25 May 1990

14th Plenary Meeting

1990/48. Enlargement of the Commission on Human Rights and the further promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 44/167 of 15 December 1989,

Recognizing the responsibilities of the Commission on Human Rights under the Charter of the United Nations,

Appreciating the contribution made by the Commission on Human Rights to the cause of human rights and recognizing the need to reinforce it,

Reaffirming that the Commission on Human Rights shall be guided by the standards in the field of human rights laid down in the various international instruments concerned with the protection and promotion of human rights,

Aware of the fact that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as legitimate concerns of the world community, should be guided by the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity and should not be used for political ends,

Emphasizing the importance of further improving the effective functioning of the Commission in the field of human rights,

Convinced that in order to achieve universally recognized objectives, improvements in the functioning of the Commission and measures of rationalization should be a matter for continuous consideration,

Taking note of the relevant section of the final document of the Ninth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries adopted at Belgrade on 7 September 1989 stating the need to strengthen the role and efficiency of the United Nations and to reinforce United Nations mechanisms,

Stressing that the Special Rapporteurs and working groups established by the Commission on Human Rights are some of the key elements in analysing, reporting and monitoring human rights, which are essential for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all countries,

Noting Commission on Human Rights decision 1990/115 of 9 March 1990,

1. Decides to increase the membership of the Commission on Human Rights to fifty-three and to allocate the ten additional seats among the regional groups of Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean on the basis of the principle of equitable geographical distribution;

2. Further decides that the enlarged membership of the Commission on Human Rights shall be elected in 1991 and that the provisions contained in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 below shall take effect at the forty-eighth session of the Commission;

3. Authorizes the Commission on Human Rights to meet exceptionally between its regular sessions, provided that a majority of States members of the Commission so agree;

4. Recommends that the mandates of the thematic rapporteurs and working groups established or to be established by the Commission shall, unless otherwise decided, be of three years' duration, requests the Secretary-General to provide the rapporteurs and working groups with all the assistance necessary to carry out their mandates in the best possible conditions, and calls on all Governments to co-operate fully with them and to support and promote their activities by ensuring unhampered access to all relevant sources of information;

5. Decides that, in the week following the session of the Commission on Human Rights, the Bureau shall meet to make suggestions about the organization of work of the Commission, including the effective use of conference time and facilities;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the organizational implications of the present resolution for consideration by the Commission on Human Rights at its forty-seventh session, and requests the Commission to submit its observations to the Economic and Social Council at its first regular session of 1991.