28th plenary meeting

7 May 1982

Summary or arbitrary executions

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to life, liberty and security of person,

Having regard to the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in which it is stated that every human being has the inherent right to life, that this right shall be protected by law and that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 34/175 of 17 December 1979, in which the Assembly reaffirmed that mass and flagrant violations of human rights are of special concern to the United Nations and urged the Commission on Human Rights to take timely and effective action in existing and future cases of mass and flagrant violations of human rights,

Further recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 8 (XXIII) of 16 March 1967 concerning the question of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world,

Mindful of General Assembly resolution 36/22 of 9 November 1981, in which the Assembly condemned the practice of summary executions and arbitrary executions,

Bearing in mind resolution 5 on extra-legal executions of the Sixth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,

Deeply alarmed about the occurrence of summary or arbitrary executions, including extra-legal executions, that are widely regarded as being politically motivated,

Convinced of the need to deal urgently with the question of summary or arbitrary executions,

1. Strongly deplores the increasing number of summary or arbitrary executions taking place in various parts of the world;

2. Decides, therefore, to appoint for one year a special rapporteur to examine the questions related to summary or arbitrary executions;

3. Requests the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, after consultations within the Bureau, to appoint an individual of recognized international standing as special rapporteur;

4. Considers that the special rapporteur in carrying out his mandate may seek and receive information from Governments as well as specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council;

5. Requests the special rapporteur to submit a comprehensive report to the Commission on Human Rights at its thirty-ninth session on the occurrence and extent of the practice of such executions together with his conclusions and recommendations;

6. Urges all Governments to co-operate with and assist the special rapporteur in the preparation of his report;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary assistance to the special rapporteur;

8. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to consider the question of summary or arbitrary executions as a matter of high priority at its thirty-ninth session under the agenda item entitled "Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world, with particular reference to colonial and other dependent countries and territories".