The General Assembly,
Recalling that the Charter of the United Nations affirms in its preamble that to practise tolerance is one of the principles to be applied to attain the ends pursued by the United Nations of preventing war and maintaining peace,
Recalling also that one of the purposes of the United Nations as set forth in the Charter is the achievement of international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,
Mindful of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the International Covenants on Human Rights,
Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993,
Convinced that tolerance - the recognition and appreciation of others, the ability to live together with and to listen to others - is the sound foundation of any civil society and of peace,
Recalling its resolution 47/124 of 18 December 1992, in which, inter alia, it invited the Economic and Social Council to consider at its substantive session of 1993 the question of proclaiming 1995 the United Nations year for tolerance and to transmit a recommendation to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session,
Recalling also resolution 5.6 of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, concerning the proclamation of 1995 as the United Nations year for tolerance,
Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/57 of 29 July 1993, in which the Council recommended that the General Assembly, at its forty-eighth session, should proclaim 1995 the United Nations year for tolerance,
Taking into account the note by the Secretary-General, transmitting the report of the Director-General of the the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
Bearing in mind its decision 35/424 of 5 December 1980 and Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 concerning guidelines for international years and anniversaries,
Noting that the preparations for the United Nations year for tolerance will not involve any financial implications for the United Nations,
1. Proclaims 1995 the United Nations Year for Tolerance;
2. Recommends that the specialized agencies, regional commissions and other organizations of the United Nations system consider in their respective forums the contributions they could make to the success of the Year;
3. Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to assume the role of lead organization for the Year;
4. Calls upon all Member States to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the preparation of the national and international programmes for the Year and to participate actively in the implementation of the activities to be organized within the framework of the Year;
5. Invites interested intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to exert efforts in their respective fields to contribute adequately to the preparation of programmes for the Year;
6. Requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to prepare, in accordance with its General Conference resolution 5.6, a declaration on tolerance;
7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-ninth session an item entitled "Preparations for and organization of the United Nations Year for Tolerance".
85th plenary meeting
20 December 1993
