A/HRC/40/29 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 23 January 2019 Original: English Human Rights Council Fortieth session 25 February–22 March 2019 Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Question of the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in all countries: the role of economic, social and cultural rights in empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality Report of the Secretary-General* Summary The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 37/13, in which the Council requested the Secretary-General to prepare an annual report on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights, with a special focus on the role of economic, social and cultural rights in empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality. In the report, the Secretary-General identifies linkages between economic, social and cultural rights and the root causes of inequalities and power imbalances within societies. He further considers the value of the normative framework of economic, social and cultural rights and other related human rights in providing guidance for States and other stakeholders in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in a more effective and inclusive manner. * Agreement was reached to publish the present report after the standard publication date owing to circumstances beyond the submitter’s control. GE.19-01097(E) 