A/HRC/17/39 H. Declaration and programme of action 10. Following nine months of debate the UN General Assembly adopted on 13 September 1999 a “Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace”.c The first article of the declaration provides the most complete definition to date of the Culture of Peace: “A culture of peace is a set of values, attitudes, traditions and modes of behaviour and ways of life based on: (a) Respect for life, ending of violence and promotion and practice of nonviolence through education, dialogue and cooperation; (b) Full respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and non-intervention in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law; (c) freedoms; (d) Full respect for and promotion of all human rights and fundamental Commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts; (e) Efforts to meet the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations; (f) (g) and men; Respect for and promotion of the right to development; Respect for and promotion of equal rights of and opportunities for women (h) Respect for and promotion of the rights of everyone to freedom of expression, opinion and information; (i) Adherence to the principles of freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations; and fostered by an enabling national and international environment conducive to peace”. Source: http://www3.unesco.org/iycp/kits/uk_concept.pdf (accessed on 1st March 2011) c GA Resolution 53/243 (1999). 37