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Human rights and extreme poverty
Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/31
        The Commission on Human Rights
        Recalling that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of 
Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights 
recognize that the ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom 
from fear and want can be achieved only if conditions are created 
whereby everyone may enjoy his or her economic, social and 
cultural rights, as well as his or her civil and political rights,
        Recalling in particular that article 25 of the Universal Declaration 
of Human Rights stipulates that everyone has the right to a 
standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of 
himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and 
medical care and necessary social services, and the right to 
security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, 
widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances 
beyond his control,
        Recalling also that the eradication of widespread poverty, 
including its most persistent forms, and the full enjoyment of 
economic, social and cultural rights and civil and political rights 
remain interrelated goals,
        Deeply concerned that, 53 years after the adoption of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, extreme poverty 
continues to spread in all countries of the world, regardless of 
their economic, social and cultural situation, and that its extent 
and manifestations, such as hunger, disease, lack of adequate 
shelter, illiteracy and hopelessness are particularly severe in 
developing countries, while acknowledging the achievements 
made in many parts of the world,
        Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the Vienna 
Declaration and Programme of Action (A/CONF.157/23) adopted 
in June 1993 by the World Conference on Human Rights,
        Recalling in particular that the World Conference on Human 
Rights reaffirmed that least developed countries committed to 
the process of democratization and economic reforms, many of 
which are in Africa, should be supported by the international 
community in order to succeed in their transition to democracy 
and economic development,
        Bearing in mind the commitments reaffirmed in the United 
Nations Millennium Declaration, particularly to spare no effort to 
fight against extreme poverty,
        Recalling General Assembly resolution 50/107 of 20 December 
1995, in which the Assembly proclaimed the first United Nations 
Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), and noting 
the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the 
Decade (A/55/407),
        Recalling also General Assembly resolution 53/146 of 9 
December 1998, on human rights and extreme poverty, in which 
the Assembly recalled that the mandate of the independent 
expert should include continuing to take into account the efforts 
of the poorest people themselves and the conditions in which 
they could convey their experiences,
        Recalling further the Declaration of the Microcredit Summit, held 
in Washington, D.C., in February 1997, which launched a global 
campaign to reach one hundred million of the world's poorest 
families, especially women, with credit for self-employment by 
the year 2005,
        Stressing that, in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social 
Development and the Programme of Action of the World Summit 
for Social Development held in March 1995 (A/CONF.166/9, 
chap. I, resolution 1), Governments committed themselves to 
endeavouring to ensure that all men and women, especially 
those living in poverty, could exercise the rights, utilize the 
resources and share the responsibilities that would enable 
them to lead satisfying lives and to contribute to the well-being of 
their families, their communities and humankind and committed 
themselves to the goal of eradicating poverty throughout the 
world through national actions and international cooperation, as 
an ethical, social, political and economic imperative of 
humankind,
        Recalling the report of the Secretary-General on women's real 
enjoyment of their human rights, in particular those relating to 
the elimination of poverty, economic development and economic 
resources (E/CN.4/1998/22-E/CN.6/1998/11),
        Noting with satisfaction the progress report submitted by the 
independent expert in accordance with Commission resolution 
2000/12 (E/CN.4/2001/54) and the conclusions contained 
therein, in particular concerning the importance of the knowledge 
of their rights by the poor themselves, the harnessing of their 
capacities to organize, training for the fight against poverty and 
the necessary general mobilization, as pillars of a global 
strategy against poverty,
        Taking note of the report of the Expert Seminar on Human 
Rights and Extreme Poverty (E/CN.4/2001/54/Add.1 and Corr.1), 
organized by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in 
accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 
2000/12, and its conclusions,
        1.      Reaffirms that:

        (a)     Extreme poverty and exclusion from society constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate them;
        (b)     The right to life includes within it existence in human dignity with the minimum necessities of life;
        (c)     It is essential for States to foster participation by the poorest people in the decision-making process in the societies in which they live, in the realization of human rights and in efforts to combat extreme poverty and for people living in poverty and vulnerable groups to be empowered to organize themselves and to participate in all aspects of political, economic and social life, particularly the planning and implementation of policies that affect them, thus enabling them to become genuine partners in development;
        (d)     The existence of widespread absolute poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and renders democracy and popular participation fragile;
        (e)     For peace and stability to endure, national action and international action and cooperation are required to promote a better life for all in larger freedom, a critical element of which is the eradication of poverty;
(f) Special attention must be given to the plight of women and children, who often bear the greatest burden of extreme poverty;

2. Recalls that:

        (a)     The Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, reaffirmed during the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly on the follow-up to the World Summit, held in Geneva in June 2000, provide the substantive framework for eradicating poverty by setting specific targets, drawing up plans and implementing programmes;
        (b)     To ensure the protection of the rights of all individuals, non-discrimination towards the poorest and the full exercise of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, a better understanding is needed of what is endured by people living in poverty, including women and children, and that thought must be given to the subject, drawing on the experience and ideas of the poorest themselves and of those committed to working alongside them;
        (c)     In its resolution 1997/11 of 3 April 1997, it requested the 
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to give high priority to the question of human rights and extreme poverty, to ensure better cooperation between the institutions and bodies involved, regularly to inform the General Assembly of the evolution of the question and to submit specific information on this question at events such as the evaluation, at the halfway point in 2002 and the end-point in 2007, of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty;
        (d)     In her report of 11 September 1998 to the General Assembly on the mid-term evaluation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (A/53/372, annex), the High Commissioner proposed that the Second and Third Committees of the General 
Assembly should work jointly to implement the right to development by focusing on the elimination of poverty, with particular emphasis placed on basic security, which is necessary to enable individuals and families to enjoy fundamental rights and assume basic responsibilities;
        3.      Welcomes the increasing number of events associated with the celebration, on 17 October of each year, of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the opportunity which these events provide to people and populations living in extreme poverty to make their voices heard;

3. Expresses its appreciation:
        (a)     That an integrated approach is being followed by the United 
Nations system in addressing the question of extreme poverty, particularly through the adoption and the implementation of the United Nations action strategy for halving extreme poverty by 2015;
        (b)     That the international financial institutions have developed new policies strengthening the human and social dimension of their action;
        (c)     For the initiatives taken in many countries by national education authorities to raise awareness among all children and young people of the existence of extreme poverty and the urgent need for united action to enable the poorest people to regain their rights;
        (d)     For the priority given by the independent expert to strengthening the means of expression of the poorest people and notes, in that respect, the exhaustive analysis carried out by the World Bank with the poorest people themselves, entitled Voices of the Poor: Can Anyone Hear Us?;
        (e)     To the independent expert for sending questionnaires to 
Governments, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations to collect their views and experiences in the field of human rights and the eradication of extreme poverty;
        5.      Calls upon:

        (a)     The General Assembly, specialized agencies, United 
Nations bodies and intergovernmental organizations to take into account the contradiction between the existence of situations of extreme poverty and exclusion from society, which must be overcome, and the duty to guarantee full enjoyment of human rights;
        (b)     States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to take into account, in the activities to be undertaken within the framework of the United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, the links between human rights and extreme poverty, as well as efforts to empower people living in poverty to participate in decision-making processes on policies that affect them;
        (c)     The United Nations to strengthen poverty eradication as a priority throughout the United Nations system;

        6.      Invites:

        (a)     The treaty bodies monitoring the application of human rights instruments, especially the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, to take into account, when considering the reports of States parties, the question of extreme poverty and human rights;
        (b)     States, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to submit to the Secretary-General, by the fifty-eighth session of the Commission on Human Rights, their views and comments on the recommendations contained in the report of the independent expert on extreme poverty (E/CN.4/2000/52);

        7.      Takes note of the conclusions of the Expert Seminar on 
Human Rights and Extreme Poverty organized by the High Commissioner in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/12 and:
        (a)     Requests the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and 
Protection of Human Rights to consider the need to develop, on the basis of the various relevant international texts, the ongoing work in other forums, the conclusions and recommendations of the Expert Seminar and any other relevant inputs, in particular those received from Governments, guiding principles on the implementation of existing human rights norms and standards in the context of the fight against extreme poverty and to report to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session;
        (b)     Invites States, the United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes, the relevant functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council, the regional economic commissions and the international financial institutions to submit their views on this subject to the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights;

        8.      Decides to consider this question at its fifty-eighth session under the same agenda item.

71st meeting
23 April 2001
[Adopted without a vote..]
2001/36.  Strengthening of popular participation, equity, social 
justice and
           non-discrimination as essential foundations of democracy
        The Commission on Human Rights,
        Noting General Assembly resolution 55/96 of 4 December 2000 
and recalling its own resolution 2000/47 of 25 April 2000,
        Reaffirming its commitment to the purposes and principles 
enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
        Reaffirming also the commitment of all States to fulfil their 
obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance 
and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms 
for all in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other 
instruments relating to human rights, and international law,
        Stressing that all peoples have the right of self-determination, by 
virtue of which they freely determine their political status and 
freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development,
        Recognizing that democracy, development and respect for 
human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent 
and mutually reinforcing,
        Recalling that all human rights are universal, indivisible, 
interdependent and interrelated and that the international 
community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal 
manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis,
        Reaffirming the commitment made by Member States to strive 
for the full protection and promotion in all States of civil, political, 
economic, social and cultural rights for all,
        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 of the United Nations, 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, rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of 
living and solidarity,
        Welcoming the commitment of all Member States, expressed in 
the United Nations Millennium Declaration, to work collectively 
for more inclusive political processes allowing genuine 
participation by all citizens in all countries,
        Welcoming also the pledge of the international community at the 
World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna in June 
1993, to support the strengthening and promotion of democracy, 
development and respect for human rights and fundamental 
freedoms throughout the world,
        Recognizing that development can only be sustainable on a 
long-term basis if development policies are responsive to 
people's needs and ensure people's participation both in their 
design and implementation, while stressing the fact that 
meeting the basic human needs essential for survival is a sine 
qua non condition for an effective democracy,
        Emphasizing that the persistence of extreme poverty inhibits the 
full and effective enjoyment of human rights and the participation 
of all citizens in the democratic processes in every society, and 
that the full participation of everyone in democratic societies 
fosters and enhances the struggle against poverty,
        Recalling that accountable and transparent governance at the 
national and international levels is critical for the creation of an 
environment that facilitates the development of democratic, 
prosperous and peaceful societies,
        Stressing the variety of forms, modalities and experiences of 
democratic societies, taking into account national and regional 
particularities, the various historical, cultural and religious 
backgrounds, and the diversity of economic, political, cultural 
and legal systems,
        Recognizing that while all democracies share common 
features, differences between democratic societies should be 
neither feared nor repressed, but cherished as a precious asset 
of humanity,
        Aware of the importance of fostering a diversity of social 
contributions in strengthening people's participation, equity, 
social justice and non-discrimination, including the 
enhancement of non-governmental organizations, people's 
organizations, voluntary social organizations, trade unions, the 
private sector and other actors of civil society,
        Recalling the commitment undertaken by States within the 
framework of the United Nations and other international 
organizations to work for the promotion of democracy and the 
rule of law,
        1.      Affirms that popular participation, equity, social justice and non-discrimination are essential foundations of democracy;
        2.      Reaffirms that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, and that in order to achieve this, full popular participation, equity, social justice and non-discrimination should be strengthened;
        3.      Also reaffirms that while all democracies share common features, there is no one universal model of democracy;
        4.      Affirms that the consolidation of democracy requires the promotion and protection of all human rights for everyone, both civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights, as established in the Declaration on the Right to Development;
        5.      Reaffirms that democracy, development and respect for human rights are interdependent and mutually reinforcing;
        6.      Stresses that the consolidation of democracy requires that sustained economic growth and sustainable development of countries and communities foster the promotion and consolidation of democracies;
        7.      Declares that full popular participation is only feasible if societies have democratic political and electoral systems which guarantee to all their citizens the possibility both to take part in the government of their country, directly or through freely chosen representatives, and to have equal access to public service, without discrimination of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status;
        8.      Reaffirms that the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government and that this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures;
        9.      Urges all States to foster a democracy that, inspired by the recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, promotes people's welfare, rejecting all forms of discrimination and exclusion, facilitates development with equity and justice, and encourages the most comprehensive and full participation of their citizens in the decision-making process and in the debate over diverse issues affecting society;
        10.     Requests all States and the international community further to endeavour to promote effective measures to eradicate poverty and promote just, equitable and inclusive societies;
        11.     Invites all mechanisms of the Commission and the human rights treaty bodies to continue taking into account, in the discharge of their respective mandates, the question of strengthening popular participation, equity, social justice and non-discrimination as the foundations of democracy;
        12.     Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations 
High Commissioner for Human Rights to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, the relevant United Nations organs and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and to disseminate it on the widest possible basis;
        13.     Decides to continue its consideration of this issue at its fifty-eighth session, under the same agenda item.

71st meeting
23 April 2001
[Adopted by a roll-call vote of 28 votes to 4, with 21 abstentions.  See chap. IX.]
2001/41.  Continuing dialogue on measures to promote and 
consolidate democracy
        The Commission on Human Rights,
        Recalling all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and 
the Commission, taking note in particular of Assembly 
resolutions 55/96 of 4 December 2000 and 55/43 of 27 
November 2000, and recalling its own resolution 2000/47 of 25 
April 2000,
        Reaffirming its commitment to the process of democratization of 
States, and recognizing that democracy, development and 
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are 
interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that democracy is 
based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their 
own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their 
full participation in all aspects of their lives, 
        Reaffirming commitments undertaken by Member States for the 
promotion of democracy and the rule of law, within the 
framework of the United Nations and other international 
organizations, 
        Noting the initiatives taken by the countries which participated in 
the fourth International Conference of New or Restored 
Democracies, held in Cotonou, Benin, from 4 to 6 December 
2000 and the Cotonou Declaration adopted there, 
        Noting also the ministerial conference entitled "Towards a 
Community of Democracies", hosted by the Government of 
Poland on 26 and 27 June 2000, and the Warsaw Declaration 
adopted by that meeting, the International Symposium on the 
Practices of Democracy, Rights and Freedoms in the 
French-speaking Community, held in Mali, from 1 to 3 November 
2000, and the Organization of American States the role of 
regional and multilateral organizations in the promotion and 
defence of democracy" held from 20 to 21 February 2001, 
        Recognizing the need continuously to promote respect for 
democratic values and principles, and to improve the functioning 
of democratic institutions and mechanisms,
        Also recognizing and respecting the rich and diverse nature of 
the community of the world's democracies, which arises out of 
all the world's social, cultural and religious beliefs and 
traditions,
        Noting the Human Development Report 2000 issued by the 
United Nations Development Programme, which illustrates the 
close link between democracy and good governance on the one 
hand, and economic development and poverty alleviation on the 
other hand,
        Noting the report of the Secretary-General on support by the 
United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote 
and consolidate new or restored democracies (A/55/489), 
        1.      Invites Member States to continue to foster and participate in a systematic dialogue on the building up of democratic societies and the factors of success and failure in the democratization processes, and notes recent conferences on democracy held since the fifty-sixth session of the Commission;
        2.      Welcomes steps taken in a number of countries to promote and consolidate the foundations of still-fragile democratic institutions and the restoration of democracy in a number of nations since the fifty-sixth session of the Commission;
        3.      Reaffirms that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing;
        4.      Also reaffirms that free and fair elections are an essential feature of democracy and must be part of a broader process that strengthens democratic principles, values, institutions, mechanisms and practices, which underpin formal democratic structures and the rule of law;
        5.      Encourages particular attention to be given to the recommendations of the Secretary-General that the United Nations should work to develop integrated democracy assistance programmes and common country strategies that are locally owned and involve a wide array of local actors;
        6.      Also encourages the development of broad-based democracy expertise drawn from all regions of the world;
        7.      Calls for information sharing and improved coordination in the United Nations system so as to facilitate the exchange of lessons learned and best practices in promoting and consolidating democracy;
        8.      Invites all Governments, relevant intergovernmental organizations and interested non-governmental organizations to continue and deepen debates aimed at identifying ways and means to promote and consolidate democracy;
        9.      Calls upon the Office of the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Human Rights to build upon the work of the aforementioned initiatives and contributions from Member States, and to organize an expert seminar to examine the interdependence between democracy and human rights, to be funded by voluntary contributions, and to include observers from interested Governments, experts of the United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes, other relevant intergovernmental organizations and interested non-governmental organizations; 
        10.     Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to report on the conclusions of the expert seminar to the Commission at its fifty-ninth session;
        11.     Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations 
High Commissioner for Human Rights to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, the competent United Nations organs and relevant intergovernmental and interested non-governmental organizations, and to disseminate it on the widest possible basis;
        12.     Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its fifty-eighth session under the same agenda item. 

72nd meeting
23 April 2001
[Adopted by a roll-call vote of 44 votes to none, with 9 abstentions.  See chap. XI.]

2001/72.  The role of good governance in the promotion of 
human rights
        The Commission on Human Rights,
        Guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a 
common standard of achievement of all peoples and all nations 
applying to every individual and every organ of society, and also 
the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action 
(A/CONF.157/23), which affirmed that all human rights are 
universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, 
        Recognizing the importance of a conducive environment, at both 
the national and the international levels, for the full enjoyment of 
all human rights, 
        Emphasizing that the strengthening of good governance at the 
national level, including through the building of effective and 
accountable institutions for promoting growth and sustainable 
human development, is a continuous process for all 
Governments regardless of the level of development of the 
countries concerned, 
        Noting the growing recognition of the importance of good 
governance in the promotion of human rights, and in particular in 
the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the 
General Assembly at the Millennium Summit of the United 
Nations, which brought together heads of State and Government, 
        Noting also that good governance practices necessarily vary 
according to the particular circumstances and needs of different 
societies, and that the responsibility for determining and 
implementing such practices, based on transparency and 
accountability, and for creating and maintaining an enabling 
environment conducive to the enjoyment of all human rights at 
the national level, rests with the State concerned,
        Affirming the need for enhanced cooperation at the international 
level between States and through the United Nations system, to 
ensure that States needing external inputs in order to improve 
good governance activities have access, if and when required, to 
the necessary information and resources,
        Recognizing the need for a closer examination of the role of 
good governance for the promotion of human rights and the 
relationship between good governance practices and the 
promotion and protection of all human rights in all countries,
        1.      Recognizes that transparent, responsible, accountable 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 a sine qua non for the promotion of human rights, including the right to development;
        2.      Emphasizes, in this context, the need to promote partnership approaches to international development cooperation and to ensure that prescriptive approaches to good governance do not impede such cooperation; 
        3.      Welcomes the provision by States of practical examples of activities that have been effective in strengthening good governance practices for the promotion of human rights at the national level, including activities in the context of development cooperation between States, for inclusion in a compilation of indicative ideas and practices that could be consulted by the interested States when required, in response to the invitation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued pursuant to paragraph 3 of Commission resolution 2000/64 of 26 April 2000, and requests the High Commissioner to reiterate this invitation to States and to extend it to United Nations and other relevant international bodies;
        4.      Invites the High Commissioner, where appropriate and relevant, to draw in her work on the material provided in response to the invitations issued pursuant to paragraph 3 of the present resolution and paragraph 3 of resolution 2000/64 and to inform the Commission of the utility of the material in this respect;
        5.      Decides to continue consideration of the question of the role of good governance in the promotion of human rights at its fifty-eighth session under the same agenda item.

78th meeting
25 April 2001
[Adopted without a vote.  See chap. XVII.]