A/HRC/RES/40/9
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
5 April 2019
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Fortieth session
25 February–22 March 2019
Agenda item 3
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council
on 21 March 2019
40/9.
Human rights, democracy and the rule of law
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration
and Programme of Action,
Reaffirming also the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and other relevant
international human rights instruments,
Acknowledging that, by adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
Member States have pledged to leave no one behind in the implementation of the
Sustainable Development Goals, including, inter alia, Goal 16, on promoting peaceful and
inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and
building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels,
Acknowledging also that human rights, democracy and the rule of law create an
environment in which countries can promote development, protect individuals from
discrimination and ensure equal access to justice for all by involving Governments,
parliaments, the United Nations system and other international organizations, local
authorities, national human rights institutions, indigenous peoples, persons belonging to
minorities, human rights defenders, civil society, business and the private sector, the
scientific and academic communities, as well as all other interested stakeholders,
Recalling all previous resolutions on democracy and the rule of law adopted by the
General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, in
particular Council resolutions 19/36 of 23 March 2012, 28/14 of 26 March 2015 and 34/41
of 24 March 2017, in which the Council established the Forum on Human Rights,
Democracy and the Rule of Law and decided on the themes of its first two sessions,
Recognizing the link between human rights, democracy, the rule of law and good
governance, and recalling the Human Rights Council resolutions and all other resolutions
relevant to the role of good governance in the promotion of human rights,
Convinced that the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, the integrity of
the judicial system and an independent legal profession are essential prerequisites for the
protection of human rights, the rule of law, good governance and democracy and for
GE.19-05732(E)