11 December 1981

Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming its support for the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling its resolutions 686 (VII) of 5 December 1952, 992 (X) of 21 November 1955, 2285 (XXII) of 5 December 1967, 2552 (XXIV) of 12 December 1969, 2697 (XXV) of 11 December 1970, 2968 (XXVII) of 14 December 1972 and 3349 (XXIX) of 17 December 1974,

Recalling also its resolutions 2925 (XXVII) of 27 November 1972, 3073 (XXVIII) of 30 November 1973 and 3282 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974 on the strengthening of the role of the United Nations,

Recalling especially its resolution 3499 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, by which it established the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, and its resolutions 31/28 of 29 November 1976, 32/45 of 8 December 1977, 33/94 of 16 December 1978, 34/147 of 17 December 1979 and 35/164 of 15 December 1980,

Having considered the report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization on the work of the session held in 1981,

Noting that significant progress has been made in fulfilling the mandate of the Special Committee,

Noting also the progress of the debate held during the thirty-sixth session on the item entitled "Peaceful settlement of disputes between States", included in the agenda in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 35/164, especially concerning the consideration of the draft Manila declaration on the peaceful settlement of international disputes,

Noting the importance that pre-session consultations among the members of the Special Committee and other interested States may have in facilitating the fulfilment of its task,

Considering that the Special Committee has not yet completed the mandate entrusted to it,

1. Takes note of the report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization;

2. Decides that the Special Committee should continue its work in pursuance of the following tasks with which it is entrusted:

(a) To list the proposals which have been made or will be made in the Committee and to identify those which have awakened special interest;

(b) To examine proposals which have been made or will be made in the Committee with a view to according priority to the consideration of those on which agreement seems possible and to make recommendations thereon;

3. Also decides that the Special Committee shall convene its next session from 22 February to 19 March 1982;

4. Requests the Special Committee at its next session:

(a) To accord priority to its work on the proposals regarding the question of the maintenance of international peace and security, including those relating to the functioning of the Security Council, with a view to continuing its examination of the compilation of proposals contained in its report on the work of the session it held in 1980 and to considering the recommendations and proposals submitted during its session in 1981 or thereafter;

(b) To consider proposals made by Member States on the question of rationalization of existing procedures of the United Nations and, subsequently, any proposals under other topics;

5. Also requests the Special Committee to finalize the draft Manila declaration on the peaceful settlement of international disputes with a view to its consideration and adoption by the General Assembly, and to submit it to the Assembly at its thirty-seventh session;

6. Further requests the Special Committee, in the light of the progress it has achieved concerning the question of the peaceful settlement of disputes to continue its work on this question by considering the remaining proposals contained in the list prepared by the Committee in accordance with General Assembly resolution 33/94;

7. Requests the Special Committee to be mindful of the importance of reaching general agreement whenever that has significance for the outcome of its work;

8. Urges members of the Special Committee to participate fully in its work in fulfilment of the mandate entrusted to it;

9. Decides that the Special Committee shall accept the participation in its meetings of observers of Member States and, paying due regard to its efficiency and the time at its disposal, allow their participation in the meetings of its working groups;

10. Invites Governments to submit or to bring up to date, if they deem it necessary, their observations and proposals in accordance with General Assembly resolution 3499 (XXX);

11. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare an informal working paper containing an analytical summary of the statements made on the item in the Sixth Committee during the thirty-sixth session of the General Assembly, and to submit it to the Special Committee at its next session;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to render all assistance to the Special Committee, including the provision of summary records;

13. Requests the Special Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session;

14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-seventh session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization".