Sixty-second session Agenda item 49 Culture of peace Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Recalling its resolutions 56/6 of 9 November 2001, on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, 57/6 of 4 November 2002, concerning the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, 57/337 of 3 July 2003, on the prevention of armed conflict, 58/128 of 19 December 2003, on the promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation, 59/23 of 11 November 2004, on the promotion of interreligious dialogue, 59/143 of 15 December 2004, on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, 60/167 of 16 December 2005, on human rights and cultural diversity, and 61/161 of 19 December 2006, on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief, Recalling also its resolution 61/221 of 20 December 2006, on the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace, 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, Taking into account resolution 34 C/82 of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, recommending the proclamation of 2010 by the General Assembly as the international year for the rapprochement of cultures, Taking note of the valuable contribution of various initiatives at the national, regional and international levels to enhancing dialogue, understanding and cooperation among religions, cultures, and civilizations, which are mutually reinforcing and interrelated, Taking note also of the high-level dialogue on interreligious and intercultural understanding and cooperation for peace, with the overall theme of interreligious and intercultural cooperation for the promotion of tolerance, understanding and universal respect on matters of freedom of religion or belief and cultural diversity, held on 4 and 5 October 2007, Affirming the importance of sustaining the process of engaging all stakeholders in the interreligious, intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue within the appropriate initiatives at the various levels, Recognizing the commitment of all religions to peace, 1. Affirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations and of the culture of peace; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on interreligious dialogue in the context of its efforts to promote dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, as well as activities related to a culture of peace, and welcomes its focus on concrete action at the global, regional and subregional levels and its flagship project on the promotion of interfaith dialogue; 3. Reaffirms the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights1 and other instruments relating to human rights and international law, the universal nature of these rights and freedoms being beyond question; 4. Welcomes the designation of the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to play a focal point role, as requested in resolution 61/221, and pursuant thereto, to interact with the United Nations system entities and to coordinate their contribution to the intergovernmental process, and looks forward to its effective functioning; 5. Encourages Member States to consider, as and where appropriate, initiatives that identify areas for practical action in all sectors and levels of society for the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance, understanding and cooperation, through, inter alia, the ideas suggested during the high-level dialogue on interreligious and intercultural understanding and cooperation for peace; 6. Emphasizes the need to sustain the momentum generated by the high-level dialogue of 4 and 5 October 2007 on interreligious and intercultural understanding and cooperation for peace in subsequent discussions; 7. Encourages the promotion of dialogue among the media from all cultures and civilizations, emphasizes that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, and reaffirms that the exercise of this right carries with it special duties and responsibilities and may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall be only such as are provided by law and necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others, protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals; 8. Decides to declare 2010 as the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures, and recommends that, during the course of the year, appropriate events be organized on interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace, inter alia, a high-level dialogue and/or informal interactive hearings with civil society; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. * Reissued for technical reasons. Resolution 217 A (III). See A/62/337. __________________ __________________  sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/62/L.17/Rev.1 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/62/L.17/Rev.1 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-63842 \* MERGEFORMAT 2 \* MERGEFORMAT 3 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-63842 Resolution adopted without a vote by the General Assembly on December 17, 2007. (See UN Press Release at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/ga10676.doc.htm http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/ga10676.doc.htm) United Nations A/RES/62/90 General Assembly Distr.: Limited 17 December 2007 Original: English 07-63842* (E) 141207 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0763842*