AS WRITTEN







BAHA'I INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 
Office of the Environment 
866United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York NY 10017 USA
Telephone: 212-756-3S00 Fax: 212-756-3573,' 3566 '



 THE PROSPERITY OF HUMANKIND

 Mr Chairperson, distinguished delegates and representatives, the Bahà’i 
International Community welcomes the opportunity to address the Plenary of 
the World Summit for Social Development on the topic of the Prosperity of 
Humankind.

 The task of creating a global development strategy that will promote the 
spiritual and material well-being of all the planet's inhabitants 
constitutes a challenge to reshape fundamentally the institutions of 
society. In the crafting and implementation of such a strategy, the 
following concepts are of critical importance.

 - Development policy and programs must be based on an unconditioned 
recognition of the oneness of humankind, a commitment to justice as the 
organizing principle of society, and a determination to exploit to the 
utmost the possibilities that a systematic dialogue between the scientific 
and religious genius of the race can bring to the building of human 
capacity.

 - The development process must involve the generality of humankind, 
members of governing institutions at all levels, persons serving in 
agencies of international coordination, scientists and social thinkers, all 
those endowed with artistic talents or with access to the media, and 
leaders of non-governmental organizations.

 - The establishment of full equality between women and men, in all 
departments of life and at every level of society, must be a primary aim.

 - While acknowledging the wide differences of individual capacity, a major 
goal must be to make it possible for all of the earth's inhabitants to 
approach on an equal basis the processes of science and technology.

 - At the heart of development must be a consultative process in which the 
individual participants strive to transcend their respective points of 
view, in order to function as members of a body with its own interests and 
goals.

 - Spiritual issues facing humanity must be central. For the vast majority 
of the world's population, the idea that human nature has a spiritual 
dimension -- indeed that its fundamental identity is spiritual -- is a 
truth requiring no demonstration.

 - A new "work ethic," based on a spirit of service to humanity, will be 
essential. To that end, training that can make it possible for the earth's 
inhabitants to participate in the production of wealth must be illumined by 
the spiritual insight that service to humankind is the purpose of both 
individual life and social organization.

 - New economic models will be required, shaped by insights that arise from 
a sympathetic understanding of shared experience, from viewing human beings 
in relation to others, and from a recognition of the centrality to social 
well-being of the role of the family and the community.- 

The principle of the oneness of humanity must be wholeheartedly embraced by 
those in whose hands the responsibility for decision-making rests, and its 
related tenets -including the concept of world citizenship -- must be 
propagated through both educational systems and the media.

 - As the integration of humanity gains momentum, those who are selected to 
take collective decisions on behalf of society, will increasingly have to 
see all their efforts in a global perspective. Not only at the national, 
but also at the local level, the elected governors of human affairs should, 
in Bahà’u’llàh’s view, consider themselves responsible for the welfare of 
all of humankind.

 - It will be necessary to create laws and institutions that are universal 
in both character and authority. Ultimately, the restructuring or 
transformation of the United Nations system will lead to the establishment 
of a world federation of nations with its own legislative, judicial and 
executive bodies.

 Mr Chairperson, distinguished delegates and representatives, these themes 
and others relevant to a global development strategy are elaborated in the 
concept paper entitled, The Prosperity of Humankind. You may have already 
received this document from one of the more than 200 Bahà’is attending 
these twin historic events, or you may have seen it on the document tables 
throughout Bella Centre and the NGO Forum '95. We strongly urge you to 
obtain a copy and to give the ideas it contains serious consideration.

 Over a century ago, Baha'u'llah issued to the peoples of the world an 
appeal which is of particular significance to all of us gathered here today 
at the World Summit for Social Development and the NGO Forum: "Be anxiously 
concerned," He urged, "with the needs of the age ye live in, and center 
your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements." "Be united in 
counsel, be one in thought."

 Thank you.