APPF26-RES-12-Promoting-Respect-Social-Diversity-Asia-Pacific-Region
APPF26/RES/12
(Sponsored by Canada)
The 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF):
Recognizing that social diversity and the freedom that all individuals and peoples have to develop and express their own sense of identity and culture are sources of mutual enrichment for all humankind;
Underlining the importance of promoting understanding, tolerance, mutual respect and friendship among human beings in their diversity of religion, belief, culture and language,
Mindful of the challenges to the full realization of human rights, the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity, and the maintenance of a free and democratic society;
Affirming that all persons are entitled to the protection and promotion of civil, political, economic, social, cultural rights and the right to development
Affirming that all persons are entitled to be free from all forms of discrimination;
Aware that members of minority groups are particularly vulnerable to political, economic and social alienation, marginalization and discrimination;
Recognizing the importance of parliamentarians as leaders in promoting the value of social diversity and ending discrimination;
Underscoring the particular importance of providing sufficient support to ethnic, religious, linguistic and other minority groups through legislation and government programming in order to ensure their ability to participate fully in society, to enjoy their human rights, and to pursue development;
Reaffirming key United Nations resolutions, treaties and instruments that promote respect for social diversity, including the Charter of the United Nations; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities; the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression; the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity; the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; theConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and others;
Recalling resolutions adopted by APPF Member States at previous Annual Meetings that support and promote social diversity, including those from the 25th Annual meeting held in Fiji concerning: Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls: Increasing the Political, Economic and Social Participation of Women; Promoting Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue; and the Elimination of Violence Against Women;
Commending APPF Member States for participating in the Meeting of Women Parliamentarians and for promoting equality for women;
Understanding that encouraging tolerance and respect for social diversity serves to better ensure peace and security, to advance human welfare and social justice, and to foster better international relations.
RESOLVES TO: