United Nations A/RES/56/146 General Assembly Distr.: General 6 February 2002 Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 119 (a) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Third Committee (A/56/583/Add.1)] 56/146. Equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies The General Assembly, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/76 of 25 April 2001 1 and Economic and Social Council decision 2001/275 of 24 July 2001, 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, which has especially contributed to their universality, Reiterating the importance of the effective functioning of treaty bodies established pursuant to United Nations human rights instruments for the full and effective implementation of those instruments, Recalling that, with regard to the election of the members of the human rights treaty bodies, the Commission on Human Rights has 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, Recalling also that the Commission on Human Rights has 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 concern at the clear regional imbalance in the current composition of the membership of the human rights treaty bodies, with the exception of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which is applying a quota system in the distribution of its seats by regional groups, _______________ 1 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. 01 48633