A/RES/70/152
United Nations
Distr.: General
1 March 2016
General Assembly
Seventieth session
Agenda item 72 (b)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2015
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/70/489/Add.2)]
70/152. Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the
membership of the human rights treaty bodies
The General Assembly,
Recalling its previous resolutions on this question,
Reaffirming the importance of the goal of universal ratification of the United
Nations human rights instruments,
Welcoming the significant increase in the number of ratifications of United
Nations human rights instruments and the movement of some treaties towards
universal ratification,
Reiterating the importance of the effective functioning of the treaty bodies
established pursuant to United Nations human rights instruments for the full and
effective implementation of those instruments,
Recognizing that the equitable geographical distribution of membership is an
essential requirement for the effective functioning of the treaty bodi es,
Recalling that, with regard to the election of the members of the human rights
treaty bodies, the General Assembly and the former Commission on Human Rights
recognized the importance of giving consideration in their membership to equitable
geographical distribution, gender balance and representation of the principal legal
systems and of bearing in mind that the members shall be elected and shall serve in
their personal capacity, and shall be of high moral character, acknowledged
impartiality and recognized competence in the field of human rights,
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
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1
A/70/257.
15-16906 (E)
*1516906*
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