Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/74 Regional cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Asian and Pacific region

The Commission on Human Rights,

Recalling its resolution 1999/69 of 28 April 1999,

Reiterating that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,

Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and that, 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,

Recognizing that regional cooperation can play an important role in promoting universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recognizing also the valuable contribution that independent national institutions, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations can make in the field of human rights in the Asian and Pacific region,

Welcoming the convening of the Eighth Workshop on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asian and Pacific Region, held in Beijing from 1 to 3 March 2000,

1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/2000/102) and the progress achieved in the implementation of Commission resolution 1999/69;

2. Also welcomes all the respective conclusions of the interactive discussions held during the four regional inter-sessional workshops held in Bangkok, Manila, Tokyo and Sana'a respectively on national plans of action, independent national institutions, human rights education, and the effective realization of economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development for strengthening national capacities and for the promotion and protection of human rights;

3. Endorses the conclusions of the eighth workshop on the next steps to be taken to facilitate the process of regional cooperation in the Asian and Pacific region;

4. Reaffirms that developing and strengthening national capacities for the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with national conditions provides the strongest

foundation for effective and enduring regional cooperation in the field of human rights in the Asian and Pacific region, and notes the discussions at the relevant workshop of the region on national human rights plans of action and capacity-building;

5. Recognizes the importance of an inclusive, step-by-step, practical and building-block approach towards enhancing regional cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the pace and priorities to be set by the Governments of the Asian and Pacific region by consensus;

6. Notes the discussion at the relevant workshop in the region on, inter alia, all obstacles to the effective realization of economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development and the need for international cooperation to support efforts of countries to overcome them;

7. Also notes the discussions at the relevant workshops in the region on the positive role human rights education can play in enhancing respect for and contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms and sustainable development;

8. Welcomes the in-depth discussions held during the eighth workshop reviewing developments in the Asian and Pacific region over the past year in the four priority areas identified at the Tehran workshop. which adopted the Framework for Regional Technical Cooperation;

9. Notes that the eighth workshop summed up experience, looked to the future and endorsed the next steps and activities for cooperation on human rights in the region;

10. Also notes that views were exchanged at the eighth workshop on the forthcoming World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance;

11. Commends the contribution of the Government of China, as the host of the eighth workshop, to the promotion and protection of human rights in the Asian and Pacific region;

12. Welcomes the establishment of independent national institutions in countries of the Asian and Pacific region and their important contribution to the process of regional cooperation, inter alia, through the work of the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, and notes the discussions at the relevant workshop in the region in this regard;

13. Notes the contribution of independent national institutions, intergovernmental organizations and representatives of non-governmental organizations to the eighth workshop;

14. Welcomes the useful work done by the Office of the High Commissioner in allocating funding for developing and implementing the project proposals made at the seventh workshop in the four areas identified under the regional framework;

15. Encourages all Governments in the Asian and Pacific region to consider making use of the facilities offered by the United Nations, under the programme of advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights, to further strengthen national human rights capacities, and in this regard calls upon the High Commissioner to continue to give adequate attention to the programme;

16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission at its fifty-seventh session a report containing the conclusions of the Ninth Workshop on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asian and Pacific Region and information on the progress achieved in the implementation of the present resolution;

17. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its fifty-seventh session under the same agenda item.

66th meeting
26 April 2000

[Adopted without a vote.]