RES/9/2 Human rights and international solidarity

Human Rights Council

Resolution 9/2. Human rights and international solidarity

The Human Rights Council,

Reaffirming all previous resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and the

Council on the issue of human rights and international solidarity, including Commission

resolution 2005/55 and Council resolutions 6/3 and 7/5, and taking note of the reports presented

by the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity, in particular his latest one

(A/HRC/9/10),

Underlining the fact 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 of international law,

Recalling that, at the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna in June 1993,

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

page 2 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 to official

development assistance, and recalling the pledge of the industrialized countries to allocate

0.7 per cent of their gross national product to 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 to establish new, equitable and global links of partnership and

intragenerational solidarity for the perpetuation of humankind,

page 3 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 present generations are fully aware of their responsibilities

towards future generations, and that a better world is possible for 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 to 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 over 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 development

endeavours and for the promotion of conditions conducive to the full realization of all human

rights;

4. Reaffirms that the promotion of international cooperation is a duty for States, and

that it shall be implemented without any conditionality, and on the basis of mutual respect, in full

compliance with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular

respect for the sovereignty of States, and taking into account national priorities;

5. Recognizes that the so-called “third-generation rights” closely interrelated with 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;

page 4 6. 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, and to cooperate with the independent

expert in his mandate, to supply all necessary information requested by him and to give serious

consideration to responding favourably to the requests of the independent expert to visit their

countries, to enable him to fulfil his mandate effectively;

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 in further

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

this right, by addressing, inter alia, existing and emerging obstacles to its realization;

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

mandate;

9. Requests the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee to prepare inputs to

contribute to the elaboration of the draft declaration on the right of peoples and individuals to

international solidarity, and to the further development of guidelines, standards, norms and

principles with a view to promoting and protecting this right;

10. Requests the independent expert to submit a report on the implementation of the

present resolution to the Council at its twelfth session;

11. Decides to continue its examination of this issue at its twelfth session under

agenda item 3.

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