RES/30/24 National policies and human rights

Human Rights Council Thirtieth session

Agenda item 10

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 2 October 2015

30/24. National policies and human rights

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Guided also by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard

of achievement for all peoples and all nations,

Recalling all relevant international human rights treaties, including the International

Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social

and Cultural Rights,

Recalling also its resolutions 23/19 of 23 June 2013 and 27/26 of 26 September

2014 on national policies and human rights,

Recalling further that States emphasized in the Vienna Declaration and Programme

of Action and the 2005 World Summit Outcome1 that they bear the responsibility, in

conformity with the Charter, to develop and encourage respect for human rights and

fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind such as race, colour, sex,

language, disability, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property,

birth or other status,

Bearing in mind that States should integrate their obligations and commitments

under international human rights law into their national legislation in order to ensure that

State action at the national level is effectively directed towards the promotion and

protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Noting that State action aimed at the promotion, protection and full realization of

human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national level is most effective when fully

integrated into national policies based on a human rights perspective,

Reaffirming that all human rights are inalienable, universal, indivisible,

interdependent and interrelated and that, therefore, national policies aimed at their

promotion and protection will also have a mutually reinforcing effect on their realization,

1 General Assembly resolution 60/1.

United Nations A/HRC/RES/30/24

General Assembly

Recognizing that each State has the right to choose the framework that is best suited

to its particular needs at the national level,

Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation to support States in the

process of integrating their obligations and commitments under international human rights

law into national legislation, and drawing up and carrying out national policies aimed at the

full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recognizing the important and constructive role that national human rights

institutions and civil society can play in the process of drawing up and assessing the impact

of national policies aimed at the promotion, protection and full realization of human rights

and fundamental freedoms,

Bearing in mind that the technical cooperation offered by the Office of the United

Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, upon the request of and in close

cooperation with States, with the aim of integrating human rights into national policies and

programmes can be a useful vehicle to support States’ compliance with their human rights

obligations and their follow-up to recommendations made by United Nations human rights

mechanisms,

Affirming that the inclusive participation of all sectors of society in debating and

developing policies and programmes affecting the population is critical for the success of

such processes,

Recognizing that public policies planned and formulated through participatory and

accessible approaches are a key factor in promoting respect for and safeguarding the

realization of human rights,

1. Welcomes the panel discussion on the issue of national policies and human

rights, with a particular focus on the findings of the report of the Office of the United

Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on technical assistance and capacity-

building options for integrating human rights into national policies,A/HRC/27/41. held by the Human

Rights Council at its twenty-eighth session;

2. Takes note with appreciation of the summary report of the Office of the High

Commissioner of the panel discussion,A/HRC/30/28. and of the conclusions and recommendations

contained therein;

3. Acknowledges the efforts made by the Office of the High Commissioner in

both technical assistance and capacity-building, upon request and in close cooperation with

States, to align laws, policies, institutions and practices with their human rights obligations

and commitments, to implement accepted universal periodic review recommendations and

to follow up on recommendations made by other United Nations human rights mechanisms;

4. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to enhance further the

efforts aimed at supporting these measures in order that national policies have a positive

impact on the enjoyment of human rights;

5. Invites relevant United Nations bodies, agencies, funds and programmes and

other relevant stakeholders to cooperate with States in providing technical assistance, upon

request, of the States concerned, with the aim of assisting them in integrating human rights

into national policies and programmes so that national policies contribute to the enjoyment

of human rights;

6. Recommends that States integrate into their national policies a human rights

perspective aimed at the promotion, protection and full realization of human rights and

fundamental freedoms, and take into consideration the views of civil society in the process;

7. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner:

(a) To organize, prior to the thirty-second session of the Human Rights Council,

an expert workshop to discuss effective, inclusive and participatory mechanisms and

methodologies to mainstream human rights in the formulation and implementation of

public policies, and to invite States, relevant United Nations bodies, funds and

programmes, intergovernmental organizations, treaty bodies, special procedures, regional

human rights mechanisms, civil society organizations, academia, national human rights

institutions and other relevant stakeholders to participate actively in the workshop;

(b) To prepare a summary report on the above-mentioned workshop, including

any recommendations stemming therefrom, and to submit it to the Human Rights Council

at its thirty-third session;

8. Decides to remain seized of this issue.

42nd meeting

2 October 2015

[Adopted without a vote.]