Proclamation of December 12th as the International Day of Neutrality.

 

United Nations General Assembly


On February 2nd of the year 2017, the United Nations General Assembly adopted without a vote resolution 71/275 — introduced by Turkmenistan, recognized by the United Nations as a permanently neutral state since 12 December 1995 — which noted the link between the preservation of peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and declared 12 December as the International Day of Neutrality.

The General Assembly, 

Recalling its Resolution 50/80 A of 12 December 1995 and Resolution 69/285 of 3 June 2015, Noting the outcome document of the high-level international conference on the theme “Policy of neutrality: international cooperation for peace, security and development” (the Ashgabat outcome document), 1 Reaffirming its Resolution 53/199 of 15 December 1998 and Resolution 61/185 of 20 December 2006 on the proclamation of international years, and Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and anniversaries, Reaffirming also the great importance of upholding the sovereign equality of States, territorial integrity, self-determination, non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, Underlining that the national policies of neutrality of some States can contribute to the strengthening of international peace and security in relevant regions and at the global level and can play an important role in developing peaceful, friendly and mutually beneficial relations between the countries of the world, Recognizing that such national policies of neutrality are aimed at promoting the use of preventive diplomacy, including through the prevention of conflict, mediation, good offices, fact-finding missions, negotiation, the use of special envoys, informal consultations, peacebuilding and targeted development activities, Noting that preventive diplomacy is a core function of the United Na tions and occupies the central place among the functions of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and in this regard recognizing the important role of the special political missions of the United Nations and the good offices of the Secretary - General in the fields of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuildin

1. Decides to declare 12 December the International Day of Neutrality; 
2. Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations and individuals, to mark the International Day of Neutrality by means of education and the holding of events aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the public in this field; 
3. Proposes that the Secretary-General should continue to cooperate closely with neutral States, with a view to implementing the principles of preventive diplomacy and using those principles in their mediation activities; 
4. Stresses that the cost of all activities that may arise from the implementation of the present resolution should be met from voluntary contributions.


 69th plenary meeting
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 February 2017 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/71/L.56 and Add.1)]

Location: 405 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017, USA

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