RES/6/1 Protection of cultural rights and property in situations of armed conflict

Human Rights Council

Resolution 6/1. Protection of cultural rights and property in situations of armed conflict

The Human Rights Council,

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

Nations,

Guided also by the principles relating to economic, social and cultural rights

enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International

Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

Recalling that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action

(A/CONF.157/23), the 2005 World Summit Outcome (General Assembly resolution

60/1 of 16 September 2005) and Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 that

established the Human Rights Council all affirm that all human rights are universal,

indivisible, interdependent and mutually reinforcing and must be treated in a fair and

equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis,

Recalling also that the General Assembly acknowledged in its resolution

60/251 that peace and security, development and human rights are the pillars of the

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

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

and mutually reinforcing,

Acknowledging that human rights law and international humanitarian law are

complementary and mutually reinforcing,

Gravely concerned about serious violations of international humanitarian law

and human rights law during armed conflicts, in all parts of the world, and their

detrimental impact on cultural rights and property,

Recalling the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event

of Armed Conflict and its Protocols, and stressing the importance of their

implementation to protect cultural property,

Reaffirming that the destruction of or any other form of damage to cultural

property may impair the enjoyment of cultural rights, in particular of article 15 of the

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

1. Calls upon all States to respect human rights law and strongly urges all

parties to an armed conflict to strictly observe and respect, as applicable, the rules of

international humanitarian law during armed conflicts, and to respect the rules on the

protection of cultural property;

2. Emphasizes that each party to an armed conflict is committed under

international law to take all necessary steps to protect cultural property through

safeguarding of and respect for such property, including cultural property situated in

occupied territories;

3. Strongly condemns any destruction of cultural property in violation of

international humanitarian law, as applicable, during armed conflicts;

4. Emphasizes that protection of cultural property during armed conflicts

can contribute to the full enjoyment of the right of everyone to take part in cultural

life;

5. Urges States and encourages intergovernmental and non-governmental

organizations to take all necessary measures at the national, regional and international

levels to address the issue of protection of cultural rights and property during armed

conflicts, paying particular attention to the situation in occupied territories, and to

provide appropriate assistance as requested by the concerned States;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the

attention of all Governments, the competent United Nations bodies, the specialized

agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and international humanitarian

organizations;

7. Decides to remain seized of this issue and to consider further actions to

implement the present resolution.

[Adopted without a vote]

20th meeting 27 September 2007

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