23 May 1986

19th plenary meeting

Situation in Equatorial Guinea

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolutions 1982/36 of 7 May 1982, 1983/35 of 27 May 1983, 1984/36 of 24 May 1984 and 1985/39 of 30 May 1985,

Bearing in mind Commission on Human Rights resolution 1986/53 of 13 March 1986,

Considering that the conclusions and recommendations of the expert appointed by the Secretary-General pursuant to Council resolution 1984/36 concerning his most recent mission to Equatorial Guinea indicate that more needs to be done by the United Nations and the Government of Equatorial Guinea to implement and make better use of the plan of action proposed by the United Nations and accepted by the Government of Equatorial Guinea,

1. Requests the Government of Equatorial Guinea to consider the possibility of continuing to implement the plan of action, taking particular account of the expert's new proposals, especially those concerning amendments to the Fundamental Law of that country;

2. Further requests the Government of Equatorial Guinea to take steps to facilitate the repatriation of all refugees and exiles, including the adoption of measures enabling all citizens of Equatorial Guinea to participate fully in the country's political, economic, social and cultural affairs, thus helping to relieve the shortage of specialized personnel mentioned in the expert's reports;

3. Appeals to the Government of Equatorial Guinea to accede to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, among other international instruments concerning human rights and fundamental freedoms;

4. Requests the Secretary-General, with a view to implementing the plan of action and bearing in mind the discussions held in New York between the Government of Equatorial Guinea and the expert, to seek ways and means of establishing a system for co-ordinating assistance furnished by the Centre for Human Rights under the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights with all other forms of assistance to Equatorial Guinea, both multilateral and bilateral;

5. Further requests the Secretary-General to appoint an expert to co-operate with the Government of Equatorial Guinea in the full implementation of the plan of action proposed by the United Nations and accepted by that Government;

6. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to keep this matter under consideration at its forty-third session.