New international humanitarian order, G.A. res. 47/106, 47 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 188, U.N. Doc. A/47/49 (1992).


The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 36/136 of 14 December 1981, 37/201 of 18 December 1982, 38/125 of 16 December 1983, 40/126 of 13 December 1985, 42/120 of 7 December 1987, 43/129 of 8 December 1988 and 45/101 of 14 December 1990 relating to the promotion of a new international humanitarian order,

Recalling also its resolutions 42/121 of 7 December 1987, 43/130 of 8 December 1988 and 45/102 of 14 December 1990 relating to the promotion of international cooperation in the humanitarian field,

Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General and the comments made by various Governments, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations,

Noting the actions being taken by the specialized agencies and programmes of the United Nations system with regard to humanitarian issues, examined by the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues, that fall within their respective mandates,

Convinced that solving humanitarian problems requires international cooperation and harmonization of actions taken by Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations as well as individuals,

Recognizing with concern the continuing need further to strengthen international responses to growing humanitarian challenges, and to undertake creative humanitarian action at the international, regional and national levels to alleviate human suffering and to promote durable solutions to humanitarian problems,

Recognizing further the need for active follow-up to the recommendations and suggestions made by the Independent Commission and the role being played in this regard by the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues, set up for the purpose,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continuing active support to the efforts to promote a new international humanitarian order;

2. Urges Governments as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations that have not yet done so to provide their comments and expertise to the Secretary-General regarding the humanitarian order and the report of the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues;

3. Invites Governments to make available to the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, information and expertise on humanitarian issues of concern to them in order to identify opportunities for future action;

4. Calls upon Governments, the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations further to develop international cooperation in the humanitarian field;

5. Reiterates that international cooperation in the humanitarian field will facilitate better understanding, mutual respect, confidence and tolerance among countries and peoples, thus contributing to a more just and non-violent world;

6. Invites the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues to continue and further strengthen its essential role in following up the work of the Independent Commission;

7. Encourages the international community to contribute substantially and regularly to the international humanitarian activities required to promote a new humanitarian order;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to remain in contact with Governments as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations and the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues and to report on the progress made by them to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session;

9. Decides to review at its forty-ninth session the question of a new international humanitarian order.

89th plenary meeting
16 December 1992



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