NAM 2007/INF/TEHRAN/DOC. 6

NAM MINISTERIAL MEETING ON

HUMAN RIGHTS AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY

TEHRAN, 3-4 SEPTEMBER 2007

Chairman’s summary of the Informal Panel Discussion on:

Enhancement of

International Cooperation in the field of Human Rights

Report of the Chairman of the Informal Panel Discussion on

Enhancement of International Cooperation in the field of Human Rights

1. The Panel Discussion entitled: "Enhancement of International Cooperation in the field of Human Rights" held during the Non-Aligned Ministerial Meeting held in Tehran, on 3-4 September 2007. It was based on deliberations of the Coordinating Bureau (COB) of the NAM, held in New York on 23 August 2007.

2. The Chairman of the panel, H.E Mr. Mostafa Alaei of the Islamic Republic of Iran officially opened the panel, and delivered his keynote speech titled: "Enhancement of International Cooperation in the field of Human Rights".

3. Herewith, the panel submits its outcome to the Plenary of the NAM Ministerial Meeting on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity. The outcome will be subject to the approval of the plenary for inclusion in the final report.

The outcome of the Panel:

4. The enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is a long standing issue top on the agenda of the international community. For effective realization of international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the following elements should be taken into consideration:

A profound understanding of the variety of problems existing in different societies,

Full respect for their economic, social, and cultural realities,

The full realization and recognition of the universality of all human rights,

The principles of freedom, justice, equality and non-discrimination,

Tolerance, mutual understanding and respect for cultural diversity,

Rejection of selectivity, double standards and discrimination.

5. It is widely accepted by different actors from the governmental, non-governmental and institutions of civil society that mutual understanding and appreciation of wide range of developmental problems and complexities emanating from wide spectrum of historical, cultural, societal and economic particularities in different regions and countries will highly assist those involved in the process of international cooperation and mutual interaction to outline a workable and objective framework for the better implementation of human rights. Thus, realities should be understood and be taken into account in the process of international collective endeavor for the promotion and protection of universal human rights.

6. Respect for cultural diversity at the national and international level and the recognition of the fact that the cultural diversity is a source of unity rather than division within the international community will indeed promote peace and security. It should also be acknowledged that cultural diversity is an asset and enriches the human common cultural heritage. Hence, advancing the policy of cultural hegemony and uniculturalism at the international level should be avoided. Indeed persisting on cultural domination and the efforts to eliminate cultural identities in the process of globalization will cause a major setback to the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights at the international level. On the contrary, tolerance and understanding towards "others" are considered as key elements in enhancing international cooperation. The practice of listening to "others" rather than confronting or offending them should be cultivated and promoted as a culture within those performing international politics at all levels.

7. Justice, equality, equity and non discrimination is the cornerstone of the modern international system. These concepts must permeate within all governmental and non governmental interactions. The international order and cooperation, as the World Conference on the elimination of racism and racial discrimination stipulates, must be based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights. It should reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

8. Human rights, per se, are not the construct of any particular culture. Human rights are a cross cultural consensus having roots in all cultures and civilizations. No ready made model human rights system should be imposed on states. Hence, the international cooperation must deepen the common understanding of universal human rights allowing different cultures and civilizations to have their own interpretations and conceptions within the larger concept of universality of human rights worldwide.

9. With human rights understood within the larger spectrum of humanity as a cross cultural consensus, the wider and deeper application of universal human rights at the global level will be a reality of modern life, preventing the loop holes for those pursuing the narrow political self interests at the cost of human rights. Therefore, the international cooperation in the field of human rights as opposed to international confrontation that uses politics as a tool will be at the service of both the process of "standard setting" and "implementation" of human rights at the international level.

10. International cooperation should confront the selectivity, double standard and discrimination in the field of consideration of the issues and the process of standard setting as well as application of human rights. The international cooperation should provide a climate for the purpose of developing constructive and productive plans and programmes for different components of the international community in its endeavour to promote and protect human rights worldwide. International cooperation should lead to creating impartial mechanisms in the General Assembly of the United Nations and the Human Rights Council for the objective evaluation of human rights all over the world.

11. International cooperation is and should be considered as a vehicle to bring about friendly relations among states. Should international cooperation in the field of human rights be conducted genuinely, it will also provide the necessary climate to combat terrorism through elimination of exclusion, discrimination, humiliation and respect for cultural diversity. The international community should recognize the right of all peoples and nations to self determination and the right to preserve their own cultures free from any coercion at the global level. It is only within this context that, international cooperation in the field of human rights can protect human rights and promote a sense of identity among individuals and nations.

12. The forces of globalization can provide challenges as well as opportunities in this domain, as a process that may impact positively or negatively on cultural identities. The key actors in the process of globalization should not replicate the repressive policy undertaken against the cultural identities in the course of the Cold War. The repressive measures in the increasingly globalizing world could take the form of disinformation through the global media including modern communication technologies. Religious intolerance including Islamophobia and negrophobia created as a result of aggressive media policies seek to demonize particular cultures and religions that lead eventually to hatred and exclusion. This should be prevented through an innovative and alternative plan of international cooperation among all nations.

13. International cooperation in the field of human rights should pave the way for the better realization of the right to development. The international community has frequently recognized the right to development as a human right. Development of Member States of the United Nations in all aspects of modern life is an instrument of peace and security. Prosperity and growth of the peoples and nations is the mainstream of promotion and protection of human rights. The international cooperation should provide necessary mechanisms to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor.

14. The Movement should reinvigorate its efforts through the strengthening of its working methods in order to use its full potentials to play even grater role in the international fora on human rights, particularly the Third Committee and the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, and encourage all Member States to actively participate in the 2009 Cairo Summit.

15. To further promote international cooperation in the field of cultural diversity, the NAM should initiate a meaningful interaction with UNESCO on the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.

16. The Non-Aligned Movement should increase its voice in the process of international cooperation, and continue to coordinate its positions within the Human Rights Council, as well as other United Nations International Human Rights fora. The NAM supports a Universal Periodic Review which is impartial, non- politicized and non-selective.

17. The Non-Aligned Movement strongly supports the dialogue among cultures and civilization as an important initiative to enhance mutual and common understanding, including on human rights, and prevent the exploitation of human rights as a tool for advancing the political interests of a few.

18. Standard-setting and implementation in the field of human rights is a dynamic and evolving process which should, as time progresses, be guided by the principle of respect for cultural diversity and avoidance of cultural homogeneity, taking into account new developments emerging within a world increasingly characterized by cultural specificities and particularities.