RES/33/6 The role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights

GE.16-17178(E)

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Human Rights Council Thirty-third session

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 29 September 2016

33/6. The role of prevention in the promotion and protection of

human rights

The Human Rights Council,

Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the

obligations of States thereunder to promote universal respect for and observance of human

rights and fundamental freedoms,

Reaffirming also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna

Declaration and Programme of Action, and recalling the International Covenant on Civil

and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

and other human rights instruments, and the outcomes of major United Nations conferences

and relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council,

Recalling the role of the Human Rights Council in the prevention of human rights

violations through cooperation and dialogue, in accordance with General Assembly

resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006,

Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated,

interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that all human rights must be treated in a fair

and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis,

Expressing concern at continued human rights violations around the world,

Recalling its resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of 18 June 2007 and 16/21 of 25 March 2011,

Reaffirming its resolutions 14/5 of 17 June 2010, 18/13 of 29 September 2011 and

24/16 of 27 September 2013,

1. Affirms the importance of effective preventive measures as a part of overall

strategies for the promotion and protection of all human rights;

2. Recognizes that States have the primary responsibility for the promotion and

protection of all human rights, including the prevention of human rights violations;

3. Stresses that States should promote supportive and enabling environments for

the prevention of human rights violations, including by:

(a) Considering ratifying international human rights conventions and covenants;

(b) Fully implementing international human rights conventions and covenants to

which they are party;

(c) Enhancing and developing good governance, democratic systems, the rule of

law and accountability;

(d) Adopting policies to ensure the enjoyment of all human rights, including

civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights;

(e) Addressing all forms of discrimination, including racial discrimination;

(f) Addressing factors, inter alia inequality and poverty, that may lead to

situations in which human rights violations are committed;

(g) Promoting a free and active civil society;

(h) Promoting freedom of opinion and expression;

(i) Ensuring, where they exist, strong and independent national human rights

institutions, in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions

for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles);

(j) Promoting human rights education and training;

(k) Ensuring an independent and functioning judiciary;

(l) Fighting corruption;

4. Welcomes the role of national human rights institutions in contributing to the

prevention of human rights violations, and encourages States to strengthen the mandate and

capacity of such institutions, where they exist, to enable them to fulfil this role effectively

in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the

promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles);

5. Continues to invite national human rights institutions to consider addressing

the issue of the role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights in the

framework of relevant international and regional forums;

6. Welcomes the role of civil society in contributing to the promotion of human

rights and the prevention of human rights violations;

7. Acknowledges that, in its resolution 60/251, the General Assembly decided

that the Human Rights Council shall, inter alia, contribute, through dialogue and

cooperation, towards the prevention of human rights violations and respond promptly to

human rights emergencies;

8. Also acknowledges the importance of the universal periodic review as a

cooperative mechanism of the Human Rights Council aimed at, inter alia, improvement of

human rights situations on the ground and the fulfilment of States’ human rights obligations

and commitments, based on the principle of promoting the universality, interdependence,

indivisibility and interrelatedness of all human rights;

9. Stresses the need to develop further the concept of the prevention of human

rights violations and to step up efforts to raise awareness of prevention in the promotion

and protection of human rights in order to encourage its reflection in relevant policies and

strategies at the national, regional and international levels;

10. Recognizes the need for further research to assist States, at their request, and

other stakeholders to understand and mainstream the role of prevention in the promotion

and protection of human rights;

11. Continues to encourage the United Nations High Commissioner for Human

Rights, on the basis of consultation with States, relevant regional organizations, national

human rights institutions and other relevant stakeholders, to inform the Human Rights

Council on a regular basis on the practical applications of prevention in the promotion and

protection of human rights;

12. Notes with appreciation the convening by the Human Rights Council at its

twenty-seventh session of a panel discussion on the role of prevention in the promotion and

protection of human rights, organized by the Office of the High Commissioner in

consultation with States, relevant United Nations bodies, funds and programmes, treaty

bodies, special procedures and regional human rights mechanisms, as well as with civil

society, including non-governmental organizations, and national human rights institutions,

and the preparation by the Office of a summary report on the outcome of the panel

discussion,1 presented to the Council at its twenty-eighth session;

13. Takes note of the study on the prevention of human rights violations and its

practical implementation, drafted by the Office of the High Commissioner in consultation

with States, national human rights institutions, civil society, relevant intergovernmental

bodies and international organizations, taking duly into account, inter alia, the outcome of

the above-mentioned panel discussion, and presented to the Human Rights Council at its

thirtieth session;2

14. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner:

(a) To organize, prior to the thirty-seventh session of the Human Rights Council,

an expert workshop to discuss the role and contribution of civil society organizations,

academia, national human rights institutions and other relevant stakeholders in the

prevention of human rights abuses, drawing on the conclusions and recommendations of the

above-mentioned study;

(b) To invite States, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes,

intergovernmental organizations, treaty bodies, special procedures, regional human rights

mechanisms, civil society organizations, academia, national human rights institutions and

other relevant stakeholders to participate actively in the workshop;

(c) To prepare a summary report on the above-mentioned workshop, including

any recommendations stemming therefrom, and to submit it to the Human Rights Council

at its thirty-ninth session;

15. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to gather

information and research for further preparation of a practical toolkit to support States and

other stakeholders in the practical application of prevention in the promotion and protection

of human rights;

16. Decides to continue consideration of the matter under the same agenda item,

in conformity with its annual programme of work.

38th meeting

29 September 2016

[Adopted without a vote.]

1 A/HRC/28/30.

2 A/HRC/30/20.