New international humanitarian order : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 36/136 of 14 December 1981, 37/201 of 18 December 1982, 38/125 of 16 December 1983, 40/126 of 13 December 1985, 42/120 and 42/121 of 7 December 1987 and 43/129 of 8 December 1988 relating to the promotion of a new international humanitarian order,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General and the comments made by various Governments regarding the humanitarian order and the work done in this regard by the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues,

Noting the actions being taken by the specialized agencies and programmes of the United Nations system with regard to the humanitarian issues, examined by the Independent Commission, that fall within their respective mandates,

Recognizing with concern the continuing need further to strengthen international responses to growing humanitarian challenges and to adjust actions of governmental and non-governmental organizations to new realities in a fast-changing world,

Bearing in mind the importance of creative humanitarian action at the international as well as the regional and national levels to alleviate human suffering and to promote durable solutions to humanitarian problems,

Convinced of the need for active follow-up to the recommendations and suggestions made by the Independent Commission and noting the role being played in this regard by the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues set up for the purpose,

1.         Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continuing active support to the efforts to promote a new international humanitarian order;

2.         Encourages Governments as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations that have not yet done so to provide their comments and expertise to the Secretary-General regarding the humanitarian order and the report of the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues;

3.         Invites the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues to continue and further strengthen its essential role in following up the work of the Independent Commission;

4.         Invites Governments to make available to the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, information and expertise on humanitarian issues of concern to them in order to identify opportunities for future action;

5.         Requests the Secretary-General to remain in contact with Governments as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations and the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues and to report on the progress made by them to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session;

6.         Decides to review at its forty-seventh session the question of a new international humanitarian order.