Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms

The General Assembly,

Recalling that in the Charter of the United Nations the peoples of the United Nations declared their determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

Recalling also the purposes and principles of the Charter to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,

Emphasizing the significance and validity of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the International Covenants on Human Rights in promoting respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recalling its resolution 32/130 of 16 December 1977, in which it decided that the approach to future work within the United Nations system with respect to human rights questions should take into account the concepts set forth in that resolution,

Recalling also its resolutions 34/46 of 23 November 1979, 35/174 of 15 December 1980, 36/133 of 14 December 1981, 38/124 of 16 December 1983, 39/145 of 14 December 1984, 40/124 of 13 December 1985 and 41/131 and 41/133 of 4 December 1986,

Taking into account Commission on Human Rights resolution 1985/43 of 14 March 1985,

Emphasizing that the right to development is an inalienable human right and that equality of development opportunities is a prerogative both of nations and of individuals within nations,

Recognizing that the human being is the main subject of development and that everyone has the right to participate in, as well as to benefit from, the development process,

Reiterating once again that the establishment of the new international economic order is an essential element for the effective promotion and full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all,

Reiterating also its profound conviction that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are indivisible and interdependent and that equal attention and urgent consideration should be given to the implementation, promotion and protection of civil and political rights and of economic, social and cultural rights,

Emphasizing the need for the creation, at the national and international levels, of conditions for the promotion and full protection of the human rights of individuals and peoples,

Recognizing that international peace and security are essential elements for the full realization of human rights, including the right to development,

Considering that the resources that would be released by disarmament could contribute significantly to the development of all States, in particular to that of the developing countries,

Recognizing that co-operation among all nations on the basis of respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of each State, including the right of every people to choose freely its own socio-economic and political system and to exercise full sovereignty over its wealth and natural resources, subject to the principles referred to in article 1, paragraph 2, and article 25 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, is essential for the promotion of peace and development,

Convinced that the primary aim of such international co-operation must be the achievement by all human beings of a life of freedom and dignity and freedom from want,

Concerned, however, about the occurrence of violations of human rights in the world,

Reaffirming that nothing in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or in the International Covenants on Human Rights may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person the right to engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at destroying any of the rights and freedoms proclaimed therein,

Affirming that the ultimate aim of development is the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population, on the basis of its full participation in the process of development and a fair distribution of the benefits therefrom,

Considering that the efforts of the developing countries for their own development should be supported by an increased flow of resources and by the adoption of appropriate and substantive measures for creating an external environment conducive to such development,

Taking into account the Political Declaration adopted by the Eighth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Harare from 1 to 6 September 1986,

Emphasizing the special importance of the purposes and principles proclaimed in its Declaration on the Right to Development,

Taking into account Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1987/19 and 1987/23 of 10 March 1987,

Reaffirming the importance of furthering the activities of the organs of the United Nations in the field of human rights in conformity with the principles of the Charter,

Emphasizing that Governments have the duty to ensure respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms,

1.         Reiterates its request that the Commission on Human Rights continue its current work on overall analysis with a view to further promoting and strengthening human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the question of the programme and working methods of the Commission, and on the overall analysis of the alternative approaches and ways and means for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in accordance with the provisions and concepts of General Assembly resolution 32/130 and other relevant texts;

2.         Affirms that a primary aim of international co-operation in the field of human rights is a life of freedom, dignity and peace for all peoples and for every human being, that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are indivisible and interrelated and that the promotion and protection of one category of rights should never exempt or excuse States from promoting and protecting the others;

3.         Affirms its profound conviction that equal attention and urgent consideration should be given to the implementation, promotion and protection of civil and political rights and of economic, social and cultural rights;

4.         Reaffirms that it is of paramount importance for the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms that Member States should assume specific obligations by acceding to or ratifying international instruments in this field, and, consequently that the work within the United Nations system of setting standards in the field of human rights and universal acceptance and implementation of the relevant international instruments should be encouraged;

5.         Reiterates once again that the international community should accord, or continue to accord, priority to the search for solutions to mass and flagrant violations of human rights of peoples and individuals affected by situations such as those mentioned in paragraph 1 (e) of General Assembly resolution 32/130, paying due attention also to other situations of violations of human rights;

6.         Reaffirms its responsibility for achieving international co-operation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and expresses its concern at serious violations of human rights, in particular mass and flagrant violations of these rights, wherever they occur;

7.         Expresses concern at the present situation as regards the achievement of the objectives and goals for the establishment of the new international economic order, and at its adverse effects on the full realization of human rights, in particular the right to development;

8.         Reaffirms that the right to development is an inalienable human right;

9.         Reaffirms also that international peace and security are essential elements for achieving full realization of the right to development;

10.       Recognizes that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are indivisible and interdependent;

11.       Considers that all Member States must promote international co-operation on the basis of respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of each State, including the right of every people to choose freely its own socio-economic and political system and to exercise full sovereignty over its wealth and natural resources, subject to the principles referred to in article 1, paragraph 2, and article 25 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with a view to solving international economic, social and humanitarian problems;

12.       Expresses concern at the disparity existing between established norms and principles and the actual situation of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the world;

13.       Urges all States to co-operate with the Commission on Human Rights in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

14.       Reiterates the need to create, at the national and international levels, conditions for the full promotion and protection of the human rights of individuals and peoples;

15.       Reaffirms once again that, in order to facilitate the full enjoyment of all human rights without diminishing personal dignity, it is necessary to promote the rights to education, work, health and proper nourishment through the adoption of measures at the national level, including those that provide for the participation of workers in management, as well as the adoption of measures at the international level, including the establishment of the new international economic order;

16.       Decides that the approach to future work within the United Nations system on human rights matters should also take into account the content of the Declaration on the Right to Development and the need for the implementation thereof;

17.       Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-third session the item entitled "Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms".