Preamble
The States Parties to the present Protocol,
Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the
United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable
rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and
peace in the world,
Noting that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and
that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without
distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political
or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,
Recalling 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 only be achieved if conditions
are created whereby everyone may enjoy civil, cultural, economic, political and social
rights,
Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness
of all human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Recalling that each State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Covenant) undertakes to take steps, individually
and through international assistance and cooperation, especially economic and technical,
to the maximum of its available resources, with a view to achieving progressively
the full realization of the rights recognized in the Covenant by all appropriate means,
including particularly the adoption of legislative measures,
Considering that, in order further to achieve the purposes of the Covenant and the implementation of its provisions, it would be appropriate to enable the Committee
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Committee)
to carry out the functions provided for in the present Protocol,