As far as we know, there are no formal rules on how a decision or resolution should be structured and what topics are appropriate for each. The following principles have evolved over time and appear to be the Sub-Commission's present practice regarding such matters. If there are any corrections please let us know.
Last revised: 24 July 2004
The "decision" format is used for brief administrative type decisions that do not have financial or program implications and are within the full authority of the Sub-Commission to decide. For example, every year there are decisions adopted by the Sub-Commission on the composition of its standing working groups, and requests of various members to prepare working papers which will not have financial implications to the UN's staffing or support resources.
The resolution format is usually longer in style, involving two parts -- an introductory or "preambular" section and a recommendation section (called the "operative" paragraphs). In negotiating and debating draft resolutions these sections are often called "preambular paragraphs" (PPs) and "operative paragraphs" (OPs).
Resolutions are necessary when new studies are to be launched, surveys or questionaires are to be sent to governments, or other actions are proposed that will require Commission and/or ECOSOC approval before they can be implemented.
It is sometimes not obvious whether a particular action should be a decision or a resolution.
Where a specific decision or resolution is being sought from the Commission or from ECOSOC, the Sub-Commission's draft resolution is structured as one or more "nested" resolutions inside one another. For example when the Sub-Commission was requesting that its Social Forum be created and permitted to hold an annual two day meeting before the Sub-Commission's session, the draft resolution was structured as follows:
The Sub-Commission ...
[Several preambular paragraphs]...
1. Decides to hold in Geneva a pre-sessional or inter-sessional forum ...
2. Requests the Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council to endorse the holding of the Social Forum;
3. Recommends the following draft decision to the Commission on Human Rights for adoption:
"The Commission on Human rights...decides to approve the decision contained in [the Sub-Commission's resolution] and recommends the following draft decision to the Economic and Social Council for adoption:
'The Economic and Social Council decides to authorize the Sub-Commission ...to convene...'"
Deadlines each year are set by the Bureau of the Sub-Commission under each agenda item. Announcements are made from time to time during the Sub-Commission's session on these deadlines, as well as on any extensions to the previously announced deadlines.
Voting is usually by consensus, although votes by a show of hands, roll call votes, and voting by secret ballots are all permitted under the Sub-Commission's current rules. In 2003 all resolutions adopted by the Sub-Commission were by consensus. Sponsors of each resolution try to refine the text of their resolution during the negotiation process in order to meet any objections of the members so that a consensus text can be achieved. In the last couple of years, time is usually taken for private meetings of the experts toward the end of the session in order to work through these textual issues.
Sometimes members explain during the public debate that they do not wish to break the consensus but if a vote is called under this resolution, they will vote "no" or "abstain" because of their concerns over a particular portion of the text.
Explanations of vote are normally reserved until after all voting on a particular agenda item is closed. Members who sponsored or co-sponsored a particular resolution are not permitted to offer an explanation of their vote.