Question of the Realization in All Countries of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

A/HRC/RES/28/12View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the Human Rights Council, under agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, published in 2015.

What other versions does this mandate have?

12 versions · 2007–2025

This is an older version — the most recent is A/HRC/RES/58/9

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2025	A/HRC/RES/58/9	Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights	4,080	52%Compare
2023	A/HRC/RES/52/11	Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights	3,293	75%Compare
2021	A/HRC/RES/46/10	Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights	2,949	41%Compare
2019	A/HRC/RES/40/12	Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights	2,263	63%Compare
2018	A/HRC/RES/37/13	Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights	2,025	74%Compare

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

12 reports · 2009–2025

Year	Symbol	Title	Mandate resolution
2025	A/HRC/58/37	Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights report of the Secretary-General	A/HRC/RES/52/11
2022	A/HRC/49/28	Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights report of the Secretary-General	A/HRC/RES/46/10
2021	A/HRC/46/43	Question of the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in all countries the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the realization of economic, social and cultural rights : report of the Secretary-General	A/HRC/RES/4/1
2020	A/HRC/43/29	Question of the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in all countries the role of new technologies for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights : report of the Secretary-General	A/HRC/RES/40/12
2019	A/HRC/40/29	Question of the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in all countries the role of economic, social and cultural rights in empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality : report of the Secretary-General	A/HRC/RES/37/13

What subjects does this mandate have?

4 subjects

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Human Rights Social Policy Social Security

What’s in this document?

18 operative paragraphs

Calls upon all States to give full effect to economic, social and cultural rights by, inter alia, taking all appropriate measures to implement the Human Rights Council resolutions on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights, the most recent of which is resolution 25/11 of 27 March 2014;

Welcomes the two latest ratifications of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, calls upon all States that have not yet signed and ratified the Covenant to consider doing so as a matter of priority, and calls upon States parties to consider reviewing their reservations thereto;

Also welcomes the six latest ratifications of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and encourages all States that have not yet signed and ratified the Optional Protocol to consider doing so, and also to consider making declarations under articles 10 and 11 thereof;

Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights, with a special focus on the importance of social protection floors for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights,² submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 25/11, and of the conclusions contained therein;

²A/HRC/28/35.

Recognizes that social protection policies play a critical role in realizing economic, social and cultural rights for all, reducing poverty and inequality and supporting inclusive growth;

Acknowledges that social protection floors may facilitate the enjoyment of human rights, including the rights to social security, the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, an adequate standard of living, including adequate food, clothing and housing, education and safe drinking water and sanitation, in accordance with the human rights obligations of States, and in this regard underlines the importance of compliance with the principles of non-discrimination, transparency, participation and accountability;

Also acknowledges that the establishment and implementation of social protection floors in accordance with the State’s obligations to promote, protect and fulfil human rights may contribute to ensuring minimum essential levels and promoting the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights, gender equality and the protection of persons in a situation of vulnerability;

Encourages States to put in place social protection floors as part of comprehensive social protection systems that will contribute to the enjoyment and realization of human rights;

Underlines the importance of an effective remedy for violations of economic, social and cultural rights, and in this regard takes note with appreciation of measures taken to facilitate access to complaints procedures and the domestic adjudication of cases, as appropriate, for victims of alleged human rights violations;

Welcomes the steps taken at the national level to implement economic, social and cultural rights, including the enactment of appropriate legislation and adjudication by national courts;

Reiterates that respect for and the promotion and protection of human rights are an integral part of effective work towards achieving internationally agreed development goals, and the importance of giving due consideration to equality, social protection and accountability in the context of the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda;

Notes with interest the work carried out by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to assist States parties in fulfilling their obligations, including through the submission of general comments, the consideration of periodic reports and, for States parties to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the examination of individual communications;

Also notes with interest the work of other relevant treaty bodies and special procedures in the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights within their respective mandates;

Encourages enhanced cooperation and, as appropriate, increased coordination between the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and programmes, mechanisms of the Human Rights Council and other human rights treaty bodies whose activities have a bearing on economic, social and cultural rights in a manner that respects their distinctive mandates and promotes their policies, programmes and projects;

Recognizes and encourages the important contributions of regional organizations, national human rights institutions and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academic and research institutions, business enterprises and trade unions to the question of the realization and enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, including training and information activities;

Welcomes the activities carried out by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights, mainly through technical cooperation, the work of its field offices, its relevant reports to United Nations bodies, the development of in-house expertise, including on human rights indicators, and its publications, studies, training and information activities on related issues, including through new information technologies;

Requests the Secretary-General to continue to prepare and submit to the Human Rights Council an annual report on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights under agenda item 3, with a special focus on a compilation of best practices adopted by States to measure progress in the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, including national indicators to advance the realization of such rights;

Decides to remain seized of this issue and to consider taking further action in order to implement the present resolution.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What other versions does this mandate have?

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

Table of contents