A/RES/50/185 Page 2 contribute to the strengthening of both democracy and human rights within the country concerned, Welcoming the support provided by States to the electoral assistance activities of the United Nations, inter alia, through the provision of experts and electoral observers, as well as through contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Electoral Observation, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections, 3/ Noting the continuing high level and evolving nature of requests for electoral assistance by Member States, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on United Nations activities aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections; 3/ 2. Commends the electoral assistance provided to Member States at their request by the United Nations, requests that such assistance continue on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the guidelines on electoral assistance, recognizing that the fundamental responsibility of organizing free and fair elections lies with Governments, and also requests the Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat to continue to inform Member States on a regular basis about the requests received, responses given to those requests and the nature of the assistance provided; 3. Requests that the United Nations continue its efforts to ensure, before undertaking to provide electoral assistance to a requesting State, that there is adequate time to organize and carry out an effective mission for providing such assistance, that conditions exist to allow a free and fair election and that provisions can be made for adequate and comprehensive reporting of the results of the mission; 4. Commends the steps taken by the United Nations to ensure the continuation and consolidation of the democratization process in certain Member States requesting assistance, including the provision of assistance before and after elections have taken place and needs-assessment missions aimed at recommending programmes which might contribute to the consolidating of the democratization process, and requests that such efforts be strengthened; 5. Recommends that the Electoral Assistance Division provide postelection assistance, as appropriate, to requesting States and electoral institutions, in order to contribute to the stability and continuity of their electoral processes, as provided for in the report of the Secretary-General, and that it study, in cooperation with relevant United Nations offices, ways of defining more clearly the activities related to democratic consolidation which the United Nations might usefully undertake in assisting the efforts of interested States in this regard; 3/ A/50/736. /...