Referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Referring to international law and more particularly to the two Covenants: on Civil and Political Rights, and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:
Referring to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination;
Referring to the UNESCO Convention on Discrimination in Education;
Referring to the ILO Convention (no. 111) concerning Discrimination with respect to Employment and Occupation;
Referring to the Geneva Convention on Refugees;
Finally referring to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action resulting from the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, June 1993;

IHEU supports and promotes the paragraphs on all forms of xenophobia, discrimination, racism and especially "ethnic cleansing";

Quote paragraph 8 of part II:

"Respect of human rights and fundamental freedom without distinction of any kind is a fundamental rule of international human rights law. The speedy and comprehensive elimination of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance is a priority task for the international community. Governments should take effective measures to prevent and combat them. Groups, institutions, intergovernmental organisations and individuals are urged to intensify their efforts in co-operating and co-ordinating their activities against these evils";

quote paragraph 17bis of part II:

"The World Conference expresses its dismay at massive violations of human rights specially in the form of genocide, "ethnic cleansing" and systematic rape of women in war situations, creating a mass exodus of refugees and displaced persons. While strongly condemning such abhorrent practices, it reiterates the call that perpetrators of such crimes be punished and such practices immediately stopped";

IHEU noting that the new expression of violent racism, namely "ethnic cleansing", is expressly included in the Vienna Declaration on Human Rights (25th June, 1993); urges the UN General Assembly and all UN agencies and organs to confirm and adopt these paragraphs;

IHEU in so urging, wants to express its ethical humanist principles implying the basic unity of all human beings.

IHEU Board meeting 1993