United
Nations


General Assembly

Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/51/74
12 February 1997


Fifty-first session
Agenda item 105


RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[on the report of the Third Committee (A/51/614)]

51/74. New international humanitarian order


The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 49/170 of 23 December 1994 and other pertinent resolutions 1/ relating to the promotion of a new international humanitarian order and international cooperation in the humanitarian field,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General 2/ and the previous reports 3/ containing the comments and views of Governments, the specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations,

Noting that a number of Governments have not yet submitted their comments with regard to the above-mentioned resolutions,

Noting with deep concern the growing scale of humanitarian emergencies involving widespread suffering, loss of life and uprootedness,

Noting the corresponding increase in the burden on the international community in providing emergency relief for protracted periods while durable solutions remain evasive, to the detriment of stability and security and thereby adversely affecting economic and social development,

Bearing in mind the urgent need to ensure respect for and promotion of the principles and norms relating to humanitarian emergencies,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continuing support for the efforts to promote a new international humanitarian order;

2. Urges Governments and governmental and non-governmental organizations that have not yet done so to submit their comments and views to the Secretary-General regarding the promotion of a new international humanitarian order;

3. Requests Governments to make available to the Secretary- General, on a voluntary basis, information and expertise on humanitarian issues of special concern to them, in order to identify opportunities for future action;

4. Invites the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues to continue and to strengthen further its activities in cooperation with the governmental and non-governmental bodies concerned, including local and regional capacity-building to respond to humanitarian problems and the search for more effective measures to increase international cooperation in the humanitarian field;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to remain in contact with Governments and non-governmental organizations, including the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues, in order to report in a comprehensive manner on the progress made by them to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session.

82nd plenary meeting
12 December 1996


Notes

1/ Resolutions 36/136 of 14 December 1981, 37/201 of 18 December 1982, 38/125 of 16 December 1983, 40/126 of 13 December 1985, 42/120 and 42/121 of 7 December 1987, 43/129 and 43/130 of 8 December 1988, 45/101 and 45/102 of 14 December 1990 and 47/106 of 16 December 1992.

2/ A/51/454.

3/ A/37/145, A/38/450, A/40/358 and Add.1 and 2, A/41/472, A/43/734 and Add.1, A/45/524, A/47/352 and A/49/577 and Corr.1.