10 (XXXVII). Question of enforced or involuntary disappearances[1]28

The Commission on Human Rights, Bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 33/173 of 20 December 1978, which requested the Commission on Human Rights to consider the question of disappeared persons with a view to making appropriate recommendations, and all other United Nations resolutions concerning missing or disappeared persons, Recalling its resolution 20 (XXXVI), of 29 February 1980, whereby it decided to establish for a period of one year a working group consisting of five of its members, to serve as experts in their individual capacities, to examine questions relevant to enforced or involuntary disappearances of persons, Recalling resolution 35/193, of 15 December 1980, in which the General Assembly welcomed that decision, Recalling resolution 18 (XXXIII), of 11 September 1980, of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Considering the need to observe United Nations standards and practice regarding the receipt of communications, their transmittal to the Governments concerned and their evaluation, Taking note of the report of the Working Group,[2]29

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Working Group for the work done and to those Governments which have co-operated with it;

2. Notes that the Working Group has not always obtained from governmental authorities the full co-operation warranted by its strictly humanitarian objectives and its working methods based on discretion;

3. Decides to extend for one year the term of the Working Group's mandate, as laid down in Commission resolution 20 (XXXVI) of 29 February 1980;

4. Requests the Working Group to submit to the Commission, at its thirty-eighth session, a report on its work together with its conclusions and recommendations, and to bear in mind the obligation to discharge its mandate with discretion, so as inter alia to protect persons providing information or to limit the dissemination of information provided by Governments;

5. Renews its request to the Secretaxy-General to appeal to all Governments to co-operate in a spirit of complete confidence with the Working Group;

6. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Working Group with all necessary assistance, in particular the staff and resources it requires to perform its functions in an effective and expeditious manner, and if necessary to make the necessary arrangements to ensure the continuity of the Secretariat's work;

7. Requests the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to continue studying the most effective means for eliminating enforced or involuntary disappearances of persons, with a view to making general recommendations to the Commission at its thirty-eight session;

8. Decides to consider this question at its thirty-eighth session under a sub-item of the agenda entitled "Question of missing and disappeared persons".


[1]28 Adopted at the 1617th meeting, on 26 February 1981, without a vote. See chap. VIII. [2]29 E/CN.4/1435 and Add.1.
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