At its 37th meeting, on 28 August 1997, the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, recalling its decision 1996/107 of 20 August 1996, affirming once again the need to respect the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and the relevant provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the two Additional Protocols thereto and recalling also the Declaration of Minimum Humanitarian Standards contained in document E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/55, noted with concern the delay in the supply of food and medicines to Iraq reported by several United Nations bodies and that this failure to implement the agreement between Iraq and the United Nations under the terms of Security Council resolution 986 (1995) of 14 April 1995 was, moreover, recently confirmed by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, who has undertaken to continue his efforts to improve humanitarian supplies.

Bearing in mind the right of every person to sufficient food and to basic health care, the Sub-Commission considered that the embargo still in force was seriously jeopardizing the health and nutritional state of the civilian population of Iraq, especially children, women and the most underprivileged sectors of the population.

Considering that measures such as embargoes should be limited in time and should be lifted, even though the legitimate objectives of the measures have not yet been attained, the Sub-Commission decided, without a vote, to appeal once again to the international community and to all Governments, including that of Iraq, to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi population, in particular by facilitating the supply of food and medicines to meet the needs of the civilian population.