2
“The General Assembly,
Welcoming the adoption by the Human Rights Council, through its resolution ..., of the Optional
Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
1.
Adopts and opens for signature, ratification and accession the Optional Protocol to the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the text of which is annexed to the present
resolution;
2.
Recommends that the Optional Protocol be opened for signature at a signing ceremony in
Geneva in March 2009 and requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights to provide the necessary assistance.”
Annex
OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT
ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
Preamble
The States Parties to the present Protocol,
Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations,
recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family
is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Noting that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free
and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein,
without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,
national or social origin, property, birth or other status,
Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human
Rights recognize that the ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom from fear and want can only be
achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy civil, cultural, economic, political and social
rights,
Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights
and fundamental freedoms,
Recalling that each State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(hereinafter referred to as the Covenant) undertakes to take steps, individually and through international
assistance and cooperation, especially economic and technical, to the maximum of its available resources,
with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the rights recognized in the Covenant by all
appropriate means, including particularly the adoption of legislative measures,