A/RES/53/149
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Deeply convinced that United Nations action in this field should be based not only on a profound
understanding of the broad range of problems existing in all societies but also on full respect for the political,
economic and social realities of each of them, in strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the
Charter and for the basic purpose of promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms through international cooperation,
Recalling its previous resolutions in this regard,
Reaffirming the importance of ensuring the universality, objectivity and non-selectivity of the
consideration of human rights issues, as affirmed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,
adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,3
Affirming the importance of the objectivity, independence and discretion of the special rapporteurs and
representatives on thematic issues and countries, as well as of the members of the working groups, in carrying
out their mandates,
Underlining the obligation that Governments have to promote and protect human rights and to carry out
the responsibilities that they have undertaken under international law, especially the Charter, as well as
various international instruments in the field of human rights,
1. Reiterates that, by virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples
enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external
interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that
every State has the duty to respect that right within the provisions of the Charter, including respect for
territorial integrity;
2. Reaffirms that it is a purpose of the United Nations and the task of all Member States, in
cooperation with the Organization, to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms and to remain vigilant with regard to violations of human rights wherever they occur;
3. Calls upon all Member States to base their activities for the protection and promotion of human
rights, including the development of further international cooperation in this field, on the Charter of the
United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1 the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights,2 the International Covenant on Civil and Political 2Rights, and other relevant
international instruments and to refrain from activities that are inconsistent with that international framework;
4. Considers that international cooperation in this field should make an effective and practical
contribution to the urgent task of preventing mass and flagrant violations of human rights and fundamental
freedoms for all and to the strengthening of international peace and security;
5. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection, and full realization of all human rights and fundamental
freedoms, as a legitimate concern of the world community, should be guided by the principles of nonselectivity, impartiality and objectivity and should not be used for political ends;
3
A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III.
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