Chapter 2 | Page 61 available resources’ was well received by most delegates.70 The Canadian delegation argued that ESC rights ‘represented essentially long-term aims to be achieved gradually’71 and that ‘the rate of progress towards the achievement of those aims would depend directly upon the degree of economic development, the level of education, climate, and the natural and human resources of the various countries’.72 The requirement to refer to ‘resources’ in the Covenant was debated and there was general recognition that the Covenant rights require State action as well as resources. While the requirement to use ‘maximum available resources’ is contingent on the State, the Danish representative stated that: ‘It would be unrealistic to attempt to dictate to States how they should allocate their resources in that respect’.73 Later, the General Assembly recognised that, given the nature of ESC rights and the close relationship between the realisation of those rights and the economic and social conditions of the countries concerned, it would be unrealistic to require each State party to the Covenant to do more than “undertake to take steps”, “to the maximum of its available resources”, with a view to “achieving progressively” the full realization of the rights recognized in the covenant.74 Nonetheless, it was also acknowledged that the enjoyment of ESC rights ‘depended in part upon available resources and upon domestic and international economic and social conditions over which the State exercised only incomplete control and which not only varied from country to country but were also liable to sudden change.’75 On the other hand, it was admitted that, 70 Commission on Human Rights, France: Draft articles to be inserted before article 20, 8th sess, Agenda Item 4, UN Doc E/CN.4/L.55 (25 April 1952). 71 United Nations General Assembly, Official Records, 6th sess, UN Doc A/C.3/SR.362 (8 December 1951), [31] (Canada). 72 Ibid. 73 Summary record of the 236th meeting of the Commission on Human Rights, E/CN.4/SR.236, 7th sess, (2 July 1951). 74 United Nations General Assembly, Annotations on the text of the draft International Covenants on Human Rights, 10th sess, Agenda Item 28, UN Doc A/2929 (1 July 1955), chapter V, para 21. 75 Ibid., para 24.