RES/6/3 Human rights and international solidarity

Human Rights Council

Resolution 6/3. Human rights and international solidarity

The Human Rights Council,

Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/55 of 20 April 2005,

and taking note of the report presented to the Council by the independent expert on

human rights and international solidarity (A/HRC/4/8),

Recalling also the resolutions 5/1 “Institution-building of the United Nations

Human Rights Council” and 5/2 “Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate-

holders of the Human Rights Council” of 18 June 2007 and stressing that the

mandate-holder shall discharge his/her duties in accordance with these resolutions and

their annexes,

Underlining that the processes of promoting and protecting human rights

should be conducted in conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of

the United Nations and international law,

Recalling the importance, in the view to the promotion and protection of

international solidarity, of the declarations and programmes of action of international

conferences such as the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna in 1993,

the International Conference on Financing for Development held in Monterrey in

2002, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio

in 1992 , the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in

2002, and the World Conference on the Disaster Reduction held in Kobe in 2005,

Taking note with appreciation of the initiatives of the International Action

against Hunger and Poverty, particularly in the field of innovative financial

mechanisms,

Recalling that at the World Conference on Human Rights, States pledged to

cooperate with each other in ensuring development and eliminating obstacles to

development, and stressed that the international community should promote effective

international cooperation for the realization of the right to development and the

elimination of obstacles to development,

Reaffirming that article 4 of the Declaration on the Right to Development

states that sustained action is required to promote more rapid development of

developing countries and, as a complement to the efforts of developing countries,

effective international cooperation is essential in providing these countries with

appropriate means and facilities to foster their comprehensive development,

Taking into account that article 2 of the International Covenant on Economic,

Social and Cultural Rights states that each State party to the Covenant undertakes to

take steps, individually and through international assistance and cooperation,

especially economic and technical, to the maximum of its available resources, with a

view to achieving progressively the full realization of the rights recognized in the

Covenant by all appropriate means, including particularly the adoption of legislative

measures,

Persuaded that sustainable development can be promoted by peaceful

coexistence, friendly relations and cooperation among States with different social,

economic or political systems,

Reaffirming that the widening gap between the economically developed and

developing countries is unsustainable and that it impedes the realization of human

rights in the international community, and makes it all the more imperative for every

nation, according to its capacities, to make the maximum possible effort to close this

gap,

Expressing concern at the fact that the immense benefits resulting from the

process of globalization and economic interdependence have not reached all countries,

communities and individuals, and at the increasing marginalization from their benefits

of several countries, particularly the least developed and the African countries,

Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters,

diseases and agricultural pests and their increasing impact in recent years, which have

resulted in a massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and

environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world, in

particular in developing countries,

Reaffirming the crucial importance of increasing the resources allocated for

official development assistance, and recalling the pledge of the industrialized

countries to allocate 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official

development assistance, and recognizing the need for new and additional resources to

finance the development programmes of developing countries,

Determined to take new steps forward in the commitment of the international

community with a view to achieving substantial progress in human rights endeavours

by an increased and sustained effort of international cooperation and solidarity,

Asserting the necessity for establishing new, equitable and global links of

partnership and intra-generational solidarity, and for promoting inter-generational

solidarity for the perpetuation of humankind,

Recognizing that the attention paid to the importance of international solidarity

as a vital component of the efforts of developing countries towards the realization of

the right to development of their peoples and the promotion of the full enjoyment of

economic, social and cultural rights by everyone has been insufficient,

Resolved to strive to ensure that the present generations are fully aware of their

responsibilities towards future generations, and that a better world is possible for the

present and future generations,

1. Reaffirms the recognition set forth in the declaration adopted by the

Heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations of

the fundamental value of solidarity to international relations in the twenty-first

century, in stating that global challenges must be managed in a way that distributes

costs and burdens fairly, in accordance with basic principles of equity and social

justice, and that those who suffer, or who benefit least, deserve help from those who

benefit most;

2. Expresses its determination to contribute towards the solution of

current world problems through increased international cooperation, to create such

conditions as will ensure that the needs and interests of future generations are not

jeopardized by the burden of the past, and to hand on a better world to future

generations;

3. Urges the international community to consider urgently concrete

measures to promote and consolidate international assistance to developing countries

in their endeavours for development and for the promotion of conditions that make

possible the full realization of all human rights;

4. Recognizes that the so-called “third-generation rights” closely

interrelated to the fundamental value of solidarity need further progressive

development within the United Nations human rights machinery in order to be able to

respond to the increasing challenges of international cooperation in this field;

5. Requests all States, United Nations agencies, other relevant

international organizations and non-governmental organizations to mainstream the

right of peoples and individuals to international solidarity in their activities;

6. Decides, taking into account the urgent need to further develop

guidelines, standards, norms and principles with a view to promoting and protecting

the right of peoples and individuals to international solidarity, to request the

independent expert on human rights and international solidarity to continue

discharging his mandate, subject to the review of this mandate that will be

accomplished by the Council in the near future;

7. Requests the independent expert to continue his work in the

preparation of a draft declaration on the right of peoples and individuals to

international solidarity and to submit a report on the implementation of the present

resolution at its ninth session (to be held in September 2008), unless otherwise be

decided by the Council;

8. Also requests the independent expert to take into account the outcomes

of all major United Nations and other global summits and ministerial meetings in the

economic and social fields and to seek views and contributions from Governments,

United Nations agencies, other relevant international organizations and

non-governmental organizations in the discharge of his/her mandate;

9. Decides to continue its examination of this issue at its ninth session

under the same agenda item.

20th meeting 27 September 2007

[Adopted by a recorded vote of 34 to 12, with 1 abstention

In favour: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti,

Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia,

Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar,

Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Zambia.

Against: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands,

Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovenia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland.

Abstaining: Switzerland.]

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