Impunity of perpetrators of violations of economic, social and cultural rights

The Commission on Human Rights,

Recalling that, under the Charter of the United Nations, one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights for all,

Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the other relevant human rights instruments, in particular the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, Recalling further the universality, interdependence and indivisibility of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights,

Mindful that in paragraph 91 of section II of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the World Conference on Human Rights supported the efforts of the Commission on Human Rights and its Sub-Commission to strengthen measures to prevent impunity of perpetrators of violations of human rights,

Mindful also that, in paragraph 10 of section I of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the World Conference on Human Rights reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of all fundamental human rights,

1. Notes resolutions 1997/20 of 27 August 1997 and 1998/13 of 20 August 1998 of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities;

2. Takes note of the final report submitted by Mr. El Hadji Guissé pursuant to Sub-Commission resolution 1996/24 of 29 August 1996 on the question of impunity of perpetrators of violations of economic, social and cultural rights (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/8) and requests the Secretary-General to disseminate it widely and to invite States, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to provide him with their views and comments thereon;

3. Emphasizes the importance of combating impunity for the prevention of violations of international human rights law;

4. Invites States to pay attention as appropriate to the question of impunity of violations of human rights and to take suitable measures to address this important issue;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to collect the information and comments received pursuant to the present resolution and to submit a report thereon to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-sixth session;

6. Invites the special rapporteurs and other mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights to give due consideration to the implementation of the present resolution;

7. Decides to continue its consideration of this matter at its fifty-sixth session under the same agenda item.

58^th meeting
28 April 1999

[Adopted by 21 votes to 9, with 22 abstentions. See chap. XVII.]