Resolution 54/72
(December 6, 1999)
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 212 (III) of 19 November 1948 on
assistance to Palestine refugees,
Recalling also its resolutions 35/13 B of 3 November 1980,
36/146 H of 16 December 1981, 37/120 D of 16 December 1982, 38/83 D
of 15 December 1983, 39/99 D of 14 December 1984, 40/165 D of 16
December 1985, 41/69 D of 3 December 1986, 42/69 D of 2 December
1987, 43/57 D of 6 December 1988, 44/47 D of 8 December 1989, 45/73 D
of 11 December 1990, 46/46 D of 9 December 1991, 47/69 D of 14
December 1992, 48/40 D of 10 December 1993, 49/35 D of 9 December
1994, 50/28 D of 6 December 1995, 51/127 of 13 December 1996, 52/60
of 10 December 1997 and 53/49 of 3 December 1998,
Cognizant of the fact that the Palestine refugees have, for
the last five decades, lost their homes, lands and means of
livelihood,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General, 1/
Having also considered the report of the Commissioner-General
of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June
1999, 2/
1. Urges all States to respond to the appeal in its resolution
32/90 F of 13 December 1977 and reiterated in subsequent relevant
resolutions in a manner commensurate with the needs of Palestine
refugees for higher education, including vocational training;
2. Strongly appeals to all States, specialized agencies and
non-governmental organizations to augment the special allocations for
grants and scholarships to Palestine refugees, in addition to their
contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East;
3. Expresses its appreciation to all Governments, specialized
agencies and non-governmental organizations that responded favourably
to its resolutions on this question;
4. Invites the relevant specialized agencies and other
organizations of the United Nations system to continue, within their
respective spheres of competence, to extend assistance for higher
education to Palestine refugee students;
5. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and the United
Nations University to contribute generously to the Palestinian
universities in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since
1967, including, in due course, the proposed University of Jerusalem
"Al-Quds" for Palestine refugees;
6. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and other
international bodies to contribute towards the establishment of
vocational training centres for Palestine refugees;
7. Requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for
the special allocations for grants and scholarships and to award them
to qualified Palestine refugee candidates;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General
Assembly at its fifty-fifth session on the implementation of the
present resolution.
71st plenary meeting
6 December 1999
1/ A/54/376.
2/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth
Session, Supplement No. 13 and addendum (A/54/13 and Add.1).
Sources: The United Nations |