 The General Assembly,
Considering that one of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in Articles I and 55 of the Charter, is to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,
Considering that in Article 56 of the Charter all Members of the United Nations have pledged themselves to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organization or the achieement of that purpose,
Recalling the proclamation by the General Assembly on 10 December 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations,
Having considered since its ninth session the draft International Covenants on Human Rights prepared by the Commission on Human Rights and transmitted to it by Economic and Social Council resolution 545 B (XVIII) of 29 July 1954, and having complete the elaboration of the Covenants at its twenty-first session,
1. Adoptes and opens for signature, ratification and accession the following international instruments, the texts of which are annexed to the present resolution:
(a) The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
(b) The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
(c) The Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
2. Expresses the hope that the Covenants and the Optional Protocol will be signed and ratified or acceded to without delay and come into force at an early date;
3. Requests that Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its future sessions reports concerning the ratification of the Covenants and of the Optional Protocol which the Assembly will consider as a separate agenda item.
1496th plenary meeting
16 December 1966
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