27 May 1983

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, which states 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 were 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,

Mindful of General Assembly resolutions 36/22 of 9 November 1981 and 37/182 of 17 December 1982, in which the Assembly condemned the practice of summary and arbitrary executions,

Bearing in mind resolution 5 of 5 September 1980 on extra-legal executions adopted by the Sixth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,

Taking note of resolutions 1982/10 and 1982/13 of 7 September 1983 of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, in which the Sub-Commission recommended that effective measures should be adopted to prevent the occurrence of summary and arbitrary executions, including extra-legal executions,

Deeply alarmed about the occurrence on a large scale of summary or arbitrary executions, including extra-legal executions,

Convinced of the need to continue to deal urgently with the question of summary or arbitrary executions, including extra-legal executions,

1. Strongly deplores, once again, the increasing number of summary or arbitrary executions, including extra-legal executions, which continue to take place in various parts of the world;

2. Appeals urgently to Governments, United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental and humanitarian organizations to take effective action to combat and eliminate summary or arbitrary executions, including extra-legal executions;

3. Takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. S. A. Wako, submitted in accordance with Council resolution 1982/35 of 7 May 1982;

4. Decides to continue the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. S. A. Wako, for another year;

5. Requests the Special Rapporteur to review his report in the light of the information received, taking particularly into account any new information, including relevant internal legislation, provided by concerned Governments as well as views expressed in the Commission on Human Rights at its thirty-ninth session and to submit a report to the Commission at its fortieth session;

6. Considers that the Special Rapporteur, in carrying out his mandate, should continue to seek and receive information from Governments, United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council;

7. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that have extended invitations to the Special Rapporteur to visit their respective countries and urges the Special Rapporteur to respond positively to such invitations;

8. Urges all Governments and all others concerned to co-operate with and assist the Special Rapporteur;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary assistance to the Special Rapporteur;

10. Decides that the Commission on Human Rights should consider the question of summary or arbitrary executions as a matter of high priority at its fortieth session under the 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".