Welcomes the panel discussion on the issue of national policies and human rights, with a particular focus on the findings of the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on technical assistance and capacity-building options for integrating human rights into national policies,3 held by the Human Rights Council at its twenty-eighth session;
Takes note with appreciation of the summary report of the Office of the High Commissioner of the panel discussion,4 and of the conclusions and recommendations contained therein;
Acknowledges the efforts made by the Office of the High Commissioner in both technical assistance and capacity-building, upon request and in close cooperation with States, to align laws, policies, institutions and practices with their human rights obligations and commitments, to implement accepted universal periodic review recommendations and to follow up on recommendations made by other United Nations human rights mechanisms;
4
Encouragesthe Office of the High Commissioner to enhance further the efforts aimed at supporting these measures in order that national policies have a positive impact on the enjoyment of human rights;
5
Invitesrelevant United Nations bodies, agencies, funds and programmes and other relevant stakeholders to cooperate with States in providing technical assistance, upon request, of the States concerned, with the aim of assisting them in integrating human rights into national policies and programmes so that national policies contribute to the enjoyment of human rights;
6
Recommendsthat States integrate into their national policies a human rights perspective aimed at the promotion, protection and full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and take into consideration the views of civil society in the process;
7
Requeststhe Office of the High Commissioner:
a
To organize, prior to the thirty-second session of the Human Rights Council, an expert workshop to discuss effective, inclusive and participatory mechanisms and methodologies to mainstream human rights in the formulation and implementation of public policies, and to invite States, relevant United Nations bodies, funds and programmes, intergovernmental organizations, treaty bodies, special procedures, regional human rights mechanisms, civil society organizations, academia, national human rights institutions and other relevant stakeholders to participate actively in the workshop;
b
To prepare a summary report on the above-mentioned workshop, including any recommendations stemming therefrom, and to submit it to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-third session;