16 December 1981

Measures to be taken against Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist activities and all other forms of totalitarian ideologies and practices based on racial intolerance, hatred and terror

The General Assembly,

Recalling that the United Nations emerged from the struggle against nazism, fascism, aggression and foreign occupation, and that the peoples expressed their resolve in the Charter of the United Nations to save future generations from the scourge of war,

Bearing in mind the suffering, destruction and death of millions of victims of aggression, foreign occupation, nazism and fascism, Reaffirming the purposes and principles laid down in the Charter, which are aimed at maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and achieving international co-operation,

Emphasizing that all totalitarian or other ideologies and practices, in particular Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist, based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred, terror, systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, or which have such consequences, may jeopardize world peace and constitute obstacles to friendly relations between States and to the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Reaffirming that the prosecution and punishment of war crimes and crimes against peace and humanity, as laid down in General Assembly resolutions 3 (I) of 13 February 1946 and 95 (I) of 11 December 1946, constitute a universal commitment for all States,

Recalling its resolutions 2331 (XXII) of 18 December 1967, 2438 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968, 2545 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969, 2713 (XXV) of 15 December 1970, 2839 (XXVI) of 18 December 1971, 34/24 of 15 November 1979 and 35/200 of 15 December 1980,

Recalling also the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,

Underlining the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and other relevant international

instruments,

Reaffirming that all totalitarian or other ideologies and practices, in particular Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist, based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred, terror, systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, or which have such consequences, are incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and other relevant international instruments,

Commending the fact that a number of States provided the Secretary-General with their comments on those problems discussed in the report of the Secretary-General,

Acknowledging the fact that a number of States have set up legal regulations which are suited to prevent the activities of Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist groups and organizations,

Welcoming Commission on Human Rights resolution 3 (XXXVII) of 23 February 1981 providing measures on this subject, including the consideration of elaborating a draft declaration,

Noting with deep concern that the proponents of Fascist ideologies have, in a number of countries, intensified their activities and are increasingly co-ordinating them on an international scale,

1. Again condemns all totalitarian or other ideologies and practices, in particular Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist, based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred, terror, systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, or which have such consequences;

2. Urges all States to draw attention to the threats to democratic institutions by the above-mentioned ideologies and practices and to consider taking measures, in accordance with their national constitutional systems and with the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights, to prohibit or otherwise deter activities by groups or organizations or whoever is practicing those ideologies;

3. Calls upon the appropriate specialized agencies as well as intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations to initiate or intensify measures against the ideologies and practices described in paragraph 1 above;

4. Invites Member States to adopt, in accordance with their national constitutional systems and with the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights, as a matter of high priority, measures declaring punishable by law any dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred and of war propaganda, including Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist ideologies;

5. Appeals to all States which have not yet done so to ratify or to accede to the International Covenants on Human Rights, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, and the Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid;

6. Calls once again upon all States to provide the Secretary-General with their comments on this question;

7. Requests the Commission on Human rights to continue the consideration of this subject at its thirty-eighth session under the title: "Measures to be taken against all totalitarian or other ideologies and practices, including Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist, based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred, terror, systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms, or which have such consequences";

8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session in the light of the discussion that would take place in the Commission on Human Rights and on the basis of comments provided by States and international organizations.