Human Rights Council

Forty- fourth session

30 June–17 July 2020

Agenda item 3

Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 16 July 2020

44 / 11. Mandate of the Independent Expert on h uman rights and international solidarity

The Human Rights Council,

Reaffirming all previous resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council on the issue of human rights and international solidarity,

Recallingits resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the Human Rights Council, and 5/2, on the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate Holders of the Council, of 18 June 2007, and stressing that all mandate holders shall discharge their duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto,

Underlining the fact that the processes of promoting and protecting human rights should be conducted in conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law,

Recalling that, at the World Conference on Human Rights, held in June 1993, States pledged to cooperate with each other in ensuring development and eliminating obstacles to development, and stressed that the international community should promote effective international cooperation for the realization of the right to development and the elimination of obstacles to development,

Reaffirming the fact that article 4 of the Declaration on the Right to Development states that sustained action is required to promote more rapid development of developing countries and, as a complement to the efforts of developing countries, effective international cooperation is essential in order to provide these countries with the appropriate means and facilities to foster their comprehensive development,

Recognizing that the attention paid to the importance of international solidarity as a vital component of the efforts of developing countries to realize the right to development of their peoples and to promote the full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by everyone has been insufficient, and in this context reaffirming the critical relevance of international solidarity to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

Expressing its concern at the lack of sufficient solidarity with developing countries in responding to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and in addressing its dramatic economic and social impact,

Emphasizing the importance of international solidarity and cooperation for effectively addressing the challenges of the current global crisis owing to the COVID-19 pandemic,

Reaffirming the fact that the widening gap between economically developed and developing countries is unsustainable and that it impedes the realization of human rights in the international community, making it all the more imperative for every nation, according to its capacities, to make the maximum possible effort to close this gap,

Affirming the fact that the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the realization of the right to development call for a more enlightened approach, mindset and action based on a sense of community and international solidarity,

Determined to take new steps forward in the commitment of the international community with a view to achieving substantial progress in human rights endeavours through an increased and sustained effort of international cooperation and solidarity,

Asserting the necessity of establishing new, equitable and global links of partnership and intragenerational solidarity for the perpetuation of humankind,

Resolved to strive to ensure that present generations are fully aware of their responsibilities towards future ones, and that a better world is possible for both present and future generations,

1.Reaffirms the recognition set forth in the declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit of the fundamental value of solidarity to international relations in the twenty-first century in stating that global challenges must be managed in a way that distributes costs and burdens fairly, in accordance with the basic principles of equity and social justice, and that those who suffer or benefit least deserve help from those who benefit most;

2.Also reaffirms that international solidarity is not limited to international assistance and cooperation, aid, charity or humanitarian assistance; it is a broader concept and principle that includes sustainability in international relations, especially international economic relations, the peaceful coexistence of all members of the international community, equal partnerships and the equitable sharing of benefits and burdens;

3.Reiterates its determination to contribute to the solution of current world problems through increased international cooperation, to create conditions that will ensure that the needs and interests of future generations are not jeopardized by the burden of the past, and to hand over a better world to future generations;

4.Reaffirms the fact that the promotion of international cooperation is a duty for States, and that it should be implemented without any conditionality and on the basis of mutual respect, in full compliance with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular respect for the sovereignty of States, and taking into account national priorities;

5.Recognizes that international solidarity shall be a new foundational principle underpinning contemporary international law;

6.Also recognizes that there is an overwhelming manifestation of solidarity by States, individually and collectively, by civil society, by global social movements and by countless people of goodwill reaching out to others, and that this solidarity is commonly practised at the national, regional and international levels;

7.Acknowledges the increased need for States and other actors to come together and take collective action in solidarity;

8.Urgesall States, United Nations agencies, other relevant international organizations and non-governmental organizations to step up and strengthen solidarity and collaboration at this enormously challenging time;

9.Takes note of the report of the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity;

10.Decides to extend the mandate of the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity for a period of three years;

11.Requests all States, United Nations agencies, other relevant international organizations and non-governmental organizations to mainstream the right of peoples and individuals to international solidarity into their activities, to cooperate with the Independent Expert in his mandate, and to supply all necessary information requested by him, and requests States to give serious consideration to responding favourably to the requests of the Independent Expert to visit their countries to enable him to fulfil his mandate effectively;

12.Requests the Independent Expert to continue to participate in relevant international forums and major events with a view to promoting the importance of international solidarity in the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially those Sustainable Development Goals relating to economic, social and climate issues, and invites Member States, international organizations, United Nations agencies and other relevant organizations to facilitate the meaningful participation of the Independent Expert in these forums and events;

13.Also requests the Independent Expert to continue to examine in his reports ways and means of overcoming existing and emerging obstacles to the realization of the right of peoples and individuals to international solidarity, including the challenges of international cooperation, and to seek the views and contributions of Governments, United Nations agencies and other relevant international organizations in this regard;

14.Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Independent Expert with all the human and financial resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of the mandate;

15.Reiterates its request to the Independent Expert to take into account the outcomes of all major United Nations and other global summits and ministerial meetings in the economic, social and climate fields, and to continue to seek views and contributions from Governments, United Nations agencies, other relevant international organizations and non-governmental organizations in the discharge of his mandate;

16.Requests the Independent Expert to report regularly to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly in accordance with their respective programmes of work;

17.Decides to continue its consideration of this matter under the same agenda item.

27th meeting 16 July 2020

[Adopted by a recorded vote of 31 to 15, with 1 abstention. The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Libya, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

Against:

Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Spain, and Ukraine

Abstaining:

Mexico]