RES/32/28 Declaration on the Right to Peace

GE.16-12306(E)



Human Rights Council Thirty-second session

Agenda item 5

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 1 July 2016

32/28. Declaration on the Right to Peace

The Human Rights Council,

Recalling all previous resolutions on the promotion of the right of peoples to peace

adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human

Rights Council,

1. Adopts the Declaration on the Right to Peace, as contained in the annex to the

present resolution;

2. Recommends that the General Assembly, in accordance with paragraph 5 (c)

of its resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, adopt the following draft resolution:

“The General Assembly,

Welcoming the adoption by the Human Rights Council, through its resolution

of the Declaration on the Right to Peace,

1. Adopts the Declaration on the Right to Peace, as contained in the

annex to the present resolution;

2. Invites Governments, agencies and organizations of the United

Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to

disseminate the Declaration and to promote universal respect and understanding

thereof.”

45th meeting

1 July 2016

[Adopted by a recorded vote of 34 to 9, with 4 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Burundi,

China, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana,

India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia,

Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian

Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Togo, United Arab Emirates,

Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam

Against:

Belgium, France, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Republic of Korea,

Slovenia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of

Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Abstaining:

Albania, Georgia, Portugal, Switzerland]

Annex

Declaration on the Right to Peace

The General Assembly,

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

Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on

Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural

Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,

Recalling also the Declaration on the Right to Development, the United Nations

Millennium Declaration, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the

Sustainable Development Goals, and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,

Recalling further the Declaration on the Preparation of Societies for Life in Peace,

the Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace and the Declaration and Programme of

Action on a Culture of Peace, and other international instruments relevant to the subject of

the present Declaration,

Recalling the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries

and Peoples,

Recalling also that the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning

Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the

United Nations solemnly proclaimed the principle that States shall refrain in their

international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or

political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes

of the United Nations; the principle that States shall settle their international disputes by

peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not

endangered; the duty not to intervene in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of any

State, in accordance with the Charter; the duty of States to cooperate with one another in

accordance with the Charter; the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples;

the principle of the sovereign equality of States; and the principle that States shall fulfil in

good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the Charter,

Reaffirming the obligations of all Member States, as enshrined in the Charter, to

refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial

integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with

the purposes of the United Nations, and to settle their international disputes by peaceful

means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not

endangered,

Acknowledging that the fuller development of a culture of peace is integrally linked

to the realization of the right of all peoples, including those living under colonial or other

forms of alien domination or foreign occupation, to self-determination as enshrined in the

Charter and embodied in the International Covenants on Human Rights, as well as in the

Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained

in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960,

Convinced that any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national

unity and territorial integrity of a State or country or at its political independence is

incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter, 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 General

Assembly resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,

Recognizing the importance of the settlement of disputes or conflicts through

peaceful means,

Deeply deploring all acts of terrorism, recalling that the Declaration on Measures to

Eliminate International Terrorism declared that acts, methods and practices of terrorism

constitute a grave violation of the purposes and principles of the United Nations and may

pose a threat to international peace and security, jeopardize friendly relations among States,

threaten the territorial integrity and security of States, hinder international cooperation and

aim at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic bases of

society, and reaffirming that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless

of their motivations, whenever and by whomsoever committed,

Stressing that all measures taken in the fight against terrorism must be in compliance

with the obligations of States under international law, including international human rights,

refugee and humanitarian law, as well as those enshrined in the Charter,

Urging all States that have not yet done so to consider, as a matter of priority,

becoming parties to international instruments related to terrorism,

Reaffirming that the promotion and protection of human rights for all and the rule of

law are essential to the fight against terrorism, and recognizing that effective counter-

terrorism measures and the protection of human rights are not conflicting goals, but are

complementary and mutually reinforcing,

Reaffirming also the determination of the peoples of the United Nations, as

expressed in the Preamble to the Charter, to save succeeding generations from the scourge

of war, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, to promote social progress and better

standards of life in larger freedom, and to practice tolerance and live together in peace with

one another as good neighbours,

Recalling that peace and security, development and human rights are the pillars of

the United Nations system and the foundations for collective security and well-being, and

recognizing that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and

mutually reinforcing,

Recognizing that peace is not only the absence of conflict but also requires a

positive, dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are

solved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation, and socioeconomic

development is ensured,

Recalling that the recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable

rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace

in the world, and recognizing that peace is promoted through the full enjoyment of all

inalienable rights derived from the inherent dignity of all human beings,

Recalling also that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which

the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights can be fully

realized,

Recalling further the world commitment to eradicate poverty and to promote

sustained economic growth, sustainable development and global prosperity for all, and the

need to reduce inequalities within and among countries,

Recalling the importance of the prevention of armed conflict in accordance with the

purposes and principles of the Charter and of the commitment to promote a culture of

prevention of armed conflict as a means of effectively addressing the interconnected

security and development challenges faced by peoples throughout the world,

Recalling also that the full and complete development of a country, the welfare of

the world and the cause of peace require the maximum participation of women, on equal

terms with men in all fields,

Reaffirming that, since wars begin in the minds of human beings, it is in the minds

of human beings that the defence of peace must be constructed, and recalling the

importance of the settlement of disputes or conflicts through peaceful means,

Recalling the need for strengthened international efforts to foster a global dialogue

for the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peace at all levels, based on respect for

human rights and diversity of religions and beliefs,

Recalling also that development assistance and capacity-building based on the

principle of national ownership in post-conflict situations should restore peace through

rehabilitation, reintegration and reconciliation processes involving all those engaged, and

recognizing the importance of the peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities

of the United Nations for the global pursuit of peace and security,

Recalling further that the culture of peace and the education of humanity for justice,

liberty and peace are indispensable to the dignity of human beings and constitute a duty that

all nations must fulfil in a spirit of mutual assistance and concern,

Reaffirming that the culture of peace is a set of values, attitudes, traditions and

modes of behaviour and ways of life, as identified in the Declaration on a Culture of Peace,

and that all this should be fostered by an enabling national and international environment

conducive to peace,

Recognizing the importance of moderation and tolerance as values contributing to

the promotion of peace and security,

Recognizing also the important contribution that civil society organizations can

make in building and preserving peace, and in strengthening a culture of peace,

Stressing the need for States, the United Nations system and other relevant

international organizations to allocate resources to programmes aimed at strengthening a

culture of peace and upholding human rights awareness through training, teaching and

education,

Stressing also the importance of the contribution of the United Nations Declaration

on Human Rights Education and Training to the promotion of a culture of peace,

Recalling that respect for the diversity of cultures, tolerance, dialogue and

cooperation, in a climate of mutual trust and understanding, are among the best guarantees

of international peace and security,

Recalling also that tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich

diversity of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human, and the

virtue that makes peace possible and contributes to the promotion of a culture of peace,

Recalling further that the constant promotion and realization of the rights of persons

belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities as an integral part of the

development of a society as a whole and within a democratic framework based on the rule

of law would contribute to the strengthening of friendship, cooperation and peace among

peoples and States,

Recalling the need to design, promote and implement, at the national, regional and

international levels, strategies, programmes and policies, and adequate legislation, which

may include special and positive measures, for furthering equal social development and the

realization of the civil and political, economic, social and cultural rights of all victims of

racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Recognizing that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

where they amount to racism and racial discrimination, are an obstacle to friendly and

peaceful relations among peoples and nations, and are among the root causes of many

internal and international conflicts, including armed conflicts,

Inviting solemnly all stakeholders to guide themselves in their activities by

recognizing the high importance of practicing tolerance, dialogue, cooperation and

solidarity among all human beings, peoples and nations of the world as a means to promote

peace; to that end, present generations should ensure that both they and future generations

learn to live together in peace with the highest aspiration of sparing future generations the

scourge of war,

Declares the following:

Article 1

Everyone has the right to enjoy peace such that all human rights are promoted and

protected and development is fully realized.

Article 2

States should respect, implement and promote equality and non-discrimination,

justice and the rule of law, and guarantee freedom from fear and want as a means to build

peace within and between societies.

Article 3

States, the United Nations and specialized agencies should take appropriate

sustainable measures to implement the present Declaration, in particular the United Nations

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. International, regional, national and local

organizations and civil society are encouraged to support and assist in the implementation

of the present Declaration.

Article 4

International and national institutions of education for peace shall be promoted in

order to strengthen among all human beings the spirit of tolerance, dialogue, cooperation

and solidarity. To this end, the University for Peace should contribute to the great universal

task of educating for peace by engaging in teaching, research, post-graduate training and

dissemination of knowledge.

Article 5

Nothing in the present Declaration shall be construed as being contrary to the

purposes and principles of the United Nations. The provisions included in the present

Declaration are to be understood in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights and relevant international and regional instruments

ratified by States.