A/HRC/34/25 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 31/5, in which the Council requested the Secretary-General to continue to prepare and submit to the Council an annual report on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights under agenda item 3, with a special focus on the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 2. In the report, the Secretary-General outlines the linkages between economic, social and cultural rights and the Sustainable Development Goals framework as two converging agendas, and highlights equality, non-discrimination and accountability principles and a human rights-based approach to data as key factors to ensuring the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in a manner consistent with the obligations of States under international law. He identifies key challenges and opportunities for the human rights-based implementation of the 2030 Agenda and contributions of international human rights mechanisms. II. Economic, social and cultural rights and the Sustainable Development Goals: a convergent agenda 3. On 1 January 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at a historic summit,1 officially came into force. Member States pledged to achieve the Goals over the following 15 years by mobilizing efforts to end all forms of poverty, to fight inequalities and discrimination and to tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind, and in a manner consistent with the obligations of States under international law. This new agenda for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership, with its 17 Goals and 169 targets, is critically important for humanity and the planet, as it will shape the direction of global and national policies relating to sustainable development. 4. The 2030 Agenda is unequivocally anchored in human rights. It is explicitly grounded in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international human rights treaties and other instruments, including the Declaration on the Right to Development. It states that the Sustainable Development Goals aim to realize the human rights of all, and emphasizes the responsibilities of all States to respect, protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability or other status. 5. Furthermore, the 2030 Agenda is to be implemented in a manner that is consistent with the obligations of States under international law. The implementation of the Agenda should therefore be aligned with international human rights standards; its processes be guided by human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination, participation and accountability; and be targeted towards the realization of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, taking into account the interdependence, interrelatedness and indivisibility of all human rights. 6. The 2030 Agenda marks a paradigm shift towards a more balanced model of sustainable development, aiming to secure freedom from fear and freedom from want for all, without discrimination. While the Millennium Development Goals addressed only a narrow set of economic and social issues, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and their 1 2 General Assembly resolution 70/1.