Thirty-five years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights : international cooperation for the promotion and observance of civil, political, economic social and cultural rights.

 

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Thirty-five years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: international co-operation for the promotion and observance of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights

  The General Assembly, Reaffirming the continued significance and the validity of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Welcoming the progress made so far in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms since the proclamation of the Declaration, Recalling that Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Acknowledging that, despite all the efforts made by the international community to promote and protect human rights, there is a need for constant vigilance by the international community in this field, Recalling also the responsibility of the international community to remove the threat of war from the lives of people, to preserve civilization and to ensure that everyone enjoys the inherent right to life, liberty and security of person, Underlining the importance of the teaching of human rights at all levels, particularly in primary and secondary schools,

1. Stresses the significance of the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and expresses grave concern at mass and flagrant violations and all other violations of human rights which continue to take place in many parts of the world;

2. Takes note with satisfaction of the progress made so far in the field of standard-setting on human rights since the proclamation of the Declaration and reaffirms its commitment to continue to strive for further progress in the field of the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

3. Urges all States to apply the Declaration resolutely as well as seriously to consider ratifying or acceding to and observing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and instruments relating to apartheid, and calls upon all States to ensure greater observance and respect of all other United Nations instruments on human rights;

4. Urges the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in co-operation with Governments, to undertake rigorous efforts to spread the teaching of human rights in all educational institutions, particularly primary and secondary schools, as well as in the training of relevant professional groups and requests the Director-General of that organization to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-third session, on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Declaration, a report on the efforts made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to those ends.