Indivisibility and interdependence of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Mindful of the obligations 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,

Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Declaration on Social Progress and Development,

Recalling that in the preambles to the International Covenants on Human Rights it is recognized that the ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby persons may enjoy their economic, social and cultural rights as well as their civil and political rights,

Recalling its resolutions 40/114 of 13 December 1985, 41/117 of 4 December 1986 and 42/102 of 7 December 1987,

Reaffirming the provisions of its resolution 32/130 of 16 December 1977 that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are indivisible and interdependent and 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,

Convinced that equal attention and urgent consideration should be given to the implementation, promotion and protection of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights,

Desirous of removing all obstacles to the full realization of human rights, in particular colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, racial discrimination in all its forms, apartheid, foreign intervention, occupation, aggression and domination,

Recognizing the fundamental rights of every people to exercise full sovereignty over its natural wealth and resources,

Reaffirming that there is a close and multidimensional relationship between disarmament and development, that progress in disarmament would considerably promote progress in development and that resources released through disarmament measures could contribute to the economic and social development and well-being of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries,

Recognizing that the realization of the right to development may help to promote the enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1985/42 of 14 March 1985, 1986/15 of 10 March 1986, 1987/19 and 1987/20 of 10 March 1987 and 1988/22 and 1988/23 of 7 March 1988, in which the Commission stated that the implementation, promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights have not received sufficient attention within the framework of the United Nations system,

Requesting the Secretary-General to enhance his efforts under the programme of advisory services to States in the implementation, promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms set forth in the International Covenants on Human Rights and other United Nations instruments in the field of human rights,

1.         Notes the essential importance of national efforts and international co-operation to achieve the full and effective realization of all human rights recognized in the International Covenants on Human Rights and other international instruments;

2.         Appeals to all States to pursue policies directed towards the implementation, promotion and protection of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights recognized in the International Covenants on Human Rights and other international instruments;

3.         Requests the Commission on Human Rights to give more attention to the realization of economic, social and cultural rights under the relevant agenda items;

4.         Urges the Secretary-General to take determined steps, within existing resources, to give publicity to the Human Rights Committee and to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and to ensure that they receive full administrative support in order to enable them to discharge their functions effectively;

5.         Affirms the importance and relevance, to programmes and activities being undertaken throughout the United Nations system in the field of human rights, of reports submitted by States parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

6.         Decides to consider the question of the indivisibility and interdependence of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights at its forty-fourth session under the item entitled "International Covenants on Human Rights".