A/HRC/4/8 page 5 the world is more aware of the threat of terrorism. At the 2005 World Summit, the world’s leaders agreed to take action on fighting terrorism. By its global nature, terrorism requires a global response, with measures undertaken by the entire international community. The responsibility for fighting terrorism is shared collectively, in light of human dignity. 8. In resolution 55/2, the General Assembly recognizes that in addition to our separate responsibilities to our individual societies, we have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level. Leaders have a duty therefore to all the peoples of the world, especially the most vulnerable, and in particular to children. I. THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY 9. Collective rights, referred to by some as group rights, are closely connected to international solidarity and emerged, predominantly supported by developing countries, in the 1970s. The concept developed as an addition to individual human rights. 10. In his working paper on human rights and international solidarity (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/43), Rui Baltazar Dos Santos Alves states that solidarity implies a communion of responsibility and interests between individuals, groups, nations, and States. 11. From a global perspective, interdependence, by its very nature, exists not only between States, but also between other international actors, and these relationships require international cooperation. International cooperation is needed to fulfil not only partial but also international interests. The nature of the world’s interdependence will contribute to the basic principles of equity and social justice. As the benefits are so unequally distributed, international cooperation is needed to attain equal and fair distribution of costs and burdens. 12. The independent expert has defined international solidarity as the union of interests or purpose among the countries of the world and social cohesion between them, based upon the dependence of States and other international actors on each other, in order to preserve the order and very survival of international society, and in order to achieve collective goals, which require international cooperation and joint action. 13. Some jurists argue that Article 2, paragraph 1, of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides a clear basis for a number of claims concerning solidarity rights. Professor Burns Weston, of the University of Iowa, identifies six categories of solidarity rights: the right to economic, political, social and cultural self-determination; the right to economic and social development; the right to participate in and benefit from the common heritage of mankind and other information and progress; the right to peace; the right to a healthy environment; and the right to humanitarian relief. 14. Although the principle of international solidarity itself is not new, and moreover is embodied in the Millennium Development Goals, it could emerge as one of the major strategies to help achieve the right of peoples to a better standard of living. It is feasible to acknowledge international solidarity as a factor in meeting the needs of the geopolitics and global challenges of today. There are discernible differences between this and the individual rights contained in human rights instruments.