National institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights.

1988/72. National institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling its relevant resolutions and those of the General Assembly concerning national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, notably General Assembly resoution 42/116 of 7 December 1987, Stressing the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other international instruments for promoting respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms, Affirming that priority should be accorded to the development of appropriate arrangements at the national level to ensure the effective implementation of international human rights standards, Convinced of the significant role that such institutions at the national level can play in protecting and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms and in developing and enhancing public awareness of those rights and freedoms, Recognizing that the United Nations can play a catalytic role in assisting the development of national institutions by acting as a clearing-house for the exchange of information and experience, Mindful in this regard of the guidelines on the structure and functioning of national and local institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 33/46 of 14 December 1978, Welcoming the holding at Geneva, under the auspices of the United Nations, of the seminar on the experience of different countries in the implementation of international standards on human rights, from 20 June to 1 July 1983, and the seminar on community relations commissions and their functions, from 9 to 20 September 1985, and other current United Nations initiatives to combat racial discrimination,

1. Reaffirms the importance of developing, in accordance with national legislation, effective national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights and of maintaining their independence and integrity;

2. Encourages Member States to establish or, where they already exist, to strengthen the national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights and to incorporate these elements in national development plans;

3. Recognizes the constructive role that non-governmental organizations can play in relation to national institutions;

4. Encourages Member States to take appropriate steps to promote the exchange of information and experience concerning the establishment and operation of such national institutions;

5. Welcomes the request by the General Assembly in resolution 42/116 that the consolidated report by the Secretary-General on national institutions be updated, bearing in mind the practical needs of those engaged in the development of national institutions;

6. Invites the Secretary-General to include in his updated report all the information provided by Governments and any additional information Governments may wish to provide, with particular emphasis on the functioning of various models of national institutions in implementing international standards on human rights, as well as a list of existing national institutions, with contact points and a bibliography of relevant materials;

7. Welcomes the Assembly's request that the Secretary-General transmit the updated report, through The Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session for wide distribution as a United Nations handbook on national institutions;

8. Affirms the role of national institutions as focal points for the dissemination of human rights materials and other public information activities under the auspices of the United Nations;

9. Encourages the development of funding and other strategies to facilitate the establishment of national human rights institutions and, in this regard, invites Member States to consider making requests for such assistance through the advisory services programme of the United Nations;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary assistance to Member States, upon their request, in the implementation of paragraphs 1 to 4 and 8 and 9 of the present resolution, according priority to the needs of developing countries;

11. Decides to consider this question again at its forty-fifth session under the agenda item "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".

56th meeting
10 March 1988
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XI.]