Sustainable Tourism Law

396 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM LAW II. GLOBAL CODE OF ETHICS FOR TOURISM – 10 PRINCIPLES As recognized by the General Assembly of the United Nations, reasserting the aims set out in Article 3 of the Statutes of the World Tourism Organization, and being aware of the “decisive and central ” role of this Organization in promoting and developing tourism with a view to contributing to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity and universal respect for, and observance, of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion. Although it is not a legally binding document, Article 10 of the Code provides for a voluntary implementation mechanism through the recognition of the role of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), to which stakeholders may refer, on a voluntary basis, any matters concerning the application and interpretation of the document. In the Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 2001, A/RES/56/212, considering that the Commission on Sustainable Development, at its seventh session, held in April 1999, expressed interest in a global code of ethics for tourism and invited the World Tourism Organization to consider the participation of informed major groups in the development, implementation and monitoring of its global code of ethics for tourism. Article 10, of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism – Implementation of the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism says: 1. The public and private stakeholders in tourism development should cooperate in the implementation of these principles andmonitor their effective application; 2. The stakeholders in tourismdevelopment should recognize the role of international institutions, among which theWorldTourism Organization ranks first, and non- -governmental organizations with competence in the field of tourism promotion and development, the protection of human rights, the environment or health, with due respect for the general principles of international law; 3. The same stakeholders should demonstrate their intention to refer any disputes concerning the application or interpretation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism for conciliation to an impartial third body known as the World Committee on Tourism Ethics. The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, adopted by resolution A/ RES/406(XIII) at the thirteenth WTO General Assembly (Santiago, Chile, 27