Strengthening of the Centre for Human Rights.

1993/52. Strengthening of the Centre for Human Rights

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling all relevant General Assembly resolutions as well as its own resolutions on this question, Considering that the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms is one of the basic purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and an issue of the utmost importance for the organization, Acknowledging the increasing attention given to the activities undertaken by the United Nations system in the field of human rights, Recalling that the Secretary-General, in his report on the work of the organization for 1992 (A/47/1), stated, inter alia, that the "Charter of the United Nations places the promotion of human rights as one of our priority objectives, along with promoting development and preserving international peace and security", an approach which he was also applying in his proposals for the biennium 1994-1995, Emphasizing the important role of the Centre for Human Rights as a coordinating unit within the United Nations system in the promotion, protection and implementation of human rights and the need to provide it with sufficient human and financial resources, particularly in view of the fact that its workload has dramatically increased while resources have failed to keep pace with the expansion of its responsibilities, Recalling also that the Commission, in paragraph 30 of its report (E/CN.4/1988/85 and Corr.1) to the Special Commission of the Economic and Social Council, 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", and bearing in mind Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, Welcoming the fact that the World Conference on Human Rights is to make recommendations securing the necessary financial and other resources for United Nations activities in the field of human rights, Noting with appreciation the measures taken by the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights aimed at improving the administration and management of the Centre for Human Rights, Noting also that without additional resources commensurate to the additional mandates, measures for the improvement of the functioning and efficiency of the Centre for Human Rights cannot be effective,

1. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the role and importance of the Centre for Human Rights as a coordinating unit within the United Nations system with respect to human rights;

2. Welcomes the efforts of the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and encourages him to continue to implement measures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Centre for Human Rights;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that sufficient resources are accorded to the Centre for Human Rights to enable it to undertake all its functions, in full and on time;

4. Also requests the Secretary-General and the competent United Nations bodies to implement, as appropriate and as a matter of urgency, the relevant recommendations which the World Conference on Human Rights makes with regard to securing the necessary financial and other resources for the strengthening of the Centre for Human Rights;

5. Decides to consider the question again at its fiftieth session.

63rd meeting
9 March 1993
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XI.]