International Covenants on Human Rights

Appeals strongly to all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as to accede to the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to make the declaration provided for in Art. 41 of the Covenant; emphasizes the importance of the strictest compliance by States parties with their obligations under the International Covenants on Human Rights; underlines the necessity of strict observance of the agreed conditons and procedures for derogation under Art. 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, bearing in mind the need for States parties to provide the fullest possible information during states of emergency so that the justification for the appropriateness of measures taken in those circumstances can be assessed; stresses the importance of fully taking into account a gender perspective in the implementation of the International Covenants on Human Rights at the national level; invites the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to identify specific needs of States parties that might be addressed through the advisory services and technical assistance programme of the Office of UNHCR; welcomes the continuing efforts of both Committees to strive for uniform standards in the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Human Rights; requests the Secretary-General to consider ways and means of assisting States parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights in the preparation of their report and to give more publicity to the work of that Committee and to the work of the Committee on Economic, social and Cultural Rights.

Adopted without vote, 70th meeting

4 p.

Adopted at the 70th plenary meeting, 12 Dec. 1997.