A/HRC/RES/21/3 economic and cultural systems, have the duty to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Reaffirming 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, Stressing that traditions shall not be invoked to justify practices contrary to human dignity and violating international human rights law, Recalling its previous resolutions on the issue, in particular resolutions 12/21 of 2 October 2009 and 16/3 of 24 March 2011, Noting the ongoing work of the Advisory Committee, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 16/3, on the preparation of a study on how a better understanding and appreciation of traditional values of dignity, freedom and responsibility can contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights, 1. Reaffirms that a better understanding and appreciation of traditional values shared by all humanity and embodied in universal human rights instruments contribute to promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide; 2. Recalls the important role of family, community, society and educational institutions in upholding and transmitting these values, which contributes to promoting respect for human rights and increasing their acceptance at the grass roots, and calls upon all States to strengthen this role through appropriate positive measures; 3. Stresses that human rights derive from the dignity and worth inherent in the human person; 4. Notes that traditional values, especially those shared by all humanity, can be practically applied in the promotion and protection of human rights and upholding human dignity, in particular in the process of human rights education; 5. Takes note of recommendation 9/4 of the Advisory Committee 1 on the progress of work on a study on how a better understanding and appreciation of traditional values of dignity, freedom and responsibility can contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights, and decides to accord it additional time to finalize the study; 6. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to collect information from States Members of the United Nations and other relevant stakeholders on best practices in the application of traditional values while promoting and protecting human rights and upholding human dignity, and to submit a summary thereon to the Human Rights Council before its twenty-fourth session; 7. Decides to remain seized of the matter. 36th meeting 27 September 2012 [Adopted by a recorded vote of 25 to 15, with 7 abstentions. The voting was as follows: In favour: Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Congo, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, 1 2 See A/HRC/AC/9/6.