Moreover, developing effective institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights is a common value of the international and European societies, as expressed by Recommendation No R (97) 14 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of 30 September 1997.

facilitate rapprochement between the parties through the development of better mutual understanding and regular co-ordination on international issues of common interest; enable each party to consider the position and interests of the other; contribute to enhancing regional security and stability; promote common initiatives; promote respect for human rights, democratic principles and fundamental freedoms, including by acting in accordance with international legal obligations and the human rights set out in ICCPR and its two optional protocols, ICESCR, CAT and its optional protocol, CEDAW an ...[+++]d its optional protocol, CERD, CRC and its two optional protocols; contribute to countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery through full compliance with and national implementation of their existing obligations under international disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements and other relevant international obligations; promote the signature, ratification or accession, as appropriate, of all other international instruments; promote the development and the effective implementation of a national export control system, controlling the export, transit and end-use of dual goods and technologies, including effective sanctions; contribute to the fight against terrorism in the framework of the full implementation of Resolution 1373 of the UN Security Council and other relevant UN resolutions, international conventions and instruments, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism; contribute to the prevention and peaceful resolution of regional conflicts in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, including in the context of the Middle East Peace Process.

Member States are to implement this Decision with due respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and in particular for the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 4 November 1950, the United Nations Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of 10 December 1984, the Geneva Convention of 28 July 1951 and the New York Protocol thereto of 31 January 1967, relating to the status of refugees, the Convention on the rights of the child of 20 November 1989, and the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union of 18 December 2000

In "La Conquête mondiale des droits de l'homme" (Cherche Midi - Unesco, 1998), Guy Lagelée and Gilles Manceron maintain that "gender inequality was the norm for thousands of years in nearly all societies and recognition of equal rights for men and women has been a struggle which is still far from over".

- Implementation of international Human Rights conventions is poor.

We felt it was ironic that the most powerful country in the world uses international human rights laws to criticize others but does not apply the same standards at home" .