A/HRC/8/52 page 9 Recalling that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted in June 1993 by the World Conference on Human Rights (A/CONF.157/24), the World Conference encouraged the Commission on Human Rights to continue the examination of optional protocols to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Recalling also that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the 2005 World Summit Outcome and General Assembly resolution 60/251 establishing the Human Rights Council all affirm that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing and must be treated in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Bearing in mind previous resolutions of the Council and the Commission on Human Rights on the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, and in particular Council resolution 1/3 on the Open-ended Working Group on an optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Welcoming the report of the Working Group (A/HRC/8/7) and the decision to transmit the draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to the Council for its consideration, 1. Adopts the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights annexed to the present resolution; 2. Recommends that the General Assembly, in accordance with paragraph 5 (c) of its resolution 60/251, adopt the following draft resolution: “The General Assembly, Welcoming the adoption by the Human Rights Council, through its resolution ..., of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1. Adopts and opens for signature, ratification and accession the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the text of which is annexed to the present resolution; 2. Recommends that the Optional Protocol be opened for signature at a signing ceremony in Geneva in March 2009 and requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the necessary assistance.” Annex OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS Preamble The States Parties to the present Protocol, Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,