RES/19/20 The role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights

GE.12-13262

Human Rights Council Nineteenth session

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*

19/20 The role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human

rights

The Human Rights Council

Guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of

achievement of all peoples and all nations and also the Vienna Declaration and Programme

of Action, which affirmed that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent

and interrelated,

Recalling Human Rights Council resolution 7/11 of 27 March 2008 and all other

resolutions relevant to the role of good governance in the promotion of human rights, as

well as the United Nations Millennium Declaration,

Welcoming the resolve of States parties to the United Nations Convention against

Corruption, and the commitment made by all States in the 2005 World Summit Outcome 1

to make the fight against corruption a priority at all levels, and noting with interest the

provisions of the Convention that have led to the development of a mechanism among

States parties to review their progress in combating corruption,

Noting the ongoing work by several important initiatives towards the deepening of

good governance practices at the national, regional and international levels,

Recognizing the importance of a conducive environment, at both the national and

international levels, for the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and

of the mutually reinforcing relationship between good governance and human rights,

Recognizing also that transparent, responsible, accountable, open and participatory

government, responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people, is the foundation on

* The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of

the Council on its nineteenth session (A/HRC/19/2), chap. I.

1 General Assembly resolution 60/1.

United Nations A/HRC/RES/19/20

General Assembly Distr.: General 25 April 2012

Original: English

which good governance rests, and that such a foundation is one of the indispensable

conditions for the full realization of human rights, including the right to development,

Stressing that good governance at the national and international levels is essential

for sustained economic growth, sustainable development and the eradication of poverty and

hunger and, in this context, reaffirming the Millennium Declaration, the 2005 World

Summit Outcome and the outcome of the 2010 High-level Summit on the Millennium

Development Goals,

Recognizing the increasing awareness in the international community of the

detrimental impact of widespread corruption on human rights through both the weakening

of institutions and the erosion of public trust in government, as well as through the

impairment of the ability of Governments to fulfil all their human rights obligations,

Realizing that the fight against corruption at all levels plays an important role in the

promotion and protection of human rights and in the process of creating an environment

conducive to their full enjoyment,

Recognizing that effective anti-corruption measures and the protection of human

rights, including through strengthening transparency and accountability in government, are

mutually reinforcing,

Noting with interest the outcome of the third and fourth sessions of the Conference

of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, held in Doha in

2009, and in Marrakech, Morocco, in 2011,

Stressing the importance of policy coherence and coordination in intergovernmental

processes in the area of the promotion and protection of human rights, on the one hand, and

of anti-corruption initiatives, on the other,

Stressing also the importance of developing and implementing national legislation

on the promotion of access to information and of strengthening the administration of

justice, transparency, accountability and good governance at all levels,

Reaffirming the right of every citizen to have access, in general terms of equality, to

public service in his/her country as enshrined in article 21 of the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights and article 25 (c) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

Recognizing that a professional, accountable and transparent public service

upholding the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity is one of the

essential components of good governance,

Recognizing also that the knowledge, training and awareness of public servants, as

well as the promotion of a human rights culture within the public service, play a vital role

in promoting respect for and the realization of human rights in society,

1. Welcomes the growing trend towards the universal ratification of the United

Nations Convention against Corruption, and encourages States that have not yet done so to

consider ratifying this important international instrument;

2. Underlines that the primary responsibility lies with States at the national

level, including through their Constitutional provisions and other enabling legislation,

consistent with their international obligations, to ensure that professional public services

uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, and are predicated on

good governance principles, including impartiality, rule of law, transparency, accountability

and combating corruption, and stresses the importance of human rights training and

education in this regard;

3. Invites the Secretary-General to ensure the upholding of the integrity of the

United Nations system in its service of humanity, and improved coordination between

United Nations agencies, programmes and funds, with a view to ensuring that the United

Nations system continues to improve the quality of its work at all levels, including in

support of objectives and priorities at the national level;

4. Invites all States, United Nations agencies, programmes and funds, as well as

national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations, to provide the

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with information on

good practices and their views regarding the organization, training and education of the

public service, to ensure the promotion and protection of and respect for human rights,

impartiality, accountability, transparency and the highest standards of efficiency,

competence and integrity, as well as other activities developed to assist and support the

public service at the national, regional and international levels;

5. Requests the High Commissioner to prepare, in consultation with relevant

United Nations agencies, programmes and funds, and to present to the Human Rights

Council at its twenty-fourth session, a report outlining the role of the public service as an

essential component of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights,

including a compilation of good practices based on information received from the above-

mentioned stakeholders.

54th meeting

23 March 2012

[Adopted without a vote.]