The General Assembly,
 
     Reaffirming its faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and
worth of the human person and the equal rights of men and women and of nations
large and small, and reaffirming also its determination to promote social
progress and better standards of living in greater freedom,
 
     Bearing in mind that among the purposes of the United Nations are those
of developing friendly relations among nations based on respect for the
principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and taking other
appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, as well as achieving
international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic,
social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction
as to race, sex, language or religion,
 
     Recalling that, in accordance with Article 55 of the Charter of the
United Nations, the Organization shall promote universal respect for and
observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, with a view to
the creation of conditions of stability and well-being that are necessary for
peaceful and friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the
principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and that, in
accordance with Article 56, all Members pledge themselves to take joint and
separate action in cooperation with the Organization for the achievement of
the purposes set forth in Article 55,
 
     Reiterating that Member States should continue to act in the human rights
field in conformity with the provisions of the Charter,
 
     Desirous of achieving further progress in international cooperation in
promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
 
     Considering that such international cooperation should be based on the
principles embodied in international law, especially the Charter, as well as
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on
Human Rights and other relevant instruments,
 
     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,
 
     Reaffirming all its resolutions in this regard,
 
     Bearing in mind its resolutions 2131 (XX) of 21 December 1965, 2625 (XXV)
of 24 October 1970 and 36/103 of 9 December 1981,
 
     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,
 
     Aware of the fact that the promotion, protection and full exercise of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms as legitimate concerns of the world
community should be guided by the principles of universality, non-selectivity,
impartiality and objectivity and should not be used for political ends,
 
     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,
 
     Affirming also the need to cooperate so as to strengthen, rationalize and
streamline United Nations activities on human rights, taking into account the
need to avoid unnecessary duplication,
 
     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, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
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.   Affirms that the promotion, protection, and full realization of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms, as legitimate concerns of the world
community, should be guided by the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality
and objectivity, and should not be used for political ends;
 
     6.   Requests all human rights bodies within the United Nations system,
as well as the special rapporteurs and representatives, independent experts
and working groups, to take duly into account the contents of the present
resolution in carrying out their mandates;
 
     7.   Expresses its conviction that an unbiased and fair approach to human
rights issues contributes to the promotion of international cooperation as
well as to the effective promotion, protection and realization of human rights
and fundamental freedoms;
 
     8.   Stresses, in this context, the continuing need for impartial and
objective information on the political, economic and social situations and
events of all countries;
 
     9.   Invites Member States to consider adopting, as appropriate, within
the framework of their respective legal systems and in accordance with their
obligations under international law, especially the Charter, and international
human rights instruments, the measures that they may deem appropriate to
achieve further progress in international cooperation in promoting and
encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
 
     10.  Requests the Commission on Human Rights to take duly into account
the present resolution and to consider further proposals for the strengthening
of United Nations action in the human rights field through the promotion of
international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality
and objectivity;
 
     11.  Decides to consider this matter at its fifty-first session under the
item entitled "Human rights questions".