United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, published in 1984.

What subjects does this mandate have?

9 subjects

Budget Contributions Cooperation Between Organizations Guidelines Information Dissemination International Decades Non-Governmental Organizations Persons with Disabilities Programmes of Action Recruitment

What’s in this document?

13 operative paragraphs

Notes with appreciation the activities relating to the implementation of the World Programme of Action undertaken by the United Nations system and by relevant non-governmental organizations;

Urges Member States to make every effort to attain the objectives of the World Programme of Action in co operation with non-governmental organizations concerned and to involve disabled persons in planning and decision making related to the implementation of the Programme;

Invites Member States as a matter of priority to reinforce or establish national committees or similar bodies for the Decade at the highest level with participa tion of organizations of disabled persons to plan, co ordinate and encourage the execution of activities in sup port of the objectives of the Decade at the national and local levels;

Requests the Secretary-General to elaborate the guidelines for priority actions during the Decade based on his report to the current session56 and on the replies received from Member States and organizations including those of disabled persons;

Reiterates its request that the Secretary-General strengthen the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat through a realloca tion of existing resources to enable the Centre to continue to serve as the focal point in the field of disability, particu larly for purposes of paragraph 5 above;

Requests the Secretary-General and relevant organi zations of the United Nations system to develop specific programmes to publicize the Decade and the goals of the World Programme of Action, and invites Member States and non-governmental organizations to assist in this undertaking;

Invites Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organiza tions to make available resources in the form offunds and personnel for the purpose of planning, managing and financing the Decade at the national, regional and inter regional levels;

Urges all organizations of the United Nations sys tem to take into consideration the interests of disabled per-

sons as well as the effective implementation of the World national law of the practice of torture and other cruel, Programme of Action in the pursuance of their overall inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, objectives in their respective areas of competence;

I. Expresses its appreciation for the work achieved by

Decides that, pending completion of the elabora the Commission on Human Rights in preparing the text of tion and the adoption of the guidelines referred to in para a draft convention against torture and other cruel, inhu graph 5 above, the United Nations Trust Fund for the man or degrading treatment or punishment; International Year of Disabled Persons should continue to

Adopts and opens for signature, ratification and support activities in accordance with paragraph 15 7 of the accession the Convention against Torture and Other Cru World Programme of Action53 and paragraph 4 of General el, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment con Assembly resolution 38/28;

tained in the annex to the present resolution;

Calls upon Member States and other donors to

Calls upon all Governments to consider signing and continue to contribute generously to the Trust Fund;

ratifying the Convention as a matter of priority.

Requests the Secretary-General to promote the

51 See Report of the lnternatwna/ Conference on Population. /984, Mexico 49 See Report on the World Assembly on Aging, Vienna, 26 July-6 August 198:Z (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.82.1.16), chap. VI, sect. A.

City. 6-14 August /984 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.84.XIIl.8 SO Previously known as the United Nations Trust Fund for the World and corrigenda). chap. I, sect H Assembly on Aging.

52 A/39/14 7.

53 A/37 • 3511 Add. I and Add I •Corr. I. annex. sect. VIII, recommenda110n I (IV)

s4 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1984, Supple SS E/CN.4/Sub.2/1984 L.24. ment No. 4 (E/1984/14 and Corr.I), chap. II, sect. A.

56 A/39/ I 9 I and Corr. I

VI.

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,

Inhuman or Devadlng Treatment or Punishment The States Parties to this Convention,

Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

Recognizing that those rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person,

Considering the obligation of States under the Charter. in particular Arti cle 55. to promote universal respect for, and observance of. human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Having regard to article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights58 and article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 59 both of which provide that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,

Having regard also to the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the General Assembly on 9 Decem ber 1975,60

Desiring to make more effective the struggle against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment throughout thr world,

Have agreed as follows:

PART I

Article I

L For the purposes of this Convention, the term "torture" means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is inten tionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed. or intim idating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on dis crimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffer ing arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.

This article is without prejudice to any international instrument or national legislation which does or may contain provisions of wider applicauon.

Article 2

I. Each State Party shall take effective legislative, administrative, Judi cial or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction.

No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency. may be invoked as a justification of torture.

An order from a superior officer or a public authority may not be mvoked as a justification of torture.

57 E/CN.4/1984172.

59 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 58 Resolution 217 A (Ill).

60 Resolution 3452 (XXX\. annex.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

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