UN Humanitarian Resolutions

This section is a compilation of resolutions (from 1998 to present) of the major UN Organs (General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council) that are specifically concerned with humanitarian issues. These resolutions are available in all official UN languages.

United Nations resolutions are formal expressions of the opinion or will of United Nations organs. They generally consist of two clearly defined sections: a preamble and an operative part. The preamble generally presents the considerations on the basis of which action is taken, an opinion expressed or a directive given. The operative part states the opinion of the organ or the action to be taken.

In 2008 OCHA commissioned a project to analyse the normative developments in humanitarian assistance including coordination through analysing the relevant legislation of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council, since 1991. The project has produced three products: a matrix which provides a compilation of agreed language; the reference guide summarising normative developments; and an analysis by the lead consultant (Edward Tsui) on factors influencing these normative developments.
 

		Since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 46/182 in 1991, the intergovernmental legislative framework has expanded considerably, reflecting both the broadening of the humanitarian endeavor and the UN’s concerted response to the changing environment in which assistance is provided. This legislative matrix of Intergovernmental Decisions on Humanitarian Assistance, a compilation of all the relevant language from General Assembly (GA), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Security Council (SC) resolutions, adopted since 46/182, captures the policy and normative advancements since 46/182 into a reference tool and aide-memoire for use by the UN and its Member States. [Click here or on the image to download the Compilation in PDF format]
		The Reference Guide for United Nations Intergovernmental Decisions on Humanitarian Assistance, drawn from the matrix of United Nations Intergovernmental Decisions on Humanitarian Assistance, is intended to provide a concise analytical overview of the key policy decisions of the principal United Nations intergovernmental bodies, namely the General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, and the Security Council. [Click here or on the image to download the Reference Guide in PDF format]
		An Analysis of normative developments in humanitarian resolutions since the adoption of 46/182 has been conducted by the lead consultant, Edward Tsui, former Director of OCHA-New York. [Click here or on the image to download the Analysis in PDF format]

Research Guide and information
Below are some other, useful UN web sites that provide additional and detailed information on UN resolutions and other resources.

Resolutions from 1946 – present. Online research on General Assembly, ECOSOC and Security Council resolutions from the 1st session (1946) onwards can be conducted in UNBISnet, the UN Documentation Centre and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).

Conventions, Declarations and Other Instruments found in General Assembly Resolutions (1946 onwards) – Full Text

Research Guide : Quick Links. A guide to UN information resources from the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library.

A guide to the numbering system used for the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, Security Council and ECOSOC.