A/RES/57/219 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 27 February 2003 Fifty-seventh session Agenda item 109 (b) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Third Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3)] 57/219. Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the fundamental importance, including in response to terrorism and the fear of terrorism, of respecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, Recalling that States are under the obligation to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council on measures to eliminate international terrorism, Recalling further its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993 and, inter alia, the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote and protect the effective enjoyment of all human rights, Reiterating paragraph 17 of section I of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993, 1 which states that acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening territorial integrity, security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Noting its resolution 56/160 of 19 December 2001 and noting also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/35 of 22 April 2002, 2 on human rights and terrorism, Reaffirming its unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, in all their forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever _______________ 1 A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2 02 55364