The World Conference on
Human Rights,
Considering that the
promotion and protection of human rights is a matter of priority for the
international community, and that the Conference affords a unique opportunity to
carry out a comprehensive analysis of the international human rights system and
of the machinery for the protection of human rights, in order to enhance and
thus promote a fuller observance of those rights, in a just and balanced manner,
Recognizing and affirming that all human rights derive from the dignity
and worth inherent in the human person, and that the human person is the central
subject of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and consequently should be the
principal beneficiary and should participate actively in the realization of
these rights and freedoms,
Reaffirming their commitment to the purposes and principles contained in
the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Reaffirming the commitment contained in Article 56 of the Charter of the
United Nations to take joint and separate action, placing proper emphasis on
developing effective international cooperation for the realization of the
purposes set out in Article 55, including universal respect for, and observance
of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all,
Emphasizing the responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the
Charter of the United Nations, to develop and encourage respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language
or religion,
Recalling the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, in
particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in
the dignity and worth of the human person, and in the equal rights of men and
women and of nations large and small,
Recalling also the determination expressed in the Preamble of the Charter
of the United Nations to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to
establish conditions under which justice and respect for obligations arising
from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, to
promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, to
practice tolerance and good neighbourliness, and to employ international
machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all
peoples,
Emphasizing that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which
constitutes a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, is
the source of inspiration and has been the basis for the United Nations in
making advances in standard setting as contained in the existing international
human rights instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights.
Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and
the aspirations of all the peoples for an international order based on the
principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including promoting
and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and
respect for the principle of equal rights and self -determination of peoples,
peace, democracy, justice, equality, rule of law, pluralism, development, better
standards of living and solidarity,
Deeply concerned by various forms of discrimination and violence, to
which women continue to be exposed all over the world,
Recognizing that the activities of the United Nations in the field of
human rights should be rationalized and enhanced in order to strengthen the
United Nations machinery in this field and to further the objectives of
universal respect for observance of international human rights standards,
Having taken into account the Declarations adopted by the three regional
meetings at Tunis, San José and Bangkok and the contributions made by
Governments, and bearing in mind the suggestions made by intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, as well as the studies prepared by independent
experts during the preparatory process leading to the World Conference on Human
Rights,
Welcoming the International Year of the World's Indigenous People 1993 as
a reaffirmation of the commitment of the international community to ensure their
enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to respect the value
and diversity of their cultures and identities,
Recognizing also that the international community should devise ways and
means to remove the current obstacles and meet challenges to the full
realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights
violations resulting thereof throughout the world,
Invoking the spirit of our age and the realities of our time which call
upon the peoples of the world and all States Members of the United Nations to
rededicate themselves to the global task of promoting and protecting all human
rights and fundamental freedoms so as to secure full and universal enjoyment of
these rights,
Determined to take new steps forward in the commitment of the
international community with a view to achieving substantial progress in human
rights endeavours by an increased and sustained effort of international
cooperation and solidarity,
Solemnly adopts the
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.
I
1. The World Conference on
Human Rights reaffirms the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their
obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of,
all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter
of the United Nations, other instruments relating to human rights, and
international law. The universal nature of these rights and freedoms is beyond
question.
In this framework, enhancement of international cooperation in the field of
human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United
Nations.
Human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings;
their protection and promotion is the first responsibility of Governments.
2. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right
they freely determine their political status, and freely pursue their economic,
social and cultural development.
Taking into account the particular situation of peoples under colonial or other
forms of alien domination or foreign occupation, the World Conference on Human
Rights recognizes the right of peoples to take any legitimate action, in
accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, to realize their inalienable
right of self-determination. The World Conference on Human Rights considers the
denial of the right of self-determination as a violation of human rights and
underlines the importance of the effective realization of this right.
In accordance with the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning
Friendly Relations and Cooperation Among States in accordance with the Charter
of the United Nations, this shall not be construed as authorizing or encouraging
any action which would dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial
integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting
themselves in compliance with the principle of equal rights and
self-determination of peoples and thus possessed of a Government representing
the whole people belonging to the territory without distinction of any kind.
3. Effective international measures to guarantee and monitor the implementation
of human rights standards should be taken in respect of people under foreign
occupation, and effective legal protection against the violation of their human
rights should be provided, in accordance with human rights norms and
international law, particularly the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection
of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 14 August 1949, and other applicable
norms of humanitarian law.
4. The promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms
must be considered as a priority objective of the United Nations in accordance
with its purposes and principles, in particular the purpose of international
cooperation. In the framework of these purposes and principles, the promotion
and protection of all human rights is a legitimate concern of the international
community. The organs and specialized agencies related to human rights should
therefore further enhance the coordination of their activities based on the
consistent and objective application of international human rights instruments.
5. All human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and
interrelated. The international community must treat human rights globally in a
fair and equal manner, on the same footing, and with the same emphasis. While
the significance of national and regional particularities and various
historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the
duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to
promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
6. The efforts of the United Nations system towards the universal respect for,
and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, contribute to
the stability and well-being necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among
nations, and to improved conditions for peace and security as well as social and
economic development, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.
7. The processes of promoting and protecting human rights should be conducted in
conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations, and international law.
8. Democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Democracy is based on the freely
expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social
and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives.
In the context of the above, the promotion and protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels should be
universal and conducted without conditions attached. The international community
should support the strengthening and promoting of democracy, development and
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the entire world.
9. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that least developed countries
committed to the process of democratization and economic reforms, many of which
are in Africa, should be supported by the international community in order to
succeed in their transition to democracy and economic development.
10. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms the right to development, as
established in the Declaration on the Right to Development, as a universal and
inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights.
As stated in the Declaration on the Right to Development, the human person is
the central subject of development.
While development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of
development may not be invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally
recognized human rights.
States should cooperate with each other in ensuring development and eliminating
obstacles to development. The international community should promote an
effective international cooperation for the realization of the right to
development and the elimination of obstacles to development.
Lasting progress towards the implementation of the right to development requires
effective development policies at the national level, as well as equitable
economic relations and a favourable economic environment at the international
level.
11. The right to development should be fulfilled so as to meet equitably the
developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations. The
World Conference on Human Rights recognizes that illicit dumping of toxic and
dangerous substances and waste potentially constitutes a serious threat to the
human rights to life and health of everyone.
Consequently, the World Conference on Human Rights calls on all States to adopt
and vigorously implement existing conventions relating to the dumping of toxic
and dangerous products and waste and to cooperate in the prevention of illicit
dumping.
Everyone has the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its
applications. The World Conference on Human Rights notes that certain advances,
notably in the biomedical and life sciences as well as in information
technology, may have potentially adverse consequences for the integrity, dignity
and human rights of the individual, and calls for international cooperation to
ensure that human rights and dignity are fully respected in this area of
universal concern
12. The World Conference on Human Rights calls upon the international community
to make all efforts to help alleviate the external debt burden of developing
countries, in order to supplement the efforts of the Governments of such
countries to attain the full realization of the economic, social and cultural
rights of their people.
13. There is a need for States and international organizations, in cooperation
with non-governmental organizations, to create favourable conditions at the
national, regional and international levels to ensure the full and effective
enjoyment of human rights. States should eliminate all violations of human
rights and their causes, as well as obstacles to the enjoyment of these rights.
14. The existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibits the full and effective
enjoyment of human rights; its immediate alleviation and eventual elimination
must remain a high priority for the international community.
15. Respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms without distinction of
any kind is a fundamental rule of international human rights law. The speedy and
comprehensive elimination of all forms of racism and racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance is a priority task for the international
community. Governments should take effective measures to prevent and combat
them. Groups, institutions, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations
and individuals are urged to intensify their efforts in cooperating and
coordinating their activities against these evils.
16. The World Conference on Human Rights welcomes the progress made in
dismantling apartheid and calls upon the international community and the United
Nations system to assist in this process.
The World Conference on Human Rights also deplores the continuing acts of
violence aimed at undermining the quest for a peaceful dismantling of apartheid.
17. The acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations as well as linkage in some countries to drug trafficking are
activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and
democracy, threatening territorial integrity, security of States and
destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments. The international community
should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat
terrorism.
18. The human rights of women and of the girl-child are an inalienable, integral
and indivisible part of universal human rights. The full and equal participation
of women in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life, at the
national, regional and international levels, and the eradication of all forms of
discrimination on grounds of sex are priority objectives of the international
community.
Gender-based violence and all forms of sexual harassment and exploitation,
including those resulting from cultural prejudice and international trafficking,
are incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person, and must be
eliminated. This can be achieved by legal measures and through national action
and international cooperation in such fields as economic and social development,
education, safe maternity and health care, and social support.
The human rights of women should form an integral part of the United Nations
human rights activities, including the promotion of all human rights instruments
relating to women.
The World Conference on Human Rights urges Governments, institutions,
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify their efforts
for the protection and promotion of human rights of women and the girl-child.
19. Considering the importance of the promotion and protection of the rights of
persons belonging to minorities and the contribution of such promotion and
protection to the political and social stability of the States in which such
persons live,
The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms the obligation of States to
ensure that persons belonging to minorities may exercise fully and effectively
all human rights and fundamental freedoms without any discrimination and in full
equality before the law in accordance with the Declaration on the Rights of
Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities.
The persons belonging to minorities have the right to enjoy their own culture,
to profess and practise their own religion and to use their own language in
private and in public, freely and without interference or any form of
discrimination.
20. The World Conference on Human Rights recognizes the inherent dignity and the
unique contribution of indigenous people to the development and plurality of
society and strongly reaffirms the commitment of the international community to
their economic, social and cultural well-being and their enjoyment of the fruits
of sustainable development. States should ensure the full and free participation
of indigenous people in all aspects of society, in particular in matters of
concern to them. Considering the importance of the promotion and protection of
the rights of indigenous people, and the contribution of such promotion and
protection to the political and social stability of the States in which such
people live, States should, in accordance with international law, take concerted
positive steps to ensure respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms
of indigenous people, on the basis of equality and non-discrimination, and
recognize the value and diversity of their distinct identities, cultures and
social organization.
21. The World Conference on Human Rights, welcoming the early ratification of
the Convention on the Rights of the Child by a large number of States and noting
the recognition of the human rights of children in the World Declaration on the
Survival, Protection and Development of Children and Plan of Action adopted by
the World Summit for Children, urges universal ratification of the Convention by
1995 and its effective implementation by States parties through the adoption of
all the necessary legislative, administrative and other measures and the
allocation to the maximum extent of the available resources. In all actions
concerning children, non-discrimination and the best interest of the child
should be primary considerations and the views of the child given due weight.
National and international mechanisms and programmes should be strengthened for
the defence and protection of children, in particular, the girl-child, abandoned
children, street children, economically and sexually exploited children,
including through child pornography, child prostitution or sale of organs,
children victims of diseases including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,
refugee and displaced children, children in detention, children in armed
conflict, as well as children victims of famine and drought and other
emergencies. International cooperation and solidarity should be promoted to
support the implementation of the Convention and the rights of the child should
be a priority in the United Nations system-wide action on human rights.
The World Conference on Human Rights also stresses that the child for the full
and harmonious development of his or her personality should grow up in a family
environment which accordingly merits broader protection.
22. Special attention needs to be paid to ensuring non-discrimination, and the
equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by disabled
persons, including their active participation in all aspects of society.
23. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that everyone, without
distinction of any kind, is entitled to the right to seek and to enjoy in other
countries asylum from persecution, as well as the right to return to one's own
country. In this respect it stresses the importance of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, its
1967 Protocol and regional instruments. It expresses its appreciation to States
that continue to admit and host large numbers of refugees in their territories,
and to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for its
dedication to its task. It also expresses its appreciation to the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
The World Conference on Human Rights recognizes that gross violations of human
rights, including in armed conflicts, are among the multiple and complex factors
leading to displacement of people.
The World Conference on Human Rights recognizes that, in view of the
complexities of the global refugee crisis and in accordance with the Charter of
the United Nations, relevant international instruments and international
solidarity and in the spirit of burden-sharing, a comprehensive approach by the
international community is needed in coordination and cooperation with the
countries concerned and relevant organizations, bearing in mind the mandate of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This should include the
development of strategies to address the root causes and effects of movements of
refugees and other displaced persons, the strengthening of emergency
preparedness and response mechanisms, the provision of effective protection and
assistance, bearing in mind the special needs of women and children, as well as
the achievement of durable solutions, primarily through the preferred solution
of dignified and safe voluntary repatriation, including solutions such as those
adopted by the international refugee conferences. The World Conference on Human
Rights underlines the responsibilities of States, particularly as they relate to
the countries of origin.
In the light of the comprehensive approach, the World Conference on Human Rights
emphasizes the importance of giving special attention including through
intergovernmental and humanitarian organizations and finding lasting solutions
to questions related to internally displaced persons including their voluntary
and safe return and rehabilitation.
In accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of
humanitarian law, the World Conference on Human Rights further emphasizes the
importance of and the need for humanitarian assistance to victims of all natural
and man-made disasters.
24. Great importance must be given to the promotion and protection of the human
rights of persons belonging to groups which have been rendered vulnerable,
including migrant workers, the elimination of all forms of discrimination
against them, and the strengthening and more effective implementation of
existing human rights instruments. States have an obligation to create and
maintain adequate measures at the national level, in particular in the fields of
education, health and social support, for the promotion and protection of the
rights of persons in vulnerable sectors of their populations and to ensure the
participation of those among them who are interested in finding a solution to
their own problems.
25. The World Conference on Human Rights affirms that extreme poverty and social
exclusion constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent steps are
necessary to achieve better knowledge of extreme poverty and its causes,
including those related to the problem of development, in order to promote the
human rights of the poorest, and to put an end to extreme poverty and social
exclusion and to promote the enjoyment of the fruits of social progress. It is
essential for States to foster participation by the poorest people in the
decision-making process by the community in which they live, the promotion of
human rights and efforts to combat extreme poverty.
26. The World Conference on Human Rights welcomes the progress made in the
codification of human rights instruments, which is a dynamic and evolving
process, and urges the universal ratification of human rights treaties. All
States are encouraged to accede to these international instruments; all States
are encouraged to avoid, as far as possible, the resort to reservations.
27. Every State should provide an effective framework of remedies to redress
human rights grievances or violations. The administration of justice, including
law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies and, especially, an independent
judiciary and legal profession in full conformity with applicable standards
contained in international human rights instruments, are essential to the full
and non-discriminatory realization of human rights and indispensable to the
processes of democracy and sustainable development. In this context,
institutions concerned with the administration of justice should be properly
funded, and an increased level of both technical and financial assistance should
be provided by the international community. It is incumbent upon the United
Nations to make use of special programmes of advisory services on a priority
basis for the achievement of a strong and independent administration of justice.
28. The World Conference on Human Rights expresses its dismay at massive
violations of human rights especially in the form of genocide, "ethnic
cleansing" and systematic rape of women in war situations, creating mass
exodus of refugees and displaced persons. While strongly condemning such
abhorrent practices it reiterates the call that perpetrators of such crimes be
punished and such practices immediately stopped.
29. The World Conference on Human Rights expresses grave concern about
continuing human rights violations in all parts of the world in disregard of
standards as contained in international human rights instruments and
international humanitarian law and about the lack of sufficient and effective
remedies for the victims.
The World Conference on Human Rights is deeply concerned about violations of
human rights during armed conflicts, affecting the civilian population,
especially women, children, the elderly and the disabled. The Conference
therefore calls upon States and all parties to armed conflicts strictly to
observe international humanitarian law, as set forth in the Geneva Conventions
of 1949 and other rules and principles of international law, as well as minimum
standards for protection of human rights, as laid down in international
conventions.
The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms the right of the victims to be
assisted by humanitarian organizations, as set forth in the Geneva Conventions
of 1949 and other relevant instruments of international humanitarian law, and
calls for the safe and timely access for such assistance.
30. The World Conference on Human Rights also expresses its dismay and
condemnation that gross and systematic violations and situations that constitute
serious obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights continue to occur in
different parts of the world. Such violations and obstacles include, as well as
torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, summary and
arbitrary executions, disappearances, arbitrary detentions, all forms of racism,
racial discrimination and apartheid, foreign occupation and alien domination,
xenophobia, poverty, hunger and other denials of economic, social and cultural
rights, religious intolerance, terrorism, discrimination against women and lack
of the rule of law.
31. The World Conference on Human Rights calls upon States to refrain from any
unilateral measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter of
the United Nations that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and
impedes the full realization of the human rights set forth in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights instruments, in
particular the rights of everyone to a standard of living adequate for their
health and well-being, including food and medical care, housing and the
necessary social services. The World Conference on Human Rights affirms that
food should not be used as a tool for political pressure.
32. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms the importance of ensuring
the universality, objectivity and non-selectivity of the consideration of human
rights issues.
33. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that States are duty-bound,
as stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and in other international
human rights instruments, to ensure that education is aimed at strengthening the
respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The World Conference on Human
Rights emphasizes the importance of incorporating the subject of human rights
education programmes and calls upon States to do so. Education should promote
understanding, tolerance, peace and friendly relations between the nations and
all racial or religious groups and encourage the development of United Nations
activities in pursuance of these objectives. Therefore, education on human
rights and the dissemination of proper information, both theoretical and
practical, play an important role in the promotion and respect of human rights
with regard to all individuals without distinction of any kind such as race,
sex, language or religion, and this should be integrated in the education
policies at the national as well as international levels. The World Conference
on Human Rights notes that resource constraints and institutional inadequacies
may impede the immediate realization of these objectives.
34. Increased efforts should be made to assist countries which so request to
create the conditions whereby each individual can enjoy universal human rights
and fundamental freedoms. Governments, the United Nations system as well as
other multilateral organizations are urged to increase considerably the
resources allocated to programmes aiming at the establishment and strengthening
of national legislation, national institutions and related infrastructures which
uphold the rule of law and democracy, electoral assistance, human rights
awareness through training, teaching and education, popular participation and
civil society.
The programmes of advisory services and technical cooperation under the Centre
for Human Rights should be strengthened as well as made more efficient and
transparent and thus become a major contribution to improving respect for human
rights. States are called upon to increase their contributions to these
programmes, both through promoting a larger allocation from the United Nations
regular budget, and through voluntary contributions.
35. The full and effective implementation of United Nations activities to
promote and protect human rights must reflect the high importance accorded to
human rights by the Charter of the United Nations and the demands of the United
Nations human rights activities, as mandated by Member States. To this end,
United Nations human rights activities should be provided with increased
resources.
36. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms the important and
constructive role played by national institutions for the promotion and
protection of human rights, in particular in their advisory capacity to the
competent authorities, their role in remedying human rights violations, in the
dissemination of human rights information, and education in human rights.
The World Conference on Human Rights encourages the establishment and
strengthening of national institutions, having regard to the "Principles
relating to the status of national institutions" and recognizing that it is
the right of each State to choose the framework which is best suited to its
particular needs at the national level.
37. Regional arrangements play a fundamental role in promoting and protecting
human rights. They should reinforce universal human rights standards, as
contained in international human rights instruments, and their protection. The
World Conference on Human Rights endorses efforts under way to strengthen these
arrangements and to increase their effectiveness, while at the same time
stressing the importance of cooperation with the United Nations human rights
activities.
The World Conference on Human Rights reiterates the need to consider the
possibility of establishing regional and subregional arrangements for the
promotion and protection of human rights where they do not already exist.
38. The World Conference on Human Rights recognizes the important role of
non-governmental organizations in the promotion of all human rights and in
humanitarian activities at national, regional and international levels. The
World Conference on Human Rights appreciates their contribution to increasing
public awareness of human rights issues, to the conduct of education, training
and research in this field, and to the promotion and protection of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms. While recognizing that the primary
responsibility for standard-setting lies with States, the conference also
appreciates the contribution of non-governmental organizations to this process.
In this respect, the World Conference on Human Rights emphasizes the importance
of continued dialogue and cooperation between Governments and non-governmental
organizations. Non-governmental organizations and their members genuinely
involved in the field of human rights should enjoy the rights and freedoms
recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the protection of
the national law. These rights and freedoms may not be exercised contrary to the
purposes and principles of the United Nations. Non-governmental organizations
should be free to carry out their human rights activities, without interference,
within the framework of national law and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.
39. Underlining the importance of objective, responsible and impartial
information about human rights and humanitarian issues, the World Conference on
Human Rights encourages the increased involvement of the media, for whom freedom
and protection should be guaranteed within the framework of national law.
II
A. Increased coordination
on human rights within the United Nations system
1. The World Conference on
Human Rights recommends increased coordination in support of human rights and
fundamental freedoms within the United Nations system. To this end, the World
Conference on Human Rights urges all United Nations organs, bodies and the
specialized agencies whose activities deal with human rights to cooperate in
order to strengthen, rationalize and streamline their activities, taking into
account the need to avoid unnecessary duplication. The World Conference on Human
Rights also recommends to the Secretary-General that high-level officials of
relevant United Nations bodies and specialized agencies at their annual meeting,
besides coordinating their activities, also assess the impact of their
strategies and policies on the enjoyment of all human rights.
2. Furthermore, the World Conference on Human Rights calls on regional
organizations and prominent international and regional finance and development
institutions to assess also the impact of their policies and programmes on the
enjoyment of human rights.
3. The World Conference on Human Rights recognizes that relevant specialized
agencies and bodies and institutions of the United Nations system as well as
other relevant intergovernmental organizations whose activities deal with human
rights play a vital role in the formulation, promotion and implementation of
human rights standards, within their respective mandates, and should take into
account the outcome of the World Conference on Human Rights within their fields
of competence.
4. The World Conference on Human Rights strongly recommends that a concerted
effort be made to encourage and facilitate the ratification of and accession or
succession to international human rights treaties and protocols adopted within
the framework of the United Nations system with the aim of universal acceptance.
The Secretary-General, in consultation with treaty bodies, should consider
opening a dialogue with States not having acceded to these human rights
treaties, in order to identify obstacles and to seek ways of overcoming them.
5. The World Conference on Human Rights encourages States to consider limiting
the extent of any reservations they lodge to international human rights
instruments, formulate any reservations as precisely and narrowly as possible,
ensure that none is incompatible with the object and purpose of the relevant
treaty and regularly review any reservations with a view to withdrawing them.
6. The World Conference on Human Rights, recognizing the need to maintain
consistency with the high quality of existing international standards and to
avoid proliferation of human rights instruments, reaffirms the guidelines
relating to the elaboration of new international instruments contained in
General Assembly resolution 41/120 of 4 December 1986 and calls on the United
Nations human rights bodies, when considering the elaboration of new
international standards, to keep those guidelines in mind, to consult with human
rights treaty bodies on the necessity for drafting new standards and to request
the Secretariat to carry out technical reviews of proposed new instruments.
7. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that human rights officers be
assigned if and when necessary to regional offices of the United Nations
Organization with the purpose of disseminating information and offering training
and other technical assistance in the field of human rights upon the request of
concerned Member States. Human rights training for international civil servants
who are assigned to work relating to human rights should be organized.
8. The World Conference on Human Rights welcomes the convening of emergency
sessions of the Commission on Human Rights as a positive initiative and that
other ways of responding to acute violations of human rights be considered by
the relevant organs of the United Nations system.
Resources
9. The World Conference on
Human Rights, concerned by the growing disparity between the activities of the
Centre for Human Rights and the human, financial and other resources available
to carry them out, and bearing in mind the resources needed for other important
United Nations programmes, requests the Secretary-General and the General
Assembly to take immediate steps to increase substantially the resources for the
human rights programme from within the existing and future regular budgets of
the United Nations, and to take urgent steps to seek increased extrabudgetary
resources.
10. Within this framework, an increased proportion of the regular budget should
be allocated directly to the Centre for Human Rights to cover its costs and all
other costs borne by the Centre for Human Rights, including those related to the
United Nations human rights bodies. Voluntary funding of the Centre's technical
cooperation activities should reinforce this enhanced budget; the World
Conference on Human Rights calls for generous contributions to the existing
trust funds.
11. The World Conference on Human Rights requests the Secretary-General and the
General Assembly to provide sufficient human, financial and other resources to
the Centre for Human Rights to enable it effectively, efficiently and
expeditiously to carry out its activities.
12. The World Conference on Human Rights, noting the need to ensure that human
and financial resources are available to carry out the human rights activities,
as mandated by intergovernmental bodies, urges the Secretary-General, in
accordance with Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, and Member
States to adopt a coherent approach aimed at securing that resources
commensurate to the increased mandates are allocated to the Secretariat. The
World Conference on Human Rights invites the Secretary-General to consider
whether adjustments to procedures in the programme budget cycle would be
necessary or helpful to ensure the timely and effective implementation of human
rights activities as mandated by Member States.
Centre for Human Rights
13. The World Conference on
Human Rights stresses the importance of strengthening the United Nations Centre
for Human Rights.
14. The Centre for Human Rights should play an important role in coordinating
system-wide attention for human rights. The focal role of the Centre can best be
realized if it is enabled to cooperate fully with other United Nations bodies
and organs. The coordinating role of the Centre for Human Rights also implies
that the office of the Centre for Human Rights in New York is strengthened.
15. The Centre for Human Rights should be assured adequate means for the system
of thematic and country rapporteurs, experts, working groups and treaty bodies.
Follow-up on recommendations should become a priority matter for consideration
by the Commission on Human Rights.
16. The Centre for Human Rights should assume a larger role in the promotion of
human rights. This role could be given shape through cooperation with Member
States and by an enhanced programme of advisory services and technical
assistance. The existing voluntary funds will have to be expanded substantially
for these purposes and should be managed in a more efficient and coordinated
way. All activities should follow strict and transparent project management
rules and regular programme and project evaluations should be held periodically.
To this end, the results of such evaluation exercises and other relevant
information should be made available regularly. The Centre should, in
particular, organize at least once a year information meetings open to all
Member States and organizations directly involved in these projects and
programmes.
Adaptation and
strengthening of the United Nations machinery for human rights, including the
question of the establishment of a United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights
17. The World Conference on
Human Rights recognizes the necessity for a continuing adaptation of the United
Nations human rights machinery to the current and future needs in the promotion
and protection of human rights, as reflected in the present Declaration and
within the framework of a balanced and sustainable development for all people.
In particular, the United Nations human rights organs should improve their
coordination, efficiency and effectiveness.
18. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends to the General Assembly that
when examining the report of the Conference at its forty-eighth session, it
begin, as a matter of priority, consideration of the question of the
establishment of a High Commissioner for Human Rights for the promotion and
protection of all human rights.
B. Equality, dignity and
tolerance
1. Racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance
19. The World Conference on
Human Rights considers the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, in
particular in their institutionalized forms such as apartheid or resulting from
doctrines of racial superiority or exclusivity or contemporary forms and
manifestations of racism, as a primary objective for the international community
and a worldwide promotion programme in the field of human rights. United Nations
organs and agencies should strengthen their efforts to implement such a
programme of action related to the third decade to combat racism and racial
discrimination as well as subsequent mandates to the same end. The World
Conference on Human Rights strongly appeals to the international community to
contribute generously to the Trust Fund for the Programme for the Decade for
Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination.
20. The World Conference on Human Rights urges all Governments to take immediate
measures and to develop strong policies to prevent and combat all forms and
manifestations of racism, xenophobia or related intolerance, where necessary by
enactment of appropriate legislation, including penal measures, and by the
establishment of national institutions to combat such phenomena.
21. The World Conference on Human Rights welcomes the decision of the Commission
on Human Rights to appoint a Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The World Conference
on Human Rights also appeals to all States parties to the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to consider
making the declaration under article 14 of the Convention.
22. The World Conference on Human Rights calls upon all Governments to take all
appropriate measures in compliance with their international obligations and with
due regard to their respective legal systems to counter intolerance and related
violence based on religion or belief, including practices of discrimination
against women and including the desecration of religious sites, recognizing that
every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and
religion. The Conference also invites all States to put into practice the
provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and
of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
23. The World Conference on Human Rights stresses that all persons who
perpetrate or authorize criminal acts associated with ethnic cleansing are
individually responsible and accountable for such human rights violations, and
that the international community should exert every effort to bring those
legally responsible for such violations to justice.
24. The World Conference on Human Rights calls on all States to take immediate
measures, individually and collectively, to combat the practice of ethnic
cleansing to bring it quickly to an end. Victims of the abhorrent practice of
ethnic cleansing are entitled to appropriate and effective remedies.
2. Persons belonging to
national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities
25. The World Conference on
Human Rights calls on the Commission on Human Rights to examine ways and means
to promote and protect effectively the rights of persons belonging to minorities
as set out in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or
Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. In this context, the World
Conference on Human Rights calls upon the Centre for Human Rights to provide, at
the request of Governments concerned and as part of its programme of advisory
services and technical assistance, qualified expertise on minority issues and
human rights, as well as on the prevention and resolution of disputes, to assist
in existing or potential situations involving minorities.
26. The World Conference on Human Rights urges States and the international
community to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or
ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in accordance with the Declaration
on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and
Linguistic Minorities.
27. Measures to be taken, where appropriate, should include facilitation of
their full participation in all aspects of the political, economic, social,
religious and cultural life of society and in the economic progress and
development in their country.
Indigenous people
28. The World Conference on
Human Rights calls on the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to
complete the drafting of a declaration on the rights of indigenous people at its
eleventh session.
29. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the Commission on Human
Rights consider the renewal and updating of the mandate of the Working Group on
Indigenous Populations upon completion of the drafting of a declaration on the
rights of indigenous people.
30. The World Conference on Human Rights also recommends that advisory services
and technical assistance programmes within the United Nations system respond
positively to requests by States for assistance which would be of direct benefit
to indigenous people. The World Conference on Human Rights further recommends
that adequate human and financial resources be made available to the Centre for
Human Rights within the overall framework of strengthening the Centre's
activities as envisaged by this document.
31. The World Conference on Human Rights urges States to ensure the full and
free participation of indigenous people in all aspects of society, in particular
in matters of concern to them.
32. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the General Assembly
proclaim an international decade of the world's indigenous people, to begin from
January 1994, including action-orientated programmes, to be decided upon in
partnership with indigenous people. An appropriate voluntary trust fund should
be set up for this purpose. In the framework of such a decade, the establishment
of a permanent forum for indigenous people in the United Nations system should
be considered.
Migrant workers
33. The World Conference on
Human Rights urges all States to guarantee the protection of the human rights of
all migrant workers and their families.
34. The World Conference on Human Rights considers that the creation of
conditions to foster greater harmony and tolerance between migrant workers and
the rest of the society of the State in which they reside is of particular
importance.
35. The World Conference on Human Rights invites States to consider the
possibility of signing and ratifying, at the earliest possible time, the
International Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of
Their Families.
3. The equal status and human
rights of women
36. The World Conference on
Human Rights urges the full and equal enjoyment by women of all human rights and
that this be a priority for Governments and for the United Nations. The World
Conference on Human Rights also underlines the importance of the integration and
full participation of women as both agents and beneficiaries in the development
process, and reiterates the objectives established on global action for women
towards sustainable and equitable development set forth in the Rio Declaration
on Environment and Development and chapter 24 of Agenda 21, adopted by the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, 3-14 June 1992).
37. The equal status of women and the human rights of women should be integrated
into the mainstream of United Nations system-wide activity. These issues should
be regularly and systematically addressed throughout relevant United Nations
bodies and mechanisms. In particular, steps should be taken to increase
cooperation and promote further integration of objectives and goals between the
Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Human Rights, the Committee
for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the United Nations
Development Fund for Women, the United Nations Development Programme and other
United Nations agencies. In this context, cooperation and coordination should be
strengthened between the Centre for Human Rights and the Division for the
Advancement of Women.
38. In particular, the World Conference on Human Rights stresses the importance
of working towards the elimination of violence against women in public and
private life, the elimination of all forms of sexual harassment, exploitation
and trafficking in women, the elimination of gender bias in the administration
of justice and the eradication of any conflicts which may arise between the
rights of women and the harmful effects of certain traditional or customary
practices, cultural prejudices and religious extremism. The World Conference on
Human Rights calls upon the General Assembly to adopt the draft declaration on
violence against women and urges States to combat violence against women in
accordance with its provisions. Violations of the human rights of women in
situations of armed conflict are violations of the fundamental principles of
international human rights and humanitarian law. All violations of this kind,
including in particular murder, systematic rape, sexual slavery, and forced
pregnancy, require a particularly effective response.
39. The World Conference on Human Rights urges the eradication of all forms of
discrimination against women, both hidden and overt. The United Nations should
encourage the goal of universal ratification by all States of the Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women by the year 2000.
Ways and means of addressing the particularly large number of reservations to
the Convention should be encouraged. Inter alia, the Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women should continue its review of
reservations to the Convention. States are urged to withdraw reservations that
are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention or which are otherwise
incompatible with international treaty law.
40. Treaty monitoring bodies should disseminate necessary information to enable
women to make more effective use of existing implementation procedures in their
pursuits of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and non-discrimination. New
procedures should also be adopted to strengthen implementation of the commitment
to women's equality and the human rights of women. The Commission on the Status
of Women and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
should quickly examine the possibility of introducing the right of petition
through the preparation of an optional protocol to the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The World Conference
on Human Rights welcomes the decision of the Commission on Human Rights to
consider the appointment of a special rapporteur on violence against women at
its fiftieth session.
41. The World Conference on Human Rights recognizes the importance of the
enjoyment by women of the highest standard of physical and mental health
throughout their life span. In the context of the World Conference on Women and
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,
as well as the Proclamation of Tehran of 1968, the World Conference on Human
Rights reaffirms, on the basis of equality between women and men, a woman's
right to accessible and adequate health care and the widest range of family
planning services, as well as equal access to education at all levels.
42. Treaty monitoring bodies should include the status of women and the human
rights of women in their deliberations and findings, making use of
gender-specific data. States should be encouraged to supply information on the
situation of women de jure and de facto in their reports to treaty
monitoring bodies. The World Conference on Human Rights notes with satisfaction
that the Commission on Human Rights adopted at its forty-ninth session
resolution 1993/46 of 8 March 1993 stating that rapporteurs and working groups
in the field of human rights should also be encouraged to do so. Steps should
also be taken by the Division for the Advancement of Women in cooperation with
other United Nations bodies, specifically the Centre for Human Rights, to ensure
that the human rights activities of the United Nations regularly address
violations of women's human rights, including gender-specific abuses. Training
for United Nations human rights and humanitarian relief personnel to assist them
to recognize and deal with human rights abuses particular to women and to carry
out their work without gender bias should be encouraged.
43. The World Conference on Human Rights urges Governments and regional and
international organizations to facilitate the access of women to decision-making
posts and their greater participation in the decision-making process. It
encourages further steps within the United Nations Secretariat to appoint and
promote women staff members in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations, and encourages other principal and subsidiary organs of the United
Nations to guarantee the participation of women under conditions of equality.
44. The World Conference on Human Rights welcomes the World Conference on Women
to be held in Beijing in 1995 and urges that human rights of women should play
an important role in its deliberations, in accordance with the priority themes
of the World Conference on Women of equality, development and peace.
4. The rights of the
child
45. The World Conference on
Human Rights reiterates the principle of "First Call for Children"
and, in this respect, underlines the importance of major national and
international efforts, especially those of the United Nations Children's Fund,
for promoting respect for the rights of the child to survival, protection,
development and participation.
46. Measures should be taken to achieve universal ratification of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child by 1995 and the universal signing of the World
Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and Plan of
Action adopted by the World Summit for Children, as well as their effective
implementation. The World Conference on Human Rights urges States to withdraw
reservations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child contrary to the object
and purpose of the Convention or otherwise contrary to international treaty law.
47. The World Conference on Human Rights urges all nations to undertake measures
to the maximum extent of their available resources, with the support of
international cooperation, to achieve the goals in the World Summit Plan of
Action. The Conference calls on States to integrate the Convention on the Rights
of the Child into their national action plans. By means of these national action
plans and through international efforts, particular priority should be placed on
reducing infant and maternal mortality rates, reducing malnutrition and
illiteracy rates and providing access to safe drinking water and to basic
education. Whenever so called for, national plans of action should be devised to
combat devastating emergencies resulting from natural disasters and armed
conflicts and the equally grave problem of children in extreme poverty.
48. The World Conference on Human Rights urges all States, with the support of
international cooperation, to address the acute problem of children under
especially difficult circumstances. Exploitation and abuse of children should be
actively combated, including by addressing their root causes. Effective measures
are required against female infanticide, harmful child labour, sale of children
and organs, child prostitution, child pornography, as well as other forms of
sexual abuse.
49. The World Conference on Human Rights supports all measures by the United
Nations and its specialized agencies to ensure the effective protection and
promotion of human rights of the girl child. The World Conference on Human
Rights urges States to repeal existing laws and regulations and remove customs
and practices which discriminate against and cause harm to the girl child.
50. The World Conference on Human Rights strongly supports the proposal that the
Secretary-General initiate a study into means of improving the protection of
children in armed conflicts. Humanitarian norms should be implemented and
measures taken in order to protect and facilitate assistance to children in war
zones. Measures should include protection for children against indiscriminate
use of all weapons of war, especially anti-personnel mines. The need for
aftercare and rehabilitation of children traumatized by war must be addressed
urgently. The Conference calls on the Committee on the Rights of the Child to
study the question of raising the minimum age of recruitment into armed forces.
51. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that matters relating to
human rights and the situation of children be regularly reviewed and monitored
by all relevant organs and mechanisms of the United Nations system and by the
supervisory bodies of the specialized agencies in accordance with their
mandates.
52. The World Conference on Human Rights recognizes the important role played by
non-governmental organizations in the effective implementation of all human
rights instruments and, in particular, the Convention on the Rights of the
Child.
53. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the Committee on the
Rights of the Child, with the assistance of the Centre for Human Rights, be
enabled expeditiously and effectively to meet its mandate, especially in view of
the unprecedented extent of ratification and subsequent submission of country
reports.
5. Freedom from torture
54. The World Conference on
Human Rights welcomes the ratification by many Member States of the Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
and encourages its speedy ratification by all other Member States.
55. The World Conference on Human Rights emphasizes that one of the most
atrocious violations against human dignity is the act of torture, the result of
which destroys the dignity and impairs the capability of victims to continue
their lives and their activities.
56. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that under human rights law
and international humanitarian law, freedom from torture is a right which must
be protected under all circumstances, including in times of internal or
international disturbance or armed conflicts.
57. The World Conference on Human Rights therefore urges all States to put an
immediate end to the practice of torture and eradicate this evil forever through
full implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the
relevant conventions and, where necessary, strengthening of existing mechanisms.
The World Conference on Human Rights calls on all States to cooperate fully with
the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture in the fulfilment of his
mandate.
58. Special attention should be given to ensure universal respect for, and
effective implementation of, the Principles of Medical Ethics relevant to the
Role of Health Personnel, particularly Physicians, in the Protection of
Prisoners and Detainees against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
59. The World Conference on Human Rights stresses the importance of further
concrete action within the framework of the United Nations with the view to
providing assistance to victims of torture and ensure more effective remedies
for their physical, psychological and social rehabilitation. Providing the
necessary resources for this purpose should be given high priority, inter
alia, by additional contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for
the Victims of Torture.
60. States should abrogate legislation leading to impunity for those responsible
for grave violations of human rights such as torture and prosecute such
violations, thereby providing a firm basis for the rule of law.
61. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that efforts to eradicate
torture should, first and foremost, be concentrated on prevention and,
therefore, calls for the early adoption of an optional protocol to the
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, which is intended to establish a preventive system of regular visits
to places of detention.
Enforced disappearances
62. The World Conference on
Human Rights, welcoming the adoption by the General Assembly of the Declaration
on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, calls upon all
States to take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures
to prevent, terminate and punish acts of enforced disappearances. The World
Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that it is the duty of all States, under
any circumstances, to make investigations whenever there is reason to believe
that an enforced disappearance has taken place on a territory under their
jurisdiction and, if allegations are confirmed, to prosecute its perpetrators.
6. The rights of the
disabled person
63. The World Conference on
Human Rights reaffirms that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are
universal and thus unreservedly include persons with disabilities. Every person
is born equal and has the same rights to life and welfare, education and work,
living independently and active participation in all aspects of society. Any
direct discrimination or other negative discriminatory treatment of a disabled
person is therefore a violation of his or her rights. The World Conference on
Human Rights calls on Governments, where necessary, to adopt or adjust
legislation to assure access to these and other rights for disabled persons.
64. The place of disabled persons is everywhere. Persons with disabilities
should be guaranteed equal opportunity through the elimination of all socially
determined barriers, be they physical, financial, social or psychological, which
exclude or restrict full participation in society.
65. Recalling the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted
by the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session, the World Conference on
Human Rights calls upon the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council
to adopt the draft standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for
persons with disabilities, at their meetings in 1993.
C. Cooperation,
development and strengthening of human rights
66. The World Conference on
Human Rights recommends that priority be given to national and international
action to promote democracy, development and human rights.
67. Special emphasis should be given to measures to assist in the strengthening
and building of institutions relating to human rights, strengthening of a
pluralistic civil society and the protection of groups which have been rendered
vulnerable. In this context, assistance provided upon the request of Governments
for the conduct of free and fair elections, including assistance in the human
rights aspects of elections and public information about elections, is of
particular importance. Equally important is the assistance to be given to the
strengthening of the rule of law, the promotion of freedom of expression and the
administration of justice, and to the real and effective participation of the
people in the decision-making processes.
68. The World Conference on Human Rights stresses the need for the
implementation of strengthened advisory services and technical assistance
activities by the Centre for Human Rights. The Centre should make available to
States upon request assistance on specific human rights issues, including the
preparation of reports under human rights treaties as well as for the
implementation of coherent and comprehensive plans of action for the promotion
and protection of human rights. Strengthening the institutions of human rights
and democracy, the legal protection of human rights, training of officials and
others, broad-based education and public information aimed at promoting respect
for human rights should all be available as components of these programmes.
69. The World Conference on Human Rights strongly recommends that a
comprehensive programme be established within the United Nations in order to
help States in the task of building and strengthening adequate national
structures which have a direct impact on the overall observance of human rights
and the maintenance of the rule of law. Such a programme, to be coordinated by
the Centre for Human Rights, should be able to provide, upon the request of the
interested Government, technical and financial assistance to national projects
in reforming penal and correctional establishments, education and training of
lawyers, judges and security forces in human rights, and any other sphere of
activity relevant to the good functioning of the rule of law. That programme
should make available to States assistance for the implementation of plans of
action for the promotion and protection of human rights.
70. The World Conference on Human Rights requests the Secretary-General of the
United Nations to submit proposals to the United Nations General Assembly,
containing alternatives for the establishment, structure, operational modalities
and funding of the proposed programme.
71. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that each State consider the
desirability of drawing up a national action plan identifying steps whereby that
State would improve the promotion and protection of human rights.
72. The World Conference on Human Rights on Human Rights reaffirms that the
universal and inalienable right to development, as established in the
Declaration on the Right to Development, must be implemented and realized. In
this context, the World Conference on Human Rights welcomes the appointment by
the Commission on Human Rights of a thematic working group on the right to
development and urges that the Working Group, in consultation and cooperation
with other organs and agencies of the United Nations system, promptly formulate,
for early consideration by the United Nations General Assembly, comprehensive
and effective measures to eliminate obstacles to the implementation and
realization of the Declaration on the Right to Development and recommending ways
and means towards the realization of the right to development by all States.
73. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that non-governmental and
other grass-roots organizations active in development and/or human rights should
be enabled to play a major role on the national and international levels in the
debate, activities and implementation relating to the right to development and,
in cooperation with Governments, in all relevant aspects of development
cooperation.
74. The World Conference on Human Rights appeals to Governments, competent
agencies and institutions to increase considerably the resources devoted to
building well-functioning legal systems able to protect human rights, and to
national institutions working in this area. Actors in the field of development
cooperation should bear in mind the mutually reinforcing interrelationship
between development, democracy and human rights. Cooperation should be based on
dialogue and transparency. The World Conference on Human Rights also calls for
the establishment of comprehensive programmes, including resource banks of
information and personnel with expertise relating to the strengthening of the
rule of law and of democratic institutions.
75. The World Conference on Human Rights encourages the Commission on Human
Rights, in cooperation with the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights, to continue the examination of optional protocols to the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
76. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that more resources be made
available for the strengthening or the establishment of regional arrangements
for the promotion and protection of human rights under the programmes of
advisory services and technical assistance of the Centre for Human Rights.
States are encouraged to request assistance for such purposes as regional and
subregional workshops, seminars and information exchanges designed to strengthen
regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights in accord
with universal human rights standards as contained in international human rights
instruments.
77. The World Conference on Human Rights supports all measures by the United
Nations and its relevant specialized agencies to ensure the effective promotion
and protection of trade union rights, as stipulated in the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other relevant
international instruments. It calls on all States to abide fully by their
obligations in this regard contained in international instruments.
D. Human rights education
78. The World Conference on
Human Rights considers human rights education, training and public information
essential for the promotion and achievement of stable and harmonious relations
among communities and for fostering mutual understanding, tolerance and peace.
79. States should strive to eradicate illiteracy and should direct education
towards the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening
of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The World Conference on
Human Rights calls on all States and institutions to include human rights,
humanitarian law, democracy and rule of law as subjects in the curricula of all
learning institutions in formal and non-formal settings.
80. Human rights education should include peace, democracy, development and
social justice, as set forth in international and regional human rights
instruments, in order to achieve common understanding and awareness with a view
to strengthening universal commitment to human rights.
81. Taking into account the World Plan of Action on Education for Human Rights
and Democracy, adopted in March 1993 by the International Congress on Education
for Human Rights and Democracy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, and other human rights instruments, the World Conference
on Human Rights recommends that States develop specific programmes and
strategies for ensuring the widest human rights education and the dissemination
of public information, taking particular account of the human rights needs of
women.
82. Governments, with the assistance of intergovernmental organizations,
national institutions and non-governmental organizations, should promote an
increased awareness of human rights and mutual tolerance. The World Conference
on Human Rights underlines the importance of strengthening the World Public
Information Campaign for Human Rights carried out by the United Nations. They
should initiate and support education in human rights and undertake effective
dissemination of public information in this field. The advisory services and
technical assistance programmes of the United Nations system should be able to
respond immediately to requests from States for educational and training
activities in the field of human rights as well as for special education
concerning standards as contained in international human rights instruments and
in humanitarian law and their application to special groups such as military
forces, law enforcement personnel, police and the health profession. The
proclamation of a United Nations decade for human rights education in order to
promote, encourage and focus these educational activities should be considered.
E. Implementation and
monitoring methods
83. The World Conference on
Human Rights urges Governments to incorporate standards as contained in
international human rights instruments in domestic legislation and to strengthen
national structures, institutions and organs of society which play a role in
promoting and safeguarding human rights.
84. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends the strengthening of United
Nations activities and programmes to meet requests for assistance by States
which want to establish or strengthen their own national institutions for the
promotion and protection of human rights.
85. The World Conference on Human Rights also encourages the strengthening of
cooperation between national institutions for the promotion and protection of
human rights, particularly through exchanges of information and experience, as
well as cooperation with regional organizations and the United Nations.
86. The World Conference on Human Rights strongly recommends in this regard that
representatives of national institutions for the promotion and protection of
human rights convene periodic meetings under the auspices of the Centre for
Human Rights to examine ways and means of improving their mechanisms and sharing
experiences.
87. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends to the human rights treaty
bodies, to the meetings of chairpersons of the treaty bodies and to the meetings
of States parties that they continue to take steps aimed at coordinating the
multiple reporting requirements and guidelines for preparing State reports under
the respective human rights conventions and study the suggestion that the
submission of one overall report on treaty obligations undertaken by each State
would make these procedures more effective and increase their impact.
88. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the States parties to
international human rights instruments, the General Assembly and the Economic
and Social Council should consider studying the existing human rights treaty
bodies and the various thematic mechanisms and procedures with a view to
promoting greater efficiency and effectiveness through better coordination of
the various bodies, mechanisms and procedures, taking into account the need to
avoid unnecessary duplication and overlapping of their mandates and tasks.
89. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends continued work on the
improvement of the functioning, including the monitoring tasks, of the treaty
bodies, taking into account multiple proposals made in this respect, in
particular those made by the treaty bodies themselves and by the meetings of the
chairpersons of the treaty bodies. The comprehensive national approach taken by
the Committee on the Rights of the Child should also be encouraged.
90. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that States parties to human
rights treaties consider accepting all the available optional communication
procedures.
91. The World Conference on Human Rights views with concern the issue of
impunity of perpetrators of human rights violations, and supports the efforts of
the Commission on Human Rights and the Sub-Commission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to examine all aspects of the issue.
92. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the Commission on Human
Rights examine the possibility for better implementation of existing human
rights instruments at the international and regional levels and encourages the
International Law Commission to continue its work on an international criminal
court.
93. The World Conference on Human Rights appeals to States which have not yet
done so to accede to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the Protocols
thereto, and to take all appropriate national measures, including legislative
ones, for their full implementation.
94. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends the speedy completion and
adoption of the draft declaration on the right and responsibility of
individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally
recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms.
95. The World Conference on Human Rights underlines the importance of preserving
and strengthening the system of special procedures, rapporteurs,
representatives, experts and working groups of the Commission on Human Rights
and the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities, in order to enable them to carry out their mandates in all countries
throughout the world, providing them with the necessary human and financial
resources. The procedures and mechanisms should be enabled to harmonize and
rationalize their work through periodic meetings. All States are asked to
cooperate fully with these procedures and mechanisms.
96. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the United Nations
assume a more active role in the promotion and protection of human rights in
ensuring full respect for international humanitarian law in all situations of
armed conflict, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of
the United Nations.
97. The World Conference on Human Rights, recognizing the important role of
human rights components in specific arrangements concerning some peace-keeping
operations by the United Nations, recommends that the Secretary-General take
into account the reporting, experience and capabilities of the Centre for Human
Rights and human rights mechanisms, in conformity with the Charter of the United
Nations.
98. To strengthen the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights,
additional approaches should be examined, such as a system of indicators to
measure progress in the realization of the rights set forth in the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. There must be a concerted
effort to ensure recognition of economic, social and cultural rights at the
national, regional and international levels.
F. Follow-up to the World
Conference on Human Rights
99. The World Conference on
Human Rights on Human Rights recommends that the General Assembly, the
Commission on Human Rights and other organs and agencies of the United Nations
system related to human rights consider ways and means for the full
implementation, without delay, of the recommendations contained in the present
Declaration, including the possibility of proclaiming a United Nations decade
for human rights. The World Conference on Human Rights further recommends that
the Commission on Human Rights annually review the progress towards this end.
100. The World Conference on Human Rights requests the Secretary-General of the
United Nations to invite on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights all States, all organs and agencies of the
United Nations system related to human rights, to report to him on the progress
made in the implementation of the present Declaration and to submit a report to
the General Assembly at its fifty-third session, through the Commission on Human
Rights and the Economic and Social Council. Likewise, regional and, as
appropriate, national human rights institutions, as well as non-governmental
organizations, may present their views to the Secretary-General on the progress
made in the implementation of the present Declaration. Special attention should
be paid to assessing the progress towards the goal of universal ratification of
international human rights treaties and protocols adopted within the framework
of the United Nations system.
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of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Geneva, Switzerland
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