A/RES/56/50 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 14 February 2002 Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 85 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/56/547)] 56/50. Effects of atomic radiation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 913 (X) of 3 December 1955, by which it established the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and its subsequent resolutions on the subject, including resolution 55/121 of 8 December 2000,1 in which, inter alia, it requested the Scientific Committee to continue its work, Taking note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific Committee 2 and of the release of its extensive report, entitled Hereditary Effects of Radiation: United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 2001 Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annex, 3 Reaffirming the desirability of the Scientific Committee continuing its work, Concerned about the potentially harmful effects on present and future generations resulting from the levels of radiation to which mankind and the environment are exposed, Noting the views expressed by Member States at its fifty-sixth session with regard to the work of the Scientific Committee, Conscious of the continuing need to examine and compile information about atomic and ionizing radiation and to analyse its effects on mankind and the environment, 1. Commends the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for the valuable contribution it has been making in the course of the past forty-six years, since its inception, to wider knowledge and understanding of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation, and for fulfilling its original mandate with scientific authority and independence of judgement; _______________ 1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 49 and corrigendum (A/55/49 (vol. I) and Corr.1), sect. III. 2 Ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 46 (A/56/46). 3 United Nations publication, Sales No. E.01.IX.2. 01 48792