General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

20 December 1993

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                                  A/RES/48/126
                                                  85th plenary meeting
                                                  20 December 1993
 
                          United Nations Year for Tolerance
 
       The General Assembly,
 
       Recalling that the Charter of the United Nations affirms in its
preamble that to practise tolerance is one of the principles to be applied to
attain the ends pursued by the United Nations of preventing war and
maintaining peace,
 
       Recalling also that one of the purposes of the United Nations as set
forth in the Charter is the achievement of international cooperation in
solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or
humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human
rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race,
sex, language or religion,
 
       Mindful of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the
International Covenants on Human Rights,
 
       Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted
by the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June
1993,
 
       Convinced that tolerance - the recognition and appreciation of others,
the ability to live together with and to listen to others - is the sound
foundation of any civil society and of peace,
 
       Recalling its resolution 47/124 of 18 December 1992, in which, inter
alia, it invited the Economic and Social Council to consider at its
substantive session of 1993 the question of proclaiming 1995 the United
Nations year for tolerance and to transmit a recommendation to the General
Assembly at its forty-eighth session,
 
       Recalling also resolution 5.6 of the General Conference of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, concerning the
proclamation of 1995 as the United Nations year for tolerance,
 
       Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/57 of 29
July 1993, in which the Council recommended that the General Assembly, at its
forty-eighth session, should proclaim 1995 the United Nations year for
tolerance,
 
       Taking into account the note by the Secretary-General, transmitting the
report of the Director-General of the the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization,
 
       Bearing in mind its decision 35/424 of 5 December 1980 and Economic and
Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 concerning guidelines for
international years and anniversaries,
 
       Noting that the preparations for the United Nations year for tolerance
will not involve any financial implications for the United Nations,
 
       1.     Proclaims 1995 the United Nations Year for Tolerance;
 
       2.     Recommends that the specialized agencies, regional commissions
and other organizations of the United Nations system consider in their
respective forums the contributions they could make to the success of the
Year;
 
       3.     Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization to assume the role of lead organization for the  Year;
 
       4.     Calls upon all Member States to cooperate with the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the preparation
of the national and international programmes for the Year and to participate
actively in the implementation of the activities to be organized within the
framework of the Year;
 
       5.     Invites interested intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations to exert efforts in their respective fields to contribute
adequately to the preparation of programmes for the Year;
 
       6.     Requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization to prepare, in accordance with its General Conference resolution
5.6, a declaration on tolerance;
 
       7.     Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-ninth
session an item entitled "Preparations for and organization of the United
Nations Year for Tolerance".