23 July 1986

38th plenary meeting

Centenary of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works

The Economic and Social Council,

Referring to article 27 (2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides that everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author,

Bearing in mind that, in accordance with Article 62 (1) and (2) of the Charter of the United Nations, the Economic and Social Council may make recommendations with respect to international economic, social, cultural, educational and related matters and may make recommendations for the purpose of promoting respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all,

Recalling that 9 September 1986 will be the one hundredth anniversary of the adoption of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works,

1. Notes with satisfaction that, in the first century of the existence of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the number of countries of the Union created by that Convention has increased from nine to seventy-six;

2. Declares its conviction that the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, by providing at the international level for the protection of the rights of authors in as effective and uniform a manner as possible, contributes to the practical implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to cultural, social and economic development in all countries of the Berne Union;

3. Recommends all States not yet members of the Berne Union to treat 1986, the year of the centenary of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, as an occasion for considering the possibility of adhering to that international Convention.