RES/25/8 The role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights

GE.General Assembly resolution 60/1. 4-13407

*1413407*

Human Rights Council Twenty-fifth 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

25/8. The role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement of all peoples and all nations, and also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which affirmed that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated,

Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 7/11 of 27 March 2008 and 19/20 of 23 March 2012, and all other resolutions relevant to the role of good governance in the promotion of human rights, as well as the United Nations Millennium Declaration,

Welcoming the resolve of States parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and the commitment made by all States in the 2005 World Summit Outcome1 to make the fight against corruption a priority at all levels, and noting with interest the provisions of the Convention that have led to the development of a mechanism among States parties to review their progress in combating corruption,

Noting the ongoing work by several important initiatives towards the deepening of good governance practices at the national, regional and international levels,

Recognizing the importance of a conducive environment, at both the national and international levels, for the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and of the mutually reinforcing relationship between good governance and human rights,

Recognizing also that transparent, responsible, accountable, open and participatory government, responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people, is the foundation on

which good governance rests, and that such a foundation is one of the indispensable conditions for the full realization of human rights, including the right to development,

Stressing that good governance at the national and international levels is essential for sustained economic growth, sustainable development and the eradication of poverty and hunger and, in this context, reaffirming the Millennium Declaration, the 2005 World Summit Outcome and the outcome of the 2010 High-level Summit on the Millennium Development Goals,

Recognizing the increasing awareness in the international community of the detrimental impact of widespread corruption on human rights through both the weakening of institutions and the erosion of public trust in government, as well as through the impairment of the ability of Governments to fulfil all their human rights obligations,

Realizing that the fight against corruption at all levels plays an important role in the promotion and protection of human rights and in the process of creating an environment conducive to their full enjoyment,

Recognizing that effective anti-corruption measures and the protection of human rights, including by strengthening transparency and accountability in government, are mutually reinforcing,

Noting with interest the outcome of the third, fourth and fifth sessions of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, held in Doha in 2009, in Marrakech, Morocco, in 2011, and in Panama City, in 2013,

Stressing the importance of policy coherence and coordination in intergovernmental processes in the area of the promotion and protection of human rights, on the one hand, and of anti-corruption initiatives, on the other,

Stressing also the importance of developing and implementing national legislation on the promotion of access to information and of strengthening the administration of justice, transparency, accountability and good governance at all levels,

Reaffirming the right of every citizen to have access, in general terms of equality, to public service in his/her country as enshrined in article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 25 (c) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

Recognizing that a professional, accountable and transparent public service upholding the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity is one of the essential components of good governance,

Recognizing also that the knowledge, training and awareness of public servants, as well as the promotion of a human rights culture within the public service, play a vital role in promoting respect for and the realization of human rights in society,

1. Welcomes the publication of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the role of the public service as an essential component of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights,A/HRC/25/27. and takes note with interest of her conclusions and recommendations;

2. Also welcomes the growing trend towards the universal ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and encourages States that have not yet ratified this important international instrument to consider doing so;

3. Underlines that the primary responsibility lies with States at the national level, including through their constitutional provisions and other enabling legislation, consistent with their international obligations, to ensure that professional public services uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, and are predicated on good governance principles, including impartiality, rule of law, transparency, accountability and combating corruption, and stresses the importance of human rights training and education in this regard;

4. Invites the Secretary-General to ensure the upholding of the integrity of the United Nations system in its service of humanity, and improved coordination between United Nations agencies, programmes and funds, with a view to ensuring that the United Nations system continues to improve the quality of its work at all levels, including in support of objectives and priorities at the national level;

5. Requests the High Commissioner to organize, at the thirtieth session of the Human Rights Council, a panel discussion on a human rights-based approach to good governance in the public service, and to liaise with States, relevant United Nations bodies, agencies and programmes, treaty bodies, special procedures and regional human rights mechanisms, as well as with civil society, including non-governmental organizations, and national human rights institutions, with a view to ensuring their contribution to the panel discussion;

6. Also requests the High Commissioner to prepare a report on the panel discussion in the form of a summary report, and to present it to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-first session.

54th meeting 27 March 2014

[Adopted without a vote.]