A/HRC/RES/19/5 Mindful of recent significant developments and remaining challenges in the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights at the national, regional and international levels, Recognizing that the early entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, through its ratification by ten States, will be an important tool to help to strengthen the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights worldwide, and noting with interest the fact that thirtynine States have signed the Optional Protocol and eight have ratified it since it was opened for signature on 24 September 2009, 1. Affirms: (a) That the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights recognize that the ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom from fear and want can be achieved only if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights; (b) That all persons in all countries are entitled to the realization of their economic, social and cultural rights, which are indispensable to their dignity and the free development of their personality; (c) The universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the obligation of all States to ensure the full promotion, protection and realization of all human rights; (d) The importance of international cooperation in assisting Governments to fulfil their obligation to protect and promote all human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, while emphasizing that the primary responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights lies with States; (e) The inextricable link between full respect for the rights contained in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the process of development; 2. Calls upon all States: (a) To give full effect to economic, social and cultural rights; (b) To consider signing and ratifying, and States parties to implement, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as other international instruments relating to the realization of economic, social and cultural rights; (c) To guarantee that economic, social and cultural rights shall be exercised without discrimination of any kind; (d) To secure progressively, through national development policies and with international assistance and cooperation, as appropriate, the full realization of economic, social and cultural rights, paying particular attention to individuals and communities living in extreme poverty; (e) To promote the meaningful and wide participation of civil society in decision-making processes relating to the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights, including through efforts to identify and strengthen good governance practices; 3. Encourages all States that have not yet signed and ratified the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to consider doing so with a view to its early entry into force; 4. 2 Calls upon the States parties to the Covenant: