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 Jose 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.
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 practice 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 defense
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.
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 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 extra-budgetary 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 o freedom of thought, conscience, expression
and religion. The conference also invites all States to put into practice the
revisions 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
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 fulfillment 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 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 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.
