Recognizing that all human beings are born free and equal in rights;
Mindful of the determination proclaimed by the people of the world in the Charter of the United Nations to affirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the worth of the human person, in the equality and right to self-determination of nations large and small;
Considering it necessary to promote social progress and justice;
Conscious of the need for the creation of conditions of stability and well-being and peaceful and friendly relations, and of the observance of human rights and freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, religion, or national or social origin;
Considering the important role of the United Nations in assisting the movement for independence in Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories;
Convinced of the right of all peoples to freely determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development;
Considering that all armed actions or repressive measures of all kinds directed against dependent peoples should cease in order to enable them to exercise peacefully and freely their right to complete independence, and that the integrity of their national territory should be respected;
Recognizing what was declared in the Act of Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia of 18 November 1918: “… all citizens, irrespective of nationality, are asked to help, for the rights of all peoples will be guaranteed in Latvia. It will be a democratic and just state where oppression and in justice will not ex
ist…”;
Desiring that the laws of the Republic of Latvia conform to the norms of international law relating to human rights;
the supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia proclaims:

PART I
Acknowledging the special significance in guaranteeing human rights of international instruments adopted by the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as those adopted at the Helsinki, Madrid and Vienna meetings of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Republic of Latvia accedes to the following international instruments:
1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights 10 December 1948;
2. International covenant on Economic, social and Cultural Rights 16 December 1966;
3. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 16 December 1966;
4. Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples 14 December 1960;
5. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 21 December 1965;
6. International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid 30 November 1973;
7. International convention against Apartheid in Sports 10 December 1985;
8. Convention against Discrimination in Education 14 December 1960;
9. Equal Remuneration Convention 29 June 1951;
10. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 18 December 1979;
11. Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief 25 November 1981;
12. Declaration on the Fundamental Principles concerning the Contribution of the Mass Media to Strengthening Peace and International Understanding, to the Promotion of Human Rights and to Countering Racialism, Apartheid and Incitement to War 28 November 1978;
13. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide 9 December 1948;
14. Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity 26 November 1968;
15. Principles of international co-operation in the detection, arrest, extradition and punishment of persons guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity 3 December 1973;
16. Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery 7 September 1956;
17. Abolition of Forced Labour Convention 25 June 1957;
18. Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others 2 December 1949;
19. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners 30 August 1955;
20. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 10 December 1984;
21. Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement officials 17 December 1979;
22. Principles of Medical Ethics relevant to the Role of Health Personnel, particularly Physicians, in the Protection of Prisoners and Detainees against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 18 December 1982;
23. Safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty 25 May 1984;
24. United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (“The Beijing Rules”) 29 November 1985;
25. Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power 29 November 1985;
26. Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary 29 November 1985;
27. Convention on the Nationality of Married Women 29 January 1957;
28. Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness 20 August 1961;
29. Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in which They Live 13 December 1985;
30. Convention on the International Right of Correction 16 December 1952;
31. Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention 9 July 1948;
32. Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention 1 July 1949;
33. Workers' Representatives Convention 23 June 1971;
34. Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention 27 June 1978;
35. Employment Policy Convention 9 July 1964;
36. Convention on the Political Rights of women 20 December 1952;
37. Declaration of the Rights of the Child 20 November 1959;
38. Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict 14 December 1974;
39.Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding between Peoples 7 December 1965;
40.Declaration on Social and Legal Principles relating to the Protection and Welfare of Children, with Special Reference to Foster Placement and Adoption Nationally and Internationally 3 December 1986;
41.Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons 20 December 1971;
42.Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition 16 November 1974;
43.Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons 9 December 1975;
44.General Assembly Resolution 41/114 4 December 1986;
45.Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace 12 November 1984;
46.Declaration on the Right to Development 4 December l986;
47.General Assembly Resolution 41/117 4 December 1986;
48.Declaration of the Principles of International Cultural Cooperation 4 November 1966;
49.The Final Act of the Helsinki Meeting of Representatives of the Participating States of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe 1975;
50.The Concluding Document of the Madrid Meeting 1980 of Representatives of the Participating States of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe 1983;
51. The Concluding Document of the Vienna Meeting 1986 of Representatives of the Participating States of the conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe 1989.

Part II
Acknowledging the role of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament in guaranteeing human rights, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia will be guided in its legislative activities by the documents relating to human rights adopted by these organizations.