5.
On the broader issues of the promotion of respect for human rights in the context of
development activities, the Committee has so far seen only rather limited evidence of specific
efforts by United Nations bodies. It notes with satisfaction in this regard the initiative taken
jointly by the Centre for Human Rights and UNDP in writing to United Nations Resident
Representatives and other field-based officials, inviting their “suggestions and advice, in
particular with respect to possible forms of cooperation in ongoing projects [identified] as
having a human rights dimension or in new ones in response to a specific Government’s
request”. The Committee has also been informed of long-standing efforts undertaken by ILO
to link its own human rights and other international labour standards to its technical
cooperation activities.
6.
With respect to such activities, two general principles are important. The first is that
the two sets of human rights are indivisible and interdependent. This means that efforts to
promote one set of rights should also take full account of the other. United Nations agencies
involved in the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights should do their utmost to
ensure that their activities are fully consistent with the enjoyment of civil and political rights.
In negative terms this means that the international agencies should scrupulously avoid
involvement in projects which, for example, involve the use of forced labour in contravention
of international standards, or promote or reinforce discrimination against individuals or
groups contrary to the provisions of the Covenant, or involve large-scale evictions or
displacement of persons without the provision of all appropriate protection and
compensation. In positive terms, it means that, wherever possible, the agencies should act as
advocates of projects and approaches which contribute not only to economic growth or other
broadly defined objectives, but also to enhanced enjoyment of the full range of human rights.
7.
The second principle of general relevance is that development cooperation activities
do not automatically contribute to the promotion of respect for economic, social and cultural
rights. Many activities undertaken in the name of “development” have subsequently been
recognized as ill-conceived and even counterproductive in human rights terms. In order to
reduce the incidence of such problems, the whole range of issues dealt with in the Covenant
should, wherever possible and appropriate, be given specific and careful consideration.
8.
Despite the importance of seeking to integrate human rights concerns into
development activities, it is true that proposals for such integration can too easily remain at a
level of generality. Thus, in an effort to encourage the operationalization of the principle
contained in article 22 of the Covenant, the Committee wishes to draw attention to the
following specific measures which merit consideration by the relevant bodies:
(a)
As a matter of principle, the appropriate United Nations organs and agencies
should specifically recognize the intimate relationship which should be established between
development activities and efforts to promote respect for human rights in general, and
economic, social and cultural rights in particular. The Committee notes in this regard the
failure of each of the first three United Nations Development Decade Strategies to recognize
that relationship and urges that the fourth such strategy, to be adopted in 1990, should rectify
that omission;
(b)
Consideration should be given by United Nations agencies to the proposal,
made by the Secretary-General in a report of 19791 that a “human rights impact statement” be
required to be prepared in connection with all major development cooperation activities;
(c)
The training or briefing given to project and other personnel employed by
United Nations agencies should include a component dealing with human rights standards
and principles;