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HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 18/6
29 SEPTEMBER 2011
http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/G11/166/26/PDF/G1116626.pdf?OpenElement
Human Rights Council
Eighteenth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social
and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council
Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order
The Human Rights Council,
Recalling all previous resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission on
Human Rights and the Human Rights Council on this issue, in particular Assembly
resolution 65/223 of 21 December 2010 and Council resolution 8/5 of 18 June 2008,
Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote
universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and
fundamental
freedoms for all, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other
instruments
relating to human rights and international law,
Affirming that the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion
and
protection of all human rights should continue to be carried out in full conformity
with the
purposes and principles of the Charter and international law as set forth in
Articles 1 and 2
of the Charter and, inter alia, with full respect for sovereignty, territorial
integrity, political
independence, the non-use of force or the threat of force in international relations
and
nonintervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction
of any State,
Recalling the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the 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,
Reaffirming that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in
which the
rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights can
be fully
realized,
Reaffirming also the determination expressed in the Preamble to the Charter to
save
succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to establish conditions under
which justice
and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international
law
can be maintained, to promote social progress and better standards of life in
larger freedom,
to practise tolerance and good-neighbourliness, and to employ international machinery
for
the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,
Stressing that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social
issues, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared
among the
nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally, and that, in this
regard, the
central role must be played by the United Nations as the most universal and representative
organization in the world,
Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the
aspirations of all peoples for an international order based on the principles
enshrined in the
Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and
fundamental
freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination
of
peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development,
better
standards of living and solidarity,
Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of
human
rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations,
including
the effective promotion and protection of all human rights,
Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all
human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone
is entitled to
all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind,
such as race,
colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social
origin, property,
birth or other status,
Reaffirming that democracy, development and respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that democracy
is
based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political,
economic,
social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their
lives,
Recognizing that the promotion and protection of human rights should be based
on
the principle of cooperation and genuine dialogue and aimed at strengthening
the capacity
of Member States to comply with their human rights obligations for the benefit
of all
human beings,
Emphasizing that democracy is not only a political concept, but that it also
has
economic and social dimensions,
Recognizing that democracy, respect for all human rights, including the right
to
development, transparent and accountable governance and administration in all
sectors of
society, and effective participation by civil society are an essential part of
the necessary
foundations for the realization of social and people-centred sustainable development,
Noting with concern that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance may be aggravated by, inter alia, inequitable distribution of wealth,
marginalization and social exclusion,
Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations could
contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation at all levels,
Underlining the fact that it is imperative for the international community to
ensure
that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world’s people
and that only through
broad and sustained efforts, based on our common humanity in all its diversity,
can
globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable,
Deeply concerned that the current global economic, financial, energy and food
crises, resulting from a combination of several major factors, including macroeconomic
and
other factors, such as environmental degradation, desertification and global
climate change,
natural disasters and the lack of financial resources and the technology necessary
to
confront their negative impact in developing countries, particularly in the least
developed
countries and small island developing States, represent a global scenario that
is threatening
the adequate enjoyment of all human rights and widening the gap between developed
and
developing countries,
Stressing that efforts to make globalization fully inclusive and equitable must
include policies and measures, at the global level, that correspond to the needs
of
developing countries and countries with economies in transition and are formulated
and
implemented with their effective participation,
Stressing also the need for adequate financing of and technology transfer to
developing countries, in particular landlocked developing countries and small
island
developing States, including to support their efforts to adapt to climate change,
Having listened to the peoples of the world, and recognizing their aspirations
to
justice, to equality of opportunity for all, to the enjoyment of their human
rights, including
the right to development, to live in peace and freedom and to equal participation
without
discrimination in economic, social, cultural, civil and political life,
Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1, on institution-building
of the
Council, and 5/2, on the code of conduct for special procedures mandate holders
of the
Council, of 18 June 2007, and stressing that all mandate holders shall discharge
their duties
in accordance with these resolutions and the annexes thereto,
Resolved to take all measures within its power to secure a democratic and equitable
international order,
1. Affirms that everyone is entitled to a democratic and equitable international
order;
2. Also affirms that a democratic and equitable international order fosters the
full realization of all human rights for all;
3. Declares that democracy includes respect for all human rights and
fundamental freedoms and is a universal value based on the freely expressed will
of people
to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their
full
participation in all aspects of their lives, and reaffirms the need for universal
adherence to
and implementation of the rule of law at both the national and international
levels;
4. Reaffirms the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular the
principle that the will of the people, as expressed through periodic and genuine
elections,
shall be the basis of government authority, as well as the right to choose representatives
freely through periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal
and equal
suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures;
5. Calls upon all Member States to fulfil their commitment expressed during the
World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, to maximize the benefits of
globalization
through, inter alia, the strengthening and enhancement of international cooperation
to
increase equality of opportunities for trade, economic growth and sustainable
development,
global communications through the use of new technologies and increased
intercultural
exchange through the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity, and reiterates
that
only through broad and sustained efforts to create a shared future based upon
our common
humanity and all its diversity can globalization be made fully inclusive and
equitable;
6. Affirms that a democratic and equitable international order requires, inter
alia,
the realization of the following:
(a) The right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they can
freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social
and cultural
development;
(b) The right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural
wealth and resources;
(c) The right of every human person and all peoples to development;
(d) The right of all peoples to peace;
(e) The right to an international economic order based on equal participation
in
the decision-making process, interdependence, mutual interest, solidarity and
cooperation
among all States;
(f) International solidarity, as a right of peoples and individuals;
(g) The promotion and consolidation of transparent, democratic, just and
accountable international institutions in all areas of cooperation, in particular
through the
implementation of the principle of full and equal participation in their respective
decisionmaking mechanisms;
(h) The right to equitable participation of all, without any discrimination,
in
domestic and global decision-making;
(i) The principle of equitable regional and gender-balanced representation in
the
composition of the staff of the United Nations system;
(j) The promotion of a free, just, effective and balanced international
information and communications order, based on international cooperation for
the
establishment of a new equilibrium and greater reciprocity in the international
flow of
information, in particular correcting the inequalities in the flow of information
to and from
developing countries;
(k) Respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all, since this
enhances
cultural pluralism, contributes to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding
of
cultural backgrounds, advances the application and enjoyment of universally accepted
human rights across the world and fosters stable, friendly relations among peoples
and
nations worldwide;
(l) The right of every person and all peoples to a healthy environment and to
enhanced international cooperation that responds effectively to the needs for
assistance of
national efforts to adapt to climate change, particularly in developing countries,
and that
promotes the fulfilment of international agreements in the field of mitigation;
(m) The promotion of equitable access to benefits from the international
distribution of wealth through enhanced international cooperation, in
particular in
economic, commercial and financial international relations;
(n) The enjoyment by everyone of ownership of the common heritage of
mankind in connection to the public right of access to culture;
(o) The shared responsibility of the nations of the world for managing worldwide
economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and
security, that
should be exercised multilaterally;
7. Stresses the importance of preserving the rich and diverse nature of
the
international community of nations and peoples, as well as respect for national
and regional
particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds, in
the
enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights;
8. Also stresses that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent
and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights
globally in a
fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and reaffirms
that,
while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical,
cultural
and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless
of their
political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights
and
fundamental freedoms;
9. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order
based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding
and
promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and
to reject all
doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and
related
intolerance;
10. Reaffirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and
strengthening of international peace and security and, to that end, should do
their utmost to
achieve general and complete disarmament under effective international control,
as well as
to ensure that the resources released by effective disarmament measures are used
for
comprehensive development, in particular that of the developing countries;
11. Also reaffirms the need to continue working urgently for the establishment
of
an international economic order based on equity, sovereign equality, interdependence,
common interest and cooperation among all States, irrespective of their
economic and
social systems, which shall correct inequalities and redress existing injustices,
make it
possible to eliminate the widening gap between the developed and the developing
countries
and ensure steadily accelerating economic and social development and peace and
justice for
present and future generations;
12. Further reaffirms that the international community should devise ways and
means to remove the current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization
of all
human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting
therefrom
throughout the world;
13. Urges States to continue their efforts, through enhanced international
cooperation, towards the promotion of a democratic and equitable international
order;
14. Decides to establish, for a period of three years, a new special procedures
mandate of independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable
international order, with the following mandate:
(a) To identify possible obstacles to the promotion and protection of a
democratic and equitable international order, and to submit proposals and/or
recommendations to the Human Rights Council on possible actions in that regard;
(b) To identify best practices in the promotion and protection of a democratic
and equitable international order at the local, national, regional and international
levels;
(c) To raise awareness concerning the importance of promoting and protecting
of
a democratic and equitable international order;
(d) To work in cooperation with States in order to foster the adoption of
measures at the local, national, regional and international levels aimed at the
promotion and
protection of a democratic and equitable international order;
(e) To work in close coordination, while avoiding unnecessary duplication, with
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, other special procedures
of the
Human Rights Council, international financial institutions, as well as with other
relevant
actors representing the broadest possible range of interests and experiences,
within their
respective mandates, including by attending and following up on relevant international
conferences and events;
(f) To integrate a gender perspective and a disabilities perspective into his
or her
work;
(g) To report regularly to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly
in accordance with their respective programmes of work;
(h) To support the strengthening and promoting of democracy, development and
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the entire world;
15. Calls upon all Governments to cooperate with and assist the independent
expert in the discharge of his or her mandate, to provide him or her with all
the necessary
information requested by him or her in order to enable him or her to fulfil his
or her duties
effectively;
16. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights to
provide all the necessary human and financial resources for the effective fulfilment
of the
mandate by the independent expert;
17. Requests the independent expert to present his or her first report to the
Human Rights Council at its twenty-first session;
18. Requests the human rights treaty bodies, the Office of the High
Commissioner, the special mechanisms extended by the Human Rights Council
and the
Human Rights Council Advisory Committee to pay due attention, within their respective
mandates, to the present resolution and to make contributions to its implementation;
19. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to build upon the issue of
the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order;
20. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to bring the present resolution
to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs, bodies and components,
intergovernmental organizations, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions,
and
nongovernmental organizations, and to disseminate it on the widest
possible basis;
21. Decides to continue consideration of this matter under the same agenda
item
at its twenty-first session.
35th meeting
29 September 2011
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