Status of the International Covenants on Human Rights.

1983/17. Status of the International Covenants on Human Rights[1]46

The Commission on Human Rights, Mindful that the International Covenants on Human Rights constitute the first all-embracing and legally binding international treaties in the field of human rights and, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, form the heart of the International Bill of Human Rights, Recalling its resolution 1982/18 of 9 March 1982 and General Assembly resolution 37/191 of 18 December 1982, Recalling its resolution 1982/42 of 11 March 1982 on development of public information activities in the field of human rights, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.[2]47 Noting with appreciation that, following the appeals of the General Assembly and the Commission, more Member States have acceded to the International Covenants on Human Rights and to the Optional Protocol, Bearing in mind the important responsibilities of the Economic and Social Council in the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Recognizing the important role of the Human Rights Committee in the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol thereto, as reflected in its report,[3]48

1. Reaffirms the importance of the International Covenants on Human Rights as major parts of international efforts to promote universal respect for an observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

2. Takes due note of Economic and Social Council resolution 1982/33 of May 1982 concerning the review of the composition, organization and administrative arrangements of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

3. Appreciates that the Human Rights Committee continues to strive for uniform standards in the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol thereto and takes note of the further decision of the Human Rights Committee on the question of periodicity of reports from States parties under article 40, paragraph 1 (b), of the Covenant as well as the adoption by the Committee of further general comments under article 40, paragraph 4, of the Covenant;

4. Urges all States which have not yet done so to become parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as to consider acceding to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

5. Invites the States parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to consider making the declaration provided for in article 41 of the Covenant;

6. Emphasizes the importance of the strictest compliance by States parties with their obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and, where applicable, the Optional Protocol thereto;

7. Stresses, in particular, the obligations of a State party availing itself of the right of derogation from the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in accordance with article 4, paragraph 1, of the Covenant to inform the other States parties immediately through the intermediary of the Secretary-General of the provisions from which it has derogated and of the reasons by which it was actuated;

8. Emphasizes the importance of States parties sending experts to present their reports under the International Covenants on Human Rights, as well as nominating experts to serve on the implementation committees set up under the Covenants;

9. Welcomes the measures being taken by the Secretary-General to improve the publicity for the work of the Human Rights Committee and urges the Secretary-General to continue to consider the most appropriate steps for the publication of the Committee's documentation and to report on this question to the Commission at its fortieth session;

10. Takes note of paragraph 14 of General Assembly resolution 37/191 in which the Assembly requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all possible steps to ensure that the Centre for Human Rights of the Secretariat is able to assist effectively the Human Rights Committee and the Economic and Social Council in the implementation of their respective functions under the International Covenants on Human Rights;

11. Encourages all Governments to publish the texts of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in as many languages as possible and to distribute them and make them known as widely as possible in their territories;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission on Human Rights, at its fortieth session, a report on the status of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to include in this report information on the work of the Economic and Social Council and its Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

13. Requests the Secretary-General to invite the United Nations Information centres to increase their activities to make the Covenants better known universally and to report on action taken in this regard in the course of his regular reports to the Commission on public information activities in the field of human rights, including the dissemination of international instruments;

14. Decides to consider at its fortieth session an agenda item entitled "Status of the International Covenants on Human Rights".

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[1]46 Adopted at the 31st meeting, on 22 February 1983, without a vote.-., See chap. XVII. [2]47 E/CN.4/1983/29. [3]48 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/37/40).