Human rights and unilateral coercive measures.

1994/47. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling also General Assembly resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970 containing the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming General Assembly resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974 containing the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of states, in particular its article 32 which declares that no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Reaffirming also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (A/CONF.157/23) adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993, Bearing in mind its resolutions 1991/79 of 6 March 1991, 1992/39 of 28 February 1992 and 1993/59 of 9 March 1993, Gravely concerned that the use of unilateral coercive measures adversely affects the socio-humanitarian activities of developing countries and that, in some cases, intensification of such measures hinders the acquisition of essential goods and has a negative effect on the full enjoyment of all human rights,

1. Calls upon the international community to reject the use by certain countries of unilateral economic measures which are in clear contradiction with international law against developing countries with the purpose of exerting, directly or indirectly, coercion on the sovereign decisions of the countries subject to those measures;

2. Reaffirms that the implementation of unilateral coercive measures as a means of exercising political, economic or social pressure against developing countries, which are in clear contradiction with international law, prevents the full realization of all human rights by the people subject to those measures, particularly children, women and elderly people;

3. Requests all States to refrain from adopting any unilateral coercive measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and impedes the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments, in particular, the right of everyone to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being, including food and medical care, housing and the necessary social services;

4. Condemns the fact that certain countries using their predominant position in the world economy, continue to intensify the adoption of unilateral coercive measures against developing countries, which are in clear contradiction with international law, such as trade restriction, blockades, embargoes, freezing of assets with the purpose of preventing these countries from exercising their right fully to determine their political, economic and social system and freely to expand their international trade;

5. Also reaffirms that essential goods, in particular food and medicines, should not be used as a tool for political pressure;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, in consultation with Governments and specialized agencies, as well as with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, a report to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-first session on the coercive measures unilaterally implemented against developing countries hindering the full realization of all rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments, particularly the right of people to a minimum standard of living and development.

56th meeting
4 March 1994
[Adopted by a roll-call vote of 23 to 18,
with 12 abstentions. See chap. XI.]