24 May 1988

12th 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 on Human Rights, form the heart of the International Bill of Human Rights,

Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and reaffirming that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are indivisible and interrelated and that the promotion and protection of one category of rights should never exempt or excuse States from the promotion and protection of the other,

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

Considering that the year 1988 marks the fortieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which, conceived as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations and having provided the basis for the International Covenants on Human Rights, has been and rightly continues to be a fundamental source of inspiration for national and international efforts for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recalling its resolution 1987/4 of 26 May 1987, General Assembly resolutions 41/150 of 4 December 1986, 42/103 and 42/131, both of 7 December 1987, and Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1988/23 and 1988/27, both of 7 March 1988,

Convinced of the continuing need to promote the universal observance and enjoyment of human rights, which contribute to peaceful and friendly relations among nations,

1. Reaffirms the importance of the International Covenants on Human Rights in 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 done so to become parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to consider acceding to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, so that these instruments acquire genuine universality;

3. 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;

4. Invites the States parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to consider making the declaration provided for in article 4l of the Covenant;

5. Stresses the importance of avoiding the erosion of human rights by derogation and the necessity for strict observance of the agreed conditions and procedures 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. Reaffirms the important role of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with respect to the implementation by States parties of the International Covenants on Human Rights, and expresses its satisfaction with the serious and constructive manner in which the Committees are carrying out their functions;

7. Invites the Secretary-General and Member States to carry out the measures set out in the annex to General Assembly resolution 41/150 in order to ensure the success of the activities in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

8. Decides to include the question of the International Covenants on Human Rights in the provisional agenda for its first regular session of 1989 and to consider under that question general comments adopted by the Human Rights Committee and by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.