INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION PLACE DU PETIT-SACONNEX 1211 GENEVA 19, SWITZERLAND |
THE PREVENTION OF CONFLICTS AND THE RESTORATION OF PEACE AND TRUST IN COUNTRIES EMERGING FROM WAR; THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO THEIR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN, THE STRENGTHENING OF DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES AND THE HASTENING OF RECONSTRUCTION
Resolution adopted without a vote by the 99th Inter-Parliamentary Conference
Aware that, despite the development of conflict prevention mechanisms and the growing number of successes achieved by preventive diplomacy, armed conflicts still occur and post-war normalisation and rehabilitation require constant and active international involvement and support, Deeply concerned that the slow pace of post-war normalisation and rehabilitation in various crisis areas of the world continues to endanger international peace, stability and security, Recalling the relevant resolutions adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, including those entitled " Respect for international humanitarian law and support for humanitarian action in armed conflicts ", " Prevention of conflicts, maintenance and consolidation of peace: Role and means of the United Nations and regional organizations ", " The protection of minorities as a global issue and a prerequisite for stability, security and peace " and " Co-operation for world and regional security and stability, as well as respect for all forms of the sovereignty and independence of States ", adopted, respectively, by the 90th, 91st, 95th and 97th Inter-Parliamentary Conferences, Considering that war, political instability and oppression but also poverty and economic hardship trigger movements of refugees, and conscious that poverty, especially when combined with ethnic or political discord and political oppression, provides fertile ground for those wishing to foment violent opposition to governments, Also recalling Conclusions No. 18 (XXXI) of 1980, No. 40 (XXXVI) of 1985, No. 56 (XL) of 1989, No. 74 (XLV) of 1994, No. 80 (XLVII) of 1996 and No 81 (XLVIII) of 1997 of the Executive Committee of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on international protection, and wishing to further stress: (a) The fundamental right of refugees to return home voluntarily and in safety and dignity; (b) The entitlement of returning refugees to all constitutional rights, including all human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948; (c) The need for the international community to provide adequate support to facilitate the reintegration of returnees, internally and externally displaced persons and demobilised soldiers, Noting that democratic governance, transparency and accountability in government, the strengthening of electoral processes, the pursuit of social and economic development and the observance of basic human rights can not only prevent conflict but also restore peace to countries emerging from war, Acknowledging the leading role of the United Nations and regional organisations in preventing conflict and restoring peace, ensuring sustainable economic and social development and promoting fundamental human rights, Also acknowledging the importance of implementing all UN Security Council resolutions on conflicts, Recalling relevant United Nations documents, especially the UN Secretary-General's 'An Agenda for Peace', the 'Supplement to an Agenda for Peace', 'An Agenda for Development' and 'An Agenda for Democratization', as well as General Assembly resolutions 52/18 of 15 January 1998 and 52/129 of 12 December 1997, Recognising the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the States participating in the Fourth World Conference on Women organised by the UN in 1995, and convinced that the establishment and maintenance of peace and security require the unrestricted participation of women in decision-making processes, conflict prevention and settlement and all other peace initiatives, Stressing the need to consolidate international peace and security through disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament leading to the elimination of all nuclear weapons, and to impose quantitative and qualitative restrictions on the arms race, and recalling to this end the resolution of the 85th Inter-Parliamentary Conference (Pyongyang, April 1991) entitled " Need to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, to ensure the security of all States and to strengthen confidence-building measures in the context of the process of disarmament ", Pointing out that the overwhelming majority of arms sales to developing countries are made by the permanent members of the UN Security Council, Believing that the restoration of peace, the return of refugees, land rehabilitation and even economic recovery would be facilitated by the banning of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and by their destruction in conformity with IPU resolutions on the subject (Beijing, September 1996 and Cairo, September 1997), Noting with great interest the content of the address delivered to the Conference by the Director General of UNESCO, Mr. Federico Mayor, on 6 April, Also noting the importance of promoting all the components of a genuine " culture of peace ", and hoping for full recognition of the right to peace which is inherent in every individual and every society and is the very foundation of such a culture, Urging parliaments to play their true role by legislating effectively to achieve the objectives of this resolution and by holding the Executive accountable for its action in these areas, A. Conflicts and Conflict Prevention
B. Restoration of Peace and Trust
C. Refugees
D. Democratic Processes
E. Reconstruction
* The delegations of China and Finland expressed reservations on paragraph A.5 and the delegation of Azerbaijan expressed reservations on section B.
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