27 May 1983

Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The Economic and Social Council,

Bearing in mind the important responsibilities of the Economic and Social Council under articles 16 and 17 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

Recalling its resolutions 1988 (LX) of 11 May 1976, 1979/43 of 11 May 1979 and 1982/33 of 6 May 1982 and its decision 1981/158 of 8 May 1981,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 37/191 of 18 December 1982,

Having considered the report of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

Noting that, as a result of continuing improvements in the work of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, consideration of the reports of the States parties is becoming more thorough,

Mindful of the relevant resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on the control and limitation of documentation,

1. Takes note of the report of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

2. Invites States that have thus far neither ratified nor acceded to the International Convenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to do so, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 37/191;

3. Calls upon States parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to submit reports required under article 16 thereof, in accordance with the programme established by Council resolution 1988 (LX), and urges States parties that have not yet done so to submit their initial reports as soon as possible and, in those instances in which it is not possible to do so, to inform the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights when those reports will be submitted;

4. Invites States parties to the Covenant, in preparing their reports, to comply with the guidelines established by the Secretary-General concerning the form and content of reports;

5. Urges States parties to the Covenant which are submitting reports for consideration by the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, taking into account paragraph 24 (g) of its report, to be mindful of the importance of submitting their reports twelve weeks before the session of the Group of Experts in order to permit processing by the Secretariat and adequate study by the members of the Group of Experts;

6. Requests the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to consider including in its report to the Economic and Social Council brief summaries of the consideration of each country report;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the summary records of the proceedings of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are made available to the Council at the time the report of the Group of Experts is considered by the Council;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the United Nations press service issues press releases on the proceedings of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.