A/HRC/RES/37/12
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
5 April 2018
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-seventh session
26 February–23 March 2018
Agenda item 3
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council
on 22 March 2018
37/12.
Mandate of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and all other relevant human
rights instruments,
Recalling also all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission on
Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, the most recent being Council resolution
34/2 of 23 March 2017,
Noting the declarations within the United Nations system on cultural diversity and
international cultural cooperation, in particular the Declaration of the Principles of
International Cultural Cooperation and the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity,
adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization in 1966 and 2001, respectively,
Recalling its resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the Human Rights Council,
and 5/2, on the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate Holders of the Council, of
18 June 2007, and stressing that all mandate holders shall discharge their duties in
accordance with those resolutions and annexes thereto,
Welcoming the increasing number of States parties to the Convention on the
Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted by the General
Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 20
October 2005 and that entered into force on 18 March 2007,
Convinced that international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms for all should be based on an understanding of the
economic, social and cultural specificities of each country and the full realization and
recognition of the universality of all human rights and the principles of freedom, justice,
equality and non-discrimination,
Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all
peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind,
GE.18-05239(E)