Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Recalling its previous resolutions concerning the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and resolution 41/104 of 4 December 1986 on the status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as well as its other relevant resolutions on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination,

Reiterating the importance of the Convention, which is the most widely accepted human rights instrument adopted under the auspices of the United Nations, as well as of the contribution of the Committee to the United Nations efforts to combat racism and all other forms of discrimination based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin,

Welcoming the report of the Committee covering its 1986 and 1987 sessions,

Reiterating once again the need to intensify the struggle for the elimination of racism and racial discrimination throughout the world, especially the elimination of apartheid in South Africa and Namibia,

Mindful of the obligation of all States parties to comply fully with the provisions of the Convention,

Recalling the urgent appeals made by the Secretary-General, the General Assembly, the eleventh meeting of States parties to the Convention and the Committee itself to the States parties to honour their financial obligation under the Convention,

Gravely concerned that, in spite of all the urgent appeals for financial payment of assessed contributions under the Convention, the situation impeding the proper functioning of the Committee continues to deteriorate,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the question of financing the expenses of the members of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,

1.         Expresses its profound concern at the fact that a number of States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination have not complied with their financial obligations under the Convention, which led to the cancellation of the August 1986 session and the curtailment by two weeks of the August 1987 session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;

2.         Expresses once again its concern that such a situation prevented the Committee from submitting an annual report to the General Assembly at its forty-first session as required by the Convention and led to further delay in discharging its substantive obligations under the Convention;

3.         Commends the Committee for its work with regard to the implementation of the Convention and the Programme of Action for the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination;

4.         Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Committee covering its 1986 and 1987 sessions;

5.         Calls upon States parties to comply fully with their obligation under article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention and to submit in due time their periodic reports on measures taken to implement the Convention;

6.         Strongly appeals to all States parties to fulfil without delay their financial obligations under article 8, paragraph 6, of the Convention so as to enable the Committee to continue its work;

7.         Calls upon States parties to explore, at their next meeting, on 15 January 1988, all appropriate measures and to take a decision that would enable the Committee to meet regularly in the future;

8.         Invites the States parties to consider, pending a fully satisfactory solution to the current financial difficulties, the possibility, as an exceptional measure, of the Committee holding one extended session per year;

9.         Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-third session on the financial situation of the Committee;

10.       Decides to consider the report at its forty-third session under the item entitled "Elimination of all forms of racial discrimination".