Voluntary Fund for Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights.

1988/53. Voluntary Fund for Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling its resolution 1987/38 of 10 March 1987, by which it requested the Secretary-General to establish and administer a voluntary fund for advisory services and technical assistance in the field of human rights, Noting that the Economic and Social Council, by its decision 1987/147 of 29 May 1987, endorsed that resolution, Welcoming the establishment of the Voluntary Fund for Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights by the Secretary-General, as authorized, and his appeal of 16 November 1987 to Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for contributions to the Fund, Noting with satisfaction that several Governments and a non-governmental organization have already responded favourably to this appeal, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the establishment of the Voluntary Fund (E/CN.4/1988/40, paras. 20-25),

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the establishment of the Voluntary Fund;

2. Also expresses its appreciation to those Governments and non-governmental organizations that have already made financial contributions to the Voluntary Fund;

3. Calls upon all Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and individuals to consider making voluntary contributions for the implementation of projects within the programme of the Voluntary Fund;

4. Emphasizes that the objective of the Voluntary Fund is to provide additional financial support for practical activities focused on the implementation of international conventions and other international instruments on human rights promulgated by the United Nations, its specialized agencies or regional organizations;

5. Recommends that activities under the Voluntary Fund should be directed towards expert assistance to Governments with a view to creating and developing the necessary infrastructures to meet international human rights standards;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to start operations under the Voluntary Fund within the resources already available;

7. Recommends that the Secretary-General consider for financing and implementation through the Voluntary Fund those projects and programmes which can play a catalytic role in the practical realization of internationally recognized human rights standards;

8. Further requests the Secretary-General to bring regularly to the attention of all Governments and of the competent human rights organs possibilities that exist under the Voluntary Fund of providing advisory services and technical assistance to Governments at their request;

9. Encourages Governments in need of technical assistance in the field of human rights to avail themselves of the advisory services and technical assistance in the field of human rights;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to The Commission on Human Rights annually on the operation and administration of the Voluntary Fund as part of his annual report on advisory services in the field of human rights.

52nd meeting
8 March 1988
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XXII.]