The Conference focused on a wide range of human rights issues. With the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the Conference called on Governments to promote and guarantee all human rights and made recommendations to strengthen the methods and mechanisms used by the United Nations in the field of human rights. The Conference was the first of its kind in 25 years and included 171 Member States and 1,000 non-governmental organizations.
Haris Silajdzic, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, addresses the Conference.
The Conference focused on a wide range of human rights issues. With the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the Conference called on Governements to promote and guarantee all human rights and made recommendations to strengthen the methods and mechanisms used by the United Nations in the field of human rights. The Conference was the first of its kind in 25 years and included 171 Members States and 1,000 non-governmental organizations.
Alija Izetbegovic, President of Bosnia and Herzegovina (seated seconf from left), addresses correspondents during a press briefing at Vienna Conference Centre to focus on the situation in his country.
View of Gudmundur Eriksson (left), Legal Advisor of the Ministery for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, shaking hands with Carl-August Fleischhauer, United Nations Legal Counsel, after signing the Rights of the Child Convention.
The Permanent Observer of the Holy See, Archbishop Renato Raffaele Martino holds a press conference on the accession of the Holy See to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
At the podium of the commemorative session marking the 125th anniversary of the Geneva Convention are (from left): Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, René Felber, Chairman of the session and Foreign Minister of Switzerland, and Switzerland's Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Dieter Chenaux-Repond.
The Representative of Malta, Alexander Borg Olivier, as Chairman of the Western European Group, addresses the commemorative session to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Geneva Convention.
The seven-number Committee on Communications, appointed last year by the UN Human Rights Commission, met for the first time yesterday to begin its study of procedures for dealing with communications alleging violations of human rights. The Committee is composed of the representatives of Argentina, India, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, the Philippines and the Ukraine.
Here, shortly before today's meeting got under way, Mr George Hakim (Lebanon), at right, is seen exchanging views with Mr. Ivan Gurievitch Neklessa (Ukrainian SSR).
The Permanent Representative of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Lev I. Maksimov, as Chairman of the Eastern European Group, addresses the commemorative session to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Geneva Convention.
General view of Oscar Arias Sanchez (third from left) of Costa Rica, 1987 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, addressing the meeting of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva. The Nobel Laureates from left to right are: Betty Williams of Ireland; Elie Wiesel of the USA; Mr Sanchez; Adolfo Esquivel of Argentina; Rigoberta Menchu of Guatemala; and Maired Corrigan Maguire of Ireland.
View of Richard Schifter (left), Representative of the United States, addressing the Human Right Commission.