RES/8/5 Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order

Human Rights Council

Resolution 8/5. Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order

The Human Rights Council,

Recalling all previous resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission

on Human Rights on this issue, in particular General Assembly resolution 61/160 of 19

December 2006 and the Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/57 of 20 April

2005,

Reaffirming that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which

the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights can be

fully realized,

Affirming that the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion of

all human rights should continue in full conformity with the purposes and principles of

the Charter of the United Nations and international law, as set forth in articles 1 and 2 of

the Charter, and, inter alia, with full respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political

independence, the non-use of force, or the threat of force, in international relations, and

non-intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any

State,

Stressing that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social

issues, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the

nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally, and that in this regard the

central role must be played by the United Nations, as the most universal and

representative organization in the world,

Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the

aspirations of all peoples for an international order based on the principles enshrined in

the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and

fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-

determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law at the

national and international levels, pluralism, development, better standards of living and

international solidarity,

Having listened to the peoples of the world and recognizing their aspirations to

justice, to equality of opportunity for all and everyone, and to the enjoyment of their

human rights, including the right to development, to live in peace and freedom and to

equal participation without discrimination in economic, social, cultural, civil and political

life,

Resolved to take all measures within its power to secure a democratic and

equitable international order,

1. Affirms that everyone and every people have the right to a democratic and

equitable international order;

2. Also affirms that a democratic and equitable international order fosters the

full realization of all human rights for all;

3. Further affirms that a democratic and equitable international order

requires, inter alia, the realization of the following:

(a) The right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they can

freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural

development;

(b) The right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their

natural wealth and resources;

(c) The right of every human person and all peoples to development, as a

universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights;

(d) The right of all peoples to peace;

(e) The right to an international economic order based on equal participation

in the decision-making process, interdependence, mutual interest, international solidarity

and cooperation among all States;

(f) International solidarity, as a right of peoples and individuals;

(g) The promotion and consolidation of transparent, democratic, just and

accountable international institutions in all areas of cooperation, in particular through the

implementation of the principles of full and equal participation in their respective

decision-making mechanisms;

(h) The right to equitable participation of all, without any discrimination, in

domestic as well as global decision-making;

(i) The principle of equitable regional and gender-balanced representation in

the composition of the staff of the United Nations system;

(j) The promotion of a free, just, effective and balanced international

information and communication order, based on international cooperation for the

establishment of a new equilibrium and greater reciprocity in the international flow of

information, in particular correcting the inequalities in the flow of information to and

from developing countries;

(k) The promotion of an inclusive global technology and knowledge society

directed towards bridging the technology and knowledge divide, promoting a universal,

equitable and non-discriminatory access to knowledge and technologies;

(l) Respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of everyone;

(m) The right of every person and all peoples to a healthy environment and to

an enhanced international cooperation that respond effectively to the needs of assistance

of national efforts of adaptation to climate change, particularly in developing countries,

and that promote the fulfilment of international agreements in the field of mitigation;

(n) The promotion of equitable access to benefits from the international

distribution of wealth through enhanced international cooperation, in particular in

international economic, commercial and financial relations;

(o) The enjoyment by everyone of ownership of the common heritage of

mankind in connection to a public right of access to culture;

(p) The shared responsibility of the nations of the world for managing

worldwide economic and social issues as well as threats to international peace and

security that should be exercised multilaterally;

4. Stresses the importance of preserving the rich and diverse nature of the

international community of nations and peoples, as well as respect for the universality of

human rights, national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and

religious backgrounds, in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of

human rights;

5. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order

based on inclusion, justice, peace, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual

understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human

rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination,

xenophobia and related intolerance;

6. Reaffirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance

and strengthening of international peace and security and, to that end, should do their

utmost to achieve general and complete disarmament under effective international

control, as well as to ensure that the resources released by effective disarmament

measures are used for comprehensive development, in particular that of developing

countries;

7. Expresses its rejection of unilateralism and stresses its commitment to

multilateralism and multilaterally agreed solutions, in accordance with the Charter of the

United Nations and international law, as the only reasonable method of addressing

international problems;

8. Recalls the proclamation by the General Assembly of its determination to

work urgently for the establishment of an international economic order based on equity,

sovereign equality, interdependence, common interest and cooperation among all States,

irrespective of their economic and social systems, which shall correct inequalities and

redress existing injustices, make it possible to eliminate the widening gap between the

developed and the developing countries, and ensure steadily accelerating economic and

social development and peace and justice for present and future generations;

9. Reaffirms that the international community should devise ways and means

to remove current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human

rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting there from

throughout the world;

10. Urges States to continue their efforts, through enhanced international

cooperation, towards the establishment of a democratic and equitable international order;

11. Requests the human rights treaty bodies, the Office of the United Nations

High Commissioner for Human Rights and the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council

and the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee to pay due attention, within their

respective mandates, to the present resolution and to make contributions towards

its implementation;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the

attention of Member States, United Nations organs, bodies and components,

intergovernmental organizations, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-

governmental organizations and to disseminate it on the widest possible basis;

13. Decides to continue consideration of the matter under the same agenda

item in accordance with the annual program of work.

28th meeting 18 June 2008

[Adopted by a recorded vote of 33 to 13 with 1 absention:

In favour: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti,

Egypt, Gabon, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Zambia;

Against: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands,

Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;

Abstaining: Ghana,1 Mexico.]

1 The representative of Ghana subsequently stated that her delegation had intended to vote in favour of the draft resolution.