Also recalling its resolutions 1998/54 of 17 April 1998 and 1999/62 of 28 April 1999 entitled "Towards a culture of peace",

Reaffirming that, since wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that the defences of peace must be constructed,

Bearing in mind the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, and guided by the purposes and principles contained therein,

Taking into account that a culture of peace actively fosters non-violence and respect for human rights, strengthens solidarity among peoples and dialogue between cultures, and promotes democratic participation and the right to development of women and men on an equal footing,

Recognizing that culture is an integral whole and a basis for the intellectual development of all human beings, and affirming the need for access, on an equal basis, by children, women and men, including the elderly, to the science of knowledge, in particular to an education for peace, and to the enjoyment of the beautiful legacy of mankind, for the full development of individuals as human beings,

Underlining the need to implement effective policies, at all levels, in accordance with the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, for the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all people, thereby encouraging them to contribute actively to the further development of a culture of peace,

1.Welcomes with satisfaction the adoption by the General Assembly, by its resolution 53/243 of 13 September 1999, of the Declaration and Plan of Action on a Culture of Peace;

2.Also welcomes the proclamation by the General Assembly of the year 2000 as the International Year for the Culture of Peace; as well as all other activities that Governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society and the United Nations system are currently undertaking in order to commemorate this special occasion;

3.Strongly reiterates its invitation to States to promote a culture of peace based on the purposes and principles established in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, as an integral approach to preventing violence in its diverse manifestations;

4.Takes note of the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (E/CN.4/2000/97);

5.Requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in coordination with the Bureau of the Commission at its fifty-sixth session, to organize, provide the necessary resources, including financial resources, and coordinate, during the course of the International Year for a Culture of Peace, a panel/forum on a culture of peace, with participation open to Governments, non-governmental organizations and other interested organizations, focusing on the contribution of the promotion, protection and realization of all human rights to the further development of a culture of peace;

6.Requests the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection on Human Rights to take into account and reflect in its deliberations, as appropriate, the provisions of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, as well as the contribution of the promotion, protection and realization of all human rights for the further development of a culture of peace;

7.Decides to continue considering the question of a culture of peace at its fifty-seventh session, given due attention to the fact that General Assembly proclaimed the years 2001-2010 as International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.