Security Council Resolution 473 (1980) [Calling upon South Africa to Take Measures to Eliminate the Policy of Apartheid and Grant to All South African Citizens Equal Rights]

S/RES/473(1980)View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the Security Council, published in 1980.

What subjects does this mandate have?

8 subjects

Apartheid Arms Embargo Civil and Political Rights Human Rights Political Prisoners Political Violence Prisoner Treatment South Africa

What’s in this document?

17 operative paragraphs

Strongly condemns the racist regime of South Africa for further aggravating the situation and its massive repression against all opponents of apartheid, for killings of peaceful demonstrators and political detainees and for its defiance of General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, in particular resolution 417 (1977);

Expresses its profound sympathy with the victims of this violence;

Reaffirms that the policy of apartheid is a crime against the conscience and dignity of mankind and is incompatible with the rights and dignity of man, the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and seriously disturbs international peace and security;

Recognizes the legitimacy of the struggle of the South African people for the elimination of apartheid and for the establishment of a democratic society in which all the people of South Africa as a whole, irrespective of race, colour, or creed, will enjoy equal and full political .and other rights and participate freely in the determination of their destiny;

Calls upon the Government of South Africa urgently to end violence against the African people and to take urgent measures to eliminate apartheid;

Expresses its hope that the inevitable change in the racial policies of South Africa can be attained through peaceful means and declares, however, that the violence and repression by the South African racist regime and its continuing denial of equal human and political rights to the great majority of the South African people greatly aggravate the situation in South Africa and will certainly lead to violent conflict and racial conflagration with serious international repercussions and the further isolation and estrangement of South Africa;

Calls upon the South African regime to take measures immediately to eliminate the policy of apartheid and grant to all South African citizens equal rights, including equal political rights, and a full and free voice in the determination of their destiny; these measures should include:

Granting of an unconditional amnesty to all persons imprisoned, restricted or exiled for their opposition to apartheid;

Cessation forthwith of its indiscriminate violence against peaceful demonstrators against apartheid, murders in detention and torture of political prisoners;

Abrogation of the bans on political parties and organizations and the news media opposed to apartheid:

Termination of all political trials:

Provision of equal education opportunities to all South Africans;

Urgently calls upon the South African regime to release all political prisoners. including Nelson Mandela and all other black leaders with whom it must deal in any meaningful discussion of the future of the country;

Demands that the South African racist regime should refrain from committing further military acts and subversion against independent African States:

Calls upon all States strictly and scrupulously 10. to implement resolution 418 (1977) and enact, as appropriate, effective national legislation for that purpose;

Requests the Security Council Committee established by resolution 421 ( 1977) concerning the question of South Africa, in pursuance of resolution 418 (1977), to redouble its efforts to secure full implementation of the arms embargo against South Africa by recommending by 15 September 1980 measures to close all loop-holes in the arms embargo. reinforce and make it more comprehensive;

Requests the Secretary-General to report by 15 September 1980 on the implementation of the present resolution;

Decides to remain seized of the question and to consider the situation again not later than 30 September 1980.

Decision In a note dated 15 September 1980,68 the President of the Council stated that the Chairman of the Security Council Committee established by resolution 421 (1977) concerning the question of South Africa had informed him that, in view of the fact that the Committee was still engaged in the task of finalizing its report, it would be difficult for it to report to the Council by 15 September 1980, as called for in paragraph 11 of resolution 473 (1980), and that the Committee requested an extension of the time-limit for submission of its report to 19 September. The President added that, after informal consultations on the matter, it had been found that no member of the Council had any objection to the request of the Committee.

of 13 June 1980 65 See Official Records of the Security Council. Thirty-fifth Year, Supplement for April, May and June 1980.

(e) Adopted 111wni11101/\lr 11t tlu- 223/sr meetinR 67 Official Records of the Security Council, Thirty-fifth Year.

••Ibid., Supplement }<H .Jul_v, August and September 1980, docu- Supplement for April, May and June 1980, document S/13869.

ment S/14166.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

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