The seven-number Committee on Communications, appointed last year by the UN Human Rights Commission, met for the first time yesterday to begin its study of procedures for dealing with communications alleging violations of human rights. The committee is composed of the representatives of Argentina, India, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, the Philippines and the Ukraine.
Here, shortly before today's meeting got under way, Mr. Hortencio J. Brillantes (Philippines) Chairman-Rapporteur of th Committee, is seen at left, exchanging views with Mr. Georges Hakim (Lebanon), at right, and Mr. Munir Kreidie (also of Lebanon-Adviser), in back.

The Conference focused on a wide range of human rights issues. With the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the Conference called on Governements to promote and guarantee all human rights and made recommendations to strengthen the methods and mechanisms used by the United Nations in the field of human rights. The Conference was the first of its kind in 25 years and included 171 Members States and 1,000 non-governmental organizations.
Shimon Peres, Foreign Minister of Israel (second from left), addresses correspondents at Vienna Conference Centre during a press briefing on the situation in the Middle East.