A/HRC/27/63 A. Preamble 28. At its 3rd meeting, on 1 July 2014, the working group focused on the first reading of the preambular part of the draft prepared by the Chair-Rapporteur. At the outset of the discussion on the proposed preamble, the Chair-Rapporteur indicated that the draft declaration was based on the purposes and principles upon which the United Nations had been founded. Since then, the importance of maintaining peace and promoting and protecting human rights had been reiterated in many international instruments. Since not all conventions had been ratified by all Member States, the Chair-Rapporteur explained that the idea of the proposed preamble was to have a general reference to the most important principles, and in particular to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the two International Covenants, as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. During the discussion, the Chair-Rapporteur also pointed out to delegations that the intention was for the draft declaration to keep a human rights focus on the right to peace. 29. Several delegations repeatedly indicated the need for a paragraph dedicated to the Declaration of the Right of Peoples to Peace, as well as to the Declaration on the Right to Development (General Assembly resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986). They considered that, as the draft declaration should be seen as an effort to codify the right to peace, references to those declarations seemed essential. It was also stated that delegations should not lose sight of the cardinal principles that formed the basis for the right to peace. In addition, some delegations expressed the wish to include a reference to the Declaration on the Preparation of Societies for Life in Peace. 30. Other delegations maintained that the declaration should be kept short and concise, and that they would therefore not support a reference to the Declaration of the Right of Peoples to Peace or to the Declaration on the Right to Development. 31. One delegation requested that more references be made to other existing human rights instruments, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 32. With regard to the issue of terrorism as a threat to peace, several delegations expressed their wish to include in the preamble a reference condemning terrorism in all its forms. Furthermore, they suggested including wording on the principle of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States. Other delegations reiterated that there were many threats to peace and that it would not be a good idea to list all of them in the declaration. 33. Some delegations stressed the need to create conditions of stability and well-being that allowed for peaceful and friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equality and self-determination of peoples, and expressed the wish to include a reference to the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations (annexed to General Assembly resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970). 34. One delegation proposed recalling the importance of the settlement of disputes or conflicts through peaceful means. Another delegation wished to underline that alien subjugation, domination and exploitation of peoples were a denial of fundamental rights and an impediment to the promotion of peace. 35. A number of delegations suggested aligning the wording of paragraphs 5 and 8 with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. 36. With regard to the reference to the Human Rights Council in paragraph 13, some felt that it was not appropriate to single out one particular subsidiary body of the General Assembly. 8