RES/14/13 Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights: follow-up to Human Rights Council resolution 4/1

GE.10-14803

Human Rights Council Fourteenth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council**

14/13 Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights: follow-up to Human Rights Council resolution 4/1

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the principles relating to economic, social and cultural rights enshrined in, inter alia, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

Mindful of recent significant developments and remaining challenges in the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights at the national, regional and international levels,

Reaffirming its resolutions 4/1 of 23 March 2007 and 10/1 of 25 March 2009 on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights, and recalling the resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights on the same topic,

Noting with interest the adoption by the General Assembly on 10 December 2008 of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the fact that thirty-two States have signed the Optional Protocol since it was opened for signature on 24 September 2009,

Recognizing that the early entry into force of the Optional Protocol through its ratification by ten States, will be an important tool to help to strengthen the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights worldwide,

** The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of

the Council on its fourteenth session (A/HRC/14/37), chap. I.

1. Calls upon all States to take all measures to implement Council resolution 4/1 with a view to improving the realization of economic, social and cultural rights;

2. Encourages all States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with a view to its early entry into force;

3. Notes the recent creation of two new mandates related to economic, social and cultural rights, namely the independent expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation and the independent expert in the field of cultural rights;

4. Notes with interest the work carried out by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to assist States parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Covenant;

5. Underlines the human rights principles of, inter alia, non-discrimination, human dignity, equity, equality, universality and participation, as affirmed in international human rights law and in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and emphasizes that the rights enunciated in the Covenant are to be realized in a non-discriminatory manner;

6. Notes with interest the work of other relevant treaty bodies and special procedures in the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights within their respective mandates;

7. Notes the intention of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to further strengthen its work in the field of economic, social and cultural rights at the country, regional and international levels;

8. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner, the treaty bodies, special procedures of the Council and other relevant United Nations bodies and mechanisms, specialized agencies or programmes, within their respective mandates, to continue their efforts to promote the realization of economic, social and cultural rights worldwide and to enhance their cooperation in this regard;

9. Takes note of the report of the High Commissioner on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights submitted to the Council pursuant to resolution 10/1;

10. Requests the High Commissioner to continue to prepare and submit to the Council an annual report on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights under agenda item 3;

11. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

36th meeting 18 June 2010

[Adopted without a vote.]