Measures to be taken against all totalitarian or other ideologies and practices, including Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist, based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred, terror, systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, or which have such consequences.
| Publisher | UN Commission on Human Rights |
| Author | UN Commission on Human Rights (41st sess. : 1985 : Geneva) |
| Publication Date | 13 March 1985 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | E/CN.4/RES/1985/31 |
| Reference | 41 |
| Cite as | UN Commission on Human Rights, Measures to be taken against all totalitarian or other ideologies and practices, including Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist, based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred, terror, systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, or which have such consequences., 13 March 1985, E/CN.4/RES/1985/31, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3b00f0ca34.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
1985/31. Measures to be taken against all totalitarian or other ideologies and practices, including Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist, based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hi systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, or which have such consequences[1]95
The Commission on Human Rights, Mindful of the determination proclaimed by the peoples of the world in the Charter of the United Nations to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid and other relevant international instruments, Recalling also the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, according to which the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and co-operation, Recalling also General Assembly resolution 39/114 of 14 December 1984 entitled "Measures to be taken against Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist activities and all other forms of totalitarian ideologies and practices based on racial intolerance, hatred and terror", Recalling also its resolutions 1983/28 of 7 March 1983 and 1984/42 of 12 March 1984, Recalling also the close relationship between all totalitarian ideologies and practices based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred and terror and systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Emphasizing that all such ideologies and practices, including Nazi, Fascist and no based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred, terror, systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, or which have such consequences, may jeopardize world peace, constitute obstacles to friendly relations between States and the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Deeply concerned that in the contemporary world there continue to exist racist, colonialist and other repressive régimes which, in their implementation of totalitarian ideologies and practices such as nazism and fascism, practice mass and flagrant violations of human rights and deprive the oppressed peoples of their right to self-determination and free development, Deeply alarmed at the existence and intensification of activities of groups and organizations which propagate totalitarian ideologies and practices, including Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist, which violate human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the rights to self-determination, to life, liberty and security of person and to freedom from discrimination, and which thereby threaten the purposes and principles laid down in the Charter of the United Nations, Noting that the totalitarian entities and régimes based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred or terror or systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms pursue the purpose of ensuring their domination and their economic and social privileges at the expense of other peoples or racial or ethnic groups, which they suppress and exploit, Bearing in mind that precisely these purposes were pursued by the Nazi and Fascist régimes which plunged mankind into the Second World War, Expressing also its concern that totalitarian ideologies and practices are applied by the repressive régimes, based on the systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Emphasizing that the doctrines of racial or ethnic superiority, on which the totalitarian entities and régimes are based, contradict the spirit and principles of the United Nations and that the realization of such doctrines in practice leads to wars, mass and flagrant violations of human rights and crimes against humanity, such as genocide, and creates obstacles for friendly relations among nations and for social progress in the world, Reaffirming that all totalitarian or other ideologies and practices, including Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist, based on racial or ethnic and other exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred, terror systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, or which have such consequences, are incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity, the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid and other relevant international instruments, Mindful of the principles of international co-operation in the detection, arrest, extradition and punishment of persons guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity set forth in General Assembly resolution 3074 (XXVIII) of 3 December 1973, Acknowledging with satisfaction the fact that many States have established systems based on the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all human beings, which are the basis of democratic society and the best bulwark against totalitarian ideologies and practices, Noting that, nevertheless, in the contemporary world there continue to exist various forms of totalitarian ideologies and practices which entail contempt for the individual or a denial of the intrinsic dignity and equality of all human beings and of equality of opportunity in civil, political, economic, social and cultural spheres, Firmly convinced that the best bulwark against nazism and racial discrimination is the establishment and maintenance of democratic institutions, that the existence of genuine political, social and economic democracy is an effective vaccine and an equally effective antidote against the formation or development of Nazi movements and that a political system which is based on freedom and effective participation by the people in the conduct of public affairs, and under which economic and social conditions are such as to ensure a decent standard of living for the population, makes it impossible for fascism, nazism or other ideologies based on racism and racial discrimination, hatred or terror to succeed. Acknowledging with satisfaction the fact that many States have set up legal regulations which are designed to prevent the activities of Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist groups and organizations,1. Again condemns all totalitarian or other ideologies and practices, including Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist, based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred, terror, systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, or which have such consequences;
2. Expresses its determination to resist all totalitarian ideologies, and especially their practices, which deprive people of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms and of equality of opportunity;
3. Notes in particular the totalitarian nature of racist régimes which constitutes a domination based on doctrines of racial superiority and enslavement;
4. Considers that the pursuit of all totalitarian ideologies and practices as described in paragraphs 1 and 2 above represents a serious threat to the exercise of many fundamental human rights, including the right to life, liberty and security of person;
5. Considers further that the best defence against all totalitarian ideologies lies in free and effective popular participation in democratic institutions, based on respect for the human rights proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant international instruments;
6. Invites Member States to adopt, in accordance with their national constitutional systems and with the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights, as a matter of high priority, measures declaring punishable by law any dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred and of war propaganda, including Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist ideologies;
7. Urges all States to draw attention to the threats to democratic institutions by the above-mentioned ideologies and practices and to consider taking measures, in accordance with their national constitutional systems and with the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights, to prohibit or otherwise deter activities of groups or organizations or whoever is practicing those ideologies;
8. Urges all States to observe strictly in their international relations the purposes and principles laid down in the Charter of the United Nations, which are aimed at maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and achieving international co-operation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all;
9. Appeals to all States that have not yet done so to ratify, accede to or give serious consideration to acceding to the International Covenants on Human Rights, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity and the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid;
10. Calls upon all States to take the measures necessary to ensure the thorough investigation and the detection, arrest, extradition and punishment of all war criminals and persons guilty of crimes against humanity who have not yet been brought before a court and paid an appropriate penalty;
11. Calls upon the appropriate specialized agencies as well as intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations to initiate or intensify measures against all totalitarian ideologies and practices, including those described in paragraphs 1 and 2 above;
12. Requests all States to submit to the Secretary-General their comments and information on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 39/114 and of the present resolution;
13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on this question to the Commission at its forty-second session, taking into account the comments and information received from States under paragraph 12 above;
14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-second session an item entitled "Measures to be taken against all totalitarian or other ideologies and practices, including Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist, based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred, terror, systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, or which have such consequences".
[1]95 Adopted at the 55th meeting, on 13 March 1985, without a vote. See chap. XXI.
