Recalling the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Protocols, and stressing the importance of their implementation to protect cultural property, Reaffirming that the destruction of or any other form of damage to cultural property may impair the enjoyment of cultural rights, in particular of article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1. Calls upon all States to respect human rights law and strongly urges all parties to an armed conflict to strictly observe and respect, as applicable, the rules of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts, and to respect the rules on the protection of cultural property; 2. Emphasizes that each party to an armed conflict is committed under international law to take all necessary steps to protect cultural property through safeguarding of and respect for such property, including cultural property situated in occupied territories; 3. Strongly condemns any destruction of cultural property in violation of international humanitarian law, as applicable, during armed conflicts; 4. Emphasizes that protection of cultural property during armed conflicts can contribute to the full enjoyment of the right of everyone to take part in cultural life; 5. Urges States and encourages intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to take all necessary measures at the national, regional and international levels to address the issue of protection of cultural rights and property during armed conflicts, paying particular attention to the situation in occupied territories, and to provide appropriate assistance as requested by the concerned States; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Governments, the competent United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and international humanitarian organizations;