United Nations
A/RES/58/114
General Assembly
Distr.: General
5 February 2004
Fifty-eighth session
Agenda item 40 (a)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2003
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/58/L.39 and Add.1)]
58/114. Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian
assistance of the United Nations
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and the guiding principles
contained in the annex thereto, other relevant General Assembly and Economic and Social
Council resolutions and agreed conclusions of the Council,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General, 1
Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of
implementation of actions described in the report of the Secretary-General entitled
“Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change”, 2
Reaffirming the principles of neutrality, humanity and impartiality for the provision
of humanitarian assistance,
Recognizing that independence, meaning the autonomy of humanitarian objectives
from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with
regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented, is also an important
guiding principle for the provision of humanitarian assistance,
Gravely concerned about the acts of violence against humanitarian personnel and
United Nations and its associated personnel, in particular deliberate attacks, which are in
violation of international humanitarian law or other international law that may be
applicable,
Gravely concerned also about the lack of access by humanitarian personnel to
victims of humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflict and in post-conflict
situations, in many regions of the world,
Reaffirming the responsibility first and foremost of States to take care of the victims
of humanitarian emergencies within their own borders, while recognizing that the
magnitude and duration of many emergencies may be beyond the response capacity of
many affected countries,
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1
2
03 50142
A/58/89-E/2003/85.
A/58/351.