RES/19/33 Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights

GE.A/HRC/19/25. 2-13124

Human Rights Council Nineteenth 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

19/33

Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights

The Human Rights Council,

Reaffirming its commitment to promoting international cooperation, as set forth in

the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Article 1, paragraph 3, as well as relevant

provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted at the World

Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993, for enhancing genuine cooperation among

Member States in the field of human rights,

Recalling the adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations Millennium

Declaration on 8 September 2000, and the renewed commitments to achieve the

Millennium Development Goals by their target date of 2015, as set out in the outcome

document adopted at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixty-fifth session of the

General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals,

Recalling also all decisions and resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights,

the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly on the enhancement of international

cooperation in the field of human rights, the latest of which being Council resolution 16/22

of 25 March 2011 and Assembly resolution 66/152 of 19 December 2011,

Recalling further the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination,

Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8

September 2001, and the Durban Review Conference, held in Geneva, from 20 to 24 April

2009, and their role in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human

rights,

 The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council on its nineteenth session (A/HRC/19/2), chap. I.

Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human

rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, including

the effective promotion and protection of all human rights,

Recognizing also that the promotion and protection of human rights should be based

on the principles of cooperation and genuine dialogue in all relevant forums, including in

the context of the universal periodic review, and be aimed at strengthening the capacity of

Member States to comply with their human rights obligations for the benefit of all human

beings,

Reiterating the role played by the universal periodic review as an important

mechanism in contributing to the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of

human rights,

Recalling Human Rights Council resolution 6/17 of 28 September 2008, in which

the Council requested the Secretary-General to establish a universal periodic review

voluntary trust fund to facilitate the participation of developing countries, particularly least

developing countries, in the universal periodic review mechanism, and to establish the

voluntary fund for financial and technical assistance, to be administered jointly with the

universal periodic review voluntary trust fund, in order to provide, in conjunction with

multilateral funding mechanisms, a source of financial and technical assistance to help

countries implement recommendations emanating from the universal periodic review in

consultation with, and with the consent of, the country concerned,

Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations in the field of

human rights could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation in

this field,

Emphasizing the need for further progress in the promotion and encouragement of

respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international

cooperation,

Underlining the fact that mutual understanding, dialogue, cooperation, transparency

and confidence-building are important elements in all activities for the promotion and

protection of human rights,

1. Reaffirms that it is one of the purposes of the United Nations and also the

primary responsibility of States to promote, protect and encourage respect for human rights

and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation;

2. Recognizes that, in addition to their separate responsibilities to their

individual societies, States have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of

human dignity, equality and equity at the global level;

3. Reaffirms that dialogue among cultures and civilizations facilitates the

promotion of a culture of tolerance and respect for diversity, and welcomes in this regard

the holding of conferences and meetings at the national, regional and international levels on

dialogue among civilizations;

4. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order

based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and

promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all

doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related

intolerance;

5. Reaffirms the importance of the enhancement of international cooperation for

the promotion and protection of human rights and for the achievement of the objectives of

the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

6. Considers that international cooperation in the field of human rights, in

conformity with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations and

international law, should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of

preventing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

7. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human

rights and fundamental freedoms should be guided by the principles of universality, non-

selectivity, objectivity and transparency, in a manner consistent with the purposes and

principles set out in the Charter;

8. Emphasizes the role of international cooperation in support of national efforts

and in raising the capacities of States in the field of human rights through, inter alia, the

enhancement of their cooperation with human rights mechanisms, including through the

provision of technical assistance, upon the request of and in accordance with the priorities

set by the States concerned;

9. Takes note of the note by the Secretariat, in which it indicated that, owing to

technical reasons, the first written update on the operations of the Voluntary Fund for

Participation in the Universal Periodic Review and the resources available to it had not

been submitted,1 and reiterates its request to the Office of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Human Rights Council with an annual

written update on the operations of the Voluntary Fund for Participation in the Universal

Periodic Review and the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance, and the

resources available to them;

10. Also takes note of the compilation prepared by the Office of the High

Commissioner of the views of States and relevant stakeholders on the contribution of the

Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance,A/HRC/19/50. in particular with regard to its

sustainability and accessibility, to the implementation of recommendations accepted by

States as part of their universal periodic review that require financial support;

11. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to seek to enhance dialogue

with representatives from non-traditional donor countries with a view to broaden the donor

base and replenish the resources available to both funds;

12. Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to make clear the process

by which States request assistance from both funds, and to process such requests in a timely

and transparent manner that adequately responds to the requesting States;

13. Urges States to continue to support both funds;

14. Calls upon States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations

to continue to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations for the enhancement of

understanding and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental

freedoms, and encourages non-governmental organizations to contribute actively to this

endeavour;

15. Urges States to take necessary measures to enhance bilateral, regional and

international cooperation aimed at addressing the adverse impact of consecutive and

compounded global crises, such as financial and economic crises, food crises, climate

change and natural disasters, on the full enjoyment of human rights;

16. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and

procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation,

understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights;

17. Takes note of the study of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee

on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights,A/HRC/19/74. prepared

pursuant to the mandate given by the Council, in its resolution 13/23 of 26 March 2010, to

the Advisory Committee to explore ways and means to enhance international cooperation in

the field of human rights;

18. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner:

(a) To organize, before the twenty-second session of the Human Rights Council,

from within existing resources, a seminar on the enhancement of international cooperation

in the field of human rights, with the participation of States, relevant United Nations

agencies, funds and programmes, and other stakeholders, including academic experts and

civil society, in addition to a member of the Advisory Committee. The seminar will build

upon the study prepared by the Advisory Committee, including the recommendations

contained therein;

(b) To prepare a report on the deliberations held during the seminar and to

submit it to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-second session;

19. Decides to continue its consideration of the matter in 2013, in accordance

with its annual programme of work.

55th meeting

23 March 2012

[Adopted without a vote.]