A/HRC/RES/19/6 Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 20 October 2005 and which entered into force on 18 March 2007, Convinced that international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all should be based on an understanding of the economic, social and cultural specificities of each country and the full realization and recognition of the universality of all human rights and the principles of freedom, justice, equality and non-discrimination, Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, 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, as expressed in the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, that 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; 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 background, advancing the application and enjoyment of human rights throughout the world and fostering stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; 7. Welcomes the work and contributions of the Independent Expert in the field of cultural rights; 8. Decides to extend, for a period of three years, the mandate of the current mandate holder as a special rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, as set out in the relevant United Nations human rights instruments, with the following mandate: (a) To identify best practices in the promotion and protection of cultural rights at the local, national, regional and international levels; (b) To identify possible obstacles to the promotion and protection of cultural rights, and to submit proposals and/or recommendations to the Human Rights Council on possible actions in that regard; (c) To work in cooperation with States in order to foster the adoption of measures at the local, national, regional and international levels aimed at the promotion and protection of cultural rights through concrete proposals enhancing subregional, regional and international cooperation in that regard; (d) To study the relationship between cultural rights and cultural diversity, in close collaboration with States and other relevant actors, including in particular the United 2