WUNRN
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
SIXTH SESSION - 2007
Item 8. Follow-Up To and
Implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
Vienna Declaration & Programme
of Action - Gender:
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.
_________________________________________________________________________
A/CONF.157/23
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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.
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 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 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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