9 November 1981

49th plenary meeting

Arbitrary or summary executions

The General Assembly,

Having regard to the provisions bearing on capital punishment in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, particularly its articles 6, 14 and 15, Recalling its resolution 2393 (XXIII) of 26 November 1968, in which it invited Governments of Member States, inter alia, to ensure the most careful legal procedures and the greatest possible safeguards for the accused in capital cases in countries where the death penalty obtained,

Recalling also its resolution 35/172 of 15 December 1980 on arbitrary or summary executions,

Bearing in mind its resolution 35/171 of 15 December 1980, in which it, inter alia, endorsed the Caracas Declaration adopted by consensus at the Sixth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,

1. Condemns the practice of summary executions and arbitrary executions;

2. Strongly deplores the increasing number of summary executions as well as the continued incidence of arbitrary executions in different parts of the world;

3. Notes with concern the occurrence of executions that are widely regarded as being politically motivated;

4. Urges all States concerned to respect the minimum standard of legal safeguards referred to in paragraph 1 (a) of General Assembly resolution 35/172;

5. Again requests the Secretary-General to use his best endeavours in cases where this minimum standard of legal safeguards appears not to be respected;

6. Invites Member States, specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council to answer the Secretary-General's request for their views and observations concerning the problem of arbitrary executions and summary executions;

7. Requests the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control to examine the problem of arbitrary executions and summary executions at its seventh session with a view to making recommendations.