Second World Conference to convene in Vienna.

An agenda for action which could dramatically increase the effectiveness of human rights into the next century is expected to be adopted at the upcoming World Conference on Human Rights, which is to convene in Vienna from 14 to 25 June.

The gathering will be attended by thousands of delegates representing Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around the globe. Indeed, NGOs with expertise in human rights and development, which will be accorded observer status at the Conference, are expected to make a significant contribution both to the deliberations of the Conference and to its final document.

The Conference is being held some 25 years after the International Conference on Human Rights in Tehran assessed the progress achieved under the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and laid the foundation for subsequent work in the field of human rights at the international level.

Intense negotiations

The two-week event is the culmination of a two-year preparatory process, the final stage of which took place in Geneva in April and May 1993 at the fourth session of the Preparatory Committee. Intense negotiations there resulted in the adoption by consensus of a draft document which will serve as the basis for the action programme to be considered by the World Conference. The first three Preparatory Committee meetings were held in 1992.

A draft document adopted by the fourth session of the Preparatory Committee--outlining a wide range of human rights issues of concern to the international community--contains a programme of action in the field of human rights for the years ahead.

The draft reaffirms the universality and indivisibility of human rights, but specifies that the "exercise of any human right must not be denied because the full enjoyment of other rights has not been achieved". It further states that "it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms".

The Conference agenda calls for it to commemorate the international Year of the World's indigenous People (being held this year), and to hold a general debate on progress made in the field of human rights since the Universal Declaration's adoption and on identifying obstacles to further progress in that area and ways in which they could be overcome.

Consideration will be given to the relationship between development, democracy and the universal enjoyment of all human rights, keeping in view the interrelationship and indivisibility of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. Contemporary trends in, and new challenges to, the full realization of all human rights of women and men, including those of persons belonging to vulnerable groups, will also be dealt with.

The Conference is expected to make recommendations for strengthening international cooperation in the field of human rights in conformity with the Charter and with international human rights instruments. Recommendations will also be made for ensuring the universality, objectivity and nonselectivity of the consideration of human rights issues; enhancing the effectiveness of UN activities and mechanisms: and securing resources for UN activities in the area of human rights.

Proposals before the Conference include giving consideration to the creation of a UN Permanent Commissioner for Human Rights and an International Court for Human Rights.

Draft document

The draft document adopted by the fourth session of the Preparatory Committee is closely based on declarations adopted by three regional meetings--an African meeting in Tunis (2-6 November 1992), a meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean in San Jose, Costa Rica (18-22 January 1993) and an Asian meeting in Bangkok (29 March-2 April 1993)--as well as on contributions made by Governments. It also takes into account suggestions made by intergovernmental organizations and NGOs, as well as studies prepared by independent experts. A paper submitted by the Centre for Human Rights served as a "working tool" for drafting the final document.

The document was adopted "ad referendum" (meaning it can be changed and amended) by the 154 Member States of the UN which actively took part in the work of the Preparatory Committee's fourth session. Senior Government officials will hold informal consultations in Vienna from 9 to 11 June in order to review those parts of the document considered to need further deliberation.

"Even though some disagreements still exist, the importance of this meeting in Geneva is that from the many documents submitted at its outset, one unique human rights draft document has emerged", said Ibrahima Fall, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference. "We have had a positive consensus on key issues such as protection from torture and the protection of women, the disabled, minorities and the world's indigenous peoples. That is one of the successes of this meeting."

The draft document stresses that democracy, development and respect for human rights are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. It reaffirms the rights of minorities, and states that persons belonging to minorities have the "right to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion and to use their own language in private and in public". It calls for the elimination of gender-based violence and all forms of sexual harassment and exploitation, including those resulting from cultural prejudice.

Rights of the vulnerable

The document attaches great importance to the rights of children and of groups who have been rendered vulnerable, including migrant workers. One principle calls for the punishment of perpetrators of such "abhorrent practices" as genocide, "ethnic cleansing" and systematic rape of women in war situations. Another principle states that States are "duty-bound" to ensure that education is aimed at strengthening respect for human rights.

The draft programme of action in the field of human rights for the years ahead describes concrete steps which States can take in order to improve the enjoyment of human rights by their citizens. It also defines the role of the UN, specialized agencies and other institutions involved in the protection of human rights, and calls for increased cooperation and coordination among them.

The programme calls for action to eliminate racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance. It urges the international community to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It also calls for stepped up action against torture. It strongly recommends that the UN assign a significantly increased proportion of its existing budgetary, material and personnel resources to the UN human rights programmes and the Centre for Human Rights.

The programme urges Governments and the UN to accord priority to the full and equal enjoyment by women of all human rights. It calls on the UN to encourage the universal ratification by the year 2000 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It also urges Governments, and regional and international organizations to facilitate the access of women to decision-making posts and their greater participation in the decision-making process. It encourages further steps within the UN Secretariat to appoint and promote women staff members.

Regional declarations

The 30-point "Declaration of Bangkok" stresses the need to consider human rights in national and regional contexts and emphasizes the principles of respect for national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.

The 31-point San Jose Declaration emphasizes that the right to development in a healthy and ecologically balanced environment was a universal and inalienable human right. it states that the advancement of representative democracy was the best guarantee of the enjoyment of all human rights.

The 11-point Tunis declaration emphasizes that: human rights, development and international peace are interdependent. The African countries cite as particular threats to human rights in their region "internal tensions deriving from the failure to meet the basic needs of populations" and "racism, particularly in new forms, extremism and fanaticism, whether of religious or other origin".

"Political freedom when not accompanied by respect for economic, social and political rights is precarious", says the Tunis declaration, which adds: "Lasting progress towards the implementation of human rights implies, at the national level, effective development policies and, at the international level, more equitable economic relations, as well as a favourable economic environment."