পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৭৯২

764 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড and Pakistan is also a major component of the problem". (U.N. PRESS RELEASE, SG/SM 15162, August 1971). The Secretary-General concludes that "The time is past when the international community can continue to stand by, watching the situation deteriorate and hoping that relief programmes, humanitarian efforts and good intentions will be enough to turn the tide of human misery and potential disaster. I am deeply concerned about the possible consequences of the present situation not only in the humanitarian sense, but also as a potential threat to peace and security and for its bearing on the future of the United Nations as an effective instrument for international co-operation and action. It seems to me that the present tragic situation, in which humanitarian, economic and political problems are mixed in such a way as almost to defy any distinction between them, presents a challenge to the United Nations as a whole which must be met. Other situations of this kind may well occur in the future. If the organization faces up to such a situation now, it may be able to develop the new skin and the new strength required to face future situations of this kind". How can the submission on the prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities respond to the Secretary-General's urgent appeal? The Secretary-General has referred to the inter-relationship between the humanitarian, economic and political problems of the situation. I believe that none of these problems can be successfully resolved without the respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the peoples of East Pakistan. The sub-commission is to be commended for establishing a working group to review communications sent by individuals and groups to the U. N. alleging the violation of human rights, and for drafting the rules of admissibility of communications. This historic step will remove a serious deficiency in the United Nations machinery for the protection of human rights which has existed ever since its founding in the future persons with valid grievances against their governments will have an effective right of petition to the U. N. This machinery for the review of communications, however, will not become operative until the summer of 1972 just prior to the next session of the sub-commission. The urgency of the situation in East Pakistan as was expressed so clearly by the secretary- General requires the subcommission to take action at this session. The sub-commission can act at this Session under authority granted to it by its parent organs, the commission on human rights and the economic and Social council. The commission on human rights in resolution 8 (XXIII) of 16th March 1967 invited the sub-commission "To bring to the attention of the commission any situation which it has reasonable cause to believe reveals a consistent pattern of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in "any country, including policies of racial discrimination, segregation and apartheid, with particular reference to colonial and other dependent territories. "Furthermore, in the same resolution, the commission authorized the sub-commission in making such a recommendation to prepare a report "containing information on violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms from all available sources." The economic and social council approved these decisions by the commission in resolution 1235 (XLII) of 6th June 1967 and in addition, authorized the commission to