General Assembly Resolution on Cultural Issues

General Assembly Resolution in 2011

United States views on international law (based on the document “Digest of U.S. Practice in International Law”): The United States voted against United Nations General Assembly resolution 66/154, Human Rights and Cultural Diversity. U.S. Deputy Representative Sammis delivered an explanation of vote to the Third Committee on November 22, 2011. That explanation, excerpted below, is available in full at (internet link) usun.state.gov/briefing/statements/2011/177940.htm.

Developments

The United States continues to support the promotion of cultural pluralism, tolerance, cooperation and dialogue among individuals from different cultures and civilizations.…

Cultural diversity has played a critical role in the U.S. own country's history, which shows that cultural diversity can strengthen human rights. We are concerned, however, that the concept of “cultural diversity” as put forward in this resolution could be misused to legitimize human rights abuses. Human rights are universal. Respect for them substantially enhances the respect for diversity we all seek.

Details

Efforts to promote cultural diversity should not infringe on the enjoyment of human rights, nor justify limitations on their scope. By raising the concept of cultural diversity to the level of an essential objective while failing to reflect such potential concerns about its misuse, this resolution misrepresents the relationship between cultural diversity and international human rights law.

A more balanced and accurate characterization of cultural diversity and its relationship with human rights law is presented in the United Nations Human Rights Council's resolution 17/15, “Promotion of the enjoyment of cultural rights of everyone and respect for cultural diversity,” on which the United States joined consensus in June 2011. Furthermore, in this context we do not believe that UNESCO should take up initiatives aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue on human rights.

Resources

See Also

• International Human Rights
• Economic Rights
• Social Rights
• Cultural Rights
• Cultural Issues
• General Assembly Resolutions