United Nations General Assembly A/RES/59/141 Distr.: General 25 February 2005 Fifty-ninth session Agenda item 39 (a) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 15 December 2004 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/59/L.49 and Add.1)] 59/141. 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 Reaffirming the principles of humanity, neutrality 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 that violence, including sexual abuse and sexual and other violence against women, girls and boys, continues to be, in many emergency situations, deliberately directed against civilian populations, Gravely concerned also about the lack of access by humanitarian personnel to victims of humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflict and in postconflict 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, Reaffirming also that States whose populations are in need of humanitarian assistance are called upon to facilitate the work of humanitarian organizations and that States in proximity to humanitarian emergencies are urged to facilitate, to the extent possible, the transit of humanitarian assistance, _______________ 1 04-48472 A/59/93-E/2004/74.

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