Sixty-second session Agenda item 49 Culture of peace Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Philippines and Suriname: draft resolution 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, 59/199 of 20 December 2004, on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance, and 60/167 of 16 December 2005 on human rights and cultural diversity, Taking into account its resolution 61/221 of 20 December 2006, on the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace, and reaffirming the principles contained therein, 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 of the draft resolution contained in document 34C/82, the adoption by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-fourth session, held in Paris from 16 October to 3 November 2007, recommending the proclamation of 2010 by the General Assembly as the international year for the rapprochement of cultures, Welcoming 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 all mutually inclusive, reinforcing and interrelated, Taking note of the statements and recommendations made during the high-level dialogue on 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, including the proposal to establish a consultative council of religions under the aegis of the United Nations with the aim of encouraging interreligious dialogue for peace, Affirming the importance of sustaining the process of engaging all stakeholders in the interreligious, intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue at the national, regional and international 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. Welcomes the designation, in paragraph 27 of the report of the Secretary-General of the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs as the focal unit in the Secretariat on interreligious, intercultural and inter-civilizational matters, in paragraph 27 of the report of the Secretary-General,2 4. Encourages Governments to consider the proposals contained in the statements made during the high-level dialogue on interreligious and intercultural cooperation for the promotion of tolerance, understanding and universal respect on matters of freedom of religion or belief and cultural diversity, particularly 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 at the grass-roots level; 5. 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 that 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; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the various recommendations made during the high-level dialogue, including the establishment of a consultative council of religions to serve as a forum for interreligious dialogue for peace, and to submit proposals on the modalities for the possible council, and in this regard, calls upon States, relevant international organizations and civil society organizations to communicate to the Secretary-General their views on this subject; 7. Decides to hold an annual high-level dialogue on interreligious and intercultural cooperation for the promotion of peace, tolerance, understanding, universal respect on matters of freedom of religion or belief, cultural diversity, development and human dignity, and requests the President of the General Assembly to convene interactive hearings with civil society to engage all stakeholders in the process; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit during the current session a framework plan of activities for 2010, to be declared by the General Assembly as the International Year of Dialogue among Religions and Rapprochement of Cultures; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. Resolution 217 A (III). A/62/337. __________________ __________________  sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/62/L.17 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/62/L.17 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-61122 \* MERGEFORMAT 2 \* MERGEFORMAT 3 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-61122 United Nations A/62/L.17 General Assembly Distr.: Limited 23 November 2007 Original: English jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 07-61122 (E) 261107 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0761122*