Soviet Socialist Republic had been among the first to sign. Those Covenants contained the minimum rights that any State should guarantee its citizens. The increase in the number of countries which had acceded to those Conventions (by 1 September 1984, 80 States had ratified or acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and 83 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, according to the report of the Secretary-General in document A/39/461) was a positive step. Nevertheless, more than half the States Members of the United Nations were not bound by those Covenants which ought to be universal. Since they regulated matters which were of interest to the majority of States, the level of participation in them was the basic criterion of their effectiveness, and accession to them reflected the policy of States and the degree to which they were truly willing to prevent vioiations of human rights. 33. His delegation, which in 1983 had expressed its satisfaction with the work of the Human Rights Committee and of the Sessional WOrking Group of Governmental Experts, had submitted its second periodic report, which contained information on the guarantees enjoyed in that field by the citizens of the Ukrainian SSR and which had been favourably received. His delegation agreed with the critical comments of certain other delegations concerning the organizational aspects and the selective character of the meeting of chairmen of human rights organs. 34. The extent of a country's interest in human rights could be measured by its concern for childrenJ the rights of children were mentioned in the Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR, a country which had always supported all United Nations activities in behalf of children. His delegation supported the draft convention on 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the significance of human rights and the participation of countries in international agreements related to human rights. It mentions the ratification of covenants and the submission of reports by the Ukrainian SSR, which suggests that the topic is related to international relations and human rights.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Human rights