19 May 1986

15th plenary meeting

Activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia and follow-up to the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons established to conduct the public hearings on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolutions on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia, in particular resolution 1981/86 of 2 November 1981, in which it requested the Secretary-General to make arrangements for the organization of public hearings on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia,

Recalling further its resolution 1985/72 of 26 July 1985, in which it invited all States, non-governmental organizations and all transnational corporations operating in South Africa and Namibia to co-operate with the United Nations so as to facilitate the conduct of the hearings,

Noting with grave concern the deterioration of the situation in South Africa as evidenced by the recent increased brutality, indiscriminate killings and mass arrest of innocent persons, including children, by the authorities of the racist minority regime,

Concerned that some Governments of home countries of transnational corporations operating in southern Africa have not taken effective measures at the national level which respond directly to the concerns of the international community to prevent collaboration by transnational corporations with the racist minority regime in southern Africa,

1. Condemns the racist minority regime of South Africa and its brutal perpetuation of the inhuman system of apartheid and the illegal occupation of Namibia;

2. Expresses its appreciation to the Panel of Eminent Persons established to conduct the public hearings on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia for the fair, objective and balanced manner in which it conducted the hearings;

3. Welcomes and endorses the report and recommendations of the Panel of Eminent Persons as a reassuring step in the right direction towards the eradication of apartheid and the termination of the illegal occupation of Namibia by South Africa;

4. Welcomes as an initial positive step the measures taken by certain home countries of transnational corporations to place restrictions on further investments in South Africa and on bank loans to the racist minority regime;

5. Strongly condemns those transnational corporations that continue to collaborate with South Africa in the nuclear, military and economic fields, in violation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly;

6. Reiterates that the continued activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia and their collaboration with the racist regime of Pretoria perpetuates the system of apartheid and the illegal occupation of Namibia;

7. Reaffirms that to eliminate apartheid and to terminate the illegal occupation of Namibia by the racist regime will require an effective, concerted programme of international action, endorsed by the whole international community, pursued in a systematic manner by Governments and other concerned bodies, and supported by monitoring and follow-up activities;

8. Urges all States, United Nations organizations, organs and bodies, non-governmental organizations and transnational corporations, banks and financial institutions to implement the recommendations made by the Panel of Eminent Persons with a view to contributing more effectively to the abolition of apartheid and the termination of the illegal occupation of Namibia in the light of the January 1987 deadline proposed by the Panel;

9. Decides that the present resolution should serve as an input for the World Conference on Sanctions against Racist South Africa to be held in Paris from 16 to 20 June 1986;

10. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To take all necessary steps to ensure the effective and urgent co-ordination and implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Panel;

(b) To report on an annual basis to the Commission on Transnational Corporations, the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and the Security Council on the implementation of the present resolution, until the abolition of apartheid and the termination of South Africa's illegal occupation of Namibia have been achieved;

11. Also requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To continue the useful work of the Secretariat on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia through the collection and dissemination of information;

(b) To provide more detailed information on the profiles of transnational corporations operating in South Africa and Namibia;

(c) To update, for submission to the Commission on Transnational Corporations at its thirteenth session, the reports of the Secretary-General on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia and the collaboration of such corporations with the racist minority regime in that area; and on the responsibilities of home countries with respect to the transnational corporations operating in South Africa and Namibia in violation of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations.