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

1990/59. Voluntary Fund for Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling General Assembly resolution 926 (X) of 14 December 1955, by which the Assembly established the United Nations programme of advisory services in the field of 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 Commission 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, Recalling its resolution 1989/71 of 8 March 1989, Taking note with appreciation of the relevant sections of the annual report of the Secretary-General on advisory services in the field of human rights (E/CN.4/1990/43), Mindful of the provisions of General Assembly resolution 926 (X) that advisory services shall be rendered by the Secretary-General solely at the request of Governments,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the projects realized since the establishment of the Voluntary Fund for Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights;

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, the specialized agencies or regional organizations;

5. Recommends that activities under the Voluntary Fund should be directed towards expert and technical 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 from all regions and to explore fully the possibilities offered by the co-operation of the relevant specialized agencies 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 that can play a catalytic role in the practical realization of internationally recognized human rights standards;

8. 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. Also encourages Governments to seek contact and to co-operate with non-governmental human rights organizations in implementing programmes under the Voluntary Fund;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to elaborate guidelines on the use and allocation of the resources available through the Voluntary Fund, with special emphasis on defining priorities and developing criteria for project appraisal and follow-up;

12. Also requests the Secretary-General to guarantee transparency of the criteria applied and of the rules of procedure to be followed in the implementation of advisory services;

13. Further 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.

53rd meeting
7 March 1990
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XXII.]