A/RES/31/77 GA

VI. Resolutions adopted on the reports of the Tlúrd Comnúttce 97 3187 (XXVIII) of 18 December 1973 and 3391 (XXX) of 19 November 1975, Taking note of resolutions 17 and 24 adopted by the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Colombo from 16 to 19 August 1976,19 Convinced that the promotion of national culture enhances a people's ability to understand the culture and civilization of other peoples and thus has a most favourable impact on international co-operation, Convinced also that the protection by all means of national culture and heritage is an integral part of the process of preservation and future development of cul- tural values, l. Invites all Member States to sign and ratify the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property,20 adopted by the General Con- ference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 14 November 1970; 2. Calls upon all Member States to take all neces- sary steps to prevent, on their territories, any illicit traffic in works of art coming from any other country, especially from territories which were or are under co- lonial or foreign domination and occupation; 3. Afjirms that the restitution to a country of its objets d'art, monuments, museum pieces, manuscripts, documents and any other cultural or artistic treasures constitutes a step forward towards the strengthening of international co-operation and the preservation and future development of cultural values. 83rd plenary meeting 30 November 1976 31/41. Second World Black ami African Festival of Arts and Culture The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3148 (XXVIII) of 14 De- cember 1973, Ref erring to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,21 in particular to article 15, which reaffirms the right of everyone to participate in the preservation and development of culture, Conscious of the need for agreement on a system of values based on justice, equality, freedom and fellow- ship and on the recognition of the unity of mankind with all its diverse peoples, races and cultures, Convinced that contacts and exchanges between different cultures on the basis of the cquality and the sovereignty of States can make a genuine contribution to the enrichment of cultural values on a national, regional and world-wide scale, Conscious that the recognition of cultural identity as an integral part of the mobilization of society is an essential factor in the achievement and preservation of independence, national sovereignty and development, Convinced that the forthcoming Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture will contribute 19 See A/31/197, annex IV. . 2? United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organ- JZahon, Records of the General Conference, Sixteenth Session, vol. I, Reso/utions, pp. 135-141. 21 Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. immensely to the promotion of international co-opera- tion and understanding, l. Commends the efforts made thus far by the in- ternational community, including international organi- zations and the International Festival Committee, in the preparations for the Second World Black and Af- rican Festival of Arts and Culture; 2. Notes with appreciation the efforts made by Nigeria in its capacity as host country for the Festival; 3. Appeals to all interested and concerncd countries to make all possible efforts at the national and inter- national levels towards ensuring the success of the Festival. 83rd plenary meeting 30 November 1976 31/77. lmplcmcntation of the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism ancl Racial Discrimination The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3057 (XXVIII) of 2 No- vember 1973, in which it reaffirmed its resolve to achieve the total and unconditional elimination of ra- cism, racial discrimination and apartheid, Reaffirming that the policies of racism, racial dis- crimination and apartheid are flagrant violations of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and constitute serious violations of the obligations of Mem- ber States under the Charter, Hearing in mind the vital importance of establishing a new international economic arder based on justice and equality, Noting that the realization of the national indepen- dence of the People's Republic of Angola and the courageous action of the People's Republic of Mo- zambique in applying fully the United Nations system of sanctions against the racist régime in Southern Rho- desia have contributed to the growing isolation of the racist régime in South Africa, Realizing the serious threat to international peace and security rcsulting from the continued defiance by the racist régimes in South Africa and Southern Rho- desia of the resolutions and the will of the international community in relation to the abhorrent policies of apart- heid and racial discrimination, the continued illegal occupation of Namibia and the denial of the right of peoples to self-determination, Convinced that the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination22 is a majar undertaking in the fight against racial dis- crimination which deserves the full support of all Gov- ernments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, l. Condemns the intolerable conditions which con- tinue to prevail in southern Africa and elsewhere, in- cluding the denial of the right to self-determination and the inhumane and odious application of apartheid and racial discrimination; 2. Reaffirms its recognition of the legitimacy of the struggle of oppressed peoples to liberate themselves from racism, racial discrimination, apartheid, colonial- ism and alíen domination; 22 Resolution 3057 (XXVIII), annex. 98 General Assemhly-Thirty-first Session 3. Calls upon all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to offer all possible as- sistance to the People's Republic of Angola, the Peo- ple's Republi~ of Moza~biq1;e_ and _the African co_un- tries surroundmg the rac1st reg1mes m southern Af~1ca, so that they may continue to apply fully the sanctions against these régirnes; 4. Urges all States to co-operate loyally and fully in achieving the goals a1:1d objectives _of th~ D~c~de ~or Action to Combat Rac1sm and Racial D1scnmmat10n by taking actions and measures called for by the Pro- gramme for the Decade at the national, regional and international levels and, in particular: (a) To ensure the immediate termination of all measures and policies, as well as military, nuclear, eco- nomic and other activities, which enable racist régimes in southern Africa to continue the repression of the African people; ( b) To pro vide full support and assistance, morally and materially, to the peoples which are victims of apartheid and racial discrimination and to the libera- tion movements; (e) To cease emigration to South Africa; (d) To ensure the release of political prisoners in South Africa and of those subjected to restrictions for their opposition to apartheid; (e) To formulate and execute plans to realize the policy measures and goals contained in the Programme for the Decade, and to consider the advisability of es- tablishing national arrangcmcnts to follow up the im- plementation of the Programme; (f) To review interna! laws and regulations with a view to identifying and rescinding those which pro- vide for, give rise to, or inspire racial discrimination or apartheid; (g) To ensure the cessation of all discriminatory measures against migrant workers and extend to them treatment equal to that provided for nationals of the host country with regard to human rights and the pro- visions of their labour legislation; (h) To sign and ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimina- tion,23 the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid24 and all other relevant instruments; 5. Also urges Member States which are parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to comply fully with their obligations under the Convention and, in par- ticular, to submit their reports in accordance with the time-table laid down in article 9 thereof; 6. Further urges United Nations bodies, the spe- cialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-gov- ernmental organizations to ensure the continuation of their activities related to the Decade with emphasis on, inter alia: (a) Providing moral and material support to the national liberation movements and the victims of apart- heid and racial discrimination; (b) Assisting and conducting vigorous educational and information campaigns to dispel racial prejudice and to involve public opinion in the struggle against racism and racial discrimination; 23 Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. 24 Resolution 3068 (XXVIII), annex. (e) Examining the socio-econ01:nic ~nd_ c?lo~ial roots of racism, apartheid and racial d1scnmmation with a view to eliminating them; 7. Appeals to Member States which have not yet done so to forward the reports called for under para- graph 18 (e) of the Programme for the Decade; 8. W elcomes any contributions and suggestions re- lated to the Programme for the Decade by the Com- mittee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Special Committee against Apartheid, the Special Com- mittee on the Situation with regard to the Implementa- tion of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the Commission on Human Rights, its Ad Hoc Working Group of Expefts and its Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimina- tion and Protection of Minorities, especially with regard to the preparations for the World Conference to Com- bat Racism and Racial Discrimination; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to draw on the expertise of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities while undertaking the relevant activities of the Decade; 1 O. Reiterates the oall in paragraph 18 (g) of the Programme for the Decade to make adequate resources available to the Secretary-General to enable him to un- dertake the activities entrusted to him under the Pro- gramme; 11. Appeals to Governments and private organiza- tions to make voluntary contributions which would make it possible to carry out all of the activities pro- vided for in the Programme for the Decade; 12. Decides to consider at its thirty-second session, as a matter of high priority, the question cntitled "Dcc- adc for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimi- nation". 97 th plenary meetin& 13 December 1976 31/78. World Conference to Comhat Racism and Racial Discrimination The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3057 (XXVIII) of 2 No- vember 1973, in which it reaffirmed its resolve to achievc the total and unconditional elimination of rac- ism, racial discrimination and apartheid, Recalling also its resolution 3378 (XXX) of 10 No- vember 1975, Taking note of Economic and Social Council reso- lution 1990 (LX) of 11 May 1976, Having considered the request of the Government of Ghana that the United Nations defray half of the additional cost involved in holding the World Con- ference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination at Acera, and the recommendation of the Economic and Social Council in this regard, Recognizing that Ghana is one of the countries most seriously affected by the current world economic crisis and that, despite this, the Government of Ghana is making a substantial financia! contribution towards the Conference, l. W elcomes again with appreciation the offer of the Government of Ghana to act as host to the World

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