14 December 1981

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 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 for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,

Reiterating the importance 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,

Bearing in mind 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,

Recognizing that work should continue towards safeguarding human rights in a comprehensive manner to ensure the dignity of human beings and, in that regard, that active efforts should be made to implement the concepts set forth in resolution 32/130, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights,

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

Reiterating 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,

Welcoming the decision of the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 36 (XXXVII) of 11 March 1981 to set up an Ad Hoc Working Group to study the scope and content of the right to development and noting with satisfaction the commencement of the work of the Working Group,

Recalling that, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 32/130, all human rights and fundamental freedoms of the human person and of peoples are inalienable,

Emphasizing that the right to development is an inalienable human right,

Recognizing that international peace and security are essential elements in the full realization of the right to development,

Noting with appreciation the report of the Seminar on the Relations that Exist between Human Rights, Peace and Development, organized by the United Nations at its Headquarters from 3 to 14 August 1981,

Noting with satisfaction the study on international conditions and human rights prepared by the Secretary-General in accordance with the request made by the General Assembly in paragraph 12 of its resolution 34/46 of 23 November 1979,

Recalling its resolutions 34/46 of 23 November 1979 and 35/174 of 15 December 1980, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 36 (XXXVII),

1. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue its current 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 General Assembly resolution 32/130, bearing in mind also other relevant texts;

2. Reaffirms that it is of paramount importance for the promotion of human righs and fundamental freedoms that Member States should undertake specific obligations through accession to, or ratification of, international instruments in this field and, consequently, that 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;

3. Reiterates 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 the peoples and individuals affected by situations such as those mentioned in paragraph 1 (e) of resolution 32/130, paying due attention also to other situations of violations of human rights;

4. Further reiterates that the establishment of the new international economic order is an essential element for the effective promotion and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all;

5. Affirms that the efforts of the United Nations and its Member States to promote and to protect civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights should continue;

6. Reiterates the need to ensure economic and political stability at the national and international levels for the full enjoyment, promotion and observance of human rights of peoples and individuals;

7. Reaffirms also that in order to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and complete personal dignity it is necessary to promote the right to education and the right to work, health and proper nourishment, through adoption of measures at the national level, including those that provide for the right of workers to participate in management, as well as adoption of measures at the international level, including the establishment of the new international economic order;

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

9. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to take the necessary measures to promote the right to development, taking into account the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group set up under Commission resolution 36 (XXXVII);

10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly, from the thirty-eighth session on, a biennial progress report bringing up to date the study on international conditions and human rights;

11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-seventh 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".