Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the
membership of the human rights treaty bodies
A/RES/74/155
Reaffirming the significance of national and regional particularities and various
historical, cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as of different political,
economic and legal systems,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General, 1
Recognizing that the United Nations pursues multilingualism as a means of
promoting, protecting and preserving diversity of languages and cultures globally and
that genuine multilingualism promotes unity in diversity and international
understanding,
Recalling that the General Assembly and the former Commission on Human
Rights encouraged States parties to United Nations human rights treaties, individually
and through meetings of States parties, to consider how to give better effect, inter
alia, to the principle of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of
treaty bodies,
Expressing its concern at the regional imbalance in the current composition of
the membership of the human rights treaty bodies in favour in particular of
representatives of members from Western European and other States, as indicated and
highlighted in the report of the Secretary-General,
Reaffirming the importance of increasing efforts to address that imbalance,
Convinced that the goal of equitable geographical distribution in the
membership of human rights treaty bodies is perfectly compatible and can be fully
realized and achieved in harmony with the need to achieve gender balance and the
representation of the principal legal systems in those bodies and the high moral
character, acknowledged impartiality and recognized competence in the field of
human rights of their members,
1.
Reiterates that the States parties to the United Nations human rights
instruments should take into account, in their nomination of members to the human
rights treaty bodies, that these committees shall be composed of persons of high moral
character and recognized competence in the field of human rights, consideration being
given to the usefulness of the participation of persons having legal experience and to
equal representation of women and men, and that members shall serve in their
personal capacity, and also reiterates that, in the elections to the human rights treaty
bodies, strong consideration shall be given to equitable geographical distribution of
membership and to the representation of the different forms of civilization and of the
principal legal systems;
2.
Urges the States parties to the United Nations human rights instruments,
including the bureau members, to include this matter in the agenda of e ach meeting
and/or conference of States parties to those instruments in order to initiate a debate
on ways and means to ensure equitable geographical distribution in the membership
of the human rights treaty bodies, based on previous recommendations of the former
Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council and the
provisions of the present resolution;
3.
Encourages the States parties to the United Nations human rights
instruments to consider and adopt concrete actions, inter alia, the po ssible
establishment of quotas by geographical region for membership of the treaty bodies,
thereby ensuring the paramount objective of equitable geographical distribution in
the membership of those human rights bodies;
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A/74/227.
19-22281