RES/18/13 The role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights

GE.A/HRC/18/24. 1-16675

Human Rights Council Eighteenth 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*

18/13 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 Human

Rights Council,

Recalling the role of the Human Rights Council in the prevention of human rights

violations through cooperation and dialogue, in accordance with General Assembly

resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006,

Reaffirming 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 Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of 18 June 2007, and 16/21

of 25 March 2011,

Recalling also Human Rights Council resolution 14/5 of 17 June 2010,

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

the Council on its eighteenth session (A/HRC/18/2), chap. I.

1. Affirms the importance of effective preventive measures as a part of overall

strategies for the promotion and protection of all human rights;

2. 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;

3. Stresses that States should promote supportive and enabling environments for

the prevention of human rights violations, including, inter alia, by:

(a) Considering ratifying international human rights conventions and covenants;

(b) Fully implementing international human rights conventions and covenants to

which they are party;

(c) Developing good governance, democratic systems, the rule of law and

accountability;

(d) Adopting policies to ensure the enjoyment of all human rights;

(e) Addressing all forms of discrimination, as well as factors, inter alia,

inequality and poverty, that may lead to situations in which human rights violations are

committed;

(f) Promoting a free and active civil society;

(g) Promoting freedom of expression;

(h) Ensuring, where they exist, strong and independent national human rights

institutions, in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions

for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles);

(i) Promoting human rights education and training, in particular for State actors;

(j) Ensuring an independent and functioning judiciary;

(k) Fighting corruption;

4. 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 such institutions, where they exist, to enable them to fulfil this role effectively

in accordance with the Paris Principles;

5. Acknowledges that the Human Rights Council shall, inter alia, contribute,

through dialogue and cooperation, to the prevention of human rights violations and respond

promptly to human rights emergencies;

6. Welcomes the submission of the report of the Office of the United Nations

High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Workshop on the Role of Prevention in the

Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,1 and takes note of the conclusions and

recommendations therein;

7. Stresses the need to further develop and raise awareness of the concept of

prevention of human rights violations in order to encourage its reflection in relevant

policies and strategies at the national, regional and international levels;

8. Recognizes the need for further research to assist States, at their request, and

other stakeholders to understand and mainstream the role of prevention into the promotion

and protection of human rights;

9. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare, in close

cooperation with the mandate holders of the Human Rights Council, within existing

resources, a practical toolkit to support States and other stakeholders in understanding the

role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights, and to present the

toolkit to the Council at its twenty-second session;

10. Decides to continue consideration of the matter under the same agenda item,

in conformity with its annual programme of work.

36th meeting

29 September 2011

[Adopted without a vote.]