The role of youth in the promotion and protection of human rights

1 (XXXII). The role of youth in the promotion and protection of human rights

A[1]1

The Commission on Human Rights, Noting the report on the question of conscientious objection to military service prepared by the Secretary-General pursuant to its resolution 11 B (XXVII) (E/CN.4/1118 and Corr.1 and Add.1-3), Aware of the increasing interest of members of the younger generation in the fundamental objectives of the United Nations, in particular the furtherance of peace and the promotion of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering the deliberations in the Commission on the question of conscientious objection during its thirty-second session, Decides to give adequate consideration at its thirty-third session to the problem of recognition of objection to military service.

B[2]2

The Commission on Human Rights, Noting the report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Youth on its first meeting (E/CN.5/508) and the related comments and recommendations of the Secretary-General (E/5427) and the comments made thereon in different United Nations bodies, in particular regarding human rights questions, Aware of the increasing interest of many members of the younger generation in the fundamental objectives of the United Nations, in particular the furtherance of peace and economic and social justice and the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Taking note of the principles and motivating goals set out by the Advisory Group on Youth, which include the desire of young people to participate constructively in the establishment of social justice, to implement human rights on the national, regional and international levels, to overcome discrimination and exploitation wherever they exists, to attain the right to self-determination, national independence and social progress, and to struggle against colonial and foreign occupation,

1. Requests, on the basis of the report of the Advisory Group on Youth and the Secretary-General's comments and recommendations thereon, that the appropriate United Nations organs, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations, as well as Governments, promote within their respective spheres of competence the following measures for the involvement of youth in human rights:

(a) Active participation of young people in the implementation of the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, including the organization of youth meetings on the national and regional levels and youth workshops in order to examine racial prejudice and to identify and evaluate manifestations or symptoms of racial prejudice, in particular as contained in textbooks and other publications and the mass communications media;

(b) Active promotion of the participation of young people, in particular young women and girls, in the development of society, in particular by ensuring to them equal rights and opportunities in education, in employment and in the other areas of economic, social and cultural life;

(c) Development of a special curriculum on human rights for use in the various educational systems, whether at the primary, secondary or technical level, and through the United Nations University, and study of the possibility of the introduction of a special curriculum on human rights in universities, in accordance with Commission resolution 17 (XXIX);

(d) The use of mass media, particularly television, to propagate among youth respect for human rights in accordance with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding between Peoples and other relevant United Nations instruments;

(e) Development of youth projects with the purpose of identifying and examining situations where the human rights of young people are being seriously restricted or violated;

(f) Study of the possibility of the appointment by youth organizations in each country of a youth correspondent with the United Nations for issues related to human rights;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the notice of all Member States, the appropriate United Nations organs, the specialized agencies and the non-governmental organizations in consultative status concerned, asking them to submit information on steps taken in pursuance of paragraph 1 above;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the reports of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Youth on its second and third meetings and all other relevant documents to the Commission for its further consideration;

4. Decides to consider at its thirty-third session the question of the role of youth in the promotion and protection of human rights on the basis of a report by the Secretary-General summarizing the information submitted under paragraph 2 above, as well as of the documents submitted by the Secretary-General under paragraph 3 above.

B. Decisions  

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[1]1 Adopted at the 1348th meeting, on 11 February 1976 without a vote. See chap. III. [2]2 Adopted at the 1348th meeting, on 11 February 1976, by 26 votes to none, with 3 abstentions. See chap. III.