A UNITED NATIONS General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/RES/50/176 27 February 1996 Fiftieth session Agenda item 112 (b) RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY [on the report of the Third Committee (A/50/635/Add.2)] 50/176. National institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights The General Assembly, Recalling the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights concerning national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, Stressing the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1/ the International Covenants on Human Rights 2/ and other international instruments for promoting respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Convinced of the important role national institutions play in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms and in developing and enhancing public awareness of those rights and freedoms, Mindful in this regard of the guidelines on the structure and functioning of national and local institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 33/46 of 14 December 1978, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, 3/ in which the World Conference on Human Rights reaffirmed the important and constructive 1/ Resolution 217 A (III). 2/ Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3/ A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. 96-76933 /...