United Nations
General Assembly
A/RES/61/164
Distr.: General
21 February 2007
Sixty-first session
Agenda item 67 (b)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2006
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1)]
61/164. Combating defamation of religions
The General Assembly,
Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the Charter of the
United Nations, to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of
all human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to race, sex,
language or religion,
Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights in
this regard,
Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the
General Assembly on 8 September 2000, 1 welcoming the resolve expressed in the
Millennium Declaration to take measures to eliminate the increasing acts of racism
and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in
all societies, and looking forward to its effective implementation at all levels,
including in the context of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August
to 8 September 2001, 2
Recalling the proclamation of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among
Civilizations, 3 and inviting States, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations
system, within existing resources, other international and regional organizations and
civil societies to contribute to the implementation of the Programme of Action
contained in the Global Agenda,
Welcoming the launch of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, intended to
respond to the need for a committed effort by the international community, in order
to promote mutual respect and understanding among different cultures and societies,
Welcoming also the progress achieved in the follow-up to the Durban
Declaration and Programme of Action,
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1
See resolution 55/2.
See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I.
3
See resolution 56/6.
2
06-50427