Distr.
GENERAL
A/CONF.157/23
12 July 1993
Original: ENGLISH
WORLD CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Vienna, 14-25 June 1993
VIENNA DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION
Note by the secretariat
Attached is the text of the Vienna Declaration and Programme
of Action, as adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on
25 June 1993.
GE.93-14233 (E)
VIENNA DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION
The World Conference on Human Rights,
Considering that the promotion and protection of human rights
is a matter of priority for the international community, and that
the Conference affords a unique opportunity to carry out a
comprehensive analysis of the international human rights system
and of the machinery for the protection of human rights, in order
to enhance and thus promote a fuller observance of those rights,
in a just and balanced manner,
Recognizing and affirming that all human rights derive from
the dignity and worth inherent in the human person, and that the
human person is the central subject of human rights and
fundamental freedoms, and consequently should be the principal
beneficiary and should participate actively in the realization of
these rights and freedoms,
Reaffirming their commitment to the purposes and principles
contained in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights,
Reaffirming the commitment contained in Article 56 of the
Charter of the United Nations to take joint and separate action,
placing proper emphasis on developing effective international
cooperation for the realization of the purposes set out in
Article 55, including universal respect for, and observance of,
human rights and fundamental freedoms for all,
Emphasizing the responsibilities of all States, in conformity
with the Charter of the United Nations, to develop and encourage
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all,
without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,
Recalling the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations,
in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental
human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, and
in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and
small,
Recalling also the determination expressed in the Preamble of
the Charter of the United Nations to save succeeding generations
from the scourge of war, to establish conditions under which
justice and respect for obligations arising from treaties and
other sources of international law can be maintained, to promote
social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
to practice tolerance and good neighbourliness, and to employ
international machinery for the promotion of the economic and
social advancement of all peoples,
Emphasizing that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
which constitutes a common standard of achievement for all
peoples and all nations, is the source of inspiration and has
been the basis for the United Nations in making advances in
standard setting as contained in the existing international human
rights instruments, in particular the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Considering the major changes taking place on the
international scene and the aspirations of all the peoples for an
international order based on the principles enshrined in the
Charter of the United Nations, including promoting and
encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for
all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self -
determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality,
rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living
and solidarity,
Deeply concerned by various forms of discrimination and
violence, to which women continue to be exposed all over the
world,
Recognizing that the activities of the United Nations in the
field of human rights should be rationalized and enhanced in
order to strengthen the United Nations machinery in this field
and to further the objectives of universal respect for observance
of international human rights standards,
Having taken into account the Declarations adopted by the
three regional meetings at Tunis, San Josi and Bangkok and the
contributions made by Governments, and bearing in mind the
suggestions made by intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations, as well as the studies prepared by independent
experts during the preparatory process leading to the World
Conference on Human Rights,
Welcoming the International Year of the World's Indigenous
People 1993 as a reaffirmation of the commitment of the
international community to ensure their enjoyment of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms and to respect the value and
diversity of their cultures and identities,
Recognizing also that the international community should
devise ways and means to remove the current obstacles and meet
challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to
prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting
thereof throughout the world,
Invoking the spirit of our age and the realities of our time
which call upon the peoples of the world and all States Members
of the United Nations to rededicate themselves to the global task
of promoting and protecting all human rights and fundamental
freedoms so as to secure full and universal enjoyment of these
rights,
Determined to take new steps forward in the commitment of the
international community with a view to achieving substantial
progress in human rights endeavours by an increased and sustained
effort of international cooperation and solidarity,
Solemnly adopts the Vienna Declaration and Programme of
Action.
I
1. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms the solemn
commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote
universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all
human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with
the Charter of the United Nations, other instruments relating to
human rights, and international law. The universal nature of
these rights and freedoms is beyond question.
In this framework, enhancement of international cooperation
in the field of human rights is essential for the full
achievement of the purposes of the United Nations.
Human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of
all human beings; their protection and promotion is the first
responsibility of Governments.
2. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue
of that right they freely determine their political status, and
freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
Taking into account the particular situation of peoples under
colonial or other forms of alien domination or foreign
occupation, the World Conference on Human Rights recognizes the
right of peoples to take any legitimate action, in accordance
with the Charter of the United Nations, to realize their
inalienable right of self-determination. The World Conference on
Human Rights considers the denial of the right of self-
determination as a violation of human rights and underlines the
importance of the effective realization of this right.
In accordance with the Declaration on Principles of
International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation
Among States in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations, this shall not be construed as authorizing or
encouraging any action which would dismember or impair, totally
or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of
sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in
compliance with the principle of equal rights and self-
determination of peoples and thus possessed of a Government
representing the whole people belonging to the territory without
distinction of any kind.
3. Effective international measures to guarantee and monitor the
implementation of human rights standards should be taken in
respect of people under foreign occupation, and effective legal
protection against the violation of their human rights should be
provided, in accordance with human rights norms and international
law, particularly the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 14 August 1949,
and other applicable norms of humanitarian law.
4. The promotion and protection of all human rights and
fundamental freedoms must be considered as a priority objective
of the United Nations in accordance with its purposes and
principles, in particular the purpose of international
cooperation. In the framework of these purposes and principles,
the promotion and protection of all human rights is a legitimate
concern of the international community. The organs and
specialized agencies related to human rights should therefore
further enhance the coordination of their activities based on the
consistent and objective application of international human
rights instruments.
5. All human rights are universal, indivisible and
interdependent and interrelated. The international community
must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on
the same footing, and with the same emphasis. While the
significance of national and regional particularities and various
historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in
mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political,
economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human
rights and fundamental freedoms.
6. The efforts of the United Nations system towards the
universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all, contribute to the stability and
well-being necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among
nations, and to improved conditions for peace and security as
well as social and economic development, in conformity with the
Charter of the United Nations.
7. The processes of promoting and protecting human rights should
be conducted in conformity with the purposes and principles of
the Charter of the United Nations, and international law.
8. Democracy, development and respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
Democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to
determine their own political, economic, social and cultural
systems and their full participation in all aspects of their
lives. In the context of the above, the promotion and protection
of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and
international levels should be universal and conducted without
conditions attached. The international community should support
the strengthening and promoting of democracy, development and
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the entire
world.
9. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that least
developed countries committed to the process of democratization
and economic reforms, many of which are in Africa, should be
supported by the international community in order to succeed in
their transition to democracy and economic development.
10. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms the right to
development, as established in the Declaration on the Right to
Development, as a universal and inalienable right and an integral
part of fundamental human rights.
As stated in the Declaration on the Right to Development,
the human person is the central subject of development.
While development facilitates the enjoyment of all human
rights, the lack of development may not be invoked to justify the
abridgement of internationally recognized human rights.
States should cooperate with each other in ensuring
development and eliminating obstacles to development. The
international community should promote an effective international
cooperation for the realization of the right to development and
the elimination of obstacles to development.
Lasting progress towards the implementation of the right to
development requires effective development policies at the
national level, as well as equitable economic relations and a
favourable economic environment at the international level.
11. The right to development should be fulfilled so as to meet
equitably the developmental and environmental needs of present
and future generations. The World Conference on Human Rights
recognizes that illicit dumping of toxic and dangerous substances
and waste potentially constitutes a serious threat to the human
rights to life and health of everyone.
Consequently, the World Conference on Human Rights calls on
all States to adopt and vigorously implement existing conventions
relating to the dumping of toxic and dangerous products and waste
and to cooperate in the prevention of illicit dumping.
Everyone has the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific
progress and its applications. The World Conference on Human
Rights notes that certain advances, notably in the biomedical
and life sciences as well as in information technology, may have
potentially adverse consequences for the integrity, dignity and
human rights of the individual, and calls for international
cooperation to ensure that human rights and dignity are fully
respected in this area of universal concern
12. The World Conference on Human Rights calls upon the
international community to make all efforts to help alleviate the
external debt burden of developing countries, in order to
supplement the efforts of the Governments of such countries to
attain the full realization of the economic, social and cultural
rights of their people.
13. There is a need for States and international organizations,
in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, to create
favourable conditions at the national, regional and international
levels to ensure the full and effective enjoyment of human
rights. States should eliminate all violations of human rights
and their causes, as well as obstacles to the enjoyment of these
rights.
14. The existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibits the full
and effective enjoyment of human rights; its immediate
alleviation and eventual elimination must remain a high priority
for the international community.
15. Respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms without
distinction of any kind is a fundamental rule of international
human rights law. The speedy and comprehensive elimination of
all forms of racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and
related intolerance is a priority task for the international
community. Governments should take effective measures to prevent
and combat them. Groups, institutions, intergovernmental and
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 practise their own religion and
to use their own language in private and in public, freely and
without interference or any form of discrimination.
20. The World Conference on Human Rights recognizes the inherent
dignity and the unique contribution of indigenous people to the
development and plurality of society and strongly reaffirms the
commitment of the international community to their economic,
social and cultural well-being and their enjoyment of the fruits
of sustainable development. States should ensure the full and
free participation of indigenous people in all aspects of
society, in particular in matters of concern to them.
Considering the importance of the promotion and protection of the
rights of indigenous people, and the contribution of such
promotion and protection to the political and social stability of
the States in which such people live, States should, in
accordance with international law, take concerted positive steps
to ensure respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms
of indigenous people, on the basis of equality and non-
discrimination, and recognize the value and diversity of their
distinct identities, cultures and social organization.
21. The World Conference on Human Rights, welcoming the early
ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by a
large number of States and noting the recognition of the human
rights of children in the World Declaration on the Survival,
Protection and Development of Children and Plan of Action adopted
by the World Summit for Children, urges universal ratification of
the Convention by 1995 and its effective implementation by States
parties through the adoption of all the necessary legislative,
administrative and other measures and the allocation to the
maximum extent of the available resources. In all actions
concerning children, 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 defence 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.
II
A. Increased coordination on human rights within
the United Nations system
1. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends increased
coordination in support of human rights and fundamental freedoms
within the United Nations system. To this end, the World
Conference on Human Rights urges all United Nations organs,
bodies and the specialized agencies whose activities deal with
human rights to cooperate in order to strengthen, rationalize and
streamline their activities, taking into account the need to
avoid unnecessary duplication. The World Conference on Human
Rights also recommends to the Secretary-General that high-level
officials of relevant United Nations bodies and specialized
agencies at their annual meeting, besides coordinating their
activities, also assess the impact of their strategies and
policies on the enjoyment of all human rights.
2. Furthermore, the World Conference on Human Rights calls on
regional organizations and prominent international and regional
finance and development institutions to assess also the impact of
their policies and programmes on the enjoyment of human rights.
3. The World Conference on Human Rights recognizes that relevant
specialized agencies and bodies and institutions of the
United Nations system as well as other relevant intergovernmental
organizations whose activities deal with human rights play a
vital role in the formulation, promotion and implementation of
human rights standards, within their respective mandates, and
should take into account the outcome of the World Conference on
Human Rights within their fields of competence.
4. The World Conference on Human Rights strongly recommends that
a concerted effort be made to encourage and facilitate the
ratification of and accession or succession to international
human rights treaties and protocols adopted within the framework
of the United Nations system with the aim of universal
acceptance. The Secretary-General, in consultation with treaty
bodies, should consider opening a dialogue with States not having
acceded to these human rights treaties, in order to identify
obstacles and to seek ways of overcoming them.
5. The World Conference on Human Rights encourages States to
consider limiting the extent of any reservations they lodge to
international human rights instruments, formulate any
reservations as precisely and narrowly as possible, ensure that
none is incompatible with the object and purpose of the relevant
treaty and regularly review any reservations with a view to
withdrawing them.
6. The World Conference on Human Rights, recognizing the need to
maintain consistency with the high quality of existing
international standards and to avoid proliferation of human
rights instruments, reaffirms the guidelines relating to the
elaboration of new international instruments contained in General
Assembly resolution 41/120 of 4 December 1986 and calls on the
United Nations human rights bodies, when considering the
elaboration of new international standards, to keep those
guidelines in mind, to consult with human rights treaty bodies on
the necessity for drafting new standards and to request the
Secretariat to carry out technical reviews of proposed new
instruments.
7. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that human
rights officers be assigned if and when necessary to regional
offices of the United Nations Organization with the purpose of
disseminating information and offering training and other
technical assistance in the field of human rights upon the
request of concerned Member States. Human rights training for
international civil servants who are assigned to work relating to
human rights should be organized.
8. The World Conference on Human Rights welcomes the convening
of emergency sessions of the Commission on Human Rights as a
positive initiative and that other ways of responding to acute
violations of human rights be considered by the relevant organs
of the United Nations system.
Resources
9. The World Conference on Human Rights, concerned by the
growing disparity between the activities of the Centre for Human
Rights and the human, financial and other resources available to
carry them out, and bearing in mind the resources needed for
other important United Nations programmes, requests the
Secretary-General and the General Assembly to take immediate
steps to increase substantially the resources for the human
rights programme from within the existing and future regular
budgets of the United Nations, and to take urgent steps to seek
increased extrabudgetary resources.
10. Within this framework, an increased proportion of the regular
budget should be allocated directly to the Centre for Human
Rights to cover its costs and all other costs borne by the Centre
for Human Rights, including those related to the United Nations
human rights bodies. Voluntary funding of the Centre's technical
cooperation activities should reinforce this enhanced budget; the
World Conference on Human Rights calls for generous contributions
to the existing trust funds.
11. The World Conference on Human Rights requests the Secretary-
General and the General Assembly to provide sufficient human,
financial and other resources to the Centre for Human Rights to
enable it effectively, efficiently and expeditiously to carry out
its activities.
12. The World Conference on Human Rights, noting the need to
ensure that human and financial resources are available to carry
out the human rights activities, as mandated by intergovernmental
bodies, urges the 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
to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and religion. The
Conference also invites all States to put into practice the
provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of
Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
23. The World Conference on Human Rights stresses that all
persons who perpetrate or authorize criminal acts associated with
ethnic cleansing are individually responsible and accountable for
such human rights violations, and that the international
community should exert every effort to bring those legally
responsible for such violations to justice.
24. The World Conference on Human Rights calls on all States to
take immediate measures, individually and collectively, to combat
the practice of ethnic cleansing to bring it quickly to an end.
Victims of the abhorrent practice of ethnic cleansing are
entitled to appropriate and effective remedies.
2. Persons belonging to national or ethnic,
religious and linguistic minorities
25. The World Conference on Human Rights calls on the Commission
on Human Rights to examine ways and means to promote and protect
effectively the rights of persons belonging to minorities as set
out in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to
National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. In this
context, the World Conference on Human Rights calls upon the
Centre for Human Rights to provide, at the request of Governments
concerned and as part of its programme of advisory services and
technical assistance, qualified expertise on minority issues and
human rights, as well as on the prevention and resolution of
disputes, to assist in existing or potential situations involving
minorities.
26. The World Conference on Human Rights urges States and the
international community to promote and protect the rights of
persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic
minorities in accordance with the Declaration on the Rights of
Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic
Minorities.
27. Measures to be taken, where appropriate, should include
facilitation of their full participation in all aspects of the
political, economic, social, religious and cultural life of
society and in the economic progress and development in their
country.
Indigenous people
28. The World Conference on Human Rights calls on the Working
Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to
complete the drafting of a declaration on the rights of
indigenous people at its eleventh session.
29. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the
Commission on Human Rights consider the renewal and updating of
the mandate of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations upon
completion of the drafting of a declaration on the rights of
indigenous people.
30. The World Conference on Human Rights also recommends that
advisory services and technical assistance programmes within the
United Nations system respond positively to requests by States
for assistance which would be of direct benefit to indigenous
people. The World Conference on Human Rights further recommends
that adequate human and financial resources be made available to
the Centre for Human Rights within the overall framework of
strengthening the Centre's activities as envisaged by this
document.
31. The World Conference on Human Rights urges States to ensure
the full and free participation of indigenous people in all
aspects of society, in particular in matters of concern to them.
32. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the
General Assembly proclaim an international decade of the world's
indigenous people, to begin from January 1994, including action-
orientated programmes, to be decided upon in partnership with
indigenous people. An appropriate voluntary trust fund should be
set up for this purpose. In the framework of such a decade, the
establishment of a permanent forum for indigenous people in the
United Nations system should be considered.
Migrant workers
33. The World Conference on Human Rights urges all States to
guarantee the protection of the human rights of all migrant
workers and their families.
34. The World Conference on Human Rights considers that the
creation of conditions to foster greater harmony and tolerance
between migrant workers and the rest of the society of the State
in which they reside is of particular importance.
35. The World Conference on Human Rights invites States to
consider the possibility of signing and ratifying, at the
earliest possible time, the International Convention on the
Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
3. The equal status and human rights of women
36. The World Conference on Human Rights urges the full and equal
enjoyment by women of all human rights and that this be a
priority for Governments and for the United Nations. The World
Conference on Human Rights also underlines the importance of the
integration and full participation of women as both agents and
beneficiaries in the development process, and reiterates the
objectives established on global action for women towards
sustainable and equitable development set forth in the Rio
Declaration on Environment and Development and chapter 24 of
Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
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 minimum age of recruitment into
armed forces.
51. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that matters
relating to human rights and the situation of children be
regularly reviewed and monitored by all relevant organs and
mechanisms of the United Nations system and by the supervisory
bodies of the specialized agencies in accordance with their
mandates.
52. The World Conference on Human Rights recognizes the important
role played by 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 fulfilment of his mandate.
58. Special attention should be given to ensure universal respect
for, and effective implementation of, the Principles of Medical
Ethics relevant to the Role of Health Personnel, particularly
Physicians, in the Protection of Prisoners and Detainees against
Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
59. The World Conference on Human Rights stresses the importance
of further concrete action within the framework of the
United Nations with the view to providing assistance to victims
of torture and ensure more effective remedies for their physical,
psychological and social rehabilitation. Providing the necessary
resources for this purpose should be given high priority,
inter alia, by additional contributions to the United Nations
Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture.
60. States should abrogate legislation leading to impunity for
those responsible for grave violations of human rights such as
torture and prosecute such violations, thereby providing a firm
basis for the rule of law.
61. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that efforts
to eradicate torture should, first and foremost, be concentrated
on prevention and, therefore, calls for the early adoption of an
optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which is
intended to establish a preventive system of regular visits to
places of detention.
Enforced disappearances
62. The World Conference on Human Rights, welcoming the adoption
by the General Assembly of the Declaration on the Protection of
All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, calls upon all States to
take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other
measures to prevent, terminate and punish acts of enforced
disappearances. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms
that it is the duty of all States, under any circumstances, to
make investigations whenever there is reason to believe that an
enforced disappearance has taken place on a territory under their
jurisdiction and, if allegations are confirmed, to prosecute its
perpetrators.
6. The rights of the disabled person
63. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that all human
rights and fundamental freedoms are universal and thus
unreservedly include persons with disabilities. Every person is
born equal and has the same rights to life and welfare, education
and work, living independently and active participation in all
aspects of society. Any direct discrimination or other negative
discriminatory treatment of a disabled person is therefore a
violation of his or her rights. The World Conference on Human
Rights calls on Governments, where necessary, to adopt or adjust
legislation to assure access to these and other rights for
disabled persons.
64. The place of disabled persons is everywhere. Persons with
disabilities should be guaranteed equal opportunity through the
elimination of all socially determined barriers, be they
physical, financial, social or psychological, which exclude or
restrict full participation in society.
65. Recalling the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled
Persons, adopted by the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh
session, the World Conference on Human Rights calls upon the
General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council to adopt the
draft standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for
persons with disabilities, at their meetings in 1993.
C. Cooperation, development and strengthening of human rights
66. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that priority
be given to national and international action to promote
democracy, development and human rights.
67. Special emphasis should be given to measures to assist in the
strengthening and building of institutions relating to human
rights, strengthening of a pluralistic civil society and the
protection of groups which have been rendered vulnerable. In
this context, assistance provided upon the request of Governments
for the conduct of free and fair elections, including assistance
in the human rights aspects of elections and public information
about elections, is of particular importance. Equally important
is the assistance to be given to the strengthening of the rule of
law, the promotion of freedom of expression and the
administration of justice, and to the real and effective
participation of the people in the decision-making processes.
68. The World Conference on Human Rights stresses the need for
the implementation of strengthened advisory services and
technical assistance activities by the Centre for Human Rights.
The Centre should make available to States upon request
assistance on specific human rights issues, including the
preparation of reports under human rights treaties as well as for
the implementation of coherent and comprehensive plans of action
for the promotion and protection of human rights. Strengthening
the institutions of human rights and democracy, the legal
protection of human rights, training of officials and others,
broad-based education and public information aimed at promoting
respect for human rights should all be available as components of
these programmes.
69. The World Conference on Human Rights strongly recommends that
a comprehensive programme be established within the
United Nations in order to help States in the task of building
and strengthening adequate national structures which have a
direct impact on the overall observance of human rights and the
maintenance of the rule of law. Such a programme, to be
coordinated by the Centre for Human Rights, should be able to
provide, upon the request of the interested Government, technical
and financial assistance to national projects in reforming penal
and correctional establishments, education and training of
lawyers, judges and security forces in human rights, and any
other sphere of activity relevant to the good functioning of the
rule of law. That programme should make available to States
assistance for the implementation of plans of action for the
promotion and protection of human rights.
70. The World Conference on Human Rights requests the Secretary-
General of the United Nations to submit proposals to the
United Nations General Assembly, containing alternatives for the
establishment, structure, operational modalities and funding of
the proposed programme.
71. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that each
State consider the desirability of drawing up a national action
plan identifying steps whereby that State would improve the
promotion and protection of human rights.
72. The World Conference on Human Rights on Human Rights
reaffirms that the universal and inalienable right to
development, as established in the Declaration on the Right to
Development, must be implemented and realized. In this context,
the World Conference on Human Rights welcomes the appointment by
the Commission on Human Rights of a thematic working group on the
right to development and urges that the Working Group, in
consultation and cooperation with other organs and agencies of
the United Nations system, promptly formulate, for early
consideration by the United Nations General Assembly,
comprehensive and effective measures to eliminate obstacles to
the implementation and realization of the Declaration on the
Right to Development and recommending ways and means towards the
realization of the right to development by all States.
73. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that non-
governmental and other grass-roots organizations active in
development and/or human rights should be enabled to play a major
role on the national and international levels in the debate,
activities and implementation relating to the right to
development and, in cooperation with Governments, in all relevant
aspects of development cooperation.
74. The World Conference on Human Rights appeals to Governments,
competent agencies and institutions to increase considerably the
resources devoted to building well-functioning legal systems able
to protect human rights, and to national institutions working in
this area. Actors in the field of development cooperation should
bear in mind the mutually reinforcing interrelationship between
development, democracy and human rights. Cooperation should be
based on dialogue and transparency. The World Conference on
Human Rights also calls for the establishment of comprehensive
programmes, including resource banks of information and personnel
with expertise relating to the strengthening of the rule of law
and of democratic institutions.
75. The World Conference on Human Rights encourages the
Commission on Human Rights, in cooperation with the Committee on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to continue the examination
of optional protocols to the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights.
76. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that more
resources be made available for the strengthening or the
establishment of regional arrangements for the promotion and
protection of human rights under the programmes of advisory
services and technical assistance of the Centre for Human Rights.
States are encouraged to request assistance for such purposes as
regional and subregional workshops, seminars and information
exchanges designed to strengthen regional arrangements for the
promotion and protection of human rights in accord with universal
human rights standards as contained in international human rights
instruments.
77. The World Conference on Human Rights supports all measures by
the United Nations and its relevant specialized agencies to
ensure the effective promotion and protection of trade union
rights, as stipulated in the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights and other relevant international
instruments. It calls on all States to abide fully by their
obligations in this regard contained in international
instruments.
D. Human rights education
78. The World Conference on Human Rights considers human rights
education, training and public information essential for the
promotion and achievement of stable and harmonious relations
among communities and for fostering mutual understanding,
tolerance and peace.
79. States should strive to eradicate illiteracy and should
direct education towards the full development of the human
personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms. The World Conference on Human Rights
calls on all States and institutions to include human rights,
humanitarian law, democracy and rule of law as subjects in the
curricula of all learning institutions in formal and non-formal
settings.
80. Human rights education should include peace, democracy,
development and social justice, as set forth in international and
regional human rights instruments, in order to achieve common
understanding and awareness with a view to strengthening
universal commitment to human rights.
81. Taking into account the World Plan of Action on Education for
Human Rights and Democracy, adopted in March 1993 by the
International Congress on Education for Human Rights and
Democracy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, and other human rights instruments, the
World Conference on Human Rights recommends that States develop
specific programmes and strategies for ensuring the widest human
rights education and the dissemination of public information,
taking particular account of the human rights needs of women.
82. Governments, with the assistance of intergovernmental
organizations, national institutions and non-governmental
organizations, should promote an increased awareness of human
rights and mutual tolerance. The World Conference on Human
Rights underlines the importance of strengthening the World
Public Information Campaign for Human Rights carried out by the
United Nations. They should initiate and support education in
human rights and undertake effective dissemination of public
information in this field. The advisory services and technical
assistance programmes of the United Nations system should be able
to respond immediately to requests from States for educational
and training activities in the field of human rights as well as
for special education concerning standards as contained in
international human rights instruments and in humanitarian law
and their application to special groups such as military forces,
law enforcement personnel, police and the health profession. The
proclamation of a United Nations decade for human rights
education in order to promote, encourage and focus these
educational activities should be considered.
E. Implementation and monitoring methods
83. The World Conference on Human Rights urges Governments to
incorporate standards as contained in international human rights
instruments in domestic legislation and to strengthen national
structures, institutions and organs of society which play a role
in promoting and safeguarding human rights.
84. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends the
strengthening of United Nations activities and programmes to meet
requests for assistance by States which want to establish or
strengthen their own national institutions for the promotion and
protection of human rights.
85. The World Conference on Human Rights also encourages the
strengthening of cooperation between national institutions for
the promotion and protection of human rights, particularly
through exchanges of information and experience, as well as
cooperation with regional organizations and the United Nations.
86. The World Conference on Human Rights strongly recommends in
this regard that representatives of national institutions for the
promotion and protection of human rights convene periodic
meetings under the auspices of the Centre for Human Rights to
examine ways and means of improving their mechanisms and sharing
experiences.
87. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends to the human
rights treaty bodies, to the meetings of chairpersons of the
treaty bodies and to the meetings of States parties that they
continue to take steps aimed at coordinating the multiple
reporting requirements and guidelines for preparing State reports
under the respective human rights conventions and study the
suggestion that the submission of one overall report on treaty
obligations undertaken by each State would make these procedures
more effective and increase their impact.
88. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the
States parties to international human rights instruments, the
General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council should
consider studying the existing human rights treaty bodies and the
various thematic mechanisms and procedures with a view to
promoting greater efficiency and effectiveness through better
coordination of the various bodies, mechanisms and procedures,
taking into account the need to avoid unnecessary duplication and
overlapping of their mandates and tasks.
89. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends continued
work on the improvement of the functioning, including the
monitoring tasks, of the treaty bodies, taking into account
multiple proposals made in this respect, in particular those made
by the treaty bodies themselves and by the meetings of the
chairpersons of the treaty bodies. The comprehensive national
approach taken by the Committee on the Rights of the Child should
also be encouraged.
90. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that States
parties to human rights treaties consider accepting all the
available optional communication procedures.
91. The World Conference on Human Rights views with concern the
issue of impunity of perpetrators of human rights violations, and
supports the efforts of the Commission on Human Rights and the
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities to examine all aspects of the issue.
92. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the
Commission on Human Rights examine the possibility for better
implementation of existing human rights instruments at the
international and regional levels and encourages the
International Law Commission to continue its work on an
international criminal court.
93. The World Conference on Human Rights appeals to States which
have not yet done so to accede to the Geneva Conventions of 12
August 1949 and the Protocols thereto, and to take all
appropriate national measures, including legislative ones, for
their full implementation.
94. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends the speedy
completion and adoption of the draft declaration on the right and
responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to
promote and protect universally recognized human rights and
fundamental freedoms.
95. The World Conference on Human Rights underlines the
importance of preserving and strengthening the system of special
procedures, rapporteurs, representatives, experts and working
groups of the Commission on Human Rights and the Sub-Commission
on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities,
in order to enable them to carry out their mandates in all
countries throughout the world, providing them with the necessary
human and financial resources. The procedures and mechanisms
should be enabled to harmonize and rationalize their work through
periodic meetings. All States are asked to cooperate fully with
these procedures and mechanisms.
96. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the
United Nations assume a more active role in the promotion and
protection of human rights in ensuring full respect for
international humanitarian law in all situations of armed
conflict, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the
Charter of the United Nations.
97. The World Conference on Human Rights, recognizing the
important role of human rights components in specific
arrangements concerning some peace-keeping operations by the
United Nations, recommends that the Secretary-General take into
account the reporting, experience and capabilities of the Centre
for Human Rights and human rights mechanisms, in conformity with
the Charter of the United Nations.
98. To strengthen the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural
rights, additional approaches should be examined, such as a
system of indicators to measure progress in the realization of
the rights set forth in the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights. There must be a concerted effort to
ensure recognition of economic, social and cultural rights at the
national, regional and international levels.
F. Follow-up to the World Conference on Human Rights
99. The World Conference on Human Rights on Human Rights
recommends that the General Assembly, the Commission on Human
Rights and other organs and agencies of the United Nations system
related to human rights consider ways and means for the full
implementation, without delay, of the recommendations contained
in the present Declaration, including the possibility of
proclaiming a United Nations decade for human rights. The World
Conference on Human Rights further recommends that the Commission
on Human Rights annually review the progress towards this end.
100. The World Conference on Human Rights requests the
Secretary-General of the United Nations to invite on the occasion
of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights all States, all organs and agencies of the United Nations
system related to human rights, to report to him on the progress
made in the implementation of the present Declaration and to
submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-third
session, through the Commission on Human Rights and the Economic
and Social Council. Likewise, regional and, as appropriate,
national human rights institutions, as well as non-governmental
organizations, may present their views to the 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.
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