Report of the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on the Treatment of Political Prisoners in South Africa

A/RES/2440(XXIII)View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, published in 1969.

What subjects does this mandate have?

5 subjects

Apartheid Detained Persons Political Prisoners South Africa Torture and Other Cruel Treatment

What’s in this document?

14 operative paragraphs

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Having considered the recommen<lations contained in Economic and Social Council resolution 1333 (XLIV) of 31 May 1968,

Recallinr¡ its resolution 2144 A (XXI) of 26 October 1966 on the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freecloms, including policies of racial discrimination an<l segregation ami of apartheid, in ali countries, with particular ref erence to colonial and other clepenclent countries an<l territories, and its resolution 2307 (XXII) of 13 Decemher 1967 on the policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa,

Gravely co11cerncd at the eviclence, in the report25 of the Ad Hoc Working Gronp of Experts estahlishe<l under resolution 2 (XXIII) of 6 l\larch 1967 of the Commission on Human Rights.26 of the intensification of inhuman practices by the Government of South Africa against the opponents of the policies of apartheid,

Determined to protect human rights ancl fundamental freedoms an<l <lesirous of an urgent ami immediate end to violations of human rights ami fnndamental freedoms in South A frica,

Reaffirins its recognition of the legitimacy of the struggle by the opponents of apartheid to realize their human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Condenms any and every practice of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees and prisoners in South African prisons and in South African police custo<ly during interrogation and detention, as indicated in the report of the Ad Hoc Working (;roup of Experts established under resolution 2 (XXIII) of the Commission on Human Rights;

Ca/ls u pon the Government of Sot1th Af rica:

To initiate investigations i11to the violations mentione<l in the report of the Ad lloc \Vorking Group of Experts with a view to establishing the degree of responsibility of the persons listed in appcn<lix [ 1 to chapter VII of the report, for the pt1rpose of punishing tbem accordingly ;

( /1) To affor<l the opport1111ity to all persons who have suffered damage tu receive inclemnification;

To aholish the 180-clav law ami the Terrorism Act, under which opponents ¡;f the policies of af>artheid are detained without charge or tria!, as well as the Suppression of Comnn111is111 :\et, the Sahota"c Act ami si:nil'.1r laws, a1:cl al~o to refrain from incor¡~rating the prmc1ples contamed 111 these laws into other laws;

( d) To release immediately l\f r. Robert Soht1kwe;

To release immecliately all other political prisoners ancl ali persous hekl for their opposition to the policies of apartheid. whether in ¡,rison or police detention;

25 E/CN.4/950.

26 See Official Rccords of tite Economic and Social Council Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 6 (E/4322 and Corr.l): para. 268.

Rcquests Member States to encourage the giving of the maximum publicity to the report of the Ad H oc Working Group of Experts within their territories;

Calls upon the Government of South Africa to report to the Secretary-General on the measures taken or envisaged in accordance with paragraph 3 above;

Requests the Secretary-General :

To take steps to draw the widest possible public attention to the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts;

( b) To report to the General Assembly at its twentyfourth session 011 the implementation of the present resolution.

17 48th plenary meeting,

19 December 1968.

2441 (XXIII), lnternational Year for Human Rights

Thc General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 1961 (XVIII) of 12 Decemher 1963 designating the year 1968 as International Year for Human Rights,

Rccalling also its resolutions 2081 (XX) of 20 December 1965, 2217 (XXI) of 19 December 1966 and 2339 (XXII) of 18 December 1967,

Having considcrcd the report of the Secretarv-General on the measures and activities undertaken 'by the Mem1?er Sta.tes, 1:Jnited N ations organs, specialized agencies, reg10nal mtergovernmental organizations and national and international organizations concerned in connexion with the International Year for Human Rights,27

Believing that, despite the violations of human rights that ha".e occurred and continue to occur during the Internat1onal Year for Human Rights, many of these measures and activities have contributed to the pron~otion of universal respect for ami observance of human nghts and fundamental freedoms for ali without clistinction as to race, sex, language or religion,

E:i:presses its appreciation to the Meml~r States ~nited Nations organs, specialized agencies, regionaÍ mtergovernmental organizations and national and international organizations concerned for their efforts and undertakings in connexion with the International Y ear for Human Rights, in particular in giving effect to the measures set out in the annexes to General Assembly resolutions 2081 (XX) and 2217 A (XXI);

Further ex¡,resses its ap¡,reciation to the Member S!ates, ~nited N ations organs, specializecl agencies, reg1onal mtergovernmental organizations and national and international organizations concernecl that have kept the Secretary-General informecl of their efforts and unclertakings in connexion with the International Year for Human Rights aml invites them to continue to supply as nmch relevan! information as possible to the Secretary-General to enahle him to prepare a final report 01~ the International Year for Human Rights to he suh1111tted to the General Assemhly at its twentyfourth session, as provided for in General Assembly resolution 2339 (XXII);

Invites Member States ~o consicler prolonging, after the end of the I nternat1onal Year for Human Rights and as appropriate, such activities unclertaken during the lnternational Y ear as would continue to be

27 A/7195 and Add.1-9. Reeolutlona adopted on the reporta of the Third Committee

helpful in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms ;

Considers that the newsletter on the International Year for Human Rights prepared by the Secretary- General has been of value and requests the Secretary- General to continue to issue from time to time an appropriate bulletin containing information on the activities of the United Nations and of the specialized agenci~s in the_ field of human rights an~ a bibliography of Umtecl Nauons documents and pubhcations on that subject.

19 Decem.ber 1968.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

2441 (XXIII), lnternational Year for Human Rights

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