A/HRC/RES/12/21
page 2
regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne
in mind, all States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, have the duty to
promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Recognizing that all cultures and civilizations in their traditions, customs, religions and
beliefs share a common set of values that belong to humankind in its entirety, and that those
values have made an important contribution to the development of human rights norms and
standards,
1.
Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene, in
2010, a workshop for an exchange of views on how a better understanding of traditional values
of humankind underpinning international human rights norms and standards can contribute to the
promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, with the participation of
representatives from all interested States, regional organizations, national human rights
institutions and civil society, as well as experts selected with due consideration given to the
appropriate representation of different civilizations and legal systems;
2.
Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to present to the Council a summary
of the discussions held at the workshop in conformity with the programme of work of the
Council.
31st meeting
2 October 2009
[Adopted by a recorded vote of 26 to 15, with 6 abstentions. The voting was as follows:
In favour:
Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China,
Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Nicaragua,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa,
Zambia;
Against:
Belgium, Chile, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway,
Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
United States of America;
Abstaining:
Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Ghana, Ukraine, Uruguay.]
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