Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
Adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna on 25 June 1993
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 José 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 therefrom 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 pursuit 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 ensuring 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 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 disappearance. The World
Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that it is the duty of all States,
under any circumstances, to make investigations whenever there is reason
to believe that an enforced disappearance has taken place on a
territory under their jurisdiction and, if allegations are confirmed, to
prosecute its perpetrators.
6. The rights of the disabled person
63. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that all human
rights and fundamental freedoms are universal and thus unreservedly
include persons with disabilities. Every person is born equal and has
the same rights to life and welfare, education and work, living
independently and active participation in all aspects of society. Any
direct discrimination or other negative discriminatory treatment of a
disabled person is therefore a violation of his or her rights. The World
Conference on Human Rights calls on Governments, where necessary, to
adopt or adjust legislation to assure access to these and other rights
for disabled persons.
64. The place of disabled persons is everywhere. Persons with
disabilities should be guaranteed equal opportunity through the
elimination of all socially determined barriers, be they physical,
financial, social or psychological, which exclude or restrict full
participation in society.
65 Recalling the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled
Persons, adopted by the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session,
the World Conference on Human Rights calls upon the General Assembly and
the Economic and Social Council to adopt the draft standard rules on
the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities, at
their meetings in 1993.
C. Cooperation, development and strengthening of human rights
66. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that priority be
given to national and international action to promote democracy,
development and human rights.
67. Special emphasis should be given to measures to assist in the
strengthening and building of institutions relating to human rights,
strengthening of a pluralistic civil society and the protection of
groups which have been rendered vulnerable. In this context, assistance
provided upon the request of Governments for the conduct of free and
fair elections, including assistance in the human rights aspects of
elections and public information about elections, is of particular
importance. Equally important is the assistance to be given to the
strengthening of the rule of law, the promotion of freedom of expression
and the administration of justice, and to the real and effective
participation of the people in the decision-making processes.
68. The World Conference on Human Rights stresses the need for the
implementation of strengthened advisory services and technical
assistance activities by the Centre for Human Rights. The Centre should
make available to States upon request assistance on specific human
rights issues, including the preparation of reports under human rights
treaties as well as for the implementation of coherent and comprehensive
plans of action for the promotion and protection of human rights.
Strengthening the institutions of human rights and democracy, the legal
protection of human rights, training of officials and others,
broad-based education and public information aimed at promoting respect
for human rights should all be available as components of these
programmes.
69. The World Conference on Human Rights strongly recommends that a
comprehensive programme be established within the United Nations in
order to help States in the task of building and strengthening adequate
national structures which have a direct impact on the overall observance
of human rights and the maintenance of the rule of law. Such a
programme, to be coordinated by the Centre for Human Rights, should be
able to provide, upon the request of the interested Government,
technical and financial assistance to national projects in reforming
penal and correctional establishments, education and training of
lawyers, judges and security forces in human rights, and any other
sphere of activity relevant to the good functioning of the rule of law.
That programme should make available to States assistance for the
implementation of plans of action for the promotion and protection of
human rights.
70. The World Conference on Human Rights requests the
Secretary-General of the United Nations to submit proposals to the
United Nations General Assembly, containing alternatives for the
establishment, structure, operational modalities and funding of the
proposed programme.
71. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that each State
consider the desirability of drawing up a national action plan
identifying steps whereby that State would improve the promotion and
protection of human rights.
72. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that the universal
and inalienable right to development, as established in the Declaration
on the Right to Development, must be implemented and realized. In this
context, the World Conference on Human Rights welcomes the appointment
by the Commission on Human Rights of a thematic working group on the
right to development and urges that the Working Group, in consultation
and cooperation with other organs and agencies of the United Nations
system, promptly formulate, for early consideration by the United
Nations General Assembly, comprehensive and effective measures to
eliminate obstacles to the implementation and realization of the
Declaration on the Right to Development and recommending ways and means
towards the realization of the right to development by all States.
73. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that
non-governmental and other grass-roots organizations active in
development and/or human rights should be enabled to play a major role
on the national and international levels in the debate, activities and
implementation relating to the right to development and, in cooperation
with Governments, in all relevant aspects of development cooperation.
74. The World Conference on Human Rights appeals to Governments,
competent agencies and institutions to increase considerably the
resources devoted to building well-functioning legal systems able to
protect human rights, and to national institutions working in this area.
Actors in the field of development cooperation should bear in mind the
mutually reinforcing interrelationship between development, democracy
and human rights. Cooperation should be based on dialogue and
transparency. The World Conference on Human Rights also calls for the
establishment of comprehensive programmes, including resource banks of
information and personnel with expertise relating to the strengthening
of the rule of law and of democratic institutions.
75. The World Conference on Human Rights encourages the Commission on
Human Rights, in cooperation with the Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights, to continue the examination of optional protocols to
the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
76. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that more
resources be made available for the strengthening or the establishment
of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human
rights under the programmes of advisory services and technical
assistance of the Centre for Human Rights. States are encouraged to
request assistance for such purposes as regional and subregional
workshops, seminars and information exchanges designed to strengthen
regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights
in accord with universal human rights standards as contained in
international human rights instruments.
77. The World Conference on Human Rights supports all measures by the
United Nations and its relevant specialized agencies to ensure the
effective promotion and protection of trade union rights, as stipulated
in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
and other relevant international instruments. It calls on all States to
abide fully by their obligations in this regard contained in
international instruments.
D. Human rights education
78. The World Conference on Human Rights considers human rights
education, training and public information essential for the promotion
and achievement of stable and harmonious relations among communities and
for fostering mutual understanding, tolerance and peace.
79. States should strive to eradicate illiteracy and should direct
education towards the full development of the human personality and to
the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The World Conference on Human Rights calls on all States and
institutions to include human rights, humanitarian law, democracy and
rule of law as subjects in the curricula of all learning institutions in
formal and non-formal settings.
80. Human rights education should include peace, democracy,
development and social justice, as set forth in international and
regional human rights instruments, in order to achieve common
understanding and awareness with a view to strengthening universal
commitment to human rights.
81. Taking into account the World Plan of Action on Education for
Human Rights and Democracy, adopted in March 1993 by the International
Congress on Education for Human Rights and Democracy of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and other
human rights instruments, the World Conference on Human Rights
recommends that States develop specific programmes and strategies for
ensuring the widest human rights education and the dissemination of
public information, taking particular account of the human rights needs
of women.
82. Governments, with the assistance of intergovernmental
organizations, national institutions and non-governmental organizations,
should promote an increased awareness of human rights and mutual
tolerance. The World Conference on Human Rights underlines the
importance of strengthening the World Public Information Campaign for
Human Rights carried out by the United Nations. They should initiate and
support education in human rights and undertake effective dissemination
of public information in this field. The advisory services and
technical assistance programmes of the United Nations system should be
able to respond immediately to requests from States for educational and
training activities in the field of human rights as well as for special
education concerning standards as contained in international human
rights instruments and in humanitarian law and their application to
special groups such as military forces, law enforcement personnel,
police and the health profession. The proclamation of a United Nations
decade for human rights education in order to promote, encourage and
focus these educational activities should be considered.
E. Implementation and monitoring methods
83. The World Conference on Human Rights urges Governments to
incorporate standards as contained in international human rights
instruments in domestic legislation and to strengthen national
structures, institutions and organs of society which play a role in
promoting and safeguarding human rights.
84. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends the strengthening
of United Nations activities and programmes to meet requests for
assistance by States which want to establish or strengthen their own
national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights.
85. The World Conference on Human Rights also encourages the
strengthening of cooperation between national institutions for the
promotion and protection of human rights, particularly through exchanges
of information and experience, as well as cooperation with regional
organizations and the United Nations.
86. The World Conference on Human Rights strongly recommends in this
regard that representatives of national institutions for the promotion
and protection of human rights convene periodic meetings under the
auspices of the Centre for Human Rights to examine ways and means of
improving their mechanisms and sharing experiences.
87. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends to the human
rights treaty bodies, to the meetings of chairpersons of the treaty
bodies and to the meetings of States parties that they continue to take
steps aimed at coordinating the multiple reporting requirements and
guidelines for preparing State reports under the respective human rights
conventions and study the suggestion that the submission of one overall
report on treaty obligations undertaken by each State would make these
procedures more effective and increase their impact.
88. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the States
parties to international human rights instruments, the General Assembly
and the Economic and Social Council should consider studying the
existing human rights treaty bodies and the various thematic mechanisms
and procedures with a view to promoting greater efficiency and
effectiveness through better coordination of the various bodies,
mechanisms and procedures, taking into account the need to avoid
unnecessary duplication and overlapping of their mandates and tasks.
89. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends continued work on
the improvement of the functioning, including the monitoring tasks, of
the treaty bodies, taking into account multiple proposals made in this
respect, in particular those made by the treaty bodies themselves and by
the meetings of the chairpersons of the treaty bodies. The
comprehensive national approach taken by the Committee on the Rights of
the Child should also be encouraged.
90. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that States
parties to human rights treaties consider accepting all the available
optional communication procedures.
91. The World Conference on Human Rights views with concern the issue
of impunity of perpetrators of human rights violations, and supports
the efforts of the Commission on Human Rights and the Sub-Commission on
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to examine all
aspects of the issue.
92. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the
Commission on Human Rights examine the possibility for better
implementation of existing human rights instruments at the international
and regional levels and encourages the International Law Commission to
continue its work on an international criminal court.
93. The World Conference on Human Rights appeals to States which have
not yet done so to accede to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949
and the Protocols thereto, and to take all appropriate national
measures, including legislative ones, for their full implementation.
94. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends the speedy
completion and adoption of the draft declaration on the right and
responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote
and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental
freedoms.
95. The World Conference on Human Rights underlines the importance of
preserving and strengthening the system of special procedures,
rapporteurs, representatives, experts and working groups of the
Commission on Human Rights and the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, in order to enable them to
carry out their mandates in all countries throughout the world,
providing them with the necessary human and financial resources. The
procedures and mechanisms should be enabled to harmonize and rationalize
their work through periodic meetings. All States are asked to cooperate
fully with these procedures and mechanisms.
96. The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that the United
Nations assume a more active role in the promotion and protection of
human rights in ensuring full respect for international humanitarian law
in all situations of armed conflict, in accordance with the purposes
and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
97. The World Conference on Human Rights, recognizing the important
role of human rights components in specific arrangements concerning some
peace-keeping operations by the United Nations, recommends that the
Secretary-General take into account the reporting, experience and
capabilities of the Centre for Human Rights and human rights mechanisms,
in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.
98. To strengthen the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural
rights, additional approaches should be examined, such as a system of
indicators to measure progress in the realization of the rights set
forth in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights. There must be a concerted effort to ensure recognition of
economic, social and cultural rights at the national, regional and
international levels.
F. Follow-up to the World Conference on Human Rights
99. The World Conference on Human Rights 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.
