The General Assembly,
 
      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,
 
      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 of the United
Nations, 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,
 
      Reaffirming also 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,
 
      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
promotion and protection of human rights, including the development of further
international cooperation in this field, on the Charter of the United Nations,
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.    Reaffirms 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.   Requests the Commission on Human Rights to take duly into account
the present resolution and to consider further proposals for the strengthening
of United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of
international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality
and objectivity;
 
      11.   Requests the Secretary-General to consult Member States,
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on ways and means for the
strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights, including
the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of
non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity, and to submit a comprehensive
report on this issue to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session;
 
      12.   Decides to consider this matter at its fifty-second session under
the item entitled "Human rights questions".