A/HRC/RES/31/12 Determined to treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, 1. Reaffirms that cultural rights are an integral part of human rights, which are universal, indivisible, interrelated and interdependent; 2. Recognizes the right of everyone to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; 3. Reaffirms that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 4. Recalls that, as expressed in the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, no one may invoke cultural diversity to infringe upon human rights guaranteed by international law, nor to limit their scope; 5. Reaffirms that States have the responsibility to promote and protect cultural rights, and that these rights should be guaranteed for all, without discrimination; 6. Recognizes that respect for the cultural diversity and cultural rights of all enhances cultural pluralism, contributing to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural heritage and background, advancing the application and enjoyment of human rights throughout the world and fostering stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; 7. Also recognizes that respect for cultural rights is essential for development, peace and the eradication of poverty, building social cohesion and the promotion of mutual respect, tolerance and understanding between individuals and groups, in all their diversity; 8. Emphasizes that the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including cultural rights, and respect for cultural diversity should reinforce each other; 9. Takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights to the Human Rights Council 1 and, in particular, of her intention to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session a final study on the intentional destruction of cultural heritage; 10. Calls upon all Governments to cooperate with and to assist the Special Rapporteur in the discharge of the mandate, to provide her with all the necessary information requested by her and to give serious consideration to responding favourably to her requests to visit their countries in order to enable her to fulfil her duties effectively; 11. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide all the human and financial resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of the mandate by the Special Rapporteur; 12. Requests the Special Rapporteur to report regularly to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly in accordance with their respective programmes of work; 1 2 A/HRC/31/59.