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

34. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
46. 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, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations 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 fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[1] and of the International Convenants on Human Rights[2] in further promoting international co-operation for respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that the acceptance by Member States of the obligations contained in those Covenants is an important element for the universal realization of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recognizing that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom from fear and want can be achieved only if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as civil and political rights, Recalling its resolution 32/130 of 16 December 1977, in which it decided that the approach to the 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 resolution 33/104 of 16 December 1978, in which it requested the Commission on Human Rights to continue with high priority the over-all analysis of the alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, which will contribute to the implementation of resolution 32/130, Recalling further its resolution 32/197 of 20 December 1977, in particular paragraphs 5 (b) and 41 of the annex thereto, regarding the responsibilities of the Economic and Social Council to monitor and evaluate the implementation of over-all strategies, policies and priorities established by the General Assembly, Noting with interest Economic and Social Council decisions 1979/29 and 1979/30 of 10 May 1979, and Commission on Human Rights resolutions 4 (XXXV) and 5 (XXXV) of 2 March 1979 [3]3in which the Commission reiterated that the right to development is a human right and that equality of opportunity for development is as much a prerogative of nations as of individuals within nations, Recognizing the need to create satisfactory conditions at the national and international levels for the full promotion and protection of the human rights of individuals and peoples, Noting with interest that in the Political Declaration adopted by the Sixth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Havana from 3 to 9 September 1979, the non-aligned countries called on the United Nations to continue working towards ensuring human rights in a comprehensive manner to ensure the dignity of human beings and, in this regard, reaffirmed their own willingness to work actively for the implementation of the steps outlined in General Assembly resolution 32/130 in the form which it prescribes, through the existing structures of the United Nations system [4] Taking into account Economic and Social Council resolution 1979/36 of 10 May 1979,

1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report on the work relating to the over-all analysis of the United Nations approach to human rights[5] submitted to the General Assembly by the Commission on Human Rights, through the Economic and Social Council, in accordance with paragraph 2 (a) of General Assembly resolution 32/130;

2. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue at its thirty-sixth session its ongoing work on the over-all analysis with a view to further promoting and improving human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the question of the Commission's programme and working methods, and on the over-all 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 resolution 32/130;

3. Reiterates 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 both civil and political, and economic, social and cultural rights;

4. Reaffirms the absolute necessity, under all circumstances, of eliminating massive and flagrant violations of human rights and of the rights of peoples and individuals affected by situations such as those enumerated in paragraph 1 (e) of resolution 32/130;

5. Reaffirms also that it is of paramount importance for the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms that Member States should undertake specific obligations through accession to or ratification of international instruments in this field and that, consequently, the standard-setting work within the United Nations system in the field of human rights and the universal acceptance and implementation of the relevant international instruments should be encouraged;

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

7. Recognizes that, in order fully to guarantee human rights and complete personal dignity, it is necessary to guarantee the right to work, participation of workers in management, and the right to education, health and proper nourishment, through the adoption of measures at the national and international levels, including the establishment of the new international economic order;

8. Emphasizes that the right to development is a human right and that equality of opportunity for development is as much a prerogative of nations as of individuals within nations;

9. Requests the Commission on Human Rights, at its thirty-sixth session, to consider the existing human and other resources that the Division of Human Rights of the Secretariat has at its disposal for the implementation of General Assembly resolutions, on the basis of complete data which the Secretary-General is requested to provide to it, and thereafter to make recommendations, through the Economic and Social Council, to the Assembly at its thirty-fifth session, with a view to further improving the working of the Division;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to give, through the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights, priority to the holding in 1980 of a seminar, as already decided by the Economic and Social Council in its decision 1979/30, on the effect of the present unjust international economic order on the economies of developing countries and the obstacle that this constitutes for the implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular for the right to enjoy an adequate standard of living as stated in article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

11. Requests the Secretary-General and concerned organs and bodies of the United Nations system to implement fully the recommendations contained in Economic and Social Council resolution 1979/36;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare, taking into account relevant information already available within the United Nations, and to submit to the General Assembly at its thirty-sixth session a study on the nature and extent to which the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms is affected by present international conditions, with particular reference to situations resulting from apartheid, from all forms of racial discrimination, from colonialism, neo-colonialism and imperialism, from policies tending to divide the world into spheres of influence, from the arms race, from foreign domination and occupation, from aggression and threats against national sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity, from refusal to recognize the fundamental rights of peoples to self-determination and of every nation to the exercise of full sovereignty over its wealth and natural resources, from intervention and interference in the internal affairs of States, particularly with reference to developing countries, as well as from the existence of the unjust system of international economic relations, taking also into account the conclusions of the seminar mentioned in paragraph 10 above;

13. Also requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the specialized agencies concerned and to all United Nations bodies that deal with human rights;

14. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its thirty-fifth session a progress report on the implementation of the present resolution;

15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-fifth 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".

76th plenary meeting
23 November 1979

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[1] Resolution 217 A (III). [2] Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. [3] See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1979, Supplement No. 6 (E/1979/36), chap. XXIV, sect. A. [4] See A/34/542, annex, sect. I, para. 262. [5] See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1979, Supplement No. 6 (E/1979/36), chap. IX, sect. A.