Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Having considered, under the item entitled "Report of the Economic and Social Council", the work of the Commission on Human Rights and the work now being done by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities,

Mindful of the importance of the work being done by both the Commission and the Sub-Commission in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Bearing in mind, in particular, that the Sub-Commission is now in the final stage of its consideration of questions of great importance, such as those relating to the results achieved and the obstacles encountered during the first Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination; the independence and the impartiality of the judiciary, juries and legal advisers and the independence of lawyers; the status of the individual in present-day international law; the present dimensions of the problem of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief; the right to adequate food as a human right; and the right to leave any country, including one's own, and to return to one's country,

Convinced that it would be highly beneficial for the present members of the Sub-Commission to continue the work needed to complete those studies and to consider the final reports thereon at the forthcoming thirty-ninth session of the Sub-Commission, in 1987, since they have taken an active part in those studies and provided the necessary guidance to the special rapporteurs for the drafting of their reports,

Profoundly concerned by the fact that the thirty-ninth session of the Sub-Commission, which was to have been held in 1986, has been postponed until 1987 owing to the current financial situation of the United Nations,

Recalling that the Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 1985/28 of 11 March 1985, endorsed the desirability of better continuity in the work of the Sub-Commission,

Recalling further that the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 1986/35 of 23 May 1986, established a new procedure for the election of the members of the Sub-Commission with the object of ensuring that continuity,

Bearing in mind that in 1949 and 1956, as an exception, the mandates of the experts then serving on the Sub-Commission were extended,

Recommends that the Economic and Social Council, at its organizational session for 1987, decide:

(a)        To extend the mandate of the present members of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities for one year in order to ensure their participation in the thirty-ninth session of the Sub-Commission, to be held in 1987;

(b)        To postpone until the forty-fourth session of the Commission on Human Rights, in 1988, the election of new members of the Sub-Commission scheduled to be held during the forty-third session of the Commission, in 1987, and to ensure that the election is governed by the procedure established in Economic and Social Council resolution 1986/35;

(c)        That the Sub-Commission resulting from the election referred to in subparagraph (b) above should begin to exercise its mandate, in accordance with present practice, immediately following that election.