RES/14/5 The role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights

GE.10-14562

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*

14/5 The role of prevention in the promotion and protection of

human rights

The Human Rights Council,

Reaffirming the obligation of States under the Charter of the United Nations to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Reaffirming also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other human rights instruments, as well as the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Council,

Reaffirming further that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that all human rights must be treated in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis,

Expressing concern about continued human rights violations around the world,

Recalling the role of the Council in the prevention of human rights violations through cooperation and dialogue, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006,

1. Recognizes that States have the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of all human rights, including the prevention of human rights violations, and that this responsibility involves all branches of the State;

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

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

2. Stresses that States should promote supportive and enabling environments for the prevention of human rights violations;

3. Welcomes the role of national human rights institutions in contributing to the prevention of human rights violations, and encourages States to strengthen the mandate and capacity of national human rights institutions, where they exist, as necessary, to enable them to fulfil this role effectively in accordance with the Paris Principles;

4. Acknowledges that the Council shall, inter alia, contribute, through enhanced dialogue and cooperation, to the prevention of human rights violations and respond promptly to human rights emergencies;

5. Stresses the importance of effective preventive measures as part of overall strategies for the promotion and protection of all human rights;

6. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to consult States, national human rights institutions, civil society and other relevant stakeholders, using a questionnaire format, on the conceptual and practical dimensions of prevention with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights, and to compile and publish the responses on the website of the Office;

7. Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to convene a workshop, within existing resources, based on the above-mentioned consultations, on the role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights, with a view to contributing to further discussion on the issue, and to present a summary of the workshop proceedings to the Council at its eighteenth session;

8. Decides to continue consideration of the matter under the same agenda item in conformity with its annual programme of work.

34th meeting 17 June 2010

[Adopted without a vote]