The General Assembly,
Reaffirming its faith in fundamental human rights, in the
dignity and worth of the human person and the equal rights of
men and women and of nations large and small, and reaffirming
also its determination to promote social progress and better standards
of living in greater freedom,
Bearing in mind that among the purposes of the United Nations
are those of developing friendly relations among nations based
on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination
of peoples and taking other appropriate measures to strengthen
universal peace, as well as achieving international cooperation
in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural
or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect
for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction
as to race, sex, language or religion,
Recalling that, in accordance with Article 55 of the Charter
of the United Nations, the Organization shall promote universal
respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms
for all, with a view to the creation of conditions of stability
and well-being that are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations
among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights
and self-determination of peoples and that, in accordance with
Article 56, all Members pledge themselves to take joint and separate
action in cooperation with the Organization for the achievement
of the purposes set forth in Article 55,
Reiterating that Member States should continue to act in
the human rights field in conformity with the provisions of the
Charter,
Desirous of achieving further progress in international
cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms,
Considering that such international cooperation should
be based on the principles embodied in international law, especially
the Charter, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant
instruments,
Deeply convinced that United Nations action in this field
should be based not only on a profound understanding of the broad
range of problems existing in all societies but also on full respect
for the political, economic and social realities of each of them,
in strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the Charter
and for the basic purpose of promoting and encouraging respect
for human rights and fundamental freedoms through international
cooperation,
Reaffirming all its resolutions in this regard,
Bearing in mind its resolutions 2131 (XX) of 21 December
1965, 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970 and 36/103 of 9 December 1981,
Reaffirming the importance of ensuring the universality,
objectivity and non-selectivity of the consideration of human
rights issues, as affirmed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme
of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on
25 June 1993,
Aware of the fact that the promotion, protection and full
exercise of all human rights and fundamental freedoms as legitimate
concerns of the world community should be guided by the principles
of universality, non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity
and should not be used for political ends,
Affirming the importance of the objectivity, independence
and discretion of the special rapporteurs and representatives
on thematic issues and countries, as well as of the members of
the working groups, in carrying out their mandates,
Underlining the obligation that Governments have to promote
and protect human rights and to carry out the responsibilities
that they have undertaken under international law, especially
the Charter, as well as various international instruments in the
field of human rights,
1. Reiterates that, by virtue of the principle of equal
rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter
of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine,
without external interference, their political status and to pursue
their economic, social and cultural development, and that every
State has the duty to respect that right within the provisions
of the Charter, including respect for territorial integrity;
2. Reaffirms that it is a purpose of the United Nations
and the task of all Member States, in cooperation with the Organization,
to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms and to remain vigilant with regard to violations of human
rights wherever they occur;
3. Calls upon all Member States to base their activities
for the protection and promotion of human rights, including the
development of further international cooperation in this field,
on the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and
other relevant international instruments, and to refrain from
activities that are inconsistent with that international framework;
4. Considers that international cooperation in this field
should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent
task of preventing mass and flagrant violations of human rights
and fundamental freedoms for all and to the strengthening of international
peace and security;
5. Affirms that the promotion, protection and full realization
of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as legitimate concerns
of the world community, should be guided by the principles of
non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity, and should not
be used for political ends;
6. Requests all human rights bodies within the United Nations
system, as well as the special rapporteurs and representatives,
independent experts and working groups, to take duly into account
the contents of the present resolution in carrying out their mandates;
7. Expresses its conviction that an unbiased and fair approach
to human rights issues contributes to the promotion of international
cooperation as well as to the effective promotion, protection
and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
8. Stresses, in this context, the continuing need for impartial
and objective information on the political, economic and social
situations and events of all countries;
9. Invites Member States to consider adopting, as appropriate,
within the framework of their respective legal systems and in
accordance with their obligations under international law, especially
the Charter, and international human rights instruments, the measures
that they may deem appropriate to achieve further progress in
international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect
for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
10. Invites the Commission on Human Rights to continue
to examine ways and means to strengthen United Nations action
in this regard on the basis of the present resolution and of Commission
resolution 1993/59 of 9 March 1993;
11. Decides to consider this matter at its fiftieth session
under the item entitled "Human rights questions".
94th plenary meeting
23 December 1994