THE ARTICLE REPORTS ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 40TH SESSION OF THE SUB-COMMISSION ON PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECTION OF MINORITIES. IT DESCRIBES THE SIGNIFICANT WORK OF THE SUB-COMMISSION DURING ITS 1988 SESSION INCLUDING: PROTECTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF ONE OF ITS FORMER MEMBERS; RESOLUTIONS REGARD GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN SPECIFIC COUNTRIES; PROPOSED REFORM OF THE PROCEDURE OF COUNTRY VIOLATIONS; STUDIES AND REPORTS ON SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES; AND NEW INITIATIVES. THE ARTICLE ALSO EXAMINES SOME OF THE CENTRAL QUESTIONS POSED BY OBSERVERS AND MEMBERS OF THE SUB-COMMISSION INCLUDING; DOES THE SUB-COMMISSION MAKE A UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS WORK? DO THE MEMBERS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE TRULY ENJOY INDEPENDENCE FROM THE GOVERNMENTS WHO NOMINATE THEM?