unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (08/28/89)
COMMITTEE ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: HUMAN RIGHTS
ADOPTS DRAFT VIEWS ON GUIDELINES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS
(Based on information received from the UN Information Service.)
GENEVA, 23 August -- The Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination today adopted draft views in connection with item 2 of its
agenda entitled: Action by the General Assembly at its forty-third session.
The draft views refer to the Conclusions and Recommendations of the Meeting of
Chairpersons of Human Rights Treaty Bodies. The Committee also agreed on
draft letters to the Secretary-General and the Chairman of the meeting of
States parties on the questions of financing.
Draft Views on Conclusions of Chairpersons' Meeting
The Committee found that the proposals contained in paragraph 21 of the
report of the Secretary-General (document A/40/600) met its requirements under
the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination in respect of the consolidation of guidelines relating to Part
I of the reports of States parties. It also endorsed the idea that the
consolidated general guidelines could be made available to each of the treaty
bodies whenever that treaty body considered a report from its States parties.
In connection with the general problem of overdue reports affecting the
implementation of several human rights treaties, in particular, the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination, the Committee endorsed the suggestion that technical
assistance and advisory services should be provided on a regular basis by the
Secretary-General to assist States parties in fulfilling their reporting
obligations.
The Committee believed that the system of rapporteurs had contributed to
the reduction of time for the consideration of each State report and deepened
dialogue with State party representatives.
Draft Letter to State Parties in Arrears
In a draft letter to States parties, the Committee brought to their
attention the critical situation which confronted the Committee in monitoring
the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination which had arisen from non-payment of their
assessed contributions.
The Committee recommended a draft resolution, for adoption by the General
Assembly, authorizing the Secretary-General to ensure, on a temporary basis,
the financing of expenses of the members of the Committee from the United
Nations regular budget, until a permanent solution was found.
Letters to Secretary-General and Chairman of Meeting of States Parties
Letters addressed to the Secretary-General and the Chairman of the
Meeting of States parties both recalled the precarious financial situation of
the Committee and the constraints such a situation imposed on its normal
functioning. The letter addressed to the Chairman of the Meeting of State
parties also expressed the Committee's concern that its previous decision on
that matter addressed to the last meeting of States parties did not have the
desired effect. It, therefore, urged States parties in arrears to pay their
assessed contribution as quickly as possible.
Some members of the Committee suggested that time be devoted to the
discussion of the twentieth anniversary of the Committee in order to elaborate
a wider strategy that could produce the desired effect of the letters sent and
to give more publicity to the work of the Committee.
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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