RES/18/20 Panel on the promotion and protection of human rights in a multicultural context, including through combating xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance

GE.11-16714

Human Rights Council Eighteenth session

Agenda item 3

Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,

political, economic, social and cultural rights,

including the right to development

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council*

18/20 Panel on the promotion and protection of human rights in a multicultural context, including through combating xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant instruments,

Reaffirming the pledge made by all States under the Charter to promote and

encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as

to race, sex, language or religion,

Reaffirming also that, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all

human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to

all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such

as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin,

property, birth or other status,

Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted by the General Assembly in its

resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005, in which the Assembly emphasized the

responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the Charter, to respect human rights and

fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind as to race, colour, sex,

language or religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or

other status, and acknowledged the importance of respect and understanding for religious

and cultural diversity throughout the world,

* The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of

the Council on its eighteenth session (A/HRC/18/2), chap. I.

United Nations A/HRC/RES/18/20

General Assembly Distr.: General 14 October 2011

Original: English

Welcoming the resolve expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,

adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, 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,

Reaffirming the landmark importance of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of

Action in the pursuit of the universal promotion and protection of human rights and its continued relevance in responding to contemporary challenges,

Recalling the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of

Cultural Expressions, approved by the General Conference of the United Nations

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 20 October 2005,

Recalling also that cultural diversity, flourishing within a framework of democracy,

tolerance, social justice and mutual respect between peoples and cultures is indispensible

for peace and security at the local, national and international levels,

Recognizing the importance of cultural diversity for the full realization of the human

rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

and other universally recognized instruments,

Recognizing also the contribution that diverse cultures have been making to the development and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Bearing in mind that multiculturalism, solidarity, respect and tolerance can play an

important role in the promotion and protection of human rights by combating xenophobia, violence and discrimination,

Bearing in mind also that the promotion and upholding of tolerance, respect,

pluralism and diversity is essential for the promotion and protection of human rights in

multicultural contexts and, in particular, for combating racism, xenophobia, intolerance and

discrimination,

Recalling the primary responsibility of States in the promotion and protection of

human rights,

Recalling also that, as expressed in the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity,

no one may invoke cultural diversity to infringe upon the human rights guaranteed by

international law, nor to limit their scope,

1. Emphasizes that the universal promotion and protection of human rights,

including cultural rights, and mutual respect for cultural diversity should reinforce each

other;

2. Stresses the importance of adopting policies that ensure non-discrimination

and equitable access to social, political and economic rights, thus reducing disadvantage

and inequality;

3. Decides to convene, within existing resources, at its twentieth session, a

panel discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights in a multicultural

context, including through combating xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance;

4. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human

Rights to liaise with relevant special procedures and treaty bodies, States and other

stakeholders, including relevant United Nations bodies and agencies, with a view to

ensuring their participation in the panel discussion;

5. Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report on the

outcome of the panel discussion in the form of a summary.

36th meeting

29 September 2011

[Adopted by a recorded vote of 37 to 1, with 8 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile,

China, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, Guatemala, India,

Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives,

Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Qatar,

Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Thailand, Uganda,

Uruguay

Against:

United States of America

Abstaining:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Republic of Moldova,

Romania, Switzerland]