A/HRC/24/38 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 1 July 2013 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-fourth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred-Maurice de Zayas* Summary The Independent Expert submits this progress report in accordance with Human Rights Council resolutions 18/6 and 21/9. It summarizes activities undertaken from August 2012 to June 2013, and addresses the spectrum of issues inherent in the mandate. For ease of reference, 14 documents and declarations have been included as annexes to the report. The Independent Expert understands the mandate as universal, aiming at the convergence of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights into a coherent synthesis necessary for the process of achieving an international order that is more democratic and equitable. The vast scope of the resolutions manifest the Council’s vision and call for the formulation of pragmatic recommendations to States, civil society, National Human Rights Institutions and the Council itself. A peaceful and just international order can be achieved when stakeholders collaborate to change paradigms and apply international law uniformly, in keeping with the United Nations Charter and human rights treaties * The annex to the present report is circulated as received, in the language of submission only. GE.13-15365