A/RES/59/176 Recalling its resolution 47/111 of 16 December 1992, in which it welcomed the decision, taken on 15 January 1992 by the Fourteenth Meeting of States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to amend paragraph 6 of article 8 of the Convention and to add a new paragraph, as paragraph 7 of article 8, with a view to providing for the financing of the Committee from the regular budget of the United Nations, 4 and reiterating its deep concern that the amendment to the Convention has not yet entered into force, Stressing the importance of enabling the Committee to function smoothly and to have all necessary facilities for the effective performance of its functions under the Convention, I Reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 1. Takes note of the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its sixty-second and sixty-third 5 and its sixty-fourth and sixty-fifth 6 sessions; 2. Commends the Committee for its contributions to the effective implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,1 especially through the examination of reports under article 9 of the Convention, action on communications under article 14 of the Convention and thematic discussions, which contribute to the prevention and elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; Calls upon States parties to fulfil their obligation, under article 9, 3. paragraph 1, of the Convention, to submit their periodic reports on measures taken to implement the Convention in due time; Expresses its concern at the fact that a great number of reports are 4. overdue and continue to be overdue, in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention; Encourages States parties to the Convention whose reports are seriously 5. overdue to avail themselves of the advisory services and technical assistance that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights can provide, upon their request, for the preparation of the reports; Encourages the Committee to continue to cooperate and exchange 6. information with United Nations bodies and mechanisms, in particular with the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and with intergovernmental organizations, as well as with non-governmental organizations; Encourages States parties to continue to include a gender perspective in 7. their reports to the Committee, and invites the Committee to take into account a gender perspective in the implementation of its mandate; _______________ 4 See CERD/SP/45, annex. Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/58/18). 6 Ibid., Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/59/18). 5 2