[see also UN General Assembly Resolution
on The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Ethnic Cleansing -
1992]
The General Assembly,
Recalling the Charter of the United Nations, the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human
Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination,
Reaffirming its conviction that any doctrine of
superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally
condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and that there is no
justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice, anywhere,
Reaffirming also its conviction that discrimination
between human beings on the grounds of race, colour, religion or ethnic
origin is an obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations among nations and
is capable of disturbing peace and security among peoples and the harmony of
persons living side by side even within the same State,
Convinced that the existence of racial and ethnic
barriers is repugnant to the ideals of any human society, and aware of the
need to strengthen efforts to eliminate all forms of racial hatred,
Alarmed by the fact that, notwithstanding the
efforts of the international community to eradicate them, there are still in
many parts of the world manifestations of racial discrimination that are
encouraged by a philosophy of racial superiority or hatred,
Deeply alarmed by policies and practices of "ethnic
cleansing", which foster hatred and violence, wherever they occur,
Noting the importance of respecting the rights of
persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic
minorities,
Reaffirming its
resolution 46/242 of 25 August 1992, in which it states that the
abhorrent practice of "ethnic cleansing" constitutes a grave and serious
violation of international humanitarian law,
1. Condemns unreservedly "ethnic cleansing" and acts
of violence arising from racial hatred;
2. Strongly rejects policies and ideologies aimed at
promoting racial hatred and "ethnic cleansing" in any form;
3. Reaffirms that "ethnic cleansing" and racial
hatred are totally incompatible with universally recognized human rights and
fundamental freedoms;
4. Reiterates its conviction that those who commit
or order the commission of acts of "ethnic cleansing" are individually
responsible and should be brought to justice;
5. Demands that all those who commit or order acts
of "ethnic cleansing" put an end to them immediately;
6. Calls upon all States to cooperate in eliminating
all forms of "ethnic cleansing" and racial hatred.
