Mindful of the goal of the United Nations to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, as set out in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

Recognizing that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are indivisible and interrelated and that the promotion and protection of one category of rights should never exempt or excuse States from the promotion and protection of another,

Recalling its resolution 45/155 of 18 December 1990, in which it decided, inter alia, to convene at a high level a World Conference on Human Rights in 1993, and its resolution 46/116 of 17 December 1991,

Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 1991/30 of 5 March 1991,

Convinced that the holding of a world conference on human rights could make a significant contribution to the effectiveness of the actions of the United Nations in the promotion and protection of human rights,

Recognizing the urgency of adopting a draft agenda for the World Conference on Human Rights before the final session of the Preparatory Committee for the Conference,

1.Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference on Human Rights on the work of its second and third sessions;

2.Expresses its appreciation to Governments, the bodies and organs of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations for their contributions to the preparatory process;

3.Approves the draft rules of procedure for the World Conference on Human Rights, as recommended by the Preparatory Committee at its second and third sessions, with the exception of rule 15 (e);

4.Decides that the distribution of the twenty-nine positions of vice-president of the Conference should be in accordance with the established criteria of the General Assembly based on equitable geographical distribution;

5.Approves the recommendation made by the Preparatory Committee at its third session regarding the participation of non-governmental organizations in regional meetings related to the preparatory process;

6.Also approves the provisional agenda for the Conference, as annexed to the present resolution, on the understanding that participants can raise issues of interest to them under the appropriate agenda item at the fourth session of the Preparatory Committee and at the Conference for possible inclusion in the final text;

7.Decides, in accordance with the decisions adopted by the Preparatory Committee:

1. 1. That the Preparatory Committee shall meet for its fourth session at Geneva, for a period of two weeks in April 1993;

   2. That the Preparatory Committee shall take up the question of the final outcome of the Conference at its fourth session, taking into consideration, inter alia, the preparatory work and conclusions of the regional meetings to be held at Tunis, San Jose and Bangkok;

   3. That the Secretary-General shall give the Conference and the preparatory process thereto the widest possible publicity and ensure full coordination of public information activities in the area of human rights within the United Nations system;

2. To renew its invitation for contributions of extrabudgetary resources to meet the costs of the participation of representatives of the least developed countries in the preparatory meetings, including regional meetings, and in the Conference itself, and to request the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts in this regard;

8.Renews its request to Governments, the specialized agencies, other international organizations, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations concerned with human rights or development to participate actively in the preparatory process and in the Conference itself;

9.Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on the outcome of the Conference, under the item entitled "Human rights questions".

92nd plenary meeting
18 December 1992

Annex

Provisional agenda for the World Conference on Human Rights

1. Opening of the Conference.

2. Election of the President.

3. Adoption of the rules of procedure.

4. Election of other officers of the Conference.

5. Appointment of the Credentials Committee.

6. Establishment of committees and working groups.

7. Adoption of the agenda.

8. Commemoration of the International Year for the World's Indigenous People.

9. General debate on the progress made in the field of human rights since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and on the identification of obstacles to further progress in this area and ways in which they can be overcome.

10. Consideration of the relationship between development, democracy and the universal enjoyment of all human rights, keeping in view the interrelationship and indivisibility of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights.

11. Consideration of contemporary trends in and new challenges to the full realization of all human rights of women and men, including those of persons belonging to vulnerable groups.

12. Recommendations for:
    1. Strengthening international cooperation in the field of human rights in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with international human rights instruments;

    2. Ensuring the universality, objectivity and non-selectivity of the consideration of human rights issues;

    3. Enhancing the effectiveness of United Nations activities and mechanisms;

    4. Securing the necessary financial and other resources for United Nations activities in the area of human rights.

13. Adoption of the final documents and report of the Conference.