4 November 1998

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 47/33 of 25 November 1992, 48/31 of 9 December 1993, 49/53 of 9 December 1994, 50/46 of 11 December 1995, and its resolution 51/207 of 17 December 1996.

Recalling further its resolution 52/160 of 15 December 1997, in which it decided to hold the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court (also "the Conference") in Rome from 15 June to 17 July 1998,

Welcoming the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, on 17 July 1998, and taking note of the opening for signature of the Statute in Rome on 17 July 1998 until 17 October 1998, and thereafter in New York, at United Nations Headquarters, until 31 December 2000, and taking note further of the Final Act of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court done at Rome on 17 July 1998,

Noting that a significant and growing number of States have signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,

Emphasizing the need to take all possible measures to ensure the coming into operation of the International Criminal Court without undue delay and to make the necessary arrangements for the commencement of its functions,

Noting in particular that the Conference decided to establish a Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court, consisting of representatives of States which have signed the Final Act of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court and other States which were invited to participate in the Conference,

Noting further that the Conference requested the Secretary-General of the United States to convene the Preparatory Commission at the United Nations Headquarters in New York as early as possible at a date to be decided by the General Assembly,

Recalling the mandate of the Preparatory Commission with regard to the preparation of proposals for practical arrangements for the establishment and coming into operation of the Court, including before 30 June 2000 the finalization of the draft texts of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and of the Elements of Crimes,

Recognizing the need for making available adequate resources and Secretariat services to the Preparatory Commission, in order to enable it to discharge its functions efficiently and expeditiously,

1. Welcomes the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court:

2. Expresses its deep appreciation and gratitude to the Government of Italy for hosting the Conference in Rome;

3. Calls upon all States to consider signing and ratifying the Statute of the International Criminal Court, and encourages efforts aimed at promoting awareness of the results of the Conference and of the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the Preparatory Commission to meet, in accordance with the resolution F adopted by the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, in order to perform the mandate of such resolution, and, in this context, to discuss ways to enhance the effectiveness and acceptance of the Court, from .... to .... March 1999 (3 weeks) .... July to .... August 1999 (3 weeks), ..... November to ..... December 1999 (2 weeks);

5. Further requests prepare the working documents related to sub. paragraphs c, e, g and h, of paragraph 5 of resolution F, for consideration by the Preparatory Commission;

6. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide the Preparatory Commission with the resources and the Secretariat services required to enable it to perform its functions efficiently and expeditiously;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to invite, as observers to the Preparatory Commission, representatives of organizations and other entities that have received a standing invitation from the General Assembly pursuant to its relevant resolution* to participate, in the capacity of observers, in its sessions and work; and also to invite, as observers to the Preparatory Commission, representatives of interested regional intergovernmental organizations and other interested international bodies, including the International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda;

8. Decides that non-governmental organizations may participate in the work of the Preparatory Commission, including attending its plenary and its other open meetings in accordance with the rules of procedure to be adopted by the Commission, receiving copies of the official documents and making available their materials to delegates;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to take steps in order to expand the mandate of the trust fund established by resolution 51/207 for voluntary contributions towards meeting the cost of participation in the work of the Preparatory Commission of the least developed countries, and encourages States to contribute voluntarily to this trust fund;

10. Further requests the Secretary-General to take steps to expand the mandate of the trust fund established by resolution 52/160 for voluntary contributions towards meeting the cost of participation in the work of the Preparatory Commission of those developing countries not covered by the trust fund referred to in paragraph 8, and invites States to contribute voluntarily to this trust fund;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution;

12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its 54th session the item entitled: "Establishment of an International Criminal Court."

* List of relevant GA resolutions as in footnote 3 of res. 52/160