General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

15 December 1983

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                                   A/RES/38/78
                                                   15 December 1983
                                                   Meeting no. 98
 
                     Effects of atomic radiation
 
     The General Assembly,
 
     Recalling its resolution 913 (X) of 3 December 1955, by which it
established the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic
Radiation, and its subsequent resolutions on the subject, including resolution
37/87 of 10 December 1982, by which the Assembly, inter alia, requested the
Scientific Committee to continue its work,
 
     Taking note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations
Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation,
 
     Reaffirming the desirability of the Scientific Committee continuing its
work,
 
     Concerned about the potentially harmful effects on present and future
generations, resulting from the levels of radiation to which man is exposed,
 
     Conscious of the continued need to examine and compile information about
atomic and ionizing radiation and to analyse its effects on man and his
environment,
 
     Taking note of the decision of the Scientific Committee to submit shorter
reports with scientific supporting documents on the specialized topics
mentioned in its report, as soon as the relevant studies are completed,
 
     1.   Commends the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of
Atomic Radiation for the valuable contribution it has been making in the
course of the past twenty-eight years, since its inception, to wider knowledge
and understanding of the levels, effects and risks of atomic radiation and for
fulfilling its original mandate with scientific authority and independence of
judgement;
 
     2.   Notes with satisfaction the continued and growing scientific
co-operation between the Scientific Committee and the United Nations
Environment Programme;
 
     3.   Requests the Scientific Committee to continue its work, including
its important co-ordinating activities, to increase knowledge of the levels,
effects and risks of ionizing radiation from all sources;
 
     4.   Endorses the Scientific Committee's intentions and plans for its
future activities of scientific review and assessment on behalf of the General
Assembly;
 
     5.   Requests the Scientific Committee to continue the review at its next
session of important problems in the field of radiation and to report thereon
to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session;
 
     6.   Requests the United Nations Environment Programme to continue
providing support for the effective conduct of the Scientific Committee's work
and for the dissemination of its findings to the General Assembly, the
scientific community and the public;
 
     7.   Expresses its appreciation for the assistance rendered to the
Scientific Committee by Member States, the specialized agencies, the
International Atomic Energy Agency and non-governmental organizations, and
invites them to increase their co-operation in this field;
 
     8.   Invites Member States and the organizations of the United Nations
system and non-governmental organizations concerned to provide further
relevant data about doses, effects and risks from various sources of
radiation, which would greatly help in the preparation of the Scientific
Committee's future reports to the General Assembly.