National institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Recalling the relevant resolutions concerning national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights, notably its resolution 41/129 of 4 December 1986 and Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1987/40 of 10 March 1987, 1988/72 of 10 March 1988, 1989/52 of 7 March 1989 and 1990/73 of 7 March 1990, and taking note of Commission resolution 1991/27 of 5 March 1991,

Emphasizing the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other international instruments for promoting respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Affirming that priority should be accorded to the development of appropriate arrangements at the national level to ensure the effective implementation of international human rights standards,

Convinced of the significant role that institutions at the national level can play in protecting and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms and in developing and enhancing public awareness of those rights and freedoms,

Recognizing that the United Nations can play a catalytic role in assisting the development of national institutions by acting as a clearing-house for the exchange of information and experience,

Mindful in this regard of the guidelines on the structure and functioning of national and local institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights endorsed by the General Assembly in its 33/46 of 14 December 1978,

Recalling the recommendations contained in General Assembly resolution 45/155 of 18 December 1990 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 1991/30 of 5 March 1991 inviting the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference on Human Rights to examine ways and means by which the World Conference could encourage the establishment or strengthening of national institutions,

Noting the diverse approaches adopted throughout the world for the protection and promotion of human rights at the national level, and recognizing the value of such approaches to promoting universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms,

1.         Takes note with satisfaction of the updated report of the Secretary-General on national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights, prepared in accordance with General Assembly 44/64 of 8 December 1989;

2.         Reaffirms the importance of the development, in accordance with national legislation, of effective national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights and of maintaining their independence and integrity;

3.         Encourages Member States to establish or, where they already exist, to strengthen national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights and to incorporate those elements in national development plans;

4.         Notes the progress made in this area in the past few years and the increased number and effectiveness of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in all parts of the world;

5.         Notes also the efforts of the Centre for Human Rights of the Secretariat to increase cooperation with regional and national institutions;

6.         Encourages initiatives on the part of Governments and regional, international, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations intended to strengthen existing national institutions and to establish such institutions where they do not exist;

7.         Requests the Centre for Human Rights to continue its efforts in order to enhance cooperation between the United Nations and regional and national institutions, particularly in respect of advisory services and technical assistance, public information and education in the field of human rights;

8.         Also requests the Centre for Human Rights to establish, upon the request of States concerned, United Nations centres for human rights documentation and training, and to do so on the basis of established procedures for the use of available resources within the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights;

9.         Requests the Secretary-General to respond favourably to requests from Member States for assistance in the establishment and strengthening of national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights as part of the programme of advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights, as well as national centres for human rights documentation and training;

10.       Encourages all Member States to take appropriate steps to promote the exchange of information and experience concerning the establishment and operation of such national institutions;

11.       Affirms the role of national institutions as agencies for the dissemination of human rights materials and other public information activities, prepared or organized under the auspices of the United Nations;

12.       Recognizes the constructive role that non-governmental organizations can play in relation to national institutions;

13.       Welcomes the convening of a workshop on this subject by the Centre for Human Rights in Paris in October 1991, as was requested in Commission on Human Rights resolution 1990/73;

14.       Requests the Secretary-General to forward the results of that meeting to the Commission on Human Rights;

15.       Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution.