RES/31/14 The role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights

Human Rights Council Thirty-first session

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 23 March 2016

31/14. 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 resolutions 7/11 of 27 March 2008, 19/20 of 23

March 2012, and 25/8 of 27 March 2014, and all other resolutions relevant to the role of

good governance in the promotion of human rights, and 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 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

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

United Nations A/HRC/RES/31/14

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

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

Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,1

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, and through the impairment of

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

Acknowledging that good governance has a central role in the promotion and

protection of human rights, and in preventing and combating corruption at all levels,

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 by strengthening transparency and accountability in government, are

mutually reinforcing,

Noting with interest the outcomes of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth sessions of the

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

in Doha in 2009, in Marrakech, Morocco in 2011, in Panama City in 2013, and in Saint

Petersburg, Russian Federation in 2015,

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 or 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, and

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,

Welcoming the contribution of the United Nations Public Service Awards

programme, which recognizes excellence in public service to the promotion of the role,

professionalism and visibility of public service, and noting its review to align it with the

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

Welcoming also the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including its

recognition of the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal

access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights, including the right to

development, on effective rule of law and good governance at all levels, and on transparent,

effective and accountable institutions,

1 General Assembly resolution 70/1.

Taking into account the ongoing work of the United Nations system and other

relevant international and regional organizations relating to the role of good governance in

the promotion and protection of human rights,

1. Welcomes the holding by the Human Rights Council, at its thirtieth session,

of a panel discussion on a human rights-based approach to good governance in the public

service;

2. Also welcomes the summary report of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Human Rights on the panel discussion ; 2

3. Further welcomes the growing trend towards the universal ratification of the

United Nations Convention against Corruption, and encourages States that have not yet

ratified this important international instrument to consider doing so;

4. Welcomes the commitments made by all States in the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development with regard to good governance in the promotion and protection

of human rights, including in Sustainable Development Goal 16;

5. 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;

6. 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;

7. Encourages the relevant mechanisms of the Human Rights Council to

continue to consider, within their respective mandates, the issue of the role of good

governance in the promotion and protection of human rights;

8. Requests the High Commissioner to prepare a compilation of the activities

and programmes of the United Nations system that contribute to the role of good

governance in the promotion and protection of human rights, including its efforts to support

States in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in this

context, and to submit it to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fourth session;

9. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

63rd meeting

23 March 2016

[Adopted without a vote.]

2 A/HRC/31/28.