Observance of the 30th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

32. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
123. Observance of the thirtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The General Assembly, Considering that the year 1978 will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,[1] which, conceived "as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations", has been and rightly continues to be a fundamental source of inspiration for national and international efforts for the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Aware that for their full observance human rights must be ensured to all human beings and that this aim cannot be attained unless human rights are made known to them, particularly through teaching and education, Recalling in this respect its resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948, by which the General Assembly proclaimed the Declaration, which demands that "every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms", Recalling also its resolution 2906 (XXVII) of 19 October 1972 concerning the observance of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration, Considering Commission on Human Rights resolution 3 (XXXIII) of 21 February 1977,[2] endorsed by the Economic and Social Council at its sixty-second session, which recommends to Member States, the specialized agencies and all international organizations, governmental and non-governmental, concerned with the protection and promotion of human rights, to take appropriate measures to ensure that the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration is the occasion of special efforts to promote international understanding, co-operation and peace as well as the universal and effective respect for human rights, particularly by laying stress on the educational approach both within and outside formal school systems, Desiring to give appropriate significance to the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration, Taking note with appreciation of the suggestions contained in the note by the Secretary-General concerning the observance of the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration,[3]

1. Invites Member States, the specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to take appropriate measures, such as those contained in the annex to the present resolution, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to initiate appropriate activities at the United Nations level, such as those indicated in the annex to the present resolution, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration;

3. Welcomes the decision of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to organize in 1978 an international conference on the teaching of human rights and appeals in this connexion to all States to facilitate the participation of qualified experts in this conference;

4. Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to take appropriate measures to consult the Commission on Human Rights at its thirty-fourth session on the elaboration of a programme of action designed to develop education on human rights, in pursuance of resolution 3 (XXXIII) of the Commission;

5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-third session an item entitled "Thirty years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: international co-operation for the promotion and observance of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights" and recommends that this item should be considered in plenary meeting;

6. Further decides to hold a special commemorative meeting to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration, which falls on 10 December 1978, and requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary preparations for the programme of this meeting.

105th plenary meeting
16 December 1977

ANNEX Suggested measures for the celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

1. The following suggestions are made for possible action at the national level:

(a) Formal proclamation of 10 December 1978 as Human Rights Day;

(b) Issuing of special messages on 10 December 1978 by Heads of State or Government or other prominent civil personalities;

(c) Special meetings of parliamentary and other public and private institutions on Human Rights Day;

(d) Special consideration by States which have not yet ratified or acceded to the international instruments of the United Nations in the field of human rights, to become parties to these instruments;

(e) Establishment of national or local institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights;

(f) Encouragement of teaching programmes on human rights at the various levels of education;

(g) Dissemination of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in national languages, including languages of minorities;

(h) Issuing of human rights postage stamps, first-day covers and special cancellations during 1978;

(i) Participation by non-governmental organizations in the celebration and organization of activities by such organizations;

(j) Activities in the framework of and in support of current Decades and International Years being prepared on human rights issues.

2. It is recommended that the following measures, among others, should be taken at the United Nations level:

(a) Organization of commemorative events at United Nations Headquarters and at the United Nations Office at Geneva on or around 10 December 1978;

(b) Organization in 1978 at Geneva of a special seminar within the programme of advisory services, at the world-wide level, on the subject of national and local institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights; the report of the seminar should be forwarded to the General Assembly;

(c) Adoption of arrangements for the award of human rights prizes as envisaged in recommendation C of the annex to General Assembly resolution 2217 (XXI) of 19 December 1966;

(d) Dissemination by the Office of Public Information of the Secretariat of appropriate public information, broadcasting and audio-visual material designed to draw attention to and emphasize the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the role played and work done by the United Nations to ensure the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

(e) Issuance of updated versions in all official languages of the United Nations of the publications Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments of the United Nations and United Nations Action in the Field of Human Rights and granting of assistance to institutions which intend to publish them in other languages.

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[1] Resolution 217 A (III). [2] See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 6 (E/5927), chap. XXI, sect. A. [3] A/C.3/32/1.