Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/41 The right to restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms

The Commission on Human Rights,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, other relevant human rights instruments and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,

Reaffirming that pursuant to internationally proclaimed human rights principles, victims of grave violations of human rights should receive, in appropriate cases, restitution, compensation and rehabilitation,

Reiterating the importance of addressing the question of restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in a systematic and thorough way at the national and international levels,

Recalling its resolution 1996/35 of 19 April 1996, in which it regarded the basic principles and guidelines on the right to redress of victims of grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, proposed by the former Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Mr. Theo van Boven, as a useful basis for giving priority attention to the question of restitution, compensation and rehabilitation,

Recalling also its resolution 1999/33 of 26 April 1999,

Taking note of the report of the independent expert, Mr. Cherif Bassiouni, appointed by the Commission (E/CN.4/2000/62),

Expressing its satisfaction at the submission of comments by governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations on the draft revised principles and guidelines circulated by the independent expert,

Noting with satisfaction the positive experience of countries that have established policies and adopted legislation on restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights,

1. Calls upon the international community to give due attention to the right to restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate to all Member States the text of the "Basic principles and guidelines on the right to a remedy and reparation for victims of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law", annexed to the final report of the independent expert and to request that they send their comments thereon to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;

3. Requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to hold a consultative meeting in Geneva for all interested Governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, using available resources, with a view to finalizing the principles and guidelines on the basis of the comments submitted;

4. Also requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to transmit to the Commission at its fifty-seventh session the final outcome of the consultative meeting for its consideration;

5. Decides to continue its consideration of this matter at its fifty-seventh session under the sub-item entitled "Independence of the judiciary, administration of justice, impunity".

60th meeting
20 April 2000

[Adopted without a vote.]