A/HRC/15/32 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 2005/55, the Commission on Human Rights appointed the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity to study the issue of human rights and international solidarity, to prepare a draft declaration on the right of peoples to international solidarity, taking into account outcomes of all major United Nations and other global summits and ministerial meetings in the economic and social fields and seeking views and contributions from Governments, United Nations agencies, relevant organizations and non-governmental organizations, and to report annually on the progress made in the fulfilment of the mandate. 2. The mandate of the independent expert was renewed by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 7/5 for a period of three years. 3. The Council, in its resolution 12/9, requested the independent expert to continue his work in the preparation of a draft declaration on the right of peoples and individuals to international solidarity, and in further developing guidelines, standards, norms and principles with a view to promoting and protecting this right, by addressing, inter alia, existing and emerging obstacles to its realization. 4. On 7 May and 20 October 2009, the independent expert distributed a questionnaire on human rights and international solidarity (see annex) to Member States, United Nations departments and bodies, specialized agencies, other international organizations and nongovernmental organizations, as well as special procedures mandate holders of the Council. The present report contains a summary of the answers to the questionnaire, identifies salient elements of a conceptual and normative framework drawing from the responses and his review and observations, and highlights significant areas of focus and emerging approaches in international cooperation. In concluding the report, the independent expert underlines the value and significance of international solidarity in an interdependent world, and how it may eventually guide the progressive development of international law on human rights and international solidarity. II. Responses to the questionnaire on human rights and international solidarity 5. Responses to the questionnaire were received from Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Colombia, the Czech Republic (on behalf of the European Union), El Salvador, Guyana, Iraq, Montenegro, Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia, Suriname and Tunisia; the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights, the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar and the Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights of Ukraine; the United Nations departments and bodies, specialized agencies and other international organizations, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute and the United Nations World Tourism Organization; the non-governmental organizations, the Amman Centre for Human Rights Studies, the Association Comunita Papa Giovanni XXIII, the International Association of Schools of Social Work and New Humanity; and the special procedures mandate holders of the Council, the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Shamsui Bari. A. International solidarity as a principle of international law 6. International solidarity is perceived by virtually all respondents as a principle, and by several as a right in international law. One respondent cited the statement that “the GE.10-14914 3