A/HRC/RES/12/9
page 2
Reaffirming the fact that article 4 of the Declaration on the Right to Development states
that sustained action is required to promote more rapid development of developing countries and,
as a complement to the efforts of developing countries, effective international cooperation is
essential in order to provide these countries with the appropriate means and facilities to foster
their comprehensive development,
Taking into account the fact that article 2 of the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights states that each State party to 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,
Persuaded that sustainable development can be promoted by peaceful coexistence, friendly
relations and cooperation among States with different social, economic or political systems,
Reaffirming the fact that the widening gap between the economically developed and
developing countries is unsustainable and that it impedes the realization of human rights in the
international community, and makes it all the more imperative for every nation, according to its
capacities, to make the maximum possible effort to close this gap,
Expressing concern at the fact that the immense benefits resulting from the process of
globalization and economic interdependence have not reached all countries, communities and
individuals, and at the increasing marginalization from their benefits of several countries,
particularly least developed and African countries,
Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters, diseases and
agricultural pests and their increasing impact in recent years, which have resulted in a massive
loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for
vulnerable societies throughout the world, in particular in developing countries,
Reaffirming the crucial importance of increasing the resources allocated for official
development assistance, recalling the pledge of industrialized countries to allocate 0.7 per cent of
their gross national product for official development assistance, and recognizing the need for
new and additional resources to finance the development programmes of developing countries,
Determined to take new steps forward in the commitment of the international community
with a view to achieving substantial progress in human rights endeavours by an increased and
sustained effort of international cooperation and solidarity,
Asserting the necessity for establishing new, equitable and global links of partnership and
intra-generational solidarity for the perpetuation of humankind,
Recognizing that the attention paid to the importance of international solidarity as a vital
component of the efforts made by developing countries to realize the right to development of
their peoples and to promote the full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by
everyone has been insufficient,