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

1989/71. Voluntary Fund for Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling the establishment of the Voluntary Fund for Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights by the Secretary-General on 16 November 1987 pursuant to its resolution 1987/38 of 10 March 1987 and Economic and Social Council decision 1987/47 of 29 May 1987, Bearing in mind the appeal made by the Secretary-General on that occasion to Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for contributions to the Fund, Noting with satisfaction that several Governments and non-governmental organizations have responded favourably to this appeal, Welcoming the fact that operations under the Voluntary Fund began in 1988, Recalling its resolution 1988/53 of 8 March 1988, Taking note of the relevant sections of the annual report of the Secretary-General on advisory services in the field of human rights (E/CN.4/1989/42),

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the establishment of the Voluntary Fund for Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights and the early date at which the Fund became operational;

2. Also expresses its appreciation to those Governments and non-governmental organizations that have 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. Encourages the Secretary-General to pay due attention to the particular needs of developing countries and to explore fully the possibilities offered by the co-operation of the relevant specialized agencies of the United Nations system with the Centre for Human Rights;

7. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to 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 the 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 that field;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to elaborate guidelines on the use and allocation of the resources available through the Voluntary Fund, with special emphasis on an effective mechanism for project appraisal;

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

55th meeting
8 March 1989
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XXI.]