Human Rights Council
Resolution 8/2.
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights
The Human Rights Council,
Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
Recalling that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted in June 1993
by the World Conference on Human Rights (A/CONF.157/24), the World Conference
encouraged the Commission on Human Rights to continue the examination of optional protocols
to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
Recalling also that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the 2005 World
Summit Outcome and General Assembly resolution 60/251 establishing the Human Rights
Council all affirm that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and
mutually reinforcing and must be treated in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and
with the same emphasis,
Bearing in mind previous resolutions of the Council and the Commission on Human Rights
on the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, and in particular Council resolution 1/3
on the Open-ended Working Group on an optional protocol to the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
Welcoming the report of the Working Group (A/HRC/8/7) and the decision to transmit the
draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to
the Council for its consideration,
1.
Adopts the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights annexed to the present resolution;
2.
Recommends that the General Assembly, in accordance with paragraph 5 (c) of its
resolution 60/251, adopt the following draft resolution: