Further promotion and encouragement of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the question of the programme and methods of work of the Commission on Human Rights : alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations System for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms : development of public information activities in the field of human rights.

1982/42. Further promotion and encouragement of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the question of the programme and methods of work of the Commission; alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms: development of public information activities in the field of human rights[1]138

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling its resolutions 23 (XXXV) of 14 March 1979, 24 (XXXVI) of 11 March 1980 and 24 (XXXVII) of 10 March 1981, as well as Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/30 of 2 May 1980 on the development of public information activities in the field of human rights, Noting General Assembly resolution 36/58 of 25 November 1981 on the status of the International Covenants on Human Rights, Taking into account General Assembly resolutions 34/182 of 18 December 1979, 35/201 of 16 December 1980 and 36/149 of 16 December 1981 on questions relating to information, Appreciative of the reports of the Secretary-General on measures taken to enhance public information activities in the field of human rights,[2]139 Reaffirming its belief that progress in the promotion and protection of human rights is assisted by programmes of teaching, education and information in the field of human rights, Noting that activities to improve publicity in the field of human rights are an essential part of the endeavour to fulfil the purposes of the United Nations as set out in Article 1, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, Recognizing that the United Nations system has a special responsibility under the Charter to be a centre for harmonizing actions towards these ends, Welcoming the commemoration in 1983 of the thirty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,[3]140

1. Requests all Governments to continue their consideration of action to facilitate publicity regarding United Nations activities in the field of human rights, with particular reference to the work of the Commission on Human Rights on the setting and implementation of human rights standards;

2. Invites the Secretary-General to give increased attention to ways of facilitating the stimulation of public interest in the promotion and protection of human rights, particularly in the light of the commemoration of the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to report thereon to the Commission at its thirty-ninth session;

3. Welcomes the launching in the 1982-1983 biennium of the proposed dissemination programme covering international instruments on human rights and requests the Secretary-General to report each year to the Commission on the implementation of this programme;

4. Recommends in this regard that the United Nations develop a compilation of translations, including translations in languages other than official United Nations languages, of international instruments on human rights, particularly the International Covenants on Human Rights, and invites those Governments which have authorized translations to forward copies to the Division on Human Rights;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to consider establishing small reference libraries containing material of scholarly and public interest in the field of human rights in United Nations offices, giving priority to establishing such libraries in developing countries;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Commission informed on the elaboration and implementation of the programmes referred to in his reports, as well as his response to the request in paragraph 5 of the present resolution;

7. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its thirty-ninth session under the item "Further promotion and encouragement of human rights and fundamental freedoms".

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[1]138 Adopted at the 60th meeting on 11 March 1982, without a vote. See chap. IX. [2]139 E/CN.4/1368, E/CN.4/1436, E/CN.4/1496. [3]140 See General Assembly resolutions 217 A (III) and 32/123.