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   General
   Assembly                                                        Distr.

                                                                  GENERAL

                                                            A/CONF.157/23

                                                              12 July 1993

                                                        Original: ENGLISH

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WORLD CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Vienna, 14-25 June 1993

                 VIENNA DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION

                          Note by the secretariat

Attached is the text of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, as
adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993.

VIENNA DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION

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 Jos 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 nongovernmental 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,
nondiscrimination 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 girlchild, 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
dutybound, 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 nongovernmental 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. Nongovernmental
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
SecretaryGeneral, 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, 314 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 nondiscrimination. 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
genderspecific 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
genderspecific 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
decisionmaking posts and their greater participation in the decisionmaking
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 nongovernmental 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
SecretaryGeneral 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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                              Copyright 1997
      Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
                            Geneva, Switzerland
