"The Commission on Human Rights has concerned itself publicly with the question of Equatorial Guinea since 1979. On 8 March 1979, at its thirty-fifth session, the Commission adopted a confidential decision whereby it discontinued consideration of the human rights situation in Equatorial Guinea under Economic and Social Council resolution 1503 (XLVIII) - the confidential procedure - and took up consideration of the question under the public procedure provided for by Commission resolution 8 (XXIII) and Council resolution 1235 (XLII). Subsequently, on 13 March 1979, the Commission adopted resolution 15 (XXXV), by which it decided to entrust to a special rapporteur of the Commission, to be appointed by its Chairman, the task of making a thorough study of the human rights situation in Equatorial Guinea. The Economic and Social Council, for its part, approved the Commission's decisions by its own decision 1979/35 of 10 May 1979, adding that the material before the Commission on the question should no longer be restricted under Council resolution 1503 (XLVIII).

The Chairman of the Commission appointed as Special Rapporteur, Mr. Fernando Volio Jiménez (Costa Rica), who submitted his first report on the human rights situation in Equatorial Guinea to the Commission at its thirty-sixth session (E/CN.4/1371 and Corr.1). In the light of that report, the Commission adopted resolution 33 (XXXVI) of 11 March 1980, whereby it decided to request the Secretary-General to appoint, as an expert in his individual capacity, a person with wide experience of the situation in Equatorial Guinea, in particular with a view to assisting the Government of that country in taking the action necessary for the full restoration of human rights and fundamental freedoms, keeping in mind the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur and the economic, political and social realities of the country. The Commission's resolution was approved by the Economic and Social Council on 2 May 1980 (decision 1980/137). The Secretary-General appointed Mr. Fernando Volio Jiménez as the Expert in his individual capacity to carry out the above task. Mr. Volio Jiménez accepted the appointment on 19 September 1980, and the Government of Equatorial Guinea indicated its concurrence on 1 October 1980.

From then on, the Expert reported annually to the Commission on Human Rights on the mishaps befalling the Plan of Action for the restoration of human rights and fundamental freedoms which he himself prepared, and which was proposed by the United Nations and accepted by the Government of Equatorial Guinea..."

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