Realization of economic, social and cultural rights.

1986/15. Realization of economic, social and cultural rights[1]58

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling its resolutions 4 (XXXIII) of 21 February 1977 and 1985/42 of 14 March 1985 on the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, Taking note of General Assembly resolution 40/114 of 13 December 1985, in which the Assembly requested the Commission to continue its consideration of the realization of economic, social and cultural rights and to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-second session, through the Economic and Social Council, its views and recommendations on these human rights, Mindful of the obligation of States under the Charter of the United Nations to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Noting that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights reaffirm the right of everyone to a social system and an international order under which economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights can be fully exercised, Recalling the Proclamation of Teheran[2]59 according to which human rights and fundamental freedoms are indivisible, the full realization of civil and political rights without the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights is impossible and the achievement of lasting progress in the implementation of human rights is dependent upon sound and effective national and international policies of economic and social development, Reaffirming the provisions of General Assembly resolution 32/130 of 16 December 1977, and convinced that the promotion and protection of one category of rights can never exempt or excuse States from the promotion and protection of the other rights, Recalling also that the Declaration on Social Progress and Development[3]60 provides that social progress and development shall be founded on respect for the dignity and value of the human person and shall ensure the promotion of human rights and social justice, Recognizing that colonialism, neo-colonialism, aggression and threats against national sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity, foreign occupation, racism, apartheid and all forms of discrimination and domination, as well as the refusal to recognize the fundamental rights of peoples to self-determination and of every nation to exercise full sovereignty over its national wealth and resources, still Constitute essential obstacles to the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Reaffirming that there is a close relationship between disarmament and development, that progress in the field of disarmament would considerably promote progress in the field of development and that resources released through disarmament measures should be devoted to the economic and social development and well-being of all peoples and in particular those of the developing countries, Convinced that equal attention and urgent consideration should be given to the implementation, promotion and protection of both civil and political and economic, social and cultural rights, Recognizing also that the realization of the right to development will promote the enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, Concerned at the serious situation with regard to the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights in some parts of the world, Mindful that the implementation and promotion of economic, social and cultural rights and the obstacles to their realization have not received sufficient attention within the framework of the United Nations system,

1. Appeals to all States to pursue policies directed towards the implementation, promotion and protection of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights;

2. Calls upon all States to co-operate in creating such national and international conditions as are conducive to the enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms;

3. Urges once again the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to pursue the study on the right to food as a matter of priority and to submit It to the Commission as soon as possible;

4. Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the International Labour Organisation the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Health Organization, submitted to the Commission on the state of implementation of the rights to food, health, education and work;[4]61

5. Requests once again the Sub-Commission to examine the conclusions and recommendations of the report entitled The Realization of Economic, social and Cultural Rights: Problems, Policies, Progress[5]62 and to submit to the Commission at its forty-third session an updated version of these conclusions and recommendations, taking into account the latest developments in this field and the reports on the state of implementation of the rights to food, health, education and work submitted to the Commission by the specialized agencies mentioned in paragraph 4 above;

6. Invites Governments, United Nations organs, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to comment on their policies for the implementation, promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report containing the comments made by Governments, United Nations organs, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations for consideration by the Commission at its forty-third session.

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[1]58 Adopted at the 50th meeting, on 10 March 1986, by a roll-call vote of 32 to 7, with 4 abstentions. See chap. VIII, para. 143. [2]59 Final Act of the International Conference on Human Rights, Teheran, 22 April to 13 May 1968 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.68.XIV.2), chap. II. [3]60 General Assembly resolution 2542 (XXXV). [4]61 E/CN.4/1986/38 and Corr.1 and Add.1-3. [5]62 United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.XIV.2, part six, chaps. II and III.