Work of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

1986/38. Work of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities[1]113

The Commission on Human Rights, Taking note of the report of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on its thirty-eighth session,[2]114 Expressing appreciation for the positive contribution made by the Sub-Commission to the work of the Commission in the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the terms of reference of the Sub-Commission as defined by the Commission at its first and fifth sessions and its particular responsibilities established in Commission resolutions 8 (XXIII) of 16 March 1967 and 17 (XXXVII) of 10 March 1981, Economic and Social Council resolutions 1235 (XLII) of 6 June 1967 and 1503 (XLVIII) of 27 May 1970 and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 1982/23 of 10 March 1982, 1983/22 of 4 March 1983 and 1985/28 of 11 March 1985 concerning the reports of the Sub-Commission on its thirty-fourth, thirty-fifth and thirty-seventh sessions, Convinced that it is essential that the impartiality and objectivity of the Sub-Commission and the independent status of its members and their alternates should be its guiding principles, Mindful of the important contribution which non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council make to the work of the Sub-Commission, in conformity with the principles embodied in Economic and Social Council resolutions 1296 (XLIV) of 23 May 1968 and 1919 (LVIII) of 5 May 1975, Reaffirming that the systematic preparation of well-researched studies and reports is a most important element of the expert work of the Sub-Commission and of its contribution to the work of the Commission, Welcoming the interest shown by the Sub-Commission in fostering a more substantial dialogue with the Commission, Believing that it is helpful and appropriate for the Commission, as the parent body, to give guidance to the Sub-Commission in order to ensure the complementarily of its activities with those of the Commission, and to maximize the effectiveness of its expert contributions to the Commission's work, Noting the steps taken so far by the Sub-Commission to rationalize and streamline its work,

1. Reaffirms that the Sub-Commission can best assist the Commission by providing it with the different views and perspectives of independent experts, which should be appropriately reflected in the Sub-Commission's report as well as in the expert studies carried out under its auspices;

2. Calls upon the Sub-Commission, in the fulfilment of its functions and duties, to be guided by the resolutions referred to in the preamble to the present resolution;

3. Draws the attention of the Sub-Commission to the comments and suggestion; made at the forty-second session of the Commission and requests the Sub-Commission to take them into account;

4. Notes that the Sub-Commission has reviewed its work and made suggestions contained in its resolution 1985/24 of 29 August 1985;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to consider the possibility of providing, from within existing resources, services to enable a maximum of three three-hour meetings to be held, so that a maximum of three sessional working groups of the Sub-Commission may meet concurrently during the session of the Sub-Commission;

6. Takes note of the decision of the Sub-Commission in its resolution 1985/34 of 30 August 1985 to consider certain items on a biennial basis, and requests the Sub-Commission to keep those items under consideration on a biennial basis unless otherwise authorized by the Commission;

7. Calls upon States to nominate as members and alternates persons meeting the criteria of independent experts who should discharge their functions in that capacity as members of the Sub-Commission;

8. Firmly recommends that, in order to promote an even work-load and the expeditious performance of its tasks, the Sub-Commission should, as a general rule, propose a new study only when a study previously authorized is approaching completion;

9. Invites the Sub-Commission to give due consideration to draft resolutions proposed for adoption and to seek the widest possible measure of agreement on them, bearing in mind that such resolutions should reflect thorough discussion and should be consistent with the role of the Sub-Commission as a body of independent experts;

10. Requests the Sub-Commission to give priority to those topics on which standards are being prepared, in accordance with decisions taken by the Commission,

11. Reminds the Sub-Commission that new studies can only be undertaken, or reports involving financial implications requested from the Secretary-General, after authorization by its superior bodies;

12. Recalls Sub-Commission resolution 1984/37 of 31 August 1984, in which the Sub-Commission established a three-year cycle for the finalization of reports undertaken under its auspices and in which it expressed its understanding that the stages to be undergone during that cycle would not normally require repeated approval by the Commission on Human Rights or the Economic and Social Council or further resolutions of the Sub-Commission;

13. Requests the Secretary-General to draw the attention of the Sub-Commission, in all instances where decisions or resolutions would involve financial implications not hitherto approved, to the necessity to submit to its superior bodies draft proposals for their consideration;

14. Invites the Sub-Commission to continue its efforts to rationalize its work so as to arrive at increased efficiency and economical methods of work.

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[1]113 Adopted at the 54th meeting, on 12 March 1986, without a vote. See chap. XIX, para. 517. [2]114 E/CN.4/1986/5.