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Compilation
of the Family-Specific recommendations of the WORLD CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS The World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna, Austria, from 14 to 25 June 1993 was convened to review the progress made in the protection and promotion of human rights since the adoption in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1968 International Conference on Human Rights, held in Tehran, and to forge a new global human rights agenda. Among other things, the World Conference on Human Rights sought to identify obstacles to further progress in implementing human rights standards and considered the relationship between development, democracy and the universal enjoyment of human rights. Both the World Conference on Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by it stressed the need to ensure the protection of individual's rights and to address discrimination, the denial of equal rights, particularly women, domestic violence and abuse or neglect of children. By promoting the respect, learning and practice of basic human rights, families can play a major role in their actual enjoyment. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action consists of two sections. Section II contains six sub-headings: A. Increased coordination on human rights within the United Nations system; B. Equality, dignity and tolerance; C. Cooperation, development and strengthening of human rights; D. Human rights education; E. Implementation and monitoring methods; and F. Follow-up to the World Conference on Human Rights. Numerous provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action are of direct or indirect relevance to families. A few are reproduced below as illustrative examples. [Paragraph 18] The human rights of women and of the girl-child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights. The full and equal participation of women in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life, at the national, regional and international levels, and the eradication of all forms of discrimination on grounds of sex are priority objectives of the international community. Gender-based violence and all forms of sexual harassment and exploitation, including those resulting from cultural prejudice and international trafficking, are incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person, and must be eliminated. This can be achieved by legal measures and through national action and international cooperation in such fields as economic and social development, education, safe maternity and health care, and social support. The human rights of women should form an integral part
of the United Nations human rights activities, including the promotion
of all human rights instruments relating to women. [Paragraph 21] The World Conference on Human Rights, welcoming the early ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by a large number of States and noting the recognition of the human rights of children in the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and Plan of Action adopted by the World Summit for Children, urges universal ratification of the Convention by 1995 and its effective implementation by States parties through the adoption of all the necessary legislative, administrative and other measures and the allocation to the maximum extent of the available resources. In all actions concerning children, non-discrimination and the best interest of the child should be primary considerations and the views of the child given due weight. National and international mechanisms and programmes should be strengthened for the defense and protection of children, in particular, the girl-child, abandoned children, street children, economically and sexually exploited children, including through child pornography, child prostitution or sale of organs, children victims of diseases including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, refugee and displaced children, children in detention, children in armed conflict, as well as children victims of famine and drought and other emergencies, international cooperation and solidarity should be promoted to support the implementation of the Convention and the rights of the child should be a priority in the United Nations system-wide action on human rights. The World Conference on Human Rights also stresses that the child for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality should grow up in a family environment which accordingly merits broader protection. [Paragraph 33] The World Conference on Human Rights urges all States to guarantee the protection of the human rights of all migrant workers and their families. [Paragraph 35] The World Conference on Human Rights invites States to consider the possibility of signing and ratifying, at the earliest possible time, the International Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. [Paragraph 41] The World Conference on Human Rights recognizes the importance of the enjoyment by women of the highest standard of physical and mental health throughout their life-span. In the context of the World Conference on Women and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the Proclamation of Tehran of 1968, the World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms, on the basis of equality between women and men, a woman 's right to accessible and adequate health core and the widest range of family planning services, as well as equal access to education at all levels. [Paragraph 47] The World Conference on Human Rights urges all nations to undertake measures to the maximum extent of their available resources, with the support of international cooperation, to achieve the goals in the World Summit Plan of Action. The Conference calls on States to integrate the Convention on the Rights of the Child into their national action plans. By means of these national action plans and through international efforts, particular priority should be placed on reducing infant and maternal mortality rates, reducing malnutrition and illiteracy rates and providing access to safe drinking-water and to basic education. When ever so called for, national plans of action should be devised to combat devastating emergencies resulting from natural disasters and armed conflicts and the equally grave problem of children in extreme poverty.
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