had been able to act in several cases that the Commission could not address because of the strategic alliances of the countries involved. Such resolutions as those on China and East Timor had however been directed at public opinion rather than the Commission. 64. The Sub-Commission's role in appealing directly in such cases to public opin1on was a critical element in maintaining the objectivity and credibility of the United Nations human rights system as a whole. On the other hand, focusing on publicizing a few cases each year could divert attention from human rights problems elsewhere in the world, particularly those which had not yet reached the same scale or levels of violence. 65. Relatively little attention had been given to non-judgemental forms of United Nations involvement, in resolving emergency situations, such as good offices, contacts, mediation, informal reviews or dialogue with Governments and technical assistance. Such measures could be highly effective at the very earliest stages of a problem before the cycle of repression and counter-violence had set in. To function effectively, such non-judgemental mechanisms must be triggered swiftly, without exhaustive preliminary studies. They must remain highly flexible and adapted to the circumstances of each situation. They must involve ongoing, informal supervision by the Sub-Commission. The Sub-Commission's swift and informal action in regard to the situation of the Mohawk Indians in Canada had so far helped prevent violence and represented an example of a future direction which the Sub-Commission might wish to take. 66. It was also worth considering the work of the Special Committee on the Charter of t~e United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the E/CN.4/Sub.2/1990/SR.l4 page 13 Organization which had been preparing guidelines for the peaceful resolution of international disputes and for the conduct of good offices, fact-finding and mediation missions. A parallel set of procedures for situations involving 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the role of the Sub-Commission in addressing human rights issues and preventing violence in various situations. It highlights the importance of swift and informal action, as well as non-judgmental forms of involvement, such as good offices, mediation, and technical assistance. The text also mentions the work of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations, which is preparing guidelines for the peaceful resolution of international disputes. This suggests that the text is focused on international relations and human rights, rather than economic development or other specific areas.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Human rights