Vienna 1989
(13.5) - respect the right of their citizens to contribute actively, individually or in association with others, to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
(13.6) - encourage in schools and other educational institutions consideration of the
promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
(13.7) - ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms to everyone within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction, without distinction of any kind such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status;
(13.8) - ensure that no individual exercising, expressing the intention to exercise or
seeking to exercise these rights and freedoms or any member of his family, will as a
consequence be discriminated against in any manner;
(13.9) - ensure that effective remedies as well as full information about them are available to those who claim that their human rights and fundamental freedoms have been
violated; they will, inter alia, effectively apply the following remedies:
• the right of the individual to appeal to executive, legislative, judicial or administrative
organs;
• the right to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time before an independent
and impartial tribunal, including the right to present legal arguments and to be represented by legal counsel of one’s choice;
• the right to be promptly and officially informed of the decision taken on any appeal,
including the legal grounds on which this decision was based. This information will be
provided as a rule in writing and, in any event, in a way that will enable the individual
to make effective use of further available remedies.
(14) The participating States recognize that the promotion of economic, social, cultural
rights as well as of civil and political rights is of paramount importance for human dignity and for the attainment of the legitimate aspirations of every individual. They will
therefore continue their efforts with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of economic, social and cultural rights by all appropriate means, including in
particular by the adoption of legislative measures. In this context they will pay special
attention to problems in the areas of employment, housing, social security, health, education and culture.
They will promote constant progress in the realization of all rights and freedoms within
their countries, as well as in the development of relations among themselves and with
other States, so that everyone actually enjoys to the full his economic, social and cultural rights as well as his civil and political rights.
(15) The participating States confirm their determination to ensure equal rights of men
and women. Accordingly, they will take all measures necessary, including legislative
48 OSCE Human Dimension Commitments
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