social development has to be attained, 
solidarity and tolerance must become a collective commitment and part of 
our common cultural heritage.

 The world community has the responsibility to ensure that future 
generations inherit a world in which the gap between rich and poor 
countries is at least reduced and the social imbalances within the states 
mitigated. In other words, a world offering a better quality of life for 
all.

 The Captains Regent of the Republic of San Marino are convinced that the 
Copenhagen Summit will be a significant step forward in this direction.