A/HRC/15/32
34.
Countries also need to exchange good practices, and empower people through the
media and technology. Human rights education in schools, with a focus on fostering a
strong sense of internationalism, especially concern for those in dire circumstances, would
be helpful.
C.
Obligations in international solidarity
35.
Respondents pointed out that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the
Monterrey Consensus, the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for
Action of 2008 are, among others, important steps by which States agreed upon obligations
in international solidarity. Some respondents asserted that there are State obligations with
regard to international and/or global solidarity; however, others stated that, since the
concept is broad, it is difficult to hold any party to it, and suggested that individual and
measurable country commitments be developed. According to the latter respondents, there
should be some official system of checks and balances without which implementation
cannot be monitored, and “all talk and no action” instead.
36.
Several respondents had the view that State obligations with respect to international
or global solidarity are already established under the Charter of the United Nations, where
countries pledge individually and collectively to achieve the purposes and principles of the
Charter through cooperation. The issue is one of political will at the international level to
ensure that there is a more robust approach to reducing and removing inequitable trade
relations and other inequalities between developed and developing countries. The present
body of international law on human rights based on equality, development, peace and
solidarity is sufficient with the inclusion of clearly established definitions and the political
will to uphold them.
37.
The development of the right of peoples and individuals to international solidarity
depends on the full acceptance of the concept of shared responsibility. Efforts must
therefore be made by all countries in order for the international community to increase
resources for technical and financial cooperation and fulfil the commitment made by
developed countries to allocate the agreed share of gross national income to ODA, under
the Monterrey Consensus. The primary stakeholders — United Nations, States, specialized
agencies and non-governmental organizations — solemnly undertook, in various
resolutions, to implement a new global strategy against poverty, which also led to the
creation by the United Nations of the World Solidarity Fund. Owing to a lack of measures
for financing, the programmes relating to poverty and human rights have yet to be
implemented. For some respondents, it is clear that the responsibility of States with regard
to specifically international solidarity should be redefined in order to reinforce it in
international law.
38.
According to some respondents, international solidarity creates moral and ethical
obligations only, and implementation depends on political will. However, it was felt that
these obligations are not enough in the light of crises affecting the expectations of people
around the world, which require legally-binding obligations. One view was strongly
expressed that solidarity is purely a moral, not a legal, obligation. Other respondents, on the
other hand, advocated a convention on solidarity. They also pointed out, however, that
States often do not have the ability to provide the resources and means to ensure this right.
In times of global interdependence, it is necessary to recognize extraterritorial State
obligations, as circumstances are often beyond the control of individual States. In the
realization of the right to food, it has been recognized that, in a globalized, interconnected
world, actions taken by one Government may have a negative impact on the right to food of
individuals living in other countries. All countries should therefore ensure that their policies
do not contribute to human rights violations in other countries.
GE.10-14914
11
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