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A/RES/51/101 



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General Assembly

Distr: General
12 December 1996
Original: English

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Fifty-first session
Agenda item 110 b

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly

[on the report of the Third Committee (A/51/619/Add.2)]

51/101. Culture of peace

The General Assembly,

Recalling the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations and the purposes and principles of the United Nations,

Recalling also its resolution 50/173 of 22 December 1995 entitled "United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education: towards a culture of peace", in which it expressed satisfaction with the transdisciplinary project adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization entitled "Towards a culture of peace", in particular unit 1, entitled "Education for peace, human rights, democracy, international understanding and tolerance",

Considering that the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, 1/ will make a fundamental contribution to understanding and peace and is consistent with the transdisciplinary project entitled "Towards a culture of peace",

Taking note of the World Plan of Action on Education for Human Rights and Democracy, 2/ adopted by the International Congress on Education for Human Rights and Democracy convened by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at Montreal from 8 to 11 March 1993, the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and all relevant provisions included in the declarations and programmes of action adopted in the series of international conferences held under the auspices of the United Nations,

Emphasizing the need for a practical approach that can lead, through sustainable human development and the promotion of tolerance, dialogue and solidarity, to cooperation and the prevention of violence and thus to the consolidation of peace,

Considering the important results of the two international forums for a culture of peace hosted by El Salvador in February 1994 and the Philippines in November 1995,

Considering also the practical lessons learned from the national culture of peace programmes of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Burundi, the Congo, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mozambique, the Philippines, Rwanda and Somalia, whereby projects in the fields of competence of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in particular in education, have been planned and are being implemented through a process involving all parties concerned;

1. Welcomes the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the transdisciplinary project entitled "Towards a culture of peace"; 3/

2. Expresses deep concern about the proliferation of violence and conflicts of a diverse nature in various parts of the world;

3. Calls for the promotion of a culture of peace based on the principles established in the Charter of the United Nations, respect for human rights, democracy, tolerance, dialogue, cultural diversity and reconciliation, and efforts to promote development, education for peace, the free flow of information and the wider participation of women, as an integral approach to prevent violence and conflicts and to contribute to the creation of conditions for peace and its consolidation;

4. Welcomes with satisfaction the memorandum of understanding between the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, signed in Paris on 19 October 1995;

5. Welcomes the establishment of the Fe'lix Houphoue"t-Boigny Prize on the Research for Peace by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its twenty-fifth session, the biennial prize awarded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for the teaching of human rights and the annual prize for peace education;

6. Requests the Secretary-General, in coordination with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution and on the progress of educational activities within the framework of the transdisciplinary project entitled "Towards a culture of peace", including the preparation of elements for a draft provisional declaration and programme of action on a culture of peace;

7. Decides to continue its consideration of the question of a culture of peace at its fifty-second session.

82nd plenary meeting
12 December 1996




1/ A/49/261/Add.1-E/1994/110/Add.1, annex.

2/ See A/CONF.157/PC/42/Add.6.

3/ A/51/395, annex.