United Nations
General Assembly
A/RES/55/91
Distr.: General
26 February 2001
Fifty-fifth session
Agenda item 114 (b)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1)]
55/91. Human rights and cultural diversity
The General Assembly,
Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1 and the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 2 as well as other pertinent
human rights instruments,
Noting that numerous instruments within the United Nations system promote
cultural diversity, as well as the conservation and development of culture, in
particular the Declaration of the Principles of International Culture Cooperation,
proclaimed on 4 November 1966 by the General Conference of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its fourteenth session, 3
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on human rights and cultural
diversity, 4
Welcoming the proclamation of 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue
among Civilizations, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 53/22 of
4 November 1998,
Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and
interrelated and 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 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,
1
Resolution 217 A (III).
See resolution 2200 (XXI), annex.
3
See the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General
Conference, Fourteenth Session, Paris, 1966, Resolutions.
4
A/55/296 and Add.1.
2
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