A/HRC/11/10 page 17 55. Further, the Committee has recommended that “[e]very effort should be made, at each phase of a development project, to ensure that the rights contained in the Covenants are duly taken into account”.32 56. Concerning specifically the issue of foreign debt, the Committee has emphasized that “international measures to deal with the debt crisis should take full account of the need to protect economic, social and cultural rights through, inter alia, international cooperation. In many situations, this might point to the need for major debt relief initiatives”.33 57. States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child are obliged to undertake measures for the implementation of the economic, social and cultural rights set out in the Convention to the maximum extent of their available resources and, where needed, within the framework of international cooperation (art. 4). The Committee on the Rights of the Child, while noting that this provision reflects “a realistic acceptance” that lack of financial and other resources can hamper the full implementation of economic, social and cultural rights in some States, has emphasized that States must demonstrate that they have implemented these rights “to the maximum extent of their available resources” and, where necessary, have sought international cooperation.34 Further, the Committee has underlined that upon ratification of the Convention, States parties assume obligations “not only to implement it within their jurisdiction, but also to contribute, through international cooperation, to global implementation”. 58. Similarly, article 4 (2) of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, states, with regard to economic, social and cultural rights, that “[e]ach State Party undertakes to take measures to the maximum of its available resources and, where needed, within the framework of international cooperation, with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of these rights, without prejudice to those obligations contained in the present Convention that are immediately applicable according to international law”. 59. Further, in article 32 of the Convention, the States parties “recognize the importance of international cooperation and its promotion, in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the present Convention, and will undertake appropriate and effective measures in this regard, between and among States and, as appropriate, in partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society”. These measures include, inter alia, “(a) [e]nsuring that international cooperation, including international development programmes, is inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities” and “(d) providing, as appropriate, technical and economic assistance, including by facilitating access to and sharing of accessible and assistive technologies, and through the transfer of technologies”. 32 Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights general comment No. 2 (1990), para. 8 (d) (E/1990/23, annex III). 33 34 Ibid, para. 9. Convention on the Rights of the Child general comment No. 5, (arts. 4, 42 and 44, para. 6), (CRC/GC/2003/5 (2003), para. 7).

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