Co-operation with representatives of United Nations human rights bodies

1990/76. Co-operation with representatives of United Nations human rights bodies

The Commission on Human Rights, Affirming that representatives of the United Nations human rights bodies engaged in studying human rights situations or certain aspects of human rights violations must take an even-handed approach in the gathering of information with a view to arriving at a balanced implementation of their mandates, Convinced that, to this end, unhampered access to private individuals or groups is vitally important, and that anybody wishing to impart pertinent information to the United Nations should not feel inhibited from doing so by fear of intimidation or reprisal, Recalling that private individuals and groups should, likewise, feel free to avail themselves, without fear of intimidation or reprisal, of the various procedures established by the Commission on Human Rights, the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities or by various human rights instruments, for drawing attention to alleged violations of human rights, Concerned about cases reported to United Nations organs of private individuals and groups who, before or after co-operating with representatives of United Nations human rights bodies or treaty bodies, have been subjected to harassment, ill-treatment and detention or imprisonment or other forms of hardship, Also concerned about reports that relatives or those dear to such individuals have themselves been subjected to similar treatment, Further concerned about reports that relatives of disappeared persons, when seeking to clarify the fate or whereabouts of the victims through the appropriate channels, have frequently been subjected to reprisals as have the organizations to which they belong, Affirming that the United Nations should take steps to prevent harm to those who turn to the Organization for help on human rights concerns, Recalling its resolution 1988/34 of 8 March 1988, in which it urged Governments to take steps to protect the families of disappeared persons against any intimidation or ill-treatment to which they might be subject,

1. Calls upon all Governments receiving representatives of United Nations human rights bodies to provide effective advance information to them, to allow unhampered contacts between private individuals and such representatives and to remove all legal and practical obstacles which would unduly prevent or discourage such contacts from taking place;

2. Condemns all acts of intimidation or reprisal, in whatever form, against private individuals and groups who seek to co-operate with the United Nations and representatives of its human rights bodies, or who have sought to avail themselves of procedures established under United Nations auspices for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

3. Requests all representatives of United Nations human rights bodies reporting on violations of human rights to the Commission or to the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, in the exercise of their respective mandates:

(a) To take urgent steps, in conformity with their mandates, to help prevent the occurrence of intimidation or reprisal;

(b) To devote special attention to the question in their respective reports to the Commission or the Sub-Commission;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission at its forty-seventh session any available information, from all appropriate sources, on reprisals against witnesses or victims of human rights violations;

5. Decides to consider again the question at its forty-seventh session.

54th meeting
7 March 1990
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XI.]