Co-ordinating role of the Centre for Human Rights.

1989/54. Co-ordinating role of the Centre for Human Rights

The Commission on Human Rights, Bearing in mind Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities resolution 1988/2 of 25 August 1988, Recalling the report of the Commission on Human Rights to the Special Commission of the Economic and Social Council (E/CN.4/1988/85 and Corr.1), which was adopted without a vote by the Commission at its 56th meeting, on 10 March 1988, Recalling also that, in paragraph 30 of the above-mentioned report, the Commission reaffirmed that "the paramount consideration in the employment of staff at every level is the need for the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, and is convinced that this is compatible with the principle of equitable geographical distribution", Further reaffirming that no post should be considered the exclusive preserve of any Member State or group of States, Considering it essential that, in the context of the general financial situation of the United Nations, sufficient resources commensurate with the high priority attributed to the programme should be allocated to human rights, in particular to the Centre for Human Rights, and further stating that organizational changes, including staffing reviews and adjustments of the programme activities or resource allocation, should not adversely affect the functioning of the Centre but should rather strengthen its status and enhance its role,

1. Supports the efforts of the Secretary-General to enhance the role and importance of the Centre for Human Rights as a co-ordinating unit in the system of bodies dealing with the promotion and protection of human rights;

2. Expresses the hope that the steps being taken by the Secretary-General in that direction, including the measures to promote the settlement of regional conflicts, will foster co-operation in upholding and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, better understanding, mutual respect, trust and tolerance in relations between States and peoples;

3. Reaffirms the importance of the principle set out in Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations;

4. Invites the Secretary-General to request Governments, United Nations specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to express their views on the strengthening of the activities of the Centre for Human Rights, with special emphasis on new directions and forms, including increasing the representation of under-represented groups of States, notably the developing countries, in senior and policy-formulating posts in the Centre for Human Rights, while safeguarding the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and to submit a report setting out those views and opinions to the Commission at its forty-sixth session;

5. Decides to discuss the question of the co-ordinating role of the Centre for Human Rights within the United Nations bodies and machinery dealing with the promotion and protection of human rights at its forty-sixth session as a new sub-item 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.]