A/RES/74/159
Human rights and cultural diversity
Recalling that, as stated in the Declaration on Principles of International Law
concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the
Charter of the United Nations, contained in the annex to its resolution 2625 (XXV)
of 24 October 1970, States have the duty to cooperate with one another, irrespective
of the differences in their political, economic and social systems, in the various
spheres of international relations, in the promotion of universal respect for and
observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and in the elimination
of all forms of racial discrimination and all forms of religious intolerance,
Recalling also the adoption, by its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001, of the
Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations,
Recalling further the contribution of the World Conference against Racism,
Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South
Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, the Durban Review Conference, held in
Geneva from 20 to 24 April 2009, and the high-level meeting of the General Assembly
to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and
Programme of Action, held on 22 September 2011, to the promotion of respect for
cultural diversity,
Recalling the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 5 together with its Action Plan, 6
adopted on 2 November 2001 by the General Conference of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-first session, in which
member States invited the United Nations system and other intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations concerned to cooperate with the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of the principles
set forth in the Declaration and its Action Plan, with a view to enhancing the synergy
of actions in favour of cultural diversity,
Recalling also the Ministerial Meeting on Human Rights and Cultural
Diversity of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran on 3 and
4 September 2007,
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,
Expressing concern over the adverse impacts of lack of respect for and
recognition of cultural diversity on human rights, justice, friendship and the
fundamental right to development,
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,
Recognizing also the contribution that diverse cultures have been making to the
development and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
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5
6
2/5
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General
Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October–3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum,
Resolutions, sect. V, resolution 25, annex I.
Ibid., annex II.
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