24 May 1984

Meeting 19

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

The Economic and Social Council,

Bearing in mind its important responsibilities 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, 1983/41 of 27 May 1983 and its decision 1981/158 of 8 May 1981,

Recalling also General Assembly resolutions 37/191 of 18 December 1982 and 38/116 of 16 December 1983,

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,

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,

Recalling its resolution 1982/33 of 6 May 1983, by which it decided to review the composition, organization and administrative arrangements of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at its first regular session of 1985, taking into account the principle of equitable geographical distribution and the increase in the number of States parties to the Covenant,

Recalling also that the meetings of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are public, that States parties to the Covenant, States Members of the United Nations and representatives of the specialized agencies concerned may participate in its proceedings in accordance with Council decision 1978/10 of 3 May 1978, and that interested non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Council and the public at large may attend those meetings,

Noting the concern expressed by the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights about the lack of publicity given to its work at the present session of the Council,

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 again all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

3. Calls upon States parties to the Covenant to submit reports required under article 16 thereof, in accordance with the programme established by Council resolution 1988(LX), and urges States parties to complete the entire cycle of initial reports before submitting second periodic reports;

4. Invites States parties to the Covenant to comply with the guidelines established by the Secretary-General concerning the form and content of reports and to take note of the relevant recommendations of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in preparing and submitting their reports;

5. Requests the specialized agencies, on the basis of experience gained in other bodies and of reports so far submitted and considered by the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to report on the progress made in achieving the observance of the provisions of the Covenant falling within the scope of their activities, in accordance with article 18 of the Covenant and paragraph 6 of Council resolution 1988(LX);

6. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United Nations press service issues press releases on the proceedings of the next session of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

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

8. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the relevant suggestions and recommendations listed in section IV of the report of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to the attention of States parties to the Covenant so that States parties may take them into account in preparing and submitting their reports under the Covenant;

9. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its first regular session of 1985 a report on the composition, organization and administrative arrangements of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other bodies established in accordance with existing international instruments in the field of human rights in order to facilitate the review which the Council will undertake in accordance with its resolution 1982/33;

10. Decides that the review shall be conducted at an early date during its first regular session of 1985 to allow enough time for a full discussion of this important matter, taking into account any recommendations which the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights may agree upon at its next session.