RES/30/25 Promoting international cooperation to support national human rights follow-up systems and processes

Human Rights Council Thirtieth session

Agenda item 10

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 2 October 2015

30/25. Promoting international cooperation to support national

human rights follow-up systems and processes

The Human Rights Council,

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

Recalling General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, in which the

Assembly established the Human Rights Council, and reaffirming that the work of the

Council shall be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-

selectivity, constructive international dialogue and cooperation with a view to enhancing

the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil political, economic, social and

cultural rights, including the right to development,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 65/281 of 17 June 2011 and Human

Rights Council resolutions 5/1 of 18 June 2007 and 16/21 of 25 March 2011,

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,

Considering that international cooperation, in conformity with the purposes and

principles set out in the Charter and international law, provide an effective and practical

contribution to preventing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Affirming that technical cooperation should be an inclusive exercise that engages

and involves all national stakeholders, including government agencies and civil society, at

all stages,

Recognizing the important, valuable and mutually reinforcing role and contribution

of all human rights mechanisms from the international and regional human rights systems

for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recognizing also the importance and added value of technical assistance and

capacity-building provided in consultation with, and with the consent of, the States

concerned to ensure follow-up to and the effective implementation of their respective

international human rights obligations and commitments,

Recognizing further 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 States to implement their respective human rights obligations and

commitments,

Emphasizing the importance of the universal periodic review as a mechanism based

on cooperation and constructive dialogue with the objective of, inter alia, improving the

situation of human rights on the ground and promoting the fulfilment of the human rights

obligations and commitments undertaken by States,

Noting that the effectiveness of the universal periodic review, as a cooperative

mechanism, depends on the progress achieved by the State concerned, and as appropriate

by other relevant stakeholders in the implementation of accepted recommendations,

Recognizing the important and constructive role played by parliaments, national

human rights institutions, civil society and other relevant stakeholders in the universal

periodic review mechanism, and encouraging their continued and unhindered participation

in and contribution to national human rights follow-up systems and processes,

Welcoming the technical assistance and capacity-building provided by the Office of

the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in consultation with, and with

the consent of, the State concerned, particularly with a view to supporting the establishment

and the strengthening of national human rights follow-up systems and processes,

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 to implement recommendations emanating from the universal periodic review in

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

Also recalling that 2016 will mark the tenth anniversary of the Human Rights

Council and the last session of the second cycle of the Working Group on the Universal

Periodic Review,

1. Encourages States to establish and strengthen national human rights follow-

up systems and processes and to seek, as needed, technical assistance and capacity-

building, and to share experiences and good practices to that end;

2. Invites States to gradually increase their voluntary contributions to the United

Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights, the

Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance for the Implementation of the

Universal Periodic Review and other relevant trust funds, in order to allow States, upon

request and in accordance with their priorities, to establish or strengthen their respective

national human rights follow-up systems and processes;

3. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to

continue to provide technical assistance and capacity-building, upon request of and in

accordance with the priorities set by the States concerned, on the establishment and the

strengthening of national follow-up systems and processes;

4. Also requests the High Commissioner to organize an intersessional half-day

panel discussion, taking advantage of existing capacities, during the twenty-sixth session of

the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, to share experiences and good

practices in the establishment and strengthening of national human rights follow-up

systems, including the role of international cooperation in this regard, and to prepare a

summary report thereon and to submit it to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fourth

session;

5. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

42nd meeting

2 October 2015

[Adopted without a vote.]