RES/7/3 Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights

Human Rights Council

Resolution 7/3. Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights

The Human Rights Council,

Reaffirming its commitment to promoting international cooperation, as set forth in

the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Article 1, paragraph 3, as well as relevant

provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World

Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993 for enhancing genuine cooperation among

Member States in the field of human rights,

Recalling the adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations

Millennium Declaration on 8 September 2000 and Assembly resolution 62/160 of 18

December 2007, and bearing in mind Council decision 4/104 of 30 March 2007,

Recalling also the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination,

Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8

September 2001, and its role in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field

of human rights,

Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of

human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations,

including the effective promotion and protection of all human rights,

Recognizing also that the promotion and protection of human rights should be

based on the principle of cooperation and genuine dialogue and aimed at strengthening

the capacity of Member States to comply with their human rights obligations for the

benefit of all human beings,

Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations in the field

of human rights could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation

in this field,

Emphasizing the need for further progress in the promotion and encouragement of

respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international

cooperation,

Underlining the fact that mutual understanding, dialogue, cooperation,

transparency and confidence-building are important elements in all the activities for the

promotion and protection of human rights,

1. Reaffirms that it is one of the purposes of the United Nations and the

responsibility of all Member States to promote, protect and encourage respect for human

rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation

2. Recognizes that, in addition to their separate responsibilities to their individual

societies, States have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity,

equality and equity at the global level;

3. Reaffirms that dialogue among cultures and civilizations facilitates the

promotion of a culture of tolerance and respect for diversity, and welcomes in this regard

the holding of conferences and meetings at the national, regional and international levels

on dialogue among civilizations;

4. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based

on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and

promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject

all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related

intolerance;

5. Reaffirms the importance of the enhancement of international cooperation for

the promotion and protection of human rights and for the achievement of the objectives

of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

6. Considers that international cooperation in the field of human rights, in

conformity with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations

and international law, should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent

task of preventing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

7. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights

and fundamental freedoms should be guided by the principles of universality, non-

selectivity, objectivity and transparency, in a manner consistent with the purposes and

principles set out in the Charter;

8. Takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for human

rights on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights

(A/HRC/7/31);

9. Calls upon Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental

organizations to continue to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations for the

enhancement of understanding and the promotion and protection of all human rights and

fundamental freedoms, and encourages non-governmental organizations to contribute

actively to this endeavour;

10. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and

procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation,

understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights;

11. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to consult

States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on ways and means to

enhance international cooperation and dialogue in the United Nations human rights

machinery, including the Human Rights Council, as recognized by the General Assembly

in the preamble of its resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, and to present a report on his

findings to the Council at the relevant session in 2009;

12. Decides to continue its consideration of the question in 2009 in accordance

with its annual programme of work.

39th meeting

27 March 2008 Adopted without a vote.