26 May 1987

14th Plenary Meeting

International Covenants on Human Rights

The Economic and Social Council,

Mindful that the International Covenants on Human Rights constitute the first all-embracing and legally binding international treaties in the field of human rights and, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, form the heart of the International Bill of Human Rights,

Recalling its decision 1985/105 of 8 February 1985, its resolutions 1986/3 and 1986/5 of 21 May 1986, General Assembly resolution 41/119 of 4 December 1986 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 1987/26 of 10 March 1987,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 2200 A (XXI) of 16 December 1966, by which the Assembly adopted and opened for signature and ratification or accession the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

Noting in this regard that only half of the States Members of the United Nations have acceded to the International Covenants,

Noting with concern the critical situation with regard to overdue reports under the International Covenants on Human Rights,

Bearing in mind the important responsibilities of the Economic and Social Council in relation to the co-ordination of activities to promote the International Covenants on Human Rights,

1. Reaffirms the importance of the International Covenants on Human Rights as major parts of international efforts to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

2. Appeals strongly to all States that have not yet become parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to do so, as well as to consider acceding to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, so that those instruments acquire genuine universality;

3. Also appeals to all States to respect, implement, promote and protect economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights;

4. Emphasizes the importance of the strictest compliance by States parties to the Covenants with their obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and, where applicable, the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

5. Stresses the importance of avoiding the erosion of human rights by derogation and the necessity for strict observance of the agreed condition and procedure for derogation under article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, bearing in mind the need for States parties to provide the fullest possible information during states of emergency, so that the justification and appropriateness of measures taken in those circumstances can be assessed;

6. Recommends that States parties continually review whether any reservation made in respect of the provisions of the International Covenants on Human Rights should be upheld;

7. Recognizes the important role of the Human Rights Committee in the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol thereto, and expresses its satisfaction with the serious and constructive manner in which the Committee is continuing to undertake its functions;

8. Welcomes the continuing efforts of the Human Rights Committee to strive for uniform standards in the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and appeals to other bodies dealing with similar questions of human rights to respect those uniform standards, as expressed in the general comments of the Human Rights Committee;

9. Welcomes the work of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which is entrusted with the important task of examining the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

10. Encourages the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to strive towards the application of universally recognized criteria in the implementation of the Covenant, and to give due consideration to improving the efficiency of its proceedings;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to consider ways and means, within existing resources, of assisting States parties to the Covenants in the preparation of their reports, including the awarding, upon request, of fellowships to government officials engaged in the preparation of such reports, the arrangement of regional and subregional training courses and the exploration of other possibilities available under the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights;

12. Again urges the Secretary-General, taking into account the suggestions of the Human Rights Committee, to take determined steps, within existing resources, to give more publicity to the work of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and to improve administrative and related arrangements so as to enable them to carry out their respective functions effectively under the International Covenants on Human Rights;

13. Encourages once again all Governments to publish the texts of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in as many languages as possible and to distribute them and make them known as widely as possible in their territories;

14. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which have important and specific tasks entrusted to them, are provided with the necessary sessions and summary records;

15. Decides to include the question of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the provisional agenda for its first regular session of 1988 and to consider under that question the general comments adopted by the Human Rights Committee and by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.