Realization of economic, social and cultural rights.

1987/19. Realization of economic, social and cultural rights

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling its resolutions 4 (XXXIII) of 21 February 1977, 1985/42 of 14 March 1985 and 1986/15 of 10 March 1986 on the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, Taking note of General Assembly resolutions 40/114 of 13 December 1985 and 41/117 of 4 December 1986, 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, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the ideal of free human beings enjoying civil and political freedom and freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his civil and political rights, as well as his economic, social and cultural rights, Recalling the Proclamation of Teheran of 1968, 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 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 right 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, 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 implementation of the Declaration on 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 with each other in promoting social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom;

3. Welcomes the establishment by the Economic and Social Council of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which will be entrusted as of 1987 with the important task of examining the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

4. 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;

5. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General to the Commission at its forty-third session (E/CN.4/1987/9);

6. Requests the Secretary-General to invite Governments, United Nations organs, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations which have not yet done so to comment on their policies for the implementation, promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights and to submit a report thereon to the Commission at its forty-fourth session;

7. Requests the Sub-Commission to examine the conclusions and recommendations of the report of the Commission entitled The Realization of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Problems, Policies, Progress and to submit to the Commission at its forty-fourth session a proposed timetable for updating these conclusions and recommendations, taking into account the activities of the specialized agencies, other United Nations bodies and organs, other intergovernmental organizations, Governments and non-governmental organizations and keeping in mind the importance of maintaining a specific human rights focus in examining the issues raised in this report;

8. Further requests the Sub-Commission to consider, in accordance with its resolution 1983/35 of 6 September 1983, the preparation of a study on the impact on human rights of the policies and practices of the major international financial institutions, most notably the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Commission at its forty-fifth session, based on the views of Governments, United Nations organs, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations, on proposals for more effective implementation of the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights as embodied in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

54th meeting
10 March 1987
[Adopted by a roll-call vote of 27 to 10, with
5 abstentions. See chap. VIII.]