Special rapporteurs and representatives and other mechanisms established by the Commission on Human Rights.

1989/48. Special rapporteurs and representatives and other mechanisms established by the Commission on Human Rights

The Commission on Human Rights, Reaffirming its responsibility before the United Nations for strengthening and continuing impartial international monitoring in the field of human rights, Stressing that the special rapporteurs and other fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms established by the Commission on Human Rights are one of the key elements in analysing, reporting and monitoring human rights, which is essential for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all countries, Emphasizing the need to increase the effectiveness of these mechanisms and to make a more effective contribution towards the realization and promotion of human rights, Calling upon all Governments to co-operate with the special rapporteurs and other mechanisms established by the Commission, and to support and promote their activities, Conscious of the valuable contribution of the Centre for Human Rights in providing the necessary assistance to the special rapporteurs and other mechanisms established by the Commission, Bearing in mind the useful exchange of views at the meeting of persons chairing the treaty bodies that took place at Geneva from 10 to 14 October 1988 and the practical conclusions and recommendations of the meeting, submitted to the Commission on Human Rights at its forty-fifth session (E/CN.4/1989/62, annex),

1. Expresses its appreciation to the special rapporteurs and other fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms established by the Commission for their contributions in implementing universally recognized standards of human rights;

2. Emphasizes the need to increase the effectiveness and objective contribution of the mechanisms established by the Commission and to make constant improvements in the procedures;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to consider convening a meeting of special rapporteurs and representatives, representatives of other mechanisms established by the Commission, the Chairman of the Commission, and the Chairman and five rapporteurs representing the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities;

4. Invites the Secretary-General to prepare background documentation containing information relevant to the functioning of special rapporteurs and representatives and other mechanisms established by the Commission, which should be made available to the aforementioned meeting, and also to make the documentation available, together with the conclusions and recommendations of the meeting, to the Commission on Human Rights;

5. Decides to examine, on the basis of the documentation and the conclusions and recommendations of the aforementioned meeting, the question of increasing the effectiveness of special rapporteurs and representatives and other fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms established by the Commission on Human Rights no later than at its forty-seventh 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".

53rd meeting
7 March 1989
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XI.]