Udalbiltza : Conference's Declaration

This declaration by Udalbiltza came to us thanks to our friends of Basque Diaspora:

The final declaration of the International Conference for the Rights of Peoples that took place in the Kursaal, in Donostia, from the 6th to 8th december 2002.

You can read it also in Udalbiltza's web page.

We, citizens of different peoples, assembled in Donostia from 6th to 8th December 2002.

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) is an instrument guaranteeing the rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons,

Recalling the purpose of the United Nations proclaimed in Article 1.2 of its Founding Charter (1945), "to develop friendly relations among nations, based on respect of the principle of equal rights and self determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengther universal peace",

Acknowledging the United Nations Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (Resolution 1514 (XV) of the General Assembly of the United Nations, 1960),

Recalling that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) recognise the Right to Self Determination of all peoples without distinction or discrimination of any kind among them,

Acknowledging Resolution 2625 (XXV) of the General Assembly of the United Nations (1970), and particularly the paragraph concerning the principle of equality of rights and self determination of peoples,

Recalling the Final Act of Helsinki of 1975 which declare that "all member States will respect the equal rights and self determination of Peoples",

Acknowledging the Charter of Argel adopted the fourth of July 1976,

Bearing in mind General Commentary N. 12 of the United Nations Committee on Human Rights, regarding Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (21st Session, A/39/40, 1984) which states that the right of self determination is an inalienable right of all peoples, and a necessary condition to effectively benefit from all other Human Rights,

Whereas the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Recalling the Covenant of Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation of 1991 and the Universal Declaration of Rights of Peoples of 2001,

Whereas the Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action (1993) emphasises the universality, interdependence, interrelationship and interconnection of all Human Rights (UN Document A/CONF.157/24 (Part I) at 20 (1993), (1993) 32 I.L.M. 1661, paragraph 5),

Likewise taking into consideration the Durban Declaration against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (2001), that reaffirms the principles of equality of rights, of the free determination of peoples, and that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,

Whereas Resolution 56/151 of the General Assembly of the United Nations (2001) manifests the importance of the principles of impartiality and objectivity in the promotion and protection of Human Rights, including the Right of Self Determination,

Recalling the Declaration on cultural diversity adopted by UNESCO in its General Conference in 2001, Recalling Resolution 2002/72 of the Commission on Human Rights of United Nations (2002), which stresses that a democratic and just international order requires, inter alia, exercising the Right of Self Determination,

Likewise noting that:

* The right to equality of all persons and peoples is inferred from the different international instruments above mentioned,

* The Right of Self Determination is a human right recognised in the different international instruments,

* Coexistence among different peoples is a necessary condition for the preservation and development of cultures, tongues and spiritual traditions, as well as for world peace and security, and becomes conditio sine qua non for the progress of the civilisations that form the common heritage of Humanity,

* The diversity of peoples, cultures, tongues and traditions, as recognised in the Durban Declaration, constitutes the genuine wealth of human existence and a valuable asset for the promotion of tolerance, pluralism, respect for diversity and development of inclusive societies,

* Human Rights cannot be comprehensively implemented without the recognition of the right of individuals and peoples to their national, cultural and linguistic identity,

* Processes of cultural and identity forcible assimilation of peoples have originated, and still originate, violations of Human Rights that are contrary to the United Nations Charter, and jeopardise the cause of world peace and co-operation,

* The procedural mechanisms of the Right of Self Determination have become obsolete and are seldom applied,

* The recognition of the Right of Self Determination of peoples becomes an effective instrument for the prevention and resolution of conflicts, in particular and for the promotion of Human Rights in general,

Hence, we declare that:

* All peoples have the Right of Self Determination, by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development,

* All peoples, like all persons, are equal in rights and dignity, without distinction or discrimination of any kind among them,

* All peoples and their citizens have the right to the full and effective benefit of all Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

* All peoples have the right to know, learn, preserve and develop their own culture, language, customs, and spiritual traditions, and to establish the juridical conditions for a pluralism compatible with this right,

* All peoples have the right to a fair life and to dispose of the riches and natural resources of their own territory, and to the recognition of the full ownership, control and protection of their cultural and intellectual property,

* All peoples have the right to own, develop, control and use the lands and territories, including the total environment of the lands, air, waters, coastal seas, sea-ice, flora and fauna and other resources which they have traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used,

* All peoples have the right to security, to peace and to international legal protection,

* All peoples have the right to desmilitarisation of their territory, and to disallow the production, storage, transport ant use of weapons for mass destruction,

* All peoples have the right to organise and constitute legitimate representative bodies for the whole of their territory,

* All peoples have the right to participate, as such, in international life in the framework of intergovernmental structures and of the non governmental international organizations(NGO).

And we appeal,

* To the collaboration and solidarity among peoples of the world, to promote equality and to guarantee diversity and cultural plurality, Humanity’s common heritage,

* To the promotion of a new, effective and safe mechanisms in the United Nations and other continental organisations, through permanent dialogue among peoples, states and inter-governmental agencies, for the settling of demands and conflicts concerning the Right of Self Determination.

* To the international community, that it may fulfil current International Law in regard to peoples with full rights to Self Determination.

* To peoples, to use processes of self determination to prevent conflict and to build a freer, more just and more democratic world.

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