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A/RES/64/174 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2009 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/64/439/Add.2 (Part II))] 64/174. Human rights and cultural diversity The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,0F 1 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights1F2 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 0H2 as well as other pertinent human rights instruments, Recalling also its resolutions 54/160 of 17 December 1999, 55/91 of 4 December 2000, 57/204 of 18 December 2002, 58/167 of 22 December 2003, 60/167 of 16 December 2005 and 62/155 of 18 December 2007, and recalling further its resolutions 54/113 of 10 December 1999, 55/23 of 13 November 2000 and 60/4 of 20 October 2005 concerning the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, Noting that numerous instruments within the United Nations system promote cultural diversity, as well as the conservation and development of culture, in particular the Declaration of the Principles of International Culture Cooperation proclaimed on 4 November 1966 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its fourteenth session,2F3 Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,3F4 Recalling that, as stated in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, contained in the annex to its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, States have the duty to cooperate with one another, irrespective of the differences in their political, economic and social systems, in the various spheres of international relations, in the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and in the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination and all forms of religious intolerance, _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Fourteenth Session, Paris, 1966, Resolutions. 4 A/64/160. A/RES/64/174 2 Welcoming the adoption of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations by its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001, Welcoming also the contribution of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to the promotion of respect for cultural diversity, Welcoming further the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,4F5 together with its Action Plan, 5F 6 adopted on 2 November 2001 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-first session, in which member States invited the United Nations system and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of the principles set forth in the Declaration and its Action Plan with a view to enhancing the synergy of actions in favour of cultural diversity, Taking note of the Ministerial Meeting on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran on 3 and 4 September 2007, Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, Taking into account that a culture of peace actively fosters non-violence and respect for human rights and strengthens solidarity among peoples and nations and dialogue between cultures, Recognizing that all cultures and civilizations share a common set of universal values, Recognizing also that the promotion of the rights of indigenous people and their cultures and traditions will contribute to the respect for and observance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations, Considering that tolerance of cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, _______________ 5 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October–3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum, Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 25, annex I. 6 Ibid., annex II. A/RES/64/174 3 Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, and convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity, and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, Convinced that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance towards and dialogue among various cultures and civilizations would contribute to the efforts of all peoples and nations to enrich their cultures and traditions by engaging in a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and intellectual, moral and material achievements, Acknowledging the diversity of the world, recognizing that all cultures and civilizations contribute to the enrichment of humankind, acknowledging the importance of respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity throughout the world, and, in order to promote international peace and security, committing itself to advancing human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as well as to encouraging tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples, 1. Affirms the importance for all peoples and nations to hold, develop and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions in a national and international atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual respect; 2. Welcomes the adoption on 8 September 2000 of the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 6F7 in which Member States consider, inter alia, that tolerance is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century and that it should include the active promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, with human beings respecting one another in all their diversity of belief, culture and language, neither fearing nor repressing differences within and between societies but cherishing them as a precious asset of humanity; 3. Recognizes the right of everyone to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; 4. Affirms that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 5. Expresses its determination to prevent and mitigate cultural homogenization in the context of globalization, through increased intercultural exchange guided by the promotion and protection of cultural diversity; 6. Affirms that intercultural dialogue essentially enriches the common understanding of human rights and that the benefits to be derived from the encouragement and development of international contacts and cooperation in the cultural fields are important; 7. Welcomes the recognition at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of the necessity of respecting and maximizing the benefits of diversity within and among all nations in working together to build a harmonious and productive future by putting into practice and promoting values and principles such as justice, equality and non-discrimination, democracy, fairness and friendship, tolerance and respect within _______________ 7 See resolution 55/2. A/RES/64/174 4 and among communities and nations, in particular through public information and educational programmes to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity, including programmes in which the public authorities work in partnership with international and non-governmental organizations and other sectors of civil society; 8. Recognizes that respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all enhances cultural pluralism, contributing to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural background, advancing the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights throughout the world and fostering stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; 9. Emphasizes that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance at the national, regional and international levels is important for enhancing respect for cultural rights and cultural diversity; 10. Also emphasizes that tolerance and respect for diversity facilitate the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including gender equality and the enjoyment of all human rights by all, and underlines the fact that tolerance and respect for cultural diversity and the universal promotion and protection of human rights are mutually supportive; 11. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 12. Urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic institutions so that they are more fully participatory and avoid marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 13. Calls upon States, international organizations and United Nations agencies and invites civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to recognize and promote respect for cultural diversity for the purpose of advancing the objectives of peace, development and universally accepted human rights; 14. Stresses the necessity of freely using the media and new information and communications technologies to create the conditions for a renewed dialogue among cultures and civilizations; 15. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to bear in mind fully the issues raised in the present resolution in the course of its activities for the promotion and protection of human rights; 16. Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner and invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to support initiatives aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue on human rights; 17. Urges relevant international organizations to conduct studies on how respect for cultural diversity contributes to fostering international solidarity and cooperation among all nations; 18. Requests the Secretary-General, in the light of the present resolution, to prepare a report on human rights and cultural diversity, taking into account the views of Member States, relevant United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, as well as the considerations in the present resolution regarding the A/RES/64/174 5 recognition and importance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations in the world, and to submit the report to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session; 19. Decides to continue consideration of the question at its sixty-sixth session under the sub-item entitled “Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/64/176 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2009 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/64/439/Add.3)] 64/176. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 0F1 the International Covenants on Human Rights1F2 and other international human rights instruments, Recalling its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the most recent of which is resolution 63/191 of 18 December 2008, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 63/191, 2F3 which highlights many areas of continuing concern with respect to the promotion and protection of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran and notes with particular concern negative developments in the area of civil and political rights since June 2008, and which discusses some positive achievements with respect to economic and social indicators; 2. Expresses deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran relating to, inter alia: (a) Torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including flogging and amputations; (b) The continuing high incidence and increase in the rate of executions carried out in the absence of internationally recognized safeguards, including public executions and executions of juveniles; (c) Stoning as a method of execution and persons in prison who continue to face sentences of execution by stoning, notwithstanding a circular from the head of the judiciary prohibiting stoning; _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 A/64/357. A/RES/64/176 2 (d) Arrests, violent repression and sentencing of women exercising their right to peaceful assembly, a campaign of intimidation against women’s human rights defenders, and continuing discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice; (e) Increasing discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to religious, ethnic, linguistic or other minorities, recognized or otherwise, including, inter alia, Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and their defenders, and, in particular, attacks on Baha’is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify, monitor and arbitrarily detain Baha’is, preventing members of the Baha’i faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically, and the continuing detention of seven Baha’i leaders who were arrested in March and May 2008 and faced with serious charges without adequate or timely access to legal representation; (f) Ongoing, systemic and serious restrictions of freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom of opinion and expression, including those imposed on the media, Internet users and trade unions, and increasing harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders from all sectors of Iranian society, including arrests and violent repression of labour leaders, labour members peacefully assembling and students, noting in particular the forced closure of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre and the subsequent arrest and harassment of a number of its staff; (g) Severe limitations and restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, including arbitrary arrest, indefinite detention and lengthy jail sentences for those exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief; (h) Persistent failure to uphold due process of law rights, and violation of the rights of detainees, including defendants held without charge or held incommunicado, the systematic and arbitrary use of prolonged solitary confinement, and lack of timely access to legal representation; 3. Also expresses particular concern at the response of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran following the presidential election of 12 June 2009 and the concurrent rise in human rights violations including, inter alia: (a) Harassment, intimidation and persecution, including by arbitrary arrest, detention or disappearance, of opposition members, journalists and other media representatives, bloggers, lawyers, clerics, human rights defenders, academics, students and others exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and association and freedom of opinion and expression, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries; (b) Use of violence and intimidation by Government-directed militias to forcibly disperse Iranian citizens engaged in the peaceful exercise of freedom of association, also resulting in numerous deaths and injuries; (c) Interfering in the right to a fair trial by, inter alia, holding mass trials and denying defendants access to adequate legal representation, resulting in death sentences and lengthy jail sentences for some individuals; (d) Reported use of forced confessions and abuse of prisoners including, inter alia, rape and torture; (e) Escalation in the rate of executions in the months following the election; A/RES/64/176 3 (f) Further restrictions on freedom of expression, including severe restrictions on media coverage of public demonstrations and the disruption of telecommunications and Internet technology and the forcible closure of the offices of several organizations involved in the investigation of the situation of persons imprisoned following the election; (g) Arbitrary arrest and detention of employees of foreign embassies in Tehran, thereby unduly interfering with the performance of the functions of those missions in a manner inconsistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 3F4 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations; 4F5 4. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to address the substantive concerns highlighted in the report of the Secretary-General and the specific calls to action found in previous resolutions of the General Assembly, and to respect fully its human rights obligations, in law and in practice, in particular: (a) To eliminate, in law and in practice, amputations, flogging and other forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; (b) To abolish, in law and in practice, public executions and other executions carried out in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards; (c) To abolish, pursuant to its obligations under article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 5F6 and article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 0H2 executions of persons who at the time of their offence were under the age of 18; (d) To abolish the use of stoning as a method of execution; (e) To eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination and other human rights violations against women and girls; (f) To eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to religious, ethnic, linguistic or other minorities, recognized or otherwise, to refrain from monitoring individuals on the basis of their religious beliefs, and to ensure that access of minorities to education and employment is on par with that of all Iranians; (g) To implement, inter alia, the 1996 report of the Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance, 6F7 which recommended ways in which the Islamic Republic of Iran could emancipate the Baha’i community, and also to accord the seven Baha’i leaders held since 2008 the due process of law rights they are constitutionally guaranteed, including the right to adequate legal representation and the right to a fair trial; (h) To end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, students, academics, journalists, other media representatives, bloggers, clerics and lawyers, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views, including those detained following the presidential election of 12 June 2009; _______________ 4 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 500, No. 7310. 5 Ibid., vol. 596, No. 8638. 6 Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. 7 See E/CN.4/1996/95/Add.2. A/RES/64/176 4 (i) To uphold due process of law rights, to end impunity for human rights violations, and to launch a credible, impartial and independent investigation into the allegations of post-presidential election human rights violations; 5. Further calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to redress its inadequate record of cooperation with international human rights mechanisms by, inter alia, reporting pursuant to its obligations to the treaty bodies of the instruments to which it is a party and cooperating fully with all international human rights mechanisms, and encourages the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue exploring cooperation on human rights and justice reform with the United Nations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 6. Expresses deep concern that, despite the Islamic Republic of Iran’s standing invitation to all thematic special procedures mandate holders, it has not fulfilled any requests from those special mechanisms to visit the country in four years and has not answered numerous communications from those special mechanisms, and strongly urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to fully cooperate with the special mechanisms, including facilitating their visits to its territory, so that credible and independent investigations of all allegations of human rights violations, particularly those arising since 12 June 2009, can be conducted; 7. Invites the thematic special procedures mandate holders to pay particular attention to the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, in particular the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, with a view to investigating and reporting on the various human rights violations that have arisen since 12 June 2009; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-fifth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran at its sixty-fifth session under the item entitled “Promotion and protection of human rights”. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/64/185 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 2009 [on the report of the Second Committee (A/64/416)] 64/185. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 63/201 of 19 December 2008, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2009/34 of 31 July 2009, Recalling also its resolutions 58/292 of 6 May 2004 and 59/251 of 22 December 2004, Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 0F1 to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Recalling, in this regard, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1F2 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,2 and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied Syrian Golan, _______________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. 2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. A/RES/64/185 2 Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2F3 and recalling further its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Expressing its concern at the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Expressing its grave concern at the extensive destruction by Israel, the occupying Power, of agricultural land and orchards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the uprooting of a vast number of fruit-bearing trees and the destruction of farms and greenhouses, Expressing its concern at the widespread destruction caused by Israel, the occupying Power, to vital infrastructure, including water pipelines and sewage networks, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular in the Gaza Strip in the recent period, which, inter alia, pollutes the environment and negatively affects the water supply and other natural resources of the Palestinian people, Taking note in this regard of the recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme regarding the grave environmental situation in the Gaza Strip, 3F4 and stressing the need for follow-up to the recommendations therein, Aware of the detrimental impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially as a result of the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources, and of the dire socio-economic consequences in this regard, Aware also of the detrimental impact on Palestinian natural resources being caused by the unlawful construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and of its grave effect as well on the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people, Reaffirming the need for the resumption and advancement of negotiations within the Middle East peace process, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative, 4F5 and the Quartet performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 5F6 as endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and supported by the Council in its resolution 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008, for the achievement of a final settlement on all tracks, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of settlements therein in the context of the road map, _______________ 3 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136. 4 United Nations Environment Programme, Environmental Assessment of the Gaza Strip following the Escalation of Hostilities in December 2008-January 2009 (Nairobi, 2009). 5 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. 6 See S/2003/529, annex. A/RES/64/185 3 Stressing the need for respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Taking note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan, 6F7 1. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water; 2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease the exploitation, damage, cause of loss or depletion of, or endangerment of the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 3. Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, damage, loss or depletion, or endangerment of their natural resources resulting from illegal measures taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides; 4. Stresses that the wall being constructed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, is contrary to international law and is seriously depriving the Palestinian people of their natural resources, and calls in this regard for full compliance with the legal obligations mentioned in the 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice3 and in resolution ES-10/15; 5. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 6. Also calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cease all actions harming the environment, including the dumping of all kinds of waste materials in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, which gravely threaten their natural resources, namely water and land resources, and which pose an environmental, sanitation and health threat to the civilian populations; 7. Further calls upon Israel to cease its destruction of vital infrastructure, including water pipelines and sewage networks, which, inter alia, has a negative impact on the natural resources of the Palestinian people; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-fifth session on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include in the _______________ 7 A/64/77-E/2009/13. A/RES/64/185 4 provisional agenda of its sixty-fifth session the item entitled “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/64/19 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2009 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/64/L.23 and Add.1)] 64/19. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004 and 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008, Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders, Noting with concern that it has been more than sixty years since the adoption of its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and forty-two years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 63/29 of 26 November 2008, 0F1 Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international law, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 1F 2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, _______________ 1 A/64/351-S/2009/464. 2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136. A/RES/64/19 2 Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, Stressing the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on efforts to resume the peace process and achieve peace in the Middle East, Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, including measures such as the so-called E-l plan and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole, Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime are contrary to international law, Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policy of closures and severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian personnel and goods, via the imposition of prolonged closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, crossing closures, checkpoints and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian people, which remains that of a dire humanitarian crisis, as well as on efforts aimed at rehabilitating and developing the damaged Palestinian economy and on the contiguity of the Territory, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, 2F3 and the need for full compliance with the agreements concluded between the two sides, Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution 1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 3F4 and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map, as affirmed in the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in Annapolis, United States of America, on 27 November 2007, 4F5 and to refrain from any steps that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations, _______________ 3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex. 4 S/2003/529, annex. 5 Available from http://unispal.un.org. A/RES/64/19 3 Noting the Israeli withdrawal in 2005 from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002, 5F6 Expressing support for the agreed principles for bilateral negotiations, as affirmed by the parties at the Annapolis conference, aimed at concluding a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without exception, for the achievement of a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict and ultimately of the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, Expressing support also for the convening of an international conference in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008), for the advancement and acceleration of a resumed peace process, Noting the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet, Welcoming the reconvening of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship of Norway, at United Nations Headquarters on 22 September 2009, affirming the importance of continued follow-up and fulfilment of pledges made at the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 2 March 2009, for the provision of emergency assistance and support for reconstruction and economic recovery in the Gaza Strip and alleviation of the socio-economic and humanitarian crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, and acknowledging the contribution of the Palestinian-European Mechanism for the Management of Socio-Economic Aid of the European Commission in this regard, Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions, emphasizing the need to preserve and develop the Palestinian institutions and infrastructure, and welcoming in this regard the Palestinian Authority’s plan for constructing the institutions of a Palestinian State within a twenty-four-month period as a demonstration of its serious commitment to an independent State that provides opportunity, justice and security for the Palestinian people and is a responsible neighbour to all States in the region, Welcoming the efforts and progress made in the security sector by the Palestinian Authority, calling upon the parties to continue cooperation that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and building confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to all major population centres, Reiterating its concern over the negative developments that have continued to occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the acts of _______________ 6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. A/RES/64/19 4 violence and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property and infrastructure, the internal displacement of civilians and the serious deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people, Expressing grave concern, in particular, over the crisis in the Gaza Strip as a result of the continuing prolonged Israeli closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade and the military operations in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009, which caused extensive loss of life and injury, particularly among Palestinian civilians, including children and women, widespread damage and destruction to Palestinian homes, properties, vital infrastructure, public institutions, including hospitals and schools, and United Nations facilities, and internal displacement of civilians, Stressing the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly resolution ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009, Expressing concern over continuing military actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including raids and arrest campaigns, and over the continued imposition of hundreds of checkpoints and obstacles to movement in and around Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for the implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings, Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides, Expressing concern over the unlawful takeover of Palestinian Authority institutions in the Gaza Strip in June 2007, and calling for the restoration of the situation to that which existed prior to June 2007 and for the continuation of the serious efforts being exerted by Egypt, the League of Arab States and other concerned parties for the promotion of dialogue towards reconciliation and the restoration of Palestinian national unity, Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement, including by the Quartet, to support both parties in resuming, advancing and accelerating the peace process negotiations for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement, on the basis of United Nations resolutions, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative, Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,6F7 _______________ 7 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136. A/RES/64/19 5 Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of intensifying all efforts towards that end; 2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, based on the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session 0H6 and the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 1H4 and for the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the Quartet and of the League of Arab States; 3. Encourages continued serious regional and international efforts to follow up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the Ministerial Committee formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007; 4. Urges the parties to undertake, with the support of the Quartet and the international community, immediate and concrete steps in follow-up to the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in Annapolis, United States of America, on 27 November 2007, 2H5 including through the resumption of active and serious bilateral negotiations; 5. Encourages, in this regard, the convening of an international conference in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008), for the advancement and acceleration of a resumed peace process; 6. Calls upon both parties to act on their previous agreements and obligations, in particular adherence to the road map, irrespective of reciprocity, in order to create the conditions necessary for the resumption of negotiations in the near term; 7. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation and to reverse all unilateral and unlawful measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000; 8. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability and fostering the peace process, including the need for the further release of prisoners; 9. Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres, inter alia, by easing movement and access, including through the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions to movement, and the need for respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 10. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror; 11. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009); 12. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah A/RES/64/19 6 Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the sustained opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian supplies, movement and access, as well as for commercial flows and all necessary construction materials, which are essential for alleviating the dire humanitarian crisis, improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and promoting the recovery of the Palestinian economy; 13. Stresses, in this regard, the urgent necessity for the advancement of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, including through the completion of numerous suspended projects managed by the United Nations, according to the proposal of the Secretary-General, and the commencement of United Nations–led civilian reconstruction activities; 14. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and unilateral actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory, including via the de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final outcome of peace negotiations; 15. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 16. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites; 17. Demands, accordingly, that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice 3H2 and as demanded in General Assembly resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15, and, inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion; 18. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders; 19. Stresses the need for: (a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem; (b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State; 20. Also stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948; 21. Calls upon the parties to resume and accelerate direct peace negotiations towards the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, especially of the Security Council, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative; A/RES/64/19 7 22. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the rebuilding, restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions and Palestinian State-building efforts; 23. Encourages, in this regard, the continuing efforts of the Quartet’s Special Representative, Tony Blair, to strengthen Palestinian institutions, promote Palestinian economic development and mobilize international donor support; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session a report on these efforts and on developments on this matter. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/64/292 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 28 July 2010 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/64/L.63/Rev.1 and Add.1)] 64/292. The human right to water and sanitation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/175 of 17 December 1999 on the right to development, 55/196 of 20 December 2000, by which it proclaimed 2003 the International Year of Freshwater, 58/217 of 23 December 2003, by which it proclaimed the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005–2015, 59/228 of 22 December 2004, 61/192 of 20 December 2006, by which it proclaimed 2008 the International Year of Sanitation, and 64/198 of 21 December 2009 regarding the midterm comprehensive review of the implementation of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”; Agenda 21 of June 1992; 0F1 the Habitat Agenda of 1996; 1F2 the Mar del Plata Action Plan of 1977 adopted by the United Nations Water Conference;2F3 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of June 1992, 3F4 Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,4F5 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,5F6 the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,6 the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 6F7 the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,7F8 the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 8F9 the _______________ 1 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3–14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. 2 Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3–14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. 3 Report of the United Nations Water Conference, Mar del Plata, 14–25 March 1977 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.77.II.A.12), chap. I. 4 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3–14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. 5 Resolution 217 A (III). 6 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 7 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. 8 Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. 9 Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. A/RES/64/292 2 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 9F10 and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 10F11 Recalling further all previous resolutions of the Human Rights Council on human rights and access to safe drinking water and sanitation, including Council resolutions 7/22 of 28 March 2008 1F12 and 12/8 of 1 October 2009, 12F13 related to the human right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation, general comment No. 15 (2002) of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, on the right to water (articles 11 and 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)13F14 and the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the scope and content of the relevant human rights obligations related to equitable access to safe drinking water and sanitation under international human rights instruments, 14F15 as well as the report of the independent expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, 15F16 Deeply concerned that approximately 884 million people lack access to safe drinking water and that more than 2.6 billion do not have access to basic sanitation, and alarmed that approximately 1.5 million children under 5 years of age die and 443 million school days are lost each year as a result of water- and sanitation-related diseases, Acknowledging the importance of equitable access to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as an integral component of the realization of all human rights, Reaffirming the responsibility of States for the promotion and protection of all human rights, which are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and must be treated globally, in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Bearing in mind the commitment made by the international community to fully achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and stressing, in that context, the resolve of Heads of State and Government, as expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 16F 17 to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and, as agreed in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (“Johannesburg Plan of Implementation”),17F18 to halve the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation, 1. Recognizes the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights; _______________ 10 Resolution 61/106, annex I. 11 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. 12 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53), chap. II. 13 See A/HRC/12/50 and Corr.1, part one, chap. I. 14 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 2 (E/2003/22), annex IV. 15 A/HRC/6/3. 16 A/HRC/12/24. 17 See resolution 55/2. 18 See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. A/RES/64/292 3 2. Calls upon States and international organizations to provide financial resources, capacity-building and technology transfer, through international assistance and cooperation, in particular to developing countries, in order to scale up efforts to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all; 3. Welcomes the decision by the Human Rights Council to request that the independent expert on human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation submit an annual report to the General Assembly,13 and encourages her to continue working on all aspects of her mandate and, in consultation with all relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, to include in her report to the Assembly, at its sixty-sixth session, the principal challenges related to the realization of the human right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation and their impact on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/64/31 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2009 [on the report of the First Committee (A/64/391)] 64/31. Follow-up to nuclear disarmament obligations agreed to at the 1995 and 2000 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its various resolutions in the field of nuclear disarmament, including its most recent, resolutions 62/24 of 5 December 2007, and 63/46, 63/49 and 63/75 of 2 December 2008, Bearing in mind its resolution 2373 (XXII) of 12 June 1968, the annex to which contains the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 0F1 Noting the provisions of article VIII, paragraph 3, of the Treaty regarding the convening of review conferences at five-year intervals, Recalling its resolution 50/70 Q of 12 December 1995, in which the General Assembly noted that the States parties to the Treaty affirmed the need to continue to move with determination towards the full realization and effective implementation of the provisions of the Treaty, and accordingly adopted a set of principles and objectives, Recalling also that, on 11 May 1995, the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons adopted three decisions on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and extension of the Treaty, 1F2 Reaffirming the resolution on the Middle East adopted on 11 May 1995 by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,2 in which the Conference reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and placement of nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, _______________ 1 See also United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 2 See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. A/RES/64/31 2 Reaffirming also its resolution 55/33 D of 20 November 2000, in which the General Assembly welcomed the adoption by consensus on 19 May 2000 of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 2F 3 including, in particular, the documents entitled “Review of the operation of the Treaty, taking into account the decisions and the resolution adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference” and “Improving the effectiveness of the strengthened review process for the Treaty”,3F4 Taking into consideration the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty, Gravely concerned over the failure of the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty to reach any substantive agreement on the follow-up to the nuclear disarmament obligations, Noting with satisfaction that the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty finalized the procedural arrangements for the Review Conference, 1. Determines to pursue practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons1 and paragraphs 3 and 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;2 2. Calls for practical steps, as agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to be taken by all nuclear-weapon States, which would lead to nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability and, based on the principle of undiminished security for all: (a) Further efforts to be made by the nuclear-weapon States to reduce their nuclear arsenals unilaterally; (b) Increased transparency by the nuclear-weapon States with regard to nuclear weapons capabilities and the implementation of agreements pursuant to article VI of the Treaty and as a voluntary confidence-building measure to support further progress in nuclear disarmament; (c) The further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; (d) Concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of nuclear weapons systems; (e) A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies so as to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; _______________ 3 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I–III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). 4 Ibid., vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. A/RES/64/31 3 (f) The engagement, as soon as appropriate, of all the nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of their nuclear weapons; 3. Notes that the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty agreed that legally binding security assurances by the five nuclear-weapon States to the non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the Treaty strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime; 4. Urges the States parties to the Treaty to follow up on the implementation of the nuclear disarmament obligations under the Treaty agreed to at the 1995 and 2000 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty within the framework of Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty and their Preparatory Committees; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-sixth session the item entitled “Follow-up to nuclear disarmament obligations agreed to at the 1995 and 2000 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons”. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/64/42 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2009 [on the report of the First Committee (A/64/391)] 64/42. Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993, 49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 December 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998, 54/54 M of 1 December 1999, 55/33 P of 20 November 2000, 56/24 I of 29 November 2001, 57/77 of 22 November 2002, 58/39 of 8 December 2003, 59/88 of 3 December 2004, 60/75 of 8 December 2005, 61/82 of 6 December 2006, 62/44 of 5 December 2007 and 63/44 of 2 December 2008, Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security, Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same region or subregion, Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control, Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces, Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,0F1 which is a cornerstone of European security, _______________ 1 CD/1064. A/RES/64/42 2 Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security, Believing also that an important objective of conventional arms control in regions of tension should be to prevent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression, 1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the meantime, to seek the views of Member States on the subject and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fifth session the item entitled “Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/64/48 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2009 [on the report of the First Committee (A/64/391)] 64/48. The arms trade treaty The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming its respect for and commitment to international law, Recalling its resolutions 46/36 L of 9 December 1991, 51/45 N of 10 December 1996, 51/47 B of 10 December 1996, 56/24 V of 24 December 2001, 60/69 and 60/82 of 8 December 2005, 61/89 of 6 December 2006 and 63/240 of 24 December 2008, Recognizing that arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Reaffirming the inherent right of all States to individual or collective self- defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter, Recalling its commitment to the principles of political independence, sovereign equality and territorial integrity of all States, and acknowledging that peace and security, development and human rights are the foundations for collective security, Acknowledging the right of all States to manufacture, import, export, transfer and retain conventional arms for self-defence and security needs and in order to participate in peace support operations, Acknowledging also the right of States to regulate internal transfers of arms and national ownership, including through national constitutional protections on private ownership, exclusively within their territory, Recalling the obligations of all States to fully comply with arms embargoes decided by the Security Council in accordance with the Charter, Reaffirming its respect for international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and the rights and responsibilities of every State under the Charter, Noting and encouraging relevant initiatives undertaken at the international, regional and subregional levels between States, including those of the United Nations, A/RES/64/48 2 Taking note of the role played by non-governmental organizations and civil society to enhance cooperation, improve information exchange and transparency and assist States in implementing confidence-building measures in the field of responsible arms trade, Recognizing that the absence of commonly agreed international standards for the transfer of conventional arms that address, inter alia, the problems relating to the unregulated trade of conventional arms and their diversion to the illicit market is a contributory factor to armed conflict, the displacement of people, organized crime and terrorism, thereby undermining peace, reconciliation, safety, security, stability and sustainable social and economic development, Acknowledging the growing support across all regions for concluding a legally binding instrument, negotiated on a non-discriminatory, transparent and multilateral basis, to establish the highest possible common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms, including through several regional and subregional workshops and seminars held in order to discuss the initiative launched by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/89, as well as those sponsored by the European Union and organized through the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in different regions around the world, Taking due note of the views expressed by Member States on the feasibility, scope and draft parameters for a comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms, submitted to the Secretary-General at his request,0F1 Welcoming the report of the Group of Governmental Experts, 1F2 which states that, in view of the complexity of the issues of conventional arms transfers, further consideration of efforts within the United Nations to address the international trade in conventional arms is required on a step-by-step basis in an open and transparent manner to achieve, on the basis of consensus, a balance that will provide benefit to all, with the principles of the Charter at the centre of such efforts, Mindful of the need to prevent the diversion of conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons, from the legal to the illicit market, 1. Calls upon all States to implement, on a national basis, the relevant recommendations contained in section VII of the report of the Group of Governmental Experts, 0H2 recommends that all States carefully consider how to achieve such implementation in order to ensure that their national import and export control systems are of the highest possible standard, and urges those States in a position to do so to render assistance in this regard upon request; 2. Endorses the report of the Open-ended Working Group2F3 established by the General Assembly in its resolution 63/240 to further consider those elements in the report of the Group of Governmental Experts where consensus could be developed for their inclusion in an eventual legally binding treaty on the import, export and transfer of conventional arms, which provides a balance giving benefit to all, with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and other existing international obligations at the centre of such considerations; _______________ 1 See A/62/278 (Parts I and II) and Add.1-4. 2 See A/63/334. 3 A/AC.277/2009/1. A/RES/64/48 3 3. Stresses the need, as was underlined by consensus in the Open-ended Working Group, to address, inter alia, the problems relating to the unregulated trade in conventional weapons and their diversion to the illicit market, considering that such risks can fuel instability, transnational organized crime and terrorism, and that international action should be taken to address the problem; 4. Decides, therefore, to convene a United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty to meet for four consecutive weeks in 2012 to elaborate a legally binding instrument on the highest possible common international standards for the transfer of conventional arms; 5. Also decides that the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty will be undertaken in an open and transparent manner, on the basis of consensus, to achieve a strong and robust treaty; 6. Further decides to consider the remaining sessions of the Open-ended Working Group in 2010 and 2011 as a preparatory committee for the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty; 7. Requests the Preparatory Committee, at its four sessions in 2010 and 2011, to make recommendations to the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty on the elements that would be needed to attain an effective and balanced legally binding instrument on the highest possible common international standards for the transfer of conventional arms, bearing in mind the views and recommendations expressed in the replies of Member States1H1 and those contained in the report of the Group of Governmental Experts 2H2 and the report of the Open-ended Working Group, 3H3 and to present a report containing those elements to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session; 8. Decides to establish a fifth session of the Preparatory Committee in 2012 of up to three days’ duration to decide on all relevant procedural matters, including the composition of the Bureau, the draft agenda and the submission of documents, for the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on proposed treaty elements and other relevant issues relating to the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session; 10. Decides that intergovernmental organizations and specialized agencies, having received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the work of the General Assembly, may participate as observers in the sessions of the Preparatory Committee, and requests the Committee to take decisions on the modalities of attendance of non-governmental organizations at its sessions; 11. Stresses the need to ensure the widest possible and effective participation in the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty in 2012; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to render the Preparatory Committee and the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty all necessary assistance, including the provision of essential background information and relevant documents; 13. Decides to remain seized of the matter. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/64/69 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2009 [on the report of the First Committee (A/64/397)] 64/69. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty The General Assembly, Reiterating that the cessation of nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions constitutes an effective nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measure, and convinced that this is a meaningful step in the realization of a systematic process to achieve nuclear disarmament, Recalling that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted by its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, was opened for signature on 24 September 1996, Stressing that a universal and effectively verifiable Treaty constitutes a fundamental instrument in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and that, after more than twelve years, its entry into force is more urgent than ever before, Encouraged by the signing of the Treaty by one hundred and eighty-two States, including forty-one of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, and welcoming the ratification of one hundred and fifty States, including thirty-five of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, among which there are three nuclear- weapon States, Recalling its resolution 63/87 of 2 December 2008, Welcoming the Joint Ministerial Statement on the Comprehensive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty, adopted at the Ministerial Meeting held in New York on 24 September 2008,0F1 Welcoming also the Final Declaration of the Sixth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, held in New York on 24 and 25 September 2009, pursuant to article XIV of the Treaty, 1F2 and noting the improved prospects for ratification in several Annex 2 countries, _______________ 1 A/63/634, annex. 2 See CTBT-Art.XIV/2009/6, annex. A/RES/64/69 2 1. Stresses the vital importance and urgency of signature and ratification, without delay and without conditions, to achieve the earliest entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; 2F3 2. Welcomes the contributions by the States signatories to the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, in particular its efforts to ensure that the Treaty’s verification regime will be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty upon its entry into force, in accordance with article IV of the Treaty; 3. Underlines the need to maintain momentum towards completion of all elements of the verification regime; 4. Urges all States not to carry out nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions, to maintain their moratoriums in this regard and to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty, while stressing that these measures do not have the same permanent and legally binding effect as the entry into force of the Treaty; 5. Recalls Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006) of 14 October 2006 and 1874 (2009) of 12 June 2009, calls for their early implementation, and calls for early resumption of the Six-Party Talks; 6. Urges all States that have not yet signed the Treaty to sign and ratify it as soon as possible; 7. Urges all States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to ensuring their earliest successful conclusion; 8. Welcomes, since the last session of the General Assembly, the ratification of the Treaty by Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as the signature by Trinidad and Tobago, as significant steps towards the early entry into force of the Treaty; 9. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and, where in a position to do so, to promote adherence to the Treaty through bilateral and joint outreach, seminars and other means; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, to prepare a report on the efforts of States that have ratified the Treaty towards its universalization and possibilities for providing assistance on ratification procedures to States that so request it, and to submit such a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fifth session the item entitled “Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty”. 55th plenary meeting 2 December 2009 _______________ 3 See resolution 50/245. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/64/93 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 10 December 2009 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/64/406)] 64/93. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 63/97 of 5 December 2008, as well as those resolutions adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 476 (1980) of 30 June 1980, 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981 and 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 0F1 to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan, Considering that the transfer by the occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies constitutes a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention 0H1 and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol I1F2 to the four Geneva Conventions, 2F3 Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 3F4 and recalling also General Assembly resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, _______________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. 2 Ibid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. 3 Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. 4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136. A/RES/64/93 2 Noting that the International Court of Justice concluded that “the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (including East Jerusalem) have been established in breach of international law”, 4F5 Taking note of the recent report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, 5F6 Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993 6F7 and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,7F 8 and noting specifically its call for a freeze on all settlement activity, including so-called “natural growth”, and the dismantlement of all settlement outposts erected since March 2001, Aware that Israeli settlement activities involve, inter alia, the transfer of nationals of the occupying Power into the occupied territories, the confiscation of land, the exploitation of natural resources and other actions against the Palestinian civilian population that are contrary to international law, Bearing in mind the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on efforts to resume the peace process and to achieve peace in the Middle East, Expressing grave concern about the continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in violation of international humanitarian law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreements reached between the parties, and concerned particularly about Israel’s construction and expansion of settlements in and around occupied East Jerusalem, including its so-called E-1 plan that aims to connect its illegal settlements around and further isolate occupied East Jerusalem, the continuing demolition of Palestinian homes and eviction of Palestinian families from the city, and intensifying settlement activities in the Jordan Valley, Expressing grave concern also about the continuing unlawful construction by Israel of the wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and expressing its concern in particular about the route of the wall in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949, which is causing humanitarian hardship and a serious decline of socio-economic conditions for the Palestinian people, is fragmenting the territorial contiguity of the Territory, and could prejudge future negotiations and make the two-State solution physically impossible to implement, Deeply concerned that the wall’s route has been traced in such a way as to include the great majority of the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, _______________ 5 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 120; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136. 6 See A/64/328. 7 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. 8 S/2003/529, annex. A/RES/64/93 3 Deploring settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan and any activities involving the confiscation of land, the disruption of the livelihood of protected persons and the de facto annexation of land, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Gravely concerned about the rising incidents of violence, harassment, provocation and incitement by illegal armed Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, against Palestinian civilians and their properties and agricultural lands, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Taking note of the relevant reports of the Secretary-General, 8F9 Taking note also of the special meeting of the Security Council convened on 26 September 2008, 1. Reaffirms that the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development; 2. Calls upon Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 1H1 to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Convention, in particular article 49; 3. Also calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character, status and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 4. Reiterates its demand for the immediate and complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls in this regard for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolution 465 (1980); 5. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice; 2H4 6. Reiterates its call for the prevention of all acts of violence and harassment by Israeli settlers, especially against Palestinian civilians and their properties and agricultural lands, and stresses the need for the implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994), in which the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including confiscation of arms, aimed at preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory; _______________ 9 A/64/332, A/64/340, A/64/354, A/64/516 and A/64/517. A/RES/64/93 4 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session on the implementation of the present resolution. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/64/95 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 10 December 2009 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/64/406)] 64/95. The occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, 0F1 Deeply concerned that the Syrian Golan, occupied since 1967, has been under continued Israeli military occupation, Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling also its previous relevant resolutions, the most recent of which was resolution 63/99 of 5 December 2008, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 63/99, 1F2 Recalling its previous relevant resolutions in which, inter alia, it called upon Israel to put an end to its occupation of the Arab territories, Reaffirming once more the illegality of the decision of 14 December 1981 taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which has resulted in the effective annexation of that territory, Reaffirming that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 2F3 to the occupied Syrian Golan, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, _______________ 1 See A/64/339. 2 A/64/354. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. A/RES/64/95 2 Welcoming the convening at Madrid of the Peace Conference on the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 aimed at the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, and expressing grave concern about the stalling of the peace process on all tracks, 1. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with the relevant resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council, inter alia, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, rescind forthwith its decision; 2. Also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and in particular to desist from the establishment of settlements; 3. Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 0H3 and have no legal effect; 4. Calls upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, and from its repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan; 5. Deplores the violations by Israel of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; 6. Calls once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures and actions referred to above; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session on the implementation of the present resolution. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/64/98 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 10 December 2009 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/64/410)] 64/98. Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled “Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories”, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,0F1 Recalling General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as all other relevant resolutions of the Assembly, including, in particular, resolutions 46/181 of 19 December 1991 and 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those Territories against abuses, Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity that has a negative impact on the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the exercise of their right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) is contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter, Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to promote the economic stability, diversification and strengthening of the economy of each Territory, _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 23 and corrigendum (A/64/23 and Corr.2), chap. V. A/RES/64/98 2 Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, Conscious also that foreign economic investment, when undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories and also to the exercise of their right to self- determination, Concerned about any activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, 1. Reaffirms the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest; 2. Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the socio- economic development of the Territories, especially during times of economic and financial crisis; 3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reaffirms the legitimate rights of their peoples over their natural resources; 4. Reaffirms its concern about any activities aimed at the exploitation of the natural resources that are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, in the Caribbean, the Pacific and other regions, and of their human resources, to the detriment of their interests, and in such a way as to deprive them of their right to dispose of those resources; 5. Reaffirms the need to avoid any economic and other activities that adversely affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 6. Calls once again upon all Governments that have not yet done so to take, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, legislative, administrative or other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own and operate enterprises in the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are detrimental to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, in order to put an end to such enterprises; 7. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that the exploitation of the marine and other natural resources in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration is not in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and does not adversely affect the interests of the peoples of those Territories; A/RES/64/98 3 8. Invites all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 9. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self- Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, through all means at his disposal, to inform world public opinion of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV); 12. Appeals to trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and also appeals to the media to disseminate information about the developments in this regard; 13. Decides to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in those Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, including the indigenous populations, and at promoting the economic and financial viability of those Territories; 14. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/65/108 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 10 December 2010 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/65/426)] 65/108. Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1970 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, in which it requested the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to study the information transmitted to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations and to take such information fully into account in examining the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling also its resolution 64/97 of 10 December 2009, in which it requested the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), Stressing the importance of timely transmission by the administering Powers of adequate information under Article 73 e of the Charter, in particular in relation to the preparation by the Secretariat of the working papers on the Territories concerned, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,0F1 1. Reaffirms that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self- government in terms of Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter with respect to that Territory; 2. Requests the administering Powers concerned, in accordance with their Charter obligations, to transmit or continue to transmit regularly to the Secretary- _______________ 1 A/65/66. A/RES/65/108 2 General for information purposes, subject to such limitation as security and constitutional considerations may require, statistical and other information of a technical nature relating to economic, social and educational conditions in the Territories for which they are respectively responsible, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned, including the constitution, legislative act or executive order providing for the government of the Territory and the constitutional relationship of the Territory to the administering Power, within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year in those Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of the working papers relating to the Territories concerned; 4. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under General Assembly resolution 1970 (XVIII), in accordance with established procedures. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/65/199 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 2010 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/65/454 and Corr.1)] 65/199. Inadmissibility of certain practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1 the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 2 the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination3 and other relevant human rights instruments, Recalling the provisions of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2004/16 of 16 April 20044 and 2005/5 of 14 April 20055 and relevant Human Rights Council resolutions, in particular resolution 7/34 of 28 March 2008, 6 as well as General Assembly resolutions 60/143 of 16 December 2005, 61/147 of 19 December 2006, 62/142 of 18 December 2007, 63/162 of 18 December 2008 and 64/147 of 18 December 2009 on this issue and resolutions 61/149 of 19 December 2006, 62/220 of 22 December 2007, 63/242 of 24 December 2008 and 64/148 of 18 December 2009, entitled “Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action”, Recalling also the Charter of the Nuremberg Tribunal and the Judgement of the Tribunal, which recognized, inter alia, the SS organization and all its integral parts, including the Waffen SS, as criminal and declared it responsible for many war crimes and crimes against humanity, _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. 4 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. 5 Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. 6 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53), chap. II. A/RES/65/199 2 Recalling further the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001, 7 in particular paragraph 2 of the Declaration and paragraph 86 of the Programme of Action, as well as the relevant provisions of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, of 24 April 2009,8 in particular paragraphs 11 and 54, Alarmed, in this regard, at the spread in many parts of the world of various extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups, as well as similar extremist ideological movements, Recalling that in 2010 the international community celebrated the sixty-fifth anniversary of victory in the Second World War, and welcoming in this regard the special solemn meeting of the sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly, held on 6 May 2010, Recalling also that the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly coincides with the sixty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Nuremberg Tribunal and the adoption of its Charter, 1. Reaffirms the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration7 and of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference,8 in which States condemned the persistence and resurgence of neo-Nazism, neo-Fascism and violent nationalist ideologies based on racial and national prejudice and stated that those phenomena could never be justified in any instance or in any circumstances; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, prepared in accordance with the request contained in General Assembly resolution 64/147;9 3. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for her commitment to maintaining the fight against racism as one of the priority activities of her Office; 4. Expresses deep concern about the glorification of the Nazi movement and former members of the Waffen SS organization, including by erecting monuments and memorials and holding public demonstrations in the name of the glorification of the Nazi past, the Nazi movement and neo-Nazism, as well as by declaring or attempting to declare such members and those who fought against the anti-Hitler coalition and collaborated with the Nazi movement participants in national liberation movements; 5. Expresses concern at recurring attempts to desecrate or demolish monuments erected in remembrance of those who fought against Nazism during the Second World War, as well as to unlawfully exhume or remove the remains of such persons, and in this regard urges States to fully comply with their relevant obligations, inter alia, under article 34 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949;10 _______________ 7 See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 8 See A/CONF.211/8, chap. I. 9 See A/65/323. 10 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. A/RES/65/199 3 6. Notes with concern the increase in the number of racist incidents in several countries and the rise of skinhead groups, which have been responsible for many of these incidents, as well as the resurgence of racist and xenophobic violence targeting members of ethnic, religious or cultural communities and national minorities, as observed by the Special Rapporteur in his latest report to the General Assembly; 7. Reaffirms that such acts may be qualified to fall within the scope of activities described in article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination3 and that they may represent a clear and manifest abuse of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association as well as the rights to freedom of opinion and expression within the meaning of those rights as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1 the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights2 and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; 8. Stresses that the practices described above do injustice to the memory of the countless victims of crimes against humanity committed in the Second World War, in particular those committed by the SS organization and those who fought against the anti-Hitler coalition and collaborated with the Nazi movement, and poison the minds of young people, and that failure by States to effectively address such practices is incompatible with the obligations of States Members of the United Nations under its Charter and is incompatible with the goals and principles of the Organization; 9. Also stresses that such practices fuel contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and contribute to the spread and multiplication of various extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups, and in this regard calls for increased political and legal vigilance; 10. Emphasizes the need to take the measures necessary to put an end to the practices described above, and calls upon States to take more effective measures in accordance with international human rights law to combat those phenomena and the extremist movements, which pose a real threat to democratic values; 11. Recalls the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur, made in his latest report to the General Assembly, to introduce into domestic criminal law a provision according to which committing an offence with racist or xenophobic motivations or aims constitutes an aggravating circumstance allowing for enhanced penalties, and encourages those States whose legislation does not contain such provisions to consider that recommendation; 12. Reaffirms, in this regard, the particular importance of all forms of education, including human rights education, as a complement to legislative measures, as outlined by the Special Rapporteur; 13. Emphasizes the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur regarding the importance of history classes in teaching the dramatic events and human suffering that resulted from the ideologies of Nazism and Fascism; 14. Stresses the importance of other positive measures and initiatives aimed at bringing communities together and providing them with space for genuine dialogue, such as round tables, working groups and seminars, including training seminars for State agents and media professionals, as well as awareness-raising activities, especially those initiated by civil society representatives which require continued State support; A/RES/65/199 4 15. Underlines the potentially positive role that relevant United Nations entities and programmes, in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, can play in the aforementioned areas; 16. Reaffirms that, according to article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, States parties to that instrument are, inter alia, under the obligation: (a) To condemn all propaganda and all organizations that are based on ideas of racial superiority or that attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form; (b) To undertake to adopt immediate and positive measures designed to eradicate all incitement to, or acts of, such discrimination, with due regard to the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of the Convention; (c) To declare as an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, and incitement to racial discrimination, as well as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons of another colour or ethnic origin, and also the provision of any assistance to racist activities, including the financing thereof; (d) To declare illegal and prohibit organizations and organized and all other propaganda activities that promote and incite racial discrimination, and to recognize participation in such organizations or activities as an offence punishable by law; (e) To prohibit public authorities or public institutions, national or local, from promoting or inciting racial discrimination; 17. Also reaffirms that, as underlined in paragraph 13 of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence should be prohibited by law, as should the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority, hatred, acts of violence or incitement to such acts, and that these prohibitions are consistent with freedom of opinion and expression; 18. Expresses concern about the use of the Internet to propagate racism, racial hatred, xenophobia, racial discrimination and related intolerance, as outlined in the latest report of the Special Rapporteur to the General Assembly; 19. Underlines, at the same time, the positive role that the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, as well as full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, including through the Internet, can play in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 20. Encourages those States that have made reservations to article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to give serious consideration to withdrawing such reservations as a matter of priority, as stressed by the Special Rapporteur in his latest report to the General Assembly; 21. Encourages States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to ensure that their legislation incorporates the provisions of the Convention, including those of article 4; 22. Recalls the request of the Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 2005/5,5 that the Special Rapporteur continue to reflect on this issue, make relevant recommendations in his future reports and seek and take into account in this regard the views of Governments and non-governmental organizations; A/RES/65/199 5 23. Requests the Special Rapporteur to prepare, for submission to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session and to the Human Rights Council, reports on the implementation of the present resolution based on the views collected in accordance with the request of the Commission on Human Rights, as recalled by the Assembly in paragraph 22 above; 24. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that have provided information to the Special Rapporteur in the course of the preparation of his report to the General Assembly; 25. Also expresses its appreciation to representatives of civil society for their contribution to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 26. Stresses that such information is important for the sharing of experiences and best practices in the fight against extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups, as well as extremist ideological movements; 27. Encourages Governments and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the exercise of the tasks outlined in paragraph 22 above; 28. Encourages Governments, non-governmental organizations and relevant actors to disseminate, as widely as possible, information regarding the contents of and the principles outlined in the present resolution, including through the media, but not limited to it; 29. Decides to remain seized of the issue. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/65/217 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 2010 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/65/456/Add.2 (Part II))] 65/217. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions on this subject, the most recent of which was resolution 64/170 of 18 December 2009, Human Rights Council resolution 15/24 of 1 October 2010 1 and previous resolutions of the Council and the Commission on Human Rights, Reaffirming the pertinent principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974, in particular article 32 thereof, in which it declared that no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 64/1702 and the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Assembly resolutions 52/120 of 12 December 1997 3 and 55/110 of 4 December 2000,4 Stressing that unilateral coercive measures and legislation are contrary to international law, international humanitarian law, the Charter of the United Nations and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among States, Recognizing the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human rights, and in this regard reaffirming the right to development as an integral part of all human rights, Recalling the Final Document of the Fifteenth Summit Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from 11 to 16 July 2009,5 and those adopted at previous summits _______________ 1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/65/53/Add.1), chap. II. 2 A/65/119. 3 A/53/293 and Add.1. 4 A/56/207 and Add.1. 5 A/63/965-S/2009/514, annex. A/RES/65/217 2 and conferences, in which States members of the Movement agreed to oppose and condemn those measures or laws and their continued application, persevere with efforts to effectively reverse them and urge other States to do likewise, as called for by the General Assembly and other United Nations organs, and request States applying those measures or laws to revoke them fully and immediately, Recalling also that, at the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, States were called upon to refrain from any unilateral measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and impedes the full realization of all human rights6 and also severely threatens the freedom of trade, Bearing in mind all the references to this question in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development adopted by the World Summit for Social Development on 12 March 1995,7 the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995, 8 the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda adopted by the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) on 14 June 1996,9 and their five-year reviews, Expressing concern about the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on international relations, trade, investment and cooperation, Expressing grave concern that, in some countries, the situation of children is adversely affected by unilateral coercive measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that create obstacles to trade relations among States, impede the full realization of social and economic development and hinder the well-being of the population in the affected countries, with particular consequences for women and children, including adolescents, Deeply concerned that, despite the recommendations adopted on this question by the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Commission on Human Rights and recent major United Nations conferences, and contrary to general international law and the Charter, unilateral coercive measures continue to be promulgated and implemented, with all their negative implications for the social humanitarian activities and economic and social development of developing countries, including their extraterritorial effects, thereby creating additional obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights by peoples and individuals under the jurisdiction of other States, Bearing in mind all the extraterritorial effects of any unilateral legislative, administrative and economic measures, policies and practices of a coercive nature against the development process and the enhancement of human rights in developing countries, which create obstacles to the full realization of all human rights, Reaffirming that unilateral coercive measures are a major obstacle to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,10 _______________ 6 See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. 7 Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6–12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. 8 Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. 9 Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3–14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. 10 Resolution 41/128, annex. A/RES/65/217 3 Recalling article 1, paragraph 2, common to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights11 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,11 which provides, inter alia, that in no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence, Noting the continuing efforts of the open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development of the Human Rights Council, and reaffirming in particular its criteria, according to which unilateral coercive measures are one of the obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development, 1. Urges all States to cease adopting or implementing any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among States, in particular those of a coercive nature, with all their extraterritorial effects, which create obstacles to trade relations among States, thus impeding the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 12 and other international human rights instruments, in particular the right of individuals and peoples to development; 2. Also urges all States not to adopt any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that impede the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected countries, in particular children and women, that hinder their well-being and that create obstacles to the full enjoyment of their human rights, including the right of everyone to a standard of living adequate for his or her health and well-being and his or her right to food, medical care and education and the necessary social services, as well as to ensure that food and medicine are not used as tools for political pressure; 3. Strongly objects to the extraterritorial nature of those measures which, in addition, threaten the sovereignty of States, and in this context calls upon all Member States neither to recognize those measures nor to apply them, as well as to take administrative or legislative measures, as appropriate, to counteract the extraterritorial applications or effects of unilateral coercive measures; 4. Condemns the continuing unilateral application and enforcement by certain Powers of unilateral coercive measures, and rejects those measures, with all their extraterritorial effects, as being tools for political or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, adopted with a view to preventing those countries from exercising their right to decide, of their own free will, their own political, economic and social systems, and because of the negative effects of those measures on the realization of all the human rights of vast sectors of their populations, in particular children, women and the elderly; 5. Reaffirms that essential goods such as food and medicines should not be used as tools for political coercion and that under no circumstances should people be deprived of their own means of subsistence and development; 6. Calls upon Member States that have initiated such measures to abide by the principles of international law, the Charter, the declarations of the United Nations and world conferences and relevant resolutions and to commit themselves to their obligations and responsibilities arising from the international human rights instruments to which they are parties by revoking such measures at the earliest possible time; _______________ 11 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 12 Resolution 217 A (III). A/RES/65/217 4 7. Reaffirms, in this context, the right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 8. Recalls that, according to the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and the relevant principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX), in particular article 32 thereof, no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights and to secure from it advantages of any kind; 9. Rejects all attempts to introduce unilateral coercive measures, and urges the Human Rights Council to take fully into account the negative impact of those measures, including through the enactment of national laws and their extraterritorial application which are not in conformity with international law, in its task concerning the implementation of the right to development; 10. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in discharging her functions relating to the promotion, realization and protection of the right to development and bearing in mind the continuing impact of unilateral coercive measures on the population of developing countries, to give priority to the present resolution in her annual report to the General Assembly; 11. Underlines the fact that unilateral coercive measures are one of the major obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,10 and in this regard calls upon all States to avoid the unilateral imposition of economic coercive measures and the extraterritorial application of domestic laws that run counter to the principles of free trade and hamper the development of developing countries, as recognized by the Working Group on the Right to Development of the Human Rights Council; 12. Recognizes that, in the Declaration of Principles adopted at the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003, 13 States were strongly urged to avoid and refrain from any unilateral measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations in building the information society; 13. Supports the invitation of the Human Rights Council to all special rapporteurs and existing thematic mechanisms of the Council in the field of economic, social and cultural rights to pay due attention, within the scope of their respective mandates, to the negative impact and consequences of unilateral coercive measures; 14. Reaffirms the request of the Human Rights Council that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights prepare a thematic study on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, to continue to collect their views and information on the implications and negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on their _______________ 13 A/C.2/59/3, annex, chap. I, sect. A. A/RES/65/217 5 populations and to submit an analytical report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session, while reiterating once again the need to highlight the practical and preventive measures in this respect; 16. Decides to examine the question on a priority basis at its sixty-sixth session under the sub-item entitled “Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/65/281 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 June 2011 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/65/L.78)] 65/281. Review of the Human Rights Council The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 establishing the Human Rights Council, and in particular paragraphs 1 and 16 thereof, Recalling also its resolution 62/219 of 22 December 2007, Recognizing that peace and security, development and human rights are the pillars of the United Nations system and the foundations for collective security and well-being, Reaffirming that the Human Rights Council was created with the aim of ensuring effective enjoyment by all of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, and that the Council is responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner, Recalling the competencies of the Third and Fifth Committees as the Main Committees of the General Assembly tasked with social, humanitarian and cultural issues and administrative and budgetary issues, respectively, Taking note of Human Rights Council resolution 16/21 of 25 March 2011 containing the text entitled “Outcome of the review of the work and functioning of the Human Rights Council”,1 Recalling all its previous decisions on the allocation of the agenda item entitled “Report of the Human Rights Council”, Recalling also its resolution 63/263 of 24 December 2008 which endorses the relevant conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on the consideration of the financial requirements arising from resolutions and decisions of the Human Rights Council, _______________ 1 See A/HRC/16/2. A/RES/65/281 2 1. Reaffirms its resolution 60/251; 2. Decides that the present resolution shall supplement its resolution 60/251; 3. Decides also to maintain the status of the Human Rights Council as a subsidiary body of the General Assembly and to consider again the question of whether to maintain this status at an appropriate moment and at a time no sooner than ten years and no later than fifteen years; 4. Decides further that from 2013, the Human Rights Council will start its yearly membership cycle on 1 January; 5. Decides that, as a transitional measure, the period of office of members of the Human Rights Council ending in June 2012, June 2013 and June 2014 will exceptionally be extended until the end of the respective calendar year; 6. Decides also to continue its practice of allocating the agenda item entitled “Report of the Human Rights Council” to the plenary of the General Assembly and to the Third Committee, in accordance with its decision 65/503 A, with the additional understanding that the President of the Council will present the report in her or his capacity as President to the plenary of the General Assembly and the Third Committee and that the Third Committee will hold an interactive dialogue with the President of the Council at the time of her or his presentation of the report of the Council to the Third Committee; 7. Decides further that the annual report of the Human Rights Council shall cover the period from 1 October to 30 September, including the regular September session of the Council; 8. Decides to consider through its Fifth Committee all financial implications emanating from the resolutions and decisions contained in the annual report of the Human Rights Council, including those emanating from its September session; 9. Recognizes the need to provide adequate financing to fund unforeseen and extraordinary expenses arising from resolutions and decisions of the Human Rights Council, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to present a report with options for consideration by the Fifth Committee at the main part of the sixty- sixth session of the General Assembly, taking into account the relevant conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; 10. Adopts the text entitled “Outcome of the review of the work and functioning of the Human Rights Council” annexed to the present resolution. 100th plenary meeting 17 June 2011 A/RES/65/281 3 Annex Outcome of the review of the work and functioning of the Human Rights Council I. Universal periodic review 2 A. Basis, principles and objectives of the review 1. The basis, principles and objectives of the universal periodic review as set forth in paragraphs 1 to 4 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 20073 shall be reaffirmed. B. Periodicity and order of the review 2. The second cycle of the review shall begin in June 2012. 3. The periodicity of the review for the second and subsequent cycles will be four and a half years. This will imply the consideration of forty-two States per year during three sessions of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review. 4. The order of review established for the first cycle of the review shall be maintained for the second and subsequent cycles. C. Process and modalities of the review 1. Focus and documentation 5. The review during the second and subsequent cycles will continue to be based on the three documents identified in paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1. 6. The second and subsequent cycles of the review should focus on, inter alia, the implementation of the accepted recommendations and the developments in the human rights situation in the State under review. 7. The general guidelines for universal periodic review reports adopted by the Council in its decision 6/102 of 27 September 20074 shall be adjusted to the focus of the second and subsequent cycles before the eighteenth session of the Council. 8. Other relevant stakeholders are encouraged to include in their contributions information on the follow-up to the preceding review. 9. The summary of the information provided by other relevant stakeholders should contain, where appropriate, a separate section for contributions by the national human rights institution of the State under review that is accredited in full compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (“the Paris Principles”), contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993. Information provided by other accredited national human rights institutions will be reflected accordingly, as well as information provided by other stakeholders. _______________ 2 Changes to the universal periodic review contained in section I of the present text shall be applicable as of the second cycle of the review. 3 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. IV, sect. A. 4 Ibid., Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53), chap. I, sect. B. A/RES/65/281 4 2. Modalities 10. The role of the group of three rapporteurs (troika) shall be maintained as set forth in the annex to Council resolution 5/1 and in the President’s statement PRST/8/1.5 11. Following the extension of the review cycle to four and a half years and within existing resources and workload, the duration of the Working Group meeting for the review will be extended from the present three hours and the modalities will be agreed upon at the seventeenth session of the Council, including the list of speakers, which shall be based on the modalities as appear in the Appendix. 12. The final outcome of the review will be adopted by the plenary of the Council. The modalities for the organization of the one-hour consideration of the outcome shall be in accordance with the President’s statement PRST/9/2.6 13. The national human rights institution of the State under review, consistent with the Paris Principles, shall be entitled to intervene immediately after the State under review during the adoption of the outcome of the review by the Council plenary. 14. The Universal Periodic Review voluntary trust fund to facilitate the participation of States, established by the Council in its resolution 6/17 of 28 September 2007, 7 should be strengthened and operationalized in order to encourage a significant participation of developing countries, particularly least developing countries and small island developing States, in their review. D. Outcome of the review 15. The recommendations contained in the outcome of the review should preferably be clustered thematically with the full involvement and consent of the State under review and the States that made the recommendations. 16. The State under review should clearly communicate to the Council, in a written format, preferably prior to the Council plenary meeting, its positions on all received recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 27 and 32 of the annex to Council resolution 5/1. E. Follow-up to the review 17. While the outcome of the review, as a cooperative mechanism, should be implemented primarily by the State concerned, States are encouraged to conduct broad consultations with all relevant stakeholders in this regard. 18. States are encouraged to provide the Council, on a voluntary basis, with a midterm update on follow-up to accepted recommendations. 19. The voluntary fund for financial and technical assistance, established by the Council in its resolution 6/17, should be strengthened and operationalized in order to provide a source of financial and technical assistance to help countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, to implement the recommendations emanating from their review. A board of trustees should be established in accordance with the rules of the United Nations. _______________ 5 Ibid., chap. III, sect. C. 6 Ibid., Supplement No. 53A (A/63/53/Add.1), chap. III. 7 Ibid., Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53), chap. I, sect. A. A/RES/65/281 5 20. States may request the United Nations representation at the national or regional level to assist them in the implementation of follow-up to their review, bearing in mind the provisions of paragraph 36 of the annex to Council resolution 5/1. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights may act as a clearing house for such assistance. 21. Financial and technical assistance for the implementation of the review should support national needs and priorities, as may be reflected in national implementation plans. II. Special procedures A. Selection and appointment of mandate holders 22. To further strengthen and enhance transparency in the selection and appointment process of mandate holders envisaged in the annex to Council resolution 5/1, the following provisions will apply: (a) In addition to entities specified in paragraph 42 of the annex to Council resolution 5/1, national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles may also nominate candidates as special procedure mandate holders; (b) Individual candidates and candidates nominated by entities shall submit an application for each specific mandate, together with personal data and a motivation letter no longer than 600 words. The Office of the High Commissioner shall prepare a public list of candidates who applied for each vacancy; (c) The consultative group established pursuant to paragraph 47 of the annex to Council resolution 5/1 will consider, in a transparent manner, candidates having applied for each specific mandate. However, under exceptional circumstances and if a particular post justifies it, the group may consider additional candidates with equal or more suitable qualifications for the post. The group shall interview shortlisted candidates to ensure equal treatment of all candidates; (d) In implementing paragraph 52 of the annex to Council resolution 5/1, the President shall justify his or her decision if he or she decides not to follow the order of priority proposed by the consultative group. B. Working methods 23. In line with Council resolution 5/2 of 18 June 2007,3 States should cooperate with and assist special procedures mandate holders in the performance of their tasks and it is incumbent on mandate holders to exercise their functions in accordance with their mandates and in compliance with the code of conduct. 24. The integrity and independence of the special procedures mandate holders and the principles of cooperation, transparency and accountability are integral to ensuring a robust system of special procedures that would enhance the capacity of the Council to address human rights situations on the ground. 25. The special procedures mandate holders shall continue to foster a constructive dialogue with States. The special procedures mandate holders shall also endeavour to formulate their recommendations in a concrete, comprehensive and action- oriented way and pay attention to the technical assistance and capacity-building needs of States in their thematic and country mission reports. The comments of the State concerned shall be included as an addendum to country mission reports. A/RES/65/281 6 26. States are urged to cooperate with and assist special procedures mandate holders by responding in a timely manner to requests for information and visits, and to study carefully the conclusions and recommendations addressed to them by the special procedures mandate holders. 27. The Council should streamline its requests to special procedures mandate holders, in particular with regard to reporting, to ensure a meaningful discussion of their reports. The Council should remain a forum for open, constructive and transparent discussion on cooperation between States and special procedures mandate holders, allowing for the identification and exchange of good practices and lessons learned. 28. The national human rights institution, consistent with the Paris Principles, of the country concerned shall be entitled to intervene immediately after the country concerned during the interactive dialogue, following the presentation of a country mission report by a special procedures mandate holder. 29. The Office of the High Commissioner will continue to maintain information on special procedures, such as mandates, mandate holders, invitations and country visits and responses thereto, as well as reports presented to the Council and the General Assembly, in a comprehensive and easily accessible manner. 30. The Council strongly rejects any act of intimidation or reprisal against individuals and groups who cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights, and urges States to prevent and ensure adequate protection against such acts. C. Resources and funding 31. The Council recognizes the importance of ensuring the provision of adequate and equitable funding, with equal priority accorded to civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, to support all special procedures mandate holders according to their specific needs, including additional tasks entrusted to them by the General Assembly. This should be achieved through the regular budget of the United Nations. 32. The Council therefore requests the Secretary-General to ensure the availability of adequate resources within the regular budget of the Office of the High Commissioner to support the full implementation by special procedures mandate holders of their mandates. 33. The Council also recognizes the continued need for extrabudgetary funding to support the work related to the special procedures, and welcomes further voluntary contributions by Member States, emphasizing that these contributions should be, to the extent possible, non-earmarked. 34. The Council highlights the need for full transparency in the funding of the special procedures. III. Human Rights Council Advisory Committee 35. The Council shall, within existing resources, strengthen its interaction with the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee and engage more systematically with it through work formats such as seminars, panels, working groups and sending feedback to the inputs of the Committee. 36. The Council shall endeavour to clarify specific mandates given to the Advisory Committee under relevant resolutions, including indicating thematic priorities, and A/RES/65/281 7 provide specific guidelines for the Advisory Committee with a view to triggering implementation-oriented outputs. 37. In order to provide a proper setting for a better interaction between the Council and its Advisory Committee, the first annual session of the Committee shall henceforth be convened immediately prior to the March session of the Council, while the second session shall be held in August. 38. The annual report of the Advisory Committee shall be submitted to the Council at its September session, and be the subject of an interactive dialogue with the Committee Chair. The present provision does not exclude other interaction with the Committee should such opportunities arise and be deemed appropriate by the Council. 39. The Advisory Committee shall endeavour to enhance intersessional work between its members in order to give effect to the provisions of paragraph 81 of the annex to Council resolution 5/1. IV. Agenda and framework for the programme of work 40. The agenda of the Council and the framework for the programme of work are as specified in the annex to Council resolution 5/1. 41. Council cycles will be aligned with the calendar year and be subject to any necessary transitional arrangements decided on by the General Assembly. V. Methods of work and rules of procedure A. Yearly panel discussion with United Nations agencies and funds 42. The Council shall hold a half-day panel discussion once a year to interact with the heads of governing bodies and secretariats of United Nations agencies and funds within their respective mandates on specific human rights themes, with the objective of promoting the mainstreaming of human rights throughout the United Nations system. The present provision does not preclude other opportunities that may arise for discussions between the Council and United Nations agencies and funds on the mainstreaming of human rights. 43. State or regional groups may propose issues to be discussed by the panel. On the basis of such proposals and consultation with all regional groups, the President of the Council will propose the theme of the panel discussion for the upcoming year for approval by the Council at its relevant organizational session. 44. The Office of the High Commissioner, in its capacity as secretariat of the Council, shall coordinate the preparation of the documentation required for the panel discussion. B. Voluntary yearly calendar of resolutions 45. The Bureau shall establish a tentative yearly calendar for the thematic resolutions of the Council in consultation with the main sponsors. The yearly calendar will be established on a voluntary basis and without prejudice to the right of States as provided for in paragraph 117 of the annex to Council resolution 5/1. 46. The calendar should also contemplate the appropriate synchronization of schedules for resolutions, mandates and presentation of reports by the special procedures mandate holders, taking into account the need for balance among them. 47. The Bureau shall present a report to the Council at its eighteenth session. A/RES/65/281 8 C. Biennial and triennial thematic resolutions 48. In principle and on a voluntary basis, omnibus thematic resolutions should be considered on a biennial or triennial basis. 49. Thematic resolutions on the same issue to be presented in-between the above- mentioned intervals are expected to be shorter and focused on addressing the specific question or gap in standards that justified their presentation. D. Transparency and extensive consultations for resolutions and decisions 50. The consultation process on, inter alia, resolutions and decisions of the Council shall observe the principles of transparency and inclusiveness. E. Documentation 51. There is a need to ensure the availability of working documents in a timely manner and in all official languages of the United Nations. F. Deadlines for the notification and submission of draft initiatives and information related to programme budget implications 52. There is a need for early submission of draft resolutions and decisions by the end of the penultimate week of the Council session. 53. Sponsors of initiatives are encouraged to contact the Office of the High Commissioner before the second week of the session with a view to facilitating the circulation of information on budgetary implications, if any. G. Establishment of an Office of the President 54. In line with the procedural and organizational roles of the President, an Office of the President of the Human Rights Council shall be established, within existing resources, to support the President in the fulfilment of his or her tasks and to enhance efficiency, continuity and institutional memory in this regard. 55. The Office of the President shall be provided with adequate resources drawn from the regular budget, including staff, office space and necessary equipment required for the fulfilment of the tasks. The appointment of the staff of the Office shall promote equitable geographic distribution and gender balance. The staff of the Office shall be accountable to the President. 56. The composition, modalities and financial implications of the Office of the President shall be considered by the Council on the basis of the report of the secretariat, at its seventeenth session. H. Human Rights Council secretariat services 57. The secretariat services to the Council and its mechanisms should continue to be improved to enhance the efficiency of the work of the Council. I. Accessibility for persons with disabilities 58. There is a need to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities to the Council and the work of its mechanisms, including its information and communications technology, Internet resources and documents, in accordance with international standards on accessibility for persons with disabilities. A/RES/65/281 9 J. Use of information technology 59. The Council shall explore the feasibility of using information technology, such as videoconferencing or videomessaging, to enhance access and participation by non-resident State delegations, specialized agencies, other intergovernmental organizations and national human rights institutions consistent with the Paris Principles, as well as by non-governmental organizations in consultative status, bearing in mind the need to ensure full compliance of such participation with the Council’s rules of procedure and rules concerning accreditation. 60. The use of modern information technology, such as electronic circulation, is encouraged in order to reduce the circulation of paper. K. Task force 61. The Council decides to establish a task force to study the issues envisaged in paragraphs 57 to 60 above, in consultation with Government representatives, the Office of the High Commissioner, the United Nations Office at Geneva and all relevant stakeholders, and to submit concrete recommendations to the Council at its nineteenth session. L. Technical assistance trust fund 62. The Council will consider modalities for the establishment of a technical assistance trust fund to support the participation of least developed countries and small island developing States in the work of the Council at its nineteenth session. Appendix Modalities for establishing the list of speakers for the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review The established procedures, which allow speaking time of three minutes for Member States and two minutes for observer States, will continue to apply when all speakers can be accommodated within the number of minutes available to Member and observer States. Should it not be possible to accommodate all speakers within the minutes available based on three minutes of speaking time for Member States and two minutes for observer States, the speaking time will be reduced to two minutes for all. If all speakers still cannot be accommodated, the speaking time will be divided among all delegations inscribed so as to enable each and every speaker to take the floor. Steps for drawing up the list of speakers 1. The list of speakers will open at 10 a.m. on the Monday of the week preceding the beginning of the session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review and remain open for a period of four days. It will close on the Thursday at 6 p.m. A registration desk will be set up at the Palais des Nations. The exact location will be communicated to all permanent missions by the secretariat. 2. In all cases, regardless of speaking time, the delegations inscribed on the list of speakers will be arranged in alphabetical order of the country names in English. On the Friday morning preceding the beginning of the session, the President, in the presence of the Bureau, will draw by lot the first speaker on the list. The list of A/RES/65/281 10 speakers will continue from the State drawn onwards. On the Friday afternoon, all delegations will be informed of the speaking order and of the speaking time available to delegations. 3. Speaking time limits during the review will be strictly enforced. Speakers who exceed their speaking time will have their microphones cut off. Speakers may therefore wish to deliver the essential part of their statements at the beginning. 4. All speakers will have the possibility of swapping places on the list of speakers under bilateral arrangement between speakers. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/65/60 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 8 December 2010 [on the report of the First Committee (A/65/410)] 65/60. Reducing nuclear danger The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Reaffirming that any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would constitute a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Convinced that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war, Convinced also that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Considering that, until nuclear weapons cease to exist, it is imperative on the part of the nuclear-weapon States to adopt measures that assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering also that the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons carries unacceptable risks of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, which would have catastrophic consequences for all mankind, Emphasizing the need to adopt measures to avoid accidental, unauthorized or unexplained incidents arising from computer anomaly or other technical malfunctions, Conscious that limited steps relating to de-alerting and de-targeting have been taken by the nuclear-weapon States and that further practical, realistic and mutually reinforcing steps are necessary to contribute to the improvement in the international climate for negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, Mindful that a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in the security policies of nuclear-weapon States would positively impact on international peace and security and improve the conditions for the further reduction and the elimination of nuclear weapons, A/RES/65/60 2 Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly0F 1 and by the international community, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons 1F2 that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Recalling also the call in the United Nations Millennium Declaration 2F3 to seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and the resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, 1. Calls for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in this context, immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons, including through de-alerting and de-targeting nuclear weapons; 2. Requests the five nuclear-weapon States to take measures towards the implementation of paragraph 1 above; 3. Calls upon Member States to take the necessary measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament, with the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraph 5 of resolution 64/37 of 2 December 2009; 3F4 5. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts and support initiatives that would contribute towards the full implementation of the seven recommendations identified in the report of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters that would significantly reduce the risk of nuclear war,4F5 and also to continue to encourage Member States to consider the convening of an international conference, as proposed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,0H3 to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-sixth session the item entitled “Reducing nuclear danger”. 60th plenary meeting 8 December 2010 _______________ 1 Resolution S-10/2. 2 A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. 3 See resolution 55/2. 4 A/65/137 and Add.1. 5 See A/56/400, para. 3. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/14 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2011 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/66/L.15 and Add.1)] 66/14. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special sessions and its resolution 65/13 of 30 November 2010, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1 Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Affirming its support for the Middle East peace process on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session2 and the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,3 Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/66/35). 2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. 3 S/2003/529, annex. A/RES/66/14 2 Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,5 Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1 including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof; 2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, to support the Middle East peace process for the achievement of the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of all final status issues and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and in this regard authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session and thereafter; 3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate; 4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative2 and the Quartet road map;3 5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their disposal; 6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Committee in the performance of its tasks; _______________ 4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136. 5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I. A/RES/66/14 3 7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/144 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2011 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/66/460)] 66/144. Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 52/111 of 12 December 1997, in which it decided to convene the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and its resolutions 56/266 of 27 March 2002, 57/195 of 18 December 2002, 58/160 of 22 December 2003, 59/177 of 20 December 2004 and 60/144 of 16 December 2005, which guided the comprehensive follow-up to and effective implementation of the World Conference, and in this regard underlining the importance of their full and effective implementation, Recalling also its resolutions 64/148 of 18 December 2009 and 65/240 of 24 December 2010, in which it, inter alia, called for the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance,1 which represented an important opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its commitment to the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including by mobilizing political will at the national, regional and international levels, with a view to achieving concrete results, Taking note of Human Rights Council decision 3/103 of 8 December 2006,2 by which, heeding the decision and instruction of the World Conference, the Council established the Ad Hoc Committee of the Human Rights Council on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards, Bearing in mind the responsibility and commitments of the Human Rights Council emanating from the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference,3 _______________ 1 See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 2 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. II, sect. B. 3 See A/CONF.211/8, chap, I. A/RES/66/144 2 Reiterating that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies, and that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races, Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance manifest themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and may be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination and the limitation or denial of their human rights, and recognizing the need to integrate a gender perspective into relevant policies, strategies and programmes of action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to address multiple forms of discrimination, Underlining the primacy of political will, international cooperation and adequate funding at the national, regional and international levels needed to address all forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Emphasizing, while acknowledging the primary responsibility of States parties to implement their obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,4 that international cooperation and technical assistance play an important role in assisting countries in the implementation of their obligations under the Convention, Alarmed at the increase in racist violence and xenophobic ideas in many parts of the world, in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at large as a result, inter alia, of the resurgent activities of associations established on the basis of racist and xenophobic platforms and charters, and the persistent use of those platforms and charters to promote or incite racist ideologies, Underlining the importance of urgently eliminating continuing and violent trends involving racism and racial discrimination, and conscious that any form of impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy, tends to encourage the recurrence of such crimes and requires resolute action and cooperation for its eradication, Recognizing that individuals belonging to vulnerable groups, such as migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, continue to be the main victims of violence and attacks perpetrated or incited by extremist political parties, movements and groups, Acknowledging the central role of resource mobilization, effective global partnership and international cooperation in the context of paragraphs 157 and 158 of the Durban Programme of Action for the successful realization of the primary objectives and commitments undertaken at the World Conference, Expressing grave concern at the lack of progress made in the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, in particular key paragraphs 157 to 159 of the Programme of Action, _______________ 4 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. A/RES/66/144 3 Welcoming the continued commitment of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to profiling and increasing the visibility of the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and recognizing the need for the High Commissioner to make this a cross-cutting issue in the activities and programmes of her Office, Noting the work of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at its seventh and eighth sessions, held from 5 to 16 October 20095 and from 11 to 22 October 2010,6 respectively, and welcoming the adoption by the Human Rights Council of the conclusions and recommendations of the Working Group, Noting also the progress made during the third session of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards, held in Geneva on 22 and 23 November 2010 and from 11 to 21 April 2011, and noting further the convening of the fourth session, to be held in Geneva during 2012, Noting further the activities undertaken in the context of the International Year for People of African Descent, including the first World Summit of Afro-Descendants, held in La Ceiba, Honduras, in August 2011, and the high-level summit for people of African descent, held in Salvador, Brazil, in November 2011 to mark the tenth anniversary of the Durban outcome, and looking forward to the African Diaspora Summit, to be held in South Africa in 2012, Recognizing the potential of sport as a universal language contributing to the education of people on the values of diversity, tolerance and fairness and as a means to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Welcoming the hosting of the 2010 and 2014 International Federation of Association Football World Cups in South Africa and Brazil, respectively, and stressing the importance of making continuing use of those events to promote understanding, tolerance and peace and to promote and strengthen efforts in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, I General principles 1. Recognizes and affirms that a global fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and all their abhorrent and evolving forms and manifestations is a matter of priority for the international community; 2. Acknowledges that no derogation from the prohibition of racial discrimination, genocide, the crime of apartheid or slavery is permitted, as defined in the obligations under the relevant human rights instruments; 3. Expresses its profound concern about and its unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including related acts of racially motivated violence, xenophobia and intolerance, as well as propaganda activities and organizations that attempt to justify or promote racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in any form; _______________ 5 See A/HRC/13/60. 6 See A/HRC/16/64. A/RES/66/144 4 4. Re-emphasizes that international cooperation is a key principle in achieving the goal of the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive follow-up to and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action1 in this regard; 5. Emphasizes that the basic responsibility for effectively combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance lies with States, and to this end stresses that States have the primary responsibility to ensure the full and effective implementation of all commitments and recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as well as the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference,3 and in this regard welcomes the steps taken by numerous Governments; 6. Expresses deep concern at inadequate responses to emerging and resurgent forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and urges States to adopt measures to address those scourges vigorously with a view to preventing their practice and protecting victims; 7. Underlines the imperative need to address all the contemporary forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, which include, inter alia, incitement to such hatred, racial profiling and the propagation of racist and xenophobic acts through cyberspace, with a view to maximizing protection for victims, providing legal remedies and combating impunity; 8. Stresses that States and international organizations have a responsibility to ensure that measures taken in the struggle against terrorism do not discriminate in purpose or effect on grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, and urges all States to rescind or refrain from all forms of racial profiling; 9. Recognizes that States should implement and enforce appropriate and effective legislative, judicial, regulatory and administrative measures to prevent and protect against acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations; 10. Also recognizes that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance occur on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and that victims can suffer multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination based on other related grounds, such as sex, language, religion or belief, political or other opinion, social origin, property and birth or other status; 11. Reaffirms that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law, and also reaffirms that the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, or incitement to racial discrimination, as well as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts, shall be declared offences punishable by law, in accordance with the international obligations of States, and that those prohibitions are consistent with freedom of opinion and expression; 12. Emphasizes that it is the responsibility of States to adopt effective measures to combat criminal acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including measures to ensure that such motivations are considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, to prevent those crimes from going unpunished and to ensure the rule of law; A/RES/66/144 5 13. Urges all States to review and, where necessary, revise their immigration laws, policies and practices so that they are free of racial discrimination and compatible with their obligations under international human rights instruments; 14. Calls upon all States, in accordance with the commitments undertaken in paragraph 147 of the Durban Programme of Action, to take all measures necessary to combat incitement to violence motivated by racial hatred, including through the misuse of print, audiovisual and electronic media and new communications technologies, and, in collaboration with service providers, to promote the use of such technologies, including the Internet, to contribute to the fight against racism, in conformity with international standards of freedom of expression and taking all measures necessary to guarantee that right; 15. Encourages all States to include in their educational curricula and social programmes at all levels, as appropriate, knowledge of and tolerance and respect for all cultures, civilizations, religions, peoples and countries, as well as information on the follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 16. Stresses the responsibility of States to mainstream a gender perspective into the design and development of prevention, education and protection measures aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at all levels, to ensure that they effectively target the distinct situations of women and men; II International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 17. Reaffirms that universal adherence to and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination4 are of paramount importance for the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination in the world; 18. Expresses grave concern that universal ratification of the Convention has not yet been reached, despite commitments under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,1 and calls upon those States that have not yet done so to accede to the Convention as a matter of urgency; 19. Urges, in the above context, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to maintain on its website and issue regular updates on a list of countries that have not yet ratified the Convention and to encourage those countries to ratify it at the earliest possible time; 20. Expresses concern at the serious delays in the submission of overdue reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which impede the effectiveness of the Committee, makes a strong appeal to all States parties to the Convention to comply with their treaty obligations, and reaffirms the importance of the provision of technical assistance to requesting countries in the preparation of their reports to the Committee; 21. Invites States parties to the Convention to ratify the amendment to article 8 of the Convention on the financing of the Committee, and calls for adequate additional resources from the regular budget of the United Nations to enable the Committee to discharge its mandate fully; A/RES/66/144 6 22. Urges all States parties to the Convention to intensify their efforts to implement the obligations that they have accepted under article 4 of the Convention, with due regard to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights7 and article 5 of the Convention; 23. Recalls that the Committee holds that the prohibition of the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred is compatible with the right to freedom of opinion and expression as outlined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in article 5 of the Convention; 24. Welcomes the work of the Committee in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the measures recommended to strengthen the implementation of the Convention as well as the functioning of the Committee; 25. Calls upon Member States to do their utmost to ensure that their responses to the current financial and economic crisis do not lead to increased poverty and underdevelopment and, potentially, a rise in racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against foreigners, immigrants and persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities all over the world; 26. Reaffirms that deprivation of citizenship on the basis of race or descent is a breach of State parties’ obligations to ensure non-discriminatory enjoyment of the right to nationality; III Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and follow-up to his visits 27. Takes note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, 8 and encourages relevant stakeholders to consider implementing the recommendations contained therein; 28. Welcomes Human Rights Council resolution 16/33 of 25 March 2011,9 by which the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a period of three years; 29. Reiterates its call to all Member States, intergovernmental organizations, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, and calls upon States to consider responding favourably to his requests for visits so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate fully and effectively; 30. Reaffirms that any form of impunity condoned by public authorities for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy and tends to encourage the recurrence of such acts; _______________ 7 Resolution 217 A (III). 8 See A/66/312 and A/66/313. 9 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/66/53), chap. II, sect. A. A/RES/66/144 7 31. Emphasizes the obligations of States under international law to exercise due diligence to prevent crimes against migrants perpetrated with racist or xenophobic motivations, to investigate such crimes and to punish the perpetrators and that not doing so violates, and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of, the human rights and fundamental freedoms of victims, and urges States to reinforce measures in this regard; 32. Recognizes with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas directed against Arab, Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as all religious communities, communities of people of African descent, communities of people of Asian descent, communities of indigenous people and other communities; 33. Calls upon States parties to fully implement legislation and other measures already in place to ensure that people of African descent are not discriminated against, and underlines in this regard the importance of supporting the programme of activities for the International Year for People of African Descent adopted by the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session;10 34. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide States, at their request, with advisory services and technical assistance to enable them to implement fully the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur; 35. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the human and financial assistance necessary to carry out his mandate efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session; 36. Requests the Special Rapporteur, within his mandate, to continue giving particular attention to the negative impact of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the full enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights; 37. Invites Member States to demonstrate greater commitment to fighting racism in sport by conducting educational and awareness-raising activities and by strongly condemning the perpetrators of racist incidents, in cooperation with national and international sports organizations; 38. Recommends that States engage in broad efforts to eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to promote respect for cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, and in that regard emphasizes the crucial role of education, including human rights education, training and learning, and a variety of awareness-raising measures which contribute to the creation of tolerant societies in which mutual understanding may be ensured; 39. Also recommends that all States give due attention to and closely monitor the way in which the concept of national, cultural and religious identity is debated within their societies, with a view to preventing it from being used as a tool to create artificial differences among some groups of the population; _______________ 10 See resolution 65/36. A/RES/66/144 8 40. Expresses concern at recent deeply marked tendencies within numerous societies to characterize migration as a problem and a threat to social cohesion, and in this context notes the numerous human rights challenges in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 41. Recommends that States conduct human rights training, including on the challenges of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance faced by migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, for law enforcement officials, especially immigration officials and border police, so that they may act in conformity with international human rights law; 42. Also recommends that States collect disaggregated data in order to design appropriate anti-racial discrimination legislation and policies and monitor their effectiveness, while abiding by some key principles, including self-identification, the right to privacy, and guaranteeing the consent of those individuals concerned, and the involvement of all groups of individuals concerned, in the design and implementation of the exercise; IV Outcomes of the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, the 2009 Durban Review Conference and the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (2011) 43. Reaffirms that the General Assembly is the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters relating to the economic, social and related fields, in accordance with Assembly resolution 50/227 of 24 May 1996, and that, together with the Human Rights Council, it shall constitute an intergovernmental process for the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action1 in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 44. Welcomes the adoption of the political declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,11 whose aim is to mobilize political will at the national, regional and international levels; 45. Reaffirms the political commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference,3 and their follow-up processes, at the national, regional and international levels, in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 46. Calls upon all States that have not yet elaborated their national action plans on combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to comply with their commitments undertaken at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of 2001; 47. Calls upon all States to formulate and implement without delay, at the national, regional and international levels, policies and plans of action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their gender-based manifestations; _______________ 11 See resolution 66/3. A/RES/66/144 9 48. Urges States to support the activities of existing regional bodies or centres that combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in their respective regions, and recommends the establishment of such bodies in all regions where they do not exist; 49. Calls upon those States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the instruments enumerated in paragraph 78 of the Durban Programme of Action; 50. Emphasizes the fundamental and complementary role of national human rights institutions, regional bodies or centres and civil society, working jointly with States towards the elimination of all forms of racism and, in particular, towards the achievement of the objectives of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in this regard; 51. Recognizes the fundamental role of civil society in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular in helping States to develop regulations and strategies, in taking measures and action against such forms of discrimination and through follow-up implementation; 52. Reaffirms its commitment to eliminating all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of related intolerance against indigenous peoples, and in this regard notes the attention paid to the objectives of combating prejudice, eliminating discrimination and promoting tolerance, understanding and good relations among indigenous peoples and all other segments of society in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;12 53. Acknowledges that the World Conference of 2001, which was the third world conference against racism, was significantly different from the previous two conferences, as evidenced by the inclusion in its title of two important components relating to contemporary forms of racism, namely, xenophobia and related intolerance; 54. Also acknowledges that the outcomes of the World Conference and the Durban Review Conference have the same status as the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions in the human rights and social fields; 55. Emphasizes the critical importance of increasing public support for the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the involvement of relevant stakeholders in its realization; 56. Requests the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to compile and disseminate, within existing resources, in a single combined publication, the political declaration on the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, with a view to increasing global support for and awareness of these documents, as well as to establish a programme of outreach through public information campaigns at all levels; 57. Calls upon Member States and the United Nations system to intensify efforts to widely distribute copies of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and encourages efforts to ensure its translation and wide dissemination; _______________ 12 Resolution 61/295, annex. A/RES/66/144 10 58. Welcomes the adoption of the laudable initiative led by the States members of the Caribbean Community and other Member States for the establishment of a permanent memorial at the United Nations to the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as a contribution towards the fulfilment of paragraph 101 of the Durban Declaration, expresses its appreciation for contributions made to the voluntary fund established in this regard, and urges other countries to contribute to the fund; 59. Takes note of the work of the mechanisms mandated to follow up on the World Conference and the Durban Review Conference, and underlines the importance of improving their effectiveness; 60. Calls upon the Human Rights Council to ensure that, upon the consideration and adoption of the conclusions and recommendations of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,5,6 the recommendations are brought to the attention of the relevant United Nations agencies for adoption and implementation within their respective mandates; 61. Encourages the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, further to the recommendation of the Working Group at its tenth session on the proclamation of a Decade for People of African Descent,13 to develop a programme of action, including a theme, for adoption by the Human Rights Council, with a view to proclaiming the decade starting in 2013 the Decade for People of African Descent; 62. Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue mainstreaming the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference in the whole United Nations system, and, in accordance with paragraphs 136 and 137 of the outcome document, which call for the establishment of an inter-agency task force, to update the Human Rights Council in this regard; 63. Acknowledges the central role of resource mobilization, effective global partnership and international cooperation in the context of paragraphs 157 and 158 of the Durban Programme of Action for the successful realization of commitments undertaken at the World Conference, and takes note of the mandate of the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, especially in mobilizing the political will necessary for the successful implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 64. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of the mandates of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards; 65. Expresses concern at the increasing incidence of racism in various sporting events, while noting with appreciation the efforts made by some governing bodies of the various sporting codes to combat racism, and in this regard invites all international sporting bodies to promote, through their national, regional and international federations, a world of sport free from racism and racial discrimination; _______________ 13 See A/HRC/18/45, sect. IV.B. A/RES/66/144 11 66. Expresses serious concern at past and recent incidents of racism in sport and at sporting events and, in this context, welcomes efforts of sports governing bodies to combat racism, including by pursuing anti-racism initiatives and by developing and applying disciplinary codes that impose sanctions for racist acts; 67. Expresses its appreciation, in this context, to the International Federation of Association Football for the initiative to introduce a visible theme on non-racism in football, and invites the Federation to continue this initiative at the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament to be held in Brazil; 68. Calls upon States to take advantage of mass sporting events as valuable outreach platforms for mobilizing people and conveying crucial messages about equality and non-discrimination; 69. Acknowledges the guidance and leadership role of the Human Rights Council and encourages it to continue overseeing the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide the Human Rights Council with all the support necessary for it to achieve its objectives in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; V Follow-up activities 70. Reiterates its recommendation that future meetings of the Human Rights Council and its relevant mechanisms focusing on the follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action1 be scheduled in a manner that allows broad participation and avoids overlap with the meetings devoted to the consideration of this item in the General Assembly; 71. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, with recommendations; 72. Decides to remain seized of this important matter at its sixty-seventh session under the item entitled “Elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/147 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2011 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/66/461)] 66/147. Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Recalling all of its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 65/203 of 21 December 2010, and Human Rights Council resolutions 15/12 of 30 September 2010,1 15/26 of 1 October 20102 and 18/4 of 29 September 2011,3 as well as all resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights in this regard, Recalling also all of its relevant resolutions in which, inter alia, it condemned any State that permitted or tolerated the recruitment, financing, training, assembly, transit or use of mercenaries with the objective of overthrowing the Governments of States Members of the United Nations, especially those of developing countries, or of fighting against national liberation movements, and recalling further the relevant resolutions and international instruments adopted by the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Organization of African Unity, inter alia, the Organization of African Unity Convention for the elimination of mercenarism in Africa,4 as well as by the African Union, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations concerning the strict observance of the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, the territorial integrity of States, the self-determination of peoples, the non-use of force or of the threat of use of force in international relations and non-interference in affairs within the domestic jurisdiction of States, Reaffirming also that, by virtue of the principle of self-determination, all peoples have the right freely to determine their political status and to pursue their _______________ 1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/65/53/Add.1), chap. II. 2 Ibid., chap. I. 3 Ibid., Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 53A and corrigendum (A/66/53/Add.1 and Corr.1), chap. II. 4 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1490, No. 25573. A/RES/66/147 2 economic, social and cultural development and that every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,5 Welcoming the establishment of the open-ended intergovernmental Working Group of the Human Rights Council with the mandate of considering the possibility of elaborating an international regulatory framework, including the option of elaborating a legally binding instrument on the regulation, monitoring and oversight of the activities of private military and security companies, Alarmed and concerned at the danger that the activities of mercenaries constitute to peace and security in developing countries, in particular in Africa and in small States, Deeply concerned at the loss of life, the substantial damage to property and the negative effects on the policy and economies of affected countries resulting from criminal mercenary activities, Extremely alarmed and concerned about recent mercenary activities in some developing countries in various parts of the world, including in areas of armed conflict, and the threat they pose to the integrity of and respect for the constitutional order of the affected countries, Concerned at the alleged involvement of mercenaries, as well as employees of some private military and security companies with mercenary-related activities, in serious human rights violations, including summary executions, enforced disappearances, rape, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, arbitrary arrests and detentions, arson, pillaging and looting, Convinced that a comprehensive, legally binding international regulatory instrument is important for regulating private military and security companies and, in this regard, for taking measures to ensure their accountability for human rights violations and monitor their activities, Convinced also that, notwithstanding the way in which they are used or the form that they take to acquire some semblance of legitimacy, mercenaries or mercenary-related activities are a threat to peace, security and the self-determination of peoples and an obstacle to the enjoyment of all human rights by peoples, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination,6 and expresses its appreciation for the work of the experts of the Working Group; 2. Reaffirms that the use of mercenaries and their recruitment, financing and training are causes for grave concern to all States and violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Recognizes that armed conflict, terrorism, arms trafficking and covert operations by third Powers, inter alia, encourage the demand for mercenaries on the global market; _______________ 5 Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. 6 See A/66/317. A/RES/66/147 3 4. Urges once again all States to take the steps necessary and to exercise the utmost vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take legislative measures to ensure that their territories and other territories under their control, as well as their nationals, are not used for the recruitment, assembly, financing, training, protection or transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to impede the right of peoples to self-determination, to destabilize or overthrow the Government of any State or to dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the right of peoples to self-determination; 5. Requests all States to exercise the utmost vigilance against any kind of recruitment, training, hiring or financing of mercenaries by private companies offering international military consultancy and security services, as well as to impose a specific ban on such companies intervening in armed conflicts or actions to destabilize constitutional regimes; 6. Encourages States that import the military assistance, consultancy and security services provided by private companies to establish regulatory national mechanisms for the registering and licensing of those companies in order to ensure that imported services provided by those private companies neither impede the enjoyment of human rights nor violate human rights in the recipient country; 7. Emphasizes its utmost concern about the impact of the activities of private military and security companies on the enjoyment of human rights, in particular when operating in armed conflicts, and notes that private military and security companies and their personnel are rarely held accountable for violations of human rights; 8. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider taking the action necessary to accede to or ratify the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries;7 9. Welcomes the cooperation extended by those countries that received a visit by the Working Group and the adoption by some States of national legislation that restricts the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries; 10. Condemns recent mercenary activities in developing countries in various parts of the world, in particular in areas of conflict, and the threat they pose to the integrity of and respect for the constitutional order of those countries and the exercise of the right of their peoples to self-determination, and stresses the importance for the Working Group of looking into sources and root causes, as well as the political motivations of mercenaries and for mercenary-related activities; 11. Calls upon States to investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever and wherever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occur and to bring to trial those found responsible or to consider their extradition, if so requested, in accordance with domestic law and applicable bilateral or international treaties; 12. Condemns any form of impunity granted to perpetrators of mercenary activities and to those responsible for the use, recruitment, financing and training of mercenaries, and urges all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law, to bring them, without distinction, to justice; _______________ 7 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2163, No. 37789. A/RES/66/147 4 13. Calls upon Member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law, to cooperate with and assist the judicial prosecution of those accused of mercenary activities in transparent, open and fair trials; 14. Requests the Working Group to continue the work already done by the previous Special Rapporteurs on the strengthening of the international legal framework for the prevention and sanction of the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries, taking into account the proposal for a new legal definition of a mercenary drafted by the Special Rapporteur in his report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtieth session,8 including the elaboration and presentation of concrete proposals on possible complementary and new standards aimed at filling existing gaps, as well as general guidelines or basic principles encouraging the further protection of human rights, in particular the right of peoples to self-determination, while facing current and emergent threats posed by mercenaries or mercenary-related activities; 15. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as a matter of priority, to publicize the adverse effects of the activities of mercenaries on the right of peoples to self-determination and, when requested and where necessary, to render advisory services to States that are affected by those activities; 16. Expresses its appreciation to the Office of the High Commissioner for its support for the holding of the five regional governmental consultations on traditional and new forms of mercenary activities as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, in particular regarding the effects of the activities of private military and security companies on the enjoyment of human rights; 17. Notes with appreciation the work of the Working Group on the elaboration of concrete principles on the regulation of private companies offering military assistance, consultancy and other military security-related services on the international market, which it carried out after country visits and through the process of regional consultations, and in consultation with academics and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and also notes its work on the draft convention on the regulation, monitoring and oversight of private military and security companies for consideration by Member States;9 18. Takes note of the summary of the first session of the open-ended intergovernmental Working Group of the Human Rights Council to consider the possibility of elaborating an international regulatory framework on the regulation, monitoring and oversight of the activities of private military and security companies,10 expresses satisfaction regarding the participation of experts, including the members of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries, as resource persons at that session, and requests the Working Group on the use of mercenaries and other experts to continue to participate; 19. Encourages Member States to continue considering the proposal of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries regarding a possible convention for regulating private military and security companies, 11 and recommends to all _______________ 8 See E/CN.4/2004/15, para. 47. 9 See A/HRC/15/25. 10 A/HRC/WG.10/1/CRP.2. 11 A/65/325, annex. A/RES/66/147 5 Member States, including those confronted with the phenomenon of private military and security companies, as contracting States, States of operations, home States or States whose nationals are employed to work for a private military and security company, to contribute to the work of the open-ended intergovernmental Working Group, taking into account the initial work done by the Working Group on the use of mercenaries; 20. Urges all States to cooperate fully with the Working Group on the use of mercenaries in the fulfilment of its mandate; 21. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Working Group with all the assistance and support necessary for the fulfilment of its mandate, both professional and financial, including through the promotion of cooperation between the Working Group and other components of the United Nations system that deal with countering mercenary-related activities, in order to meet the demands of its current and future activities; 22. Requests the Working Group to consult States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of the present resolution and to report, with specific recommendations, to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session its findings on the use of mercenaries to undermine the enjoyment of all human rights and to impede the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination; 23. Decides to consider at its sixty-seventh session the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination under the item entitled “Right of peoples to self-determination”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/19 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2011 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/66/L.20 and Add.1)] 66/19. The Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled “The situation in the Middle East”, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Middle East,1 Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 2 to the occupied Syrian Golan, Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Stressing the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and other activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, Noting with satisfaction the convening in Madrid on 30 October 1991 of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the formula of land for peace, Expressing grave concern over the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track, and expressing the hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached, _______________ 1 A/66/338. 2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. A/RES/66/19 2 1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981); 2. Also declares that the Israeli decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and has no validity whatsoever, as confirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 497 (1981), and calls upon Israel to rescind it; 3. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention IV of 1907,3 and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,2 continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under those instruments in all circumstances; 4. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region; 5. Calls upon Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks; 6. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Calls upon all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. 69th plenary meeting 30 November 2011 _______________ 3 See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/21 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2011 [on the report of the First Committee (A/66/402)] 66/21. Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, Recalling also its resolutions 51/37 of 10 December 1996, 54/44 of 1 December 1999, 57/50 of 22 November 2002, 60/46 of 8 December 2005 and 63/36 of 2 December 2008 relating to the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, Recalling further paragraph 77 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,1 Determined to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction that have characteristics comparable in destructive effect to those of weapons of mass destruction identified in the definition of weapons of mass destruction adopted by the United Nations in 1948,2 Noting with appreciation the discussions which have been held in the Conference on Disarmament under the item entitled “New types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons; radiological weapons”,3 Noting the desirability of keeping the matter under review, as appropriate, 1. Reaffirms that effective measures should be taken to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction; _______________ 1 Resolution S-10/2. 2 The definition was adopted by the Commission for Conventional Armaments (see S/C.3/32/Rev.1). 3 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/64/27), chap. III, sect. E; ibid., Sixty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/65/27), chap. III, sect. E; and ibid., Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/66/27), chap. III, sect. E. A/RES/66/21 2 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament, without prejudice to further overview of its agenda, to keep the matter under review, as appropriate, with a view to making, when necessary, recommendations on undertaking specific negotiations on identified types of such weapons; 3. Calls upon all States, immediately following any recommendations of the Conference on Disarmament, to give favourable consideration to those recommendations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Conference on Disarmament all documents relating to the consideration of this item by the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session; 5. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report the results of any consideration of the matter in its annual reports to the General Assembly; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session the item entitled “Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/283 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 3 July 2012 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/66/L.50)] 66/283. Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia The General Assembly, Recalling all its relevant resolutions on the protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, including its resolutions 62/153 of 18 December 2007, 62/249 of 15 May 2008, 63/307 of 9 September 2009, 64/162 of 18 December 2009, 64/296 of 7 September 2010 and 65/287 of 29 June 2011, Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions on Georgia relating to the need for all parties to work towards a comprehensive peace and the return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their places of origin, and stressing the importance of their full and timely implementation, Recognizing the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement 1 as the key international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons, Concerned by forced demographic changes resulting from the conflicts in Georgia, Concerned also by the humanitarian situation caused by armed conflict in August 2008, which resulted in the further forced displacement of civilians, Mindful of the urgent need to find a solution to the problems related to forced displacement in Georgia, Underlining the importance of the discussions that commenced in Geneva on 15 October 2008 and of continuing to address the issue of the voluntary, safe, dignified and unhindered return of internally displaced persons and refugees on the basis of internationally recognized principles and conflict-settlement practices, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General concerning the implementation of resolution 65/287,2 _______________ 1 E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. 2 A/66/813. A/RES/66/283 2 1. Recognizes the right of return of all internally displaced persons and refugees and their descendants, regardless of ethnicity, to their homes throughout Georgia, including in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia; 2. Stresses the need to respect the property rights of all internally displaced persons and refugees affected by the conflicts in Georgia and to refrain from obtaining property in violation of those rights; 3. Reaffirms the unacceptability of forced demographic changes; 4. Underlines the urgent need for unimpeded access for humanitarian activities to all internally displaced persons, refugees and other persons residing in all conflict-affected areas throughout Georgia; 5. Calls upon all participants in the Geneva discussions to intensify their efforts to establish a durable peace, to commit to enhanced confidence-building measures and to take immediate steps to ensure respect for human rights and create favourable security conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified and unhindered return of all internally displaced persons and refugees to their places of origin; 6. Underlines the need for the development of a timetable to ensure the voluntary, safe, dignified and unhindered return of all internally displaced persons and refugees affected by the conflicts in Georgia to their homes; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-seventh session the item entitled “Protracted conflicts in the GUAM area and their implications for international peace, security and development”. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/66/29 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2011 [on the report of the First Committee (A/66/412)] 66/29. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 B of 1 December 1999, 55/33 V of 20 November 2000, 56/24 M of 29 November 2001, 57/74 of 22 November 2002, 58/53 of 8 December 2003, 59/84 of 3 December 2004, 60/80 of 8 December 2005, 61/84 of 6 December 2006, 62/41 of 5 December 2007, 63/42 of 2 December 2008, 64/56 of 2 December 2009 and 65/48 of 8 December 2010, Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or injure thousands of people — women, girls, boys and men — every year, and which place people living in affected areas at risk and hinder the development of their communities, Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and to assure their destruction, Wishing to do the utmost in ensuring assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims, Noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to implement the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction 1 and the substantial progress made towards addressing the global anti-personnel landmine problem, Recalling the first to tenth meetings of the States parties to the Convention, held in Maputo (1999), 2 Geneva (2000), 3 Managua (2001), 4 Geneva (2002), 5 _______________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597. 2 See APLC/MSP.1/1999/1. 3 See APLC/MSP.2/2000/1. 4 See APLC/MSP.3/2001/1. 5 See APLC/MSP.4/2002/1. A/RES/66/29 2 Bangkok (2003), 6 Zagreb (2005), 7 Geneva (2006), 8 the Dead Sea (2007), 9 Geneva (2008)10 and Geneva (2010)11 and the First Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, held in Nairobi (2004),12 Recalling also the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, held in Cartagena, Colombia, from 30 November to 4 December 2009,13 at which the international community reviewed the implementation of the Convention and the States parties adopted the Cartagena Declaration 14 and the Cartagena Action Plan 2010–2014 15 to support enhanced implementation and promotion of the Convention, Noting with satisfaction that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations of the Convention to one hundred and fifty-seven, Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization and norms, Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in some conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development, 1. Invites all States that have not signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction1 to accede to it without delay; 2. Urges all States that have signed but have not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay; 3. Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of and compliance with the Convention, including through the continued implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan 2010–2014;15 4. Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information as required under article 7 of the Convention in order to promote transparency and compliance with the Convention; 5. Invites all States that have not ratified the Convention or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to make global mine action efforts more effective; 6. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic _______________ 6 See APLC/MSP.5/2003/5. 7 See APLC/MSP.6/2005/5. 8 See APLC/MSP.7/2006/5. 9 See APLC/MSP.8/2007/6. 10 See APLC/MSP.9/2008/4 and Corr.1 and 2. 11 See APLC/MSP.10/2010/7. 12 See APLC/CONF/2004/5 and Corr.1. 13 See APLC/CONF/2009/9. 14 Ibid., part IV. 15 Ibid., part III. A/RES/66/29 3 reintegration of mine victims, mine risk education programmes and the removal and destruction of anti-personnel mines placed or stockpiled throughout the world; 7. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and, where in a position to do so, to promote adherence to the Convention through bilateral, subregional, regional and multilateral contacts, outreach, seminars and other means; 8. Reiterates its invitation and encouragement to all interested States, the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the Eleventh Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention, to be held in Phnom Penh from 28 November to 2 December 2011, and to participate in the future meeting programme of the Convention; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with article 11, paragraph 2, of the Convention, to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the Twelfth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention and, on behalf of the States parties and in accordance with article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention, to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations, to attend the Twelfth Meeting of the States Parties and future meetings as observers; 10. Decides to remain seized of the matter. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/37 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2011 [on the report of the First Committee (A/66/412)] 66/37. Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993, 49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 December 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998, 54/54 M of 1 December 1999, 55/33 P of 20 November 2000, 56/24 I of 29 November 2001, 57/77 of 22 November 2002, 58/39 of 8 December 2003, 59/88 of 3 December 2004, 60/75 of 8 December 2005, 61/82 of 6 December 2006, 62/44 of 5 December 2007, 63/44 of 2 December 2008, 64/42 of 2 December 2009 and 65/46 of 8 December 2010, Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security, Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same region or subregion, Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control, Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces, Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,1 which is a cornerstone of European security, _______________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2441, No. 44001. 2 Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security, Believing also that an important objective of conventional arms control in regions of tension should be to prevent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression, 1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the meantime, to seek the views of Member States on the subject and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-seventh session the item entitled “Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/57 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2011 [on the report of the First Committee (A/66/413)] 66/57. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to the survival of mankind, Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons,1 Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strengthening international peace and security, Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federation and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, Recalling that paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly2 states that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and that would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, _______________ 1 A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. 2 Resolution S-10/2. A/RES/66/57 2 Determined to achieve an international convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction, Stressing that an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time, Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament, during its 2011 session, was unable to undertake negotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 65/80 of 8 December 2010, 1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations in order to reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/6 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 October 2011 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/66/L.4)] 66/6. Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba The General Assembly, Determined to encourage strict compliance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation, which are also enshrined in many international legal instruments, Recalling the statements of the Heads of State or Government at the Ibero-American Summits concerning the need to eliminate the unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one State against another that affect the free flow of international trade, Concerned about the continued promulgation and application by Member States of laws and regulations, such as that promulgated on 12 March 1996 known as “the Helms-Burton Act”, the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other States, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation, Taking note of declarations and resolutions of different intergovernmental forums, bodies and Governments that express the rejection by the international community and public opinion of the promulgation and application of measures of the kind referred to above, Recalling its resolutions 47/19 of 24 November 1992, 48/16 of 3 November 1993, 49/9 of 26 October 1994, 50/10 of 2 November 1995, 51/17 of 12 November 1996, 52/10 of 5 November 1997, 53/4 of 14 October 1998, 54/21 of 9 November 1999, 55/20 of 9 November 2000, 56/9 of 27 November 2001, 57/11 of 12 November 2002, 58/7 of 4 November 2003, 59/11 of 28 October 2004, 60/12 of 8 November 2005, 61/11 of 8 November 2006, 62/3 of 30 October 2007, 63/7 of 29 October 2008, 64/6 of 28 October 2009 and 65/6 of 26 October 2010, A/RES/66/6 2 Concerned that, since the adoption of its resolutions 47/19, 48/16, 49/9, 50/10, 51/17, 52/10, 53/4, 54/21, 55/20, 56/9, 57/11, 58/7, 59/11, 60/12, 61/11, 62/3, 63/7, 64/6 and 65/6, further measures of that nature aimed at strengthening and extending the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba continue to be promulgated and applied, and concerned also about the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 65/6;1 2. Reiterates its call upon all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind referred to in the preamble to the present resolution, in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation; 3. Once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations system, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution in the light of the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law and to submit it to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-seventh session the item entitled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”. 41st plenary meeting 25 October 2011 _______________ 1 A/66/114. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/61 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2011 [on the report of the First Committee (A/66/415)] 66/61. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions, Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(55)/RES/14, adopted on 23 September 2011,1 Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security, Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the Agency, Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,2 in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the Treaty3 as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 4 the Conference undertook to make determined efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty, called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive _______________ 1 See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Fifty-fifth Regular Session, 19–23 September 2011 (GC(55)/RES/DEC(2011)). 2 See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 4 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). A/RES/66/61 2 devices and to accept Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty, Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference on 11 May 1995,2 in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards, Noting with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,5 the Conference emphasized the importance of a process leading to full implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East and decided, inter alia, that the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the co-sponsors of the 1995 resolution, in consultation with the States of the region, would convene a conference in 2012, to be attended by all States of the Middle East, on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at by the States of the region and with the full support and engagement of the nuclear-weapon States, Recalling that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become a party to the Treaty, Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region, Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime, Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to seriously consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, inviting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty and, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under Agency safeguards, Noting that one hundred and eighty-two States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,6 including a number of States in the region, 1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;7 _______________ 5 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vols. I-III)). 6 See resolution 50/245. 7 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. I)), part I, Conclusions and recommendations for follow-on actions, sect. IV. A/RES/66/61 3 2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons3 and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East; 3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty without further delay, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, to renounce possession of nuclear weapons and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-seventh session the item entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/75 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2011 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/66/426)] 66/75. Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to its resolution 65/101 of 10 December 2010, 1 as well as that of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2010 to 31 August 2011,2 Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights3 and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property, Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine refugees, Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,4 and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and a file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property, Expressing its appreciation for the preservation and modernization of the existing records, including the land records, of the Conciliation Commission, and stressing the importance of such records for a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in conformity with resolution 194 (III), _______________ 1 A/66/318. 2 A/66/296, annex. 3 Resolution 217 A (III). 4 Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700. A/RES/66/75 2 Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993, 5 to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees, 1. Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel; 3. Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues within the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. 81st plenary meeting 9 December 2011 _______________ 5 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/77 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2011 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/66/427)] 66/77. Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 65/103 of 10 December 2010, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Recalling the Regulations annexed to The Hague Convention IV of 1907,1 the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,2 and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol I3 to the four Geneva Conventions,4 Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories5 and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,6 Considering that the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations, _______________ 1 See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). 2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. 3 Ibid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. 4 Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. 5 See A/66/370. 6 A/66/356, A/66/362, A/66/364, A/66/373 and A/66/400. A/RES/66/77 2 Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice, 7 and also recalling General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Noting in particular the Court’s reply, including that the Fourth Geneva Convention2 is applicable in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and that Israel is in breach of several of the provisions of the Convention, Recalling the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, held on 15 July 1999, as well as the Declaration adopted by the reconvened Conference on 5 December 2001 and the need for the parties to follow up the implementation of the Declaration, Welcoming and encouraging the initiatives by States parties to the Convention, both individually and collectively, according to article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention, as well as the continuing efforts of the depositary State of the Geneva Conventions in this regard, Stressing that Israel, the occupying Power, should comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, 1. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,2 is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and that it comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Convention; 3. Calls upon all High Contracting Parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions4 and as mentioned in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004,7 to continue to exert all efforts to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 4. Reiterates the need for speedy implementation of the relevant recommendations contained in the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, including at its tenth emergency special session and including resolution ES-10/15, with regard to ensuring respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the provisions of the Convention; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. 81st plenary meeting 9 December 2011 _______________ 7 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/79 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2011 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/66/427)] 66/79. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1 Recalling also the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,2 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights2 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 3 and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Reaffirming its relevant resolutions, including resolution 65/105 of 10 December 2010 as well as those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling the relevant resolutions of the Human Rights Council, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, and stressing the need for their implementation, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories4 and the report of the Secretary-General,5 Taking note of the recent reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 4 See A/66/370. 5 A/66/356. A/RES/66/79 2 occupied since 1967, 6 as well as of other relevant recent reports of the Human Rights Council, Aware of the responsibility of the international community to promote human rights and ensure respect for international law, and recalling, in this regard, its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice, 7 and recalling also General Assembly resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Noting in particular the Court’s reply, including that the construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime are contrary to international law, Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,8 to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Reaffirming further the obligation of the States parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention8 under articles 146, 147 and 148 with regard to penal sanctions, grave breaches and responsibilities of the High Contracting Parties, Reaffirming that all States have the right and the duty to take actions in conformity with international law and international humanitarian law to counter deadly acts of violence against their civilian population in order to protect the lives of their citizens, Stressing the need for full compliance with the Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached within the context of the Middle East peace process, including the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings, and the implementation of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,9 Stressing also the need for the full implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, both of 15 November 2005, to allow for the freedom of movement of the Palestinian civilian population within and into and out of the Gaza Strip, Expressing grave concern about the continuing systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including that arising from the excessive use of force and military operations causing death and injury to Palestinian civilians, including children, women and non-violent, peaceful demonstrators; the use of collective punishment; the closure of areas; the confiscation of land; the establishment and expansion of settlements; the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949; the destruction of property and infrastructure; and all other _______________ 6 A/HRC/16/72; see also A/66/358. 7 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136. 8 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. 9 S/2003/529, annex. A/RES/66/79 3 actions by it designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Gravely concerned in particular about the critical humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza Strip, including that resulting from the prolonged closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade and the military operations between December 2008 and January 2009, which caused extensive loss of life and injury, particularly among Palestinian civilians, including children and women, widespread destruction and damage to Palestinian homes, properties, vital infrastructure and public institutions, including hospitals, schools and United Nations facilities and the internal displacement of civilians, as well as about the firing of rockets into Israel, Stressing the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly resolution ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009, Gravely concerned by reports regarding serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law committed during the military operations in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009, including the findings in the summary by the Secretary-General of the report of the Board of Inquiry10 and in the report of the United Nations Fact-finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict,11 and reiterating the necessity for serious follow-up by all parties of the recommendations addressed to them towards ensuring accountability and justice, Expressing deep concern about the short- and long-term detrimental impact of such widespread destruction and the continued impeding of the reconstruction process by Israel, the occupying Power, on the human rights situation and on the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian civilian population, Also expressing deep concern about the Israeli policy of closures and the imposition of severe restrictions, checkpoints, several of which have been transformed into structures akin to permanent border crossings, and a permit regime, all of which obstruct the freedom of movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian goods, throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and impair the Territory’s contiguity, and about the consequent violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people and the negative impact on their socio-economic situation and the efforts aimed at rehabilitating and developing the Palestinian economy, which remains that of a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, while taking note of recent developments with regard to the situation of access there, Further expressing deep concern that thousands of Palestinians, including many children and women, continue to be held in Israeli prisons or detention centres under harsh conditions, including, inter alia, unhygienic conditions, solitary confinement, lack of proper medical care, denial of family visits and denial of due process, that impair their well-being, and expressing deep concern also about the ill- treatment and harassment of any Palestinian prisoners and all reports of torture, Expressing concern about the possible consequences of the enactment by Israel, the occupying Power, of military orders regarding the detention, _______________ 10 See A/63/855-S/2009/250. 11 A/HRC/12/48. A/RES/66/79 4 imprisonment and deportation of Palestinian civilians from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and recalling, in this regard, the prohibition under international humanitarian law of the deportation of civilians from occupied territories, Convinced of the need for an international presence to monitor the situation, to contribute to ending the violence and protecting the Palestinian civilian population and to help the parties implement the agreements reached, and, in this regard, recalling the positive contribution of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, Taking note of the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the security sector by the Palestinian Authority, calling upon the parties to continue cooperation that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and building confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to all major population centres, Emphasizing the right of all people in the region to the enjoyment of human rights as enshrined in the international human rights covenants, 1. Reiterates that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,8 and contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, are illegal and have no validity; 2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people, including the killing and injury of civilians, the arbitrary detention and imprisonment of civilians and the destruction and confiscation of civilian property, and that it fully respect human rights law and comply with its legal obligations in this regard; 3. Also demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 19498 and cease immediately all measures and actions taken in violation and in breach of the Convention; 4. Further demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all of its settlement activities, the construction of the wall and any other measures aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, all of which, inter alia, gravely and detrimentally impact the human rights of the Palestinian people and the prospects for a peaceful settlement; 5. Condemns all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, especially the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which have caused extensive loss of life and vast numbers of injuries, including among children, massive damage and destruction to homes, properties, vital infrastructure and public institutions, including hospitals, schools and United Nations facilities, and agricultural lands, and internal displacement of civilians; 6. Expresses grave concern at the firing of rockets against Israeli civilian areas resulting in loss of life and injury; 7. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009); A/RES/66/79 5 8. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice7 and as demanded in General Assembly resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003, and that it immediately cease the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, dismantle forthwith the structure situated therein, repeal or render ineffective all legislative and regulatory acts relating thereto, and make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall, which has gravely impacted the human rights and the socio-economic living conditions of the Palestinian people; 9. Reiterates the need for respect for the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and for guarantees of the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, including movement into and from East Jerusalem, into and from the Gaza Strip, between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and to and from the outside world; 10. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cease its imposition of prolonged closures and economic and movement restrictions, including those amounting to a blockade on the Gaza Strip, and, in this regard, to fully implement the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, both of 15 November 2005, in order to allow for the sustained and regular movement of persons and goods and for the acceleration of long overdue reconstruction in the Gaza Strip; 11. Urges Member States to continue to provide emergency assistance to the Palestinian people to alleviate the financial crisis and the dire socio-economic and humanitarian situation, particularly in the Gaza Strip; 12. Emphasizes the need to preserve and develop the Palestinian institutions and infrastructure for the provision of vital public services to the Palestinian civilian population and the promotion of human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/82 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2011 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/66/430)] 66/82. Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1970 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, in which it requested the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to study the information transmitted to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations and to take such information fully into account in examining the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling also its resolution 65/108 of 10 December 2010, in which it requested the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), Stressing the importance of timely transmission by the administering Powers of adequate information under Article 73 e of the Charter, in particular in relation to the preparation by the Secretariat of the working papers on the Territories concerned, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter,1 1. Reaffirms that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self-government in terms of Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter with respect to that Territory; _______________ 1 A/66/65 and Add.1. A/RES/66/82 2 2. Requests the administering Powers concerned, in accordance with their Charter obligations, to transmit or continue to transmit regularly to the Secretary- General for information purposes, subject to such limitation as security and constitutional considerations may require, statistical and other information of a technical nature relating to economic, social and educational conditions in the Territories for which they are respectively responsible, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned, including the constitution, legislative act or executive order providing for the government of the Territory and the constitutional relationship of the Territory to the administering Power, within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year in those Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of the working papers relating to the Territories concerned; 4. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under General Assembly resolution 1970 (XVIII), in accordance with established procedures. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/90 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2011 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/66/434)] 66/90. Dissemination of information on decolonization The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for 2011 relating to the dissemination of information on decolonization and publicity for the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization,1 Recalling General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations concerning the dissemination of information on decolonization, in particular Assembly resolution 65/116 of 10 December 2010, Recognizing the need for flexible, practical and innovative approaches towards reviewing the options of self-determination for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories with a view to implementing the plan of action for the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,2 Reiterating the importance of dissemination of information as an instrument for furthering the aims of the Declaration, and mindful of the role of world public opinion in effectively assisting the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to achieve self-determination, Recognizing the role played by the administering Powers in transmitting information to the Secretary-General in accordance with the terms of Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Recognizing also the role of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, through the United Nations information centres, in the dissemination of information at the regional level on the activities of the United Nations, _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/66/23), chap. III. 2 See resolution 65/119. A/RES/66/90 2 Recalling the issuance by the Department of Public Information, in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme, the specialized agencies and the Special Committee, of an information leaflet on assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories, Aware of the role of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization, 1. Approves the activities in the field of dissemination of information on decolonization undertaken by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, and recalls with satisfaction the publication, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 61/129 of 14 December 2006, of the information leaflet entitled “What the UN Can Do to Assist Non-Self-Governing Territories”, which was updated for the United Nations website on decolonization in May 2009, and encourages continued updating and wide dissemination of the information leaflet; 2. Considers it important to continue and expand its efforts to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on decolonization, with particular emphasis on the options for self-determination available for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, and, to this end, requests the Department of Public Information, through the United Nations information centres in the relevant regions, to actively engage and seek new and innovative ways to disseminate material to the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to further enhance the information provided on the United Nations decolonization website and to continue to include the full series of reports of the regional seminars on decolonization, the statements and scholarly papers presented at those seminars and links to the full series of reports of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 4. Requests the Department of Public Information to continue its efforts to update web-based information on the assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 5. Requests the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Public Information to implement the recommendations of the Special Committee and to continue their efforts to take measures through all the media available, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization and, inter alia: (a) To develop procedures to collect, prepare and disseminate, particularly to the Non-Self-Governing Territories, basic material on the issue of self-determination of the peoples of the Territories; (b) To seek the full cooperation of the administering Powers in the discharge of the tasks referred to above; (c) To explore further the idea of a programme of collaboration with the decolonization focal points of territorial Governments, particularly in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, to help improve the exchange of information; (d) To encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization; A/RES/66/90 3 (e) To encourage the involvement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (f) To report to the Special Committee on measures taken in the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Requests all States, including the administering Powers, to accelerate the dissemination of information referred to in paragraph 2 above; 7. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine this question and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/66/91 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2011 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/66/434)] 66/91. Implementation of the Declaration on the granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for 2011,1 Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all its subsequent resolutions concerning the implementation of the Declaration, the most recent of which was resolution 65/117 of 10 December 2010, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its resolution 65/119 of 10 December 2010, by which it declared the period 2011–2020 the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and the need to examine ways to ascertain the wishes of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories on the basis of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization, Recognizing that the eradication of colonialism has been one of the priorities of the United Nations and continues to be one of its priorities for the decade that began in 2011, Regretting that measures to eliminate colonialism by 2010, as called for in its resolution 55/146 of 8 December 2000, have not been successful, Reiterating its conviction of the need for the eradication of colonialism, as well as racial discrimination and violations of basic human rights, Noting with satisfaction the continued efforts of the Special Committee in contributing to the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/66/23). A/RES/66/91 2 Stressing the importance of the formal participation of the administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting with satisfaction the cooperation and active participation of certain administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, and encouraging the others also to do so, Noting that the Caribbean regional seminar was held in Kingstown from 31 May to 2 June 2011, 1. Reaffirms its resolution 1514 (XV) and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, including its resolution 65/119, by which it declared the period 2011–2020 the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon the administering Powers, in accordance with those resolutions, to take all steps necessary to enable the peoples of the Non-Self- Governing Territories concerned to exercise fully as soon as possible their right to self-determination, including independence; 2. Reaffirms once again that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;2 3. Reaffirms its determination to continue to take all steps necessary to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism and the faithful observance by all States of the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 4. Affirms once again its support for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 5. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to develop and finalize, as soon as possible, a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; 6. Recalls with satisfaction the professional, open and transparent conduct of both the February 2006 and the October 2007 referendums to determine the future status of Tokelau, monitored by the United Nations; 7. Requests the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration and to carry out the actions approved by the General Assembly regarding the Second and Third International Decades for the Eradication of Colonialism in all Territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, including independence, and in particular: (a) To formulate specific proposals to bring about an end to colonialism and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session; _______________ 2 Resolution 217 A (III). A/RES/66/91 3 (b) To continue to examine the implementation by Member States of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization; (c) To continue to examine the political, economic and social situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to recommend, as appropriate, to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (d) To develop and finalize, as soon as possible and in cooperation with the administering Power and the Territory in question, a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (e) To continue to dispatch visiting and special missions to the Non-Self- Governing Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (f) To conduct seminars, as appropriate, for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information on the work of the Special Committee, and to facilitate participation by the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in those seminars; (g) To take all steps necessary to enlist worldwide support among Governments, as well as national and international organizations, for the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration and the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; (h) To observe annually the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories;3 8. Recalls that the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, 4 updated as necessary, represents an important legislative authority for the attainment of self-government by the Non-Self- Governing Territories, and that the case-by-case assessment of the attainment of self-government in each Territory can make an important contribution to this process; 9. Calls upon all States, in particular the administering Powers, as well as the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to give effect within their respective spheres of competence to the recommendations of the Special Committee for the implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that economic and other activities in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the peoples but instead promote development, and to assist them in the exercise of their right to self-determination; 11. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Non-Self- _______________ 3 See resolution 54/91. 4 A/56/61, annex. A/RES/66/91 4 Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the relevant administering Power to take all steps necessary to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 12. Urges all States, directly and through their action in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to provide moral and material assistance, as needed, to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requests the administering Powers to take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economies of those Territories; 13. Requests the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide economic, social and other assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to continue to do so, as appropriate, after they exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; 14. Reaffirms that the United Nations visiting missions to the Territories are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, as well as the wishes and aspirations of their inhabitants, and calls upon the administering Powers to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee in the discharge of its mandate and to facilitate visiting missions to the Territories; 15. Calls upon all the administering Powers to cooperate fully in the work of the Special Committee and to participate formally in its future sessions; 16. Approves the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples covering its work during 2011, including the programme of work envisaged for 2012;1 17. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Committee with the facilities and services required for the implementation of the present resolution, as well as the other resolutions and decisions on decolonization adopted by the General Assembly and the Special Committee. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/67/118 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2012 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/67/424)] 67/118. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,1 as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights2 and the International Covenants on Human Rights,3 Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968 and 66/76 of 9 December 2011, and the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, including resolution S-12/1, adopted by the Council at its twelfth special session on 16 October 2009,4 Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Taking into account the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,5 and recalling in this regard its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Recalling its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, _______________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. 2 Resolution 217 A (III). 3 Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 4 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/64/53/Add.1), chap. I. 5 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. A/RES/67/118 2 Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross and grave violation of human rights, Gravely concerned about the continuing detrimental impact of ongoing unlawful Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in the death and injury of civilians, the widespread destruction of property and vital infrastructure, ongoing settlement activities and construction of the wall, the internal displacement of civilians, the imposition of collective punishment measures, particularly against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, where continuing severe restrictions on movement amount to a blockade, and the detention and imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians, Gravely concerned also about acts of violence, intimidation and provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and properties, including homes, mosques, churches and agricultural lands, Gravely concerned in particular by reports regarding serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law committed during the military operations in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009, including the findings in the summary by the Secretary-General of the report of the Board of Inquiry6 and in the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict,7 and reiterating the necessity for serious follow-up by all parties to the recommendations addressed to them towards ensuring accountability and justice, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories8 and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,9 Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 199310 and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Stressing the urgency of bringing a complete end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and thus an end to the violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people, and of allowing for the realization of their inalienable human rights, including their right to self-determination and their independent State, Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,11 1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly and for its impartiality; _______________ 6 A/63/855-S/2009/250. 7 A/HRC/12/48. 8 A/67/550. 9 A/67/332, A/67/338, A/67/372, A/67/375 and A/67/511. 10 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. 11 A/66/371-S/2011/592. A/RES/67/118 3 2. Reiterates its demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cooperate, in accordance with its obligations as a State Member of the United Nations, with the Special Committee in implementing its mandate; 3. Deplores those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the report of the Special Committee covering the reporting period;8 4. Expresses grave concern about the critical situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the Gaza Strip, as a result of unlawful Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns and calls for the immediate cessation of all illegal Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the wall, as well as the excessive and indiscriminate use of force against the civilian population, the destruction and confiscation of properties, all measures of collective punishment, and the detention and imprisonment of thousands of civilians; 5. Requests the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli violations of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,1 and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; 6. Also requests the Special Committee to submit regularly to the Secretary- General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Further requests the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment and status of the thousands of prisoners and detainees, including children and women, in Israeli prisons and detention centres in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and expresses grave concern about harsh conditions and ill-treatment of prisoners and recent hunger strikes, while taking note of the agreement reached on May 2012 concerning conditions of detention in Israeli prisons and calling for its full and immediate implementation; 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To provide the Special Committee with all necessary facilities, including those required for its visits to the occupied territories, so that it may investigate the Israeli policies and practices referred to in the present resolution; (b) To continue to make available such staff as may be necessary to assist the Special Committee in the performance of its tasks; (c) To circulate regularly to Member States the periodic reports mentioned in paragraph 6 above; (d) To ensure the widest circulation of the reports of the Special Committee and of information regarding its activities and findings, by all means available, through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and, where necessary, to reprint those reports of the Special Committee that are no longer available; A/RES/67/118 4 (e) To report to the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session on the tasks entrusted to him in the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-eighth session the item entitled “Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/67/170 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 20 December 2012 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/67/457/Add.2 and Corr.1)] 67/170. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions on this subject, the most recent of which was resolution 66/156 of 19 December 2011, and Human Rights Council decision 18/120 of 30 September 20111 and resolution 19/32 of 23 March 2012,2 as well as previous resolutions of the Council and the Commission on Human Rights, Reaffirming the pertinent principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974, in particular article 32 thereof, in which it declared that no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 66/156, 3 and recalling the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Assembly resolutions 52/120 of 12 December 19974 and 55/110 of 4 December 2000,5 Stressing that unilateral coercive measures and legislation are contrary to international law, international humanitarian law, the Charter of the United Nations and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among States, Recognizing the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human rights, and in this regard reaffirming the right to development as an integral part of all human rights, _______________ 1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 53A and corrigendum (A/66/53/Add.1 and Corr.1), chap. III. 2 Ibid., Sixty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 53 and corrigendum (A/67/53 and Corr.1), chap. III. 3 A/67/181. 4 A/53/293 and Add.1. 5 A/56/207 and Add.1. A/RES/67/170 Human rights and unilateral coercive measures 2/5 Recalling the Final Document of the Sixteenth Ministerial Conference and Commemorative Meeting of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Bali, Indonesia, from 23 to 27 May 2011, 6 the Final Document of the Sixteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran from 26 to 31 August 2012, 7 and those adopted at previous summits and conferences, in which States members of the Movement agreed to oppose and condemn those measures or laws and their continued application, persevere with efforts to effectively reverse them and urge other States to do likewise, as called for by the General Assembly and other United Nations organs, and request States applying those measures or laws to revoke them fully and immediately, Recalling also that, at the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, States were called upon to refrain from any unilateral measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and impedes the full realization of all human rights8 and also severely threatens the freedom of trade, Bearing in mind all the references to this question in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development adopted by the World Summit for Social Development on 12 March 1995,9 the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995,10 the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda adopted by the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) on 14 June 1996,11 and their five-year reviews, Expressing concern about the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on international relations, trade, investment and cooperation, Expressing grave concern that, in some countries, the situation of children is adversely affected by unilateral coercive measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that create obstacles to trade relations among States, impede the full realization of social and economic development and hinder the well-being of the population in the affected countries, with particular consequences for women, children, including adolescents, the elderly and persons with disabilities, Deeply concerned that, despite the recommendations adopted on this question by the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Commission on Human Rights and recent major United Nations conferences, and contrary to general international law and the Charter, unilateral coercive measures continue to be promulgated and implemented, with all their negative implications for the social humanitarian activities and economic and social development of developing countries, including their extraterritorial effects, thereby creating additional obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights by peoples and individuals under the jurisdiction of other States, _______________ 6 A/65/896-S/2011/407, annex I. 7 A/67/506-S/2012/752, annex I. 8 See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. 9 Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6–12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. 10 Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. 11 Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3–14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures A/RES/67/170 3/5 Bearing in mind all the extraterritorial effects of any unilateral legislative, administrative and economic measures, policies and practices of a coercive nature against the development process and the enhancement of human rights in developing countries, which create obstacles to the full realization of all human rights, Reaffirming that unilateral coercive measures are a major obstacle to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,12 Recalling article 1, paragraph 2, common to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights13 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,13 which provides, inter alia, that in no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence, Noting the continuing efforts of the open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development of the Human Rights Council, and reaffirming in particular its criteria, according to which unilateral coercive measures are one of the obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development, 1. Urges all States to cease adopting or implementing any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law, international humanitarian law, the Charter of the United Nations and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among States, in particular those of a coercive nature, with all their extraterritorial effects, which create obstacles to trade relations among States, thus impeding the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights14 and other international human rights instruments, in particular the right of individuals and peoples to development; 2. Strongly urges States to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries; 3. Urges all States not to adopt any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that impede the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected countries, in particular children and women, that hinder their well-being and that create obstacles to the full enjoyment of their human rights, including the right of everyone to a standard of living adequate for his or her health and well-being and his or her right to food, medical care and education and the necessary social services, as well as to ensure that food and medicine are not used as tools for political pressure; 4. Strongly objects to the extraterritorial nature of those measures which, in addition, threaten the sovereignty of States, and in this context calls upon all Member States neither to recognize those measures nor to apply them, as well as to take administrative or legislative measures, as appropriate, to counteract the extraterritorial applications or effects of unilateral coercive measures; 5. Condemns the continuing unilateral application and enforcement by certain Powers of unilateral coercive measures, and rejects those measures, with all their extraterritorial effects, as being tools for political or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, adopted with a view to _______________ 12 Resolution 41/128, annex. 13 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 14 Resolution 217 A (III). A/RES/67/170 Human rights and unilateral coercive measures 4/5 preventing those countries from exercising their right to decide, of their own free will, their own political, economic and social systems, and because of the negative effects of those measures on the realization of all the human rights of vast sectors of their populations, in particular children, women, the elderly and persons with disabilities; 6. Reaffirms that essential goods such as food and medicines should not be used as tools for political coercion and that under no circumstances should people be deprived of their own means of subsistence and development; 7. Calls upon Member States that have initiated such measures to abide by the principles of international law, the Charter, the declarations of the United Nations and world conferences and relevant resolutions and to commit themselves to their obligations and responsibilities arising from the international human rights instruments to which they are parties by revoking such measures at the earliest possible time; 8. Reaffirms, in this context, the right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 9. Recalls that, according to the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and the relevant principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX), in particular article 32 thereof, no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights and to secure from it advantages of any kind; 10. Rejects all attempts to introduce unilateral coercive measures, and urges the Human Rights Council to take fully into account the negative impact of those measures, including through the enactment of national laws and their extraterritorial application which are not in conformity with international law, in its task concerning the implementation of the right to development; 11. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in discharging her functions relating to the promotion, realization and protection of the right to development and bearing in mind the continuing impact of unilateral coercive measures on the population of developing countries, to give priority to the present resolution in her annual report to the General Assembly; 12. Underlines the fact that unilateral coercive measures are one of the major obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,12 and in this regard calls upon all States to avoid the unilateral imposition of economic coercive measures and the extraterritorial application of national laws that run counter to the principles of free trade and hamper the development of developing countries, as recognized by the Working Group on the Right to Development of the Human Rights Council; 13. Recognizes that, in the Declaration of Principles adopted at the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003, 15 States were strongly urged to avoid and refrain from any _______________ 15 A/C.2/59/3, annex, chap. I, sect. A. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures A/RES/67/170 5/5 unilateral measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations in building the information society; 14. Reiterates its support for the invitation of the Human Rights Council to all special rapporteurs and existing thematic mechanisms of the Council in the field of economic, social and cultural rights to pay due attention, within the scope of their respective mandates, to the negative impact and consequences of unilateral coercive measures; 15. Reaffirms the request of the Human Rights Council that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights prepare a thematic study on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, including recommendations on actions aimed at ending such measures, taking into account all previous reports, resolutions and relevant information available to the United Nations system in this regard, to be submitted to the Council at its nineteenth session; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, to continue to collect their views and information on the implications and negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on their populations and to submit an analytical report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session, while reiterating once again the need to highlight the practical and preventive measures in this respect; 17. Decides to examine the question on a priority basis at its sixty-eighth session, under the sub-item entitled “Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms” of the item entitled “Promotion and protection of human rights”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/67/25 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2012 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/67/L.24 and Add.1)] 67/25. The Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled “The situation in the Middle East”, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Middle East,1 Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 2 to the occupied Syrian Golan, Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Stressing the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and other activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, Noting with satisfaction the convening in Madrid on 30 October 1991 of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the formula of land for peace, Expressing grave concern over the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track, and expressing the hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached, _______________ 1 A/67/342. 2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. A/RES/67/25 The Syrian Golan 2/2 1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981); 2. Also declares that the Israeli decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and has no validity whatsoever, as confirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 497 (1981), and calls upon Israel to rescind it; 3. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention IV of 1907,3 and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,2 continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under those instruments in all circumstances; 4. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region; 5. Calls upon Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks; 6. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Calls upon all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. 47th plenary meeting 30 November 2012 _______________ 3 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/67/60 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 3 December 2012 [on the report of the First Committee (A/67/409)] 67/60. Nuclear disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/75 E of 15 December 1994 on a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat, and its resolutions 50/70 P of 12 December 1995, 51/45 O of 10 December 1996, 52/38 L of 9 December 1997, 53/77 X of 4 December 1998, 54/54 P of 1 December 1999, 55/33 T of 20 November 2000, 56/24 R of 29 November 2001, 57/79 of 22 November 2002, 58/56 of 8 December 2003, 59/77 of 3 December 2004, 60/70 of 8 December 2005, 61/78 of 6 December 2006, 62/42 of 5 December 2007, 63/46 of 2 December 2008, 64/53 of 2 December 2009, 65/56 of 8 December 2010 and 66/51 of 2 December 2011 on nuclear disarmament, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Bearing in mind that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1972 1 and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1993 2 have already established legal regimes on the complete prohibition of biological and chemical weapons, respectively, and determined to achieve a nuclear weapons convention on the prohibition of the development, testing, production, stockpiling, loan, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, and to conclude such an international convention at an early date, Recognizing that there now exist conditions for the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons, and stressing the need to take concrete practical steps towards achieving this goal, _______________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1015, No. 14860. 2 Ibid., vol. 1974, No. 33757. A/RES/67/60 2 Bearing in mind paragraph 50 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disarmament,3 calling for the urgent negotiation of agreements for the cessation of the qualitative improvement and development of nuclear-weapon systems, and for a comprehensive and phased programme with agreed time frames, wherever feasible, for the progressive and balanced reduction of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, leading to their ultimate and complete elimination at the earliest possible time, Reaffirming the conviction of the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons4 that the Treaty is a cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament, and the importance of the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, the decision on the extension of the Treaty and the resolution on the Middle East, adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,5 Stressing the importance of the 13 steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to achieve the objective of nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons, as agreed to by the States parties in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,6 Recognizing the important work done at the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,7 and affirming its action plan as an impetus to intensify work aimed at beginning negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and by the international community, Reiterating its call for an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty,8 Taking note of the entry into force of the new strategic arms reduction treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America, in order to achieve further deep cuts in their strategic and tactical nuclear weapons, and stressing that such cuts should be irreversible, verifiable and transparent, Recalling the entry into force of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions (the Moscow Treaty) between the United States of America and the Russian Federation9 as a significant step towards reducing their deployed strategic nuclear weapons, while calling for further irreversible deep cuts in their nuclear arsenals, _______________ 3 Resolution S-10/2. 4 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 5 See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. 6 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled “Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs”, para. 15. 7 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I–III (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vols. I–III)). 8 See resolution 50/245 and A/50/1027. 9 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2350, No. 42195. A/RES/67/60 3 Noting the positive statements by nuclear-weapon States of their intention to pursue actions in achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, while reaffirming the need for urgent concrete actions by nuclear-weapon States to achieve this goal within a specified framework of time, and urging them to take further measures for progress on nuclear disarmament, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, and that bilateral negotiations can never replace multilateral negotiations in this respect, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and the multilateral efforts in the Conference on Disarmament to reach agreement on such an international convention at an early date, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons, issued on 8 July 1996, 10 and welcoming the unanimous reaffirmation by all Judges of the Court that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Mindful of paragraph 102 of the Final Document of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement at its Ministerial Meeting, held in Havana from 27 to 30 April 2009,11 Recalling paragraph 157 and other relevant recommendations in the Final Document of the Sixteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non- Aligned Countries, held in Tehran from 26 to 31 August 2012,12 calling upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, as soon as possible and as the highest priority, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament and to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a specified framework of time, including a nuclear weapons convention, Noting the adoption of the programme of work for the 2009 session by the Conference on Disarmament on 29 May 2009, 13 after years of stalemate, while regretting that the Conference has not been able to undertake substantive work on its agenda in 2012, Reaffirming the importance and validity of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral negotiating forum on disarmament, and expressing the need to adopt and implement a balanced and comprehensive programme of work on the basis of its agenda and dealing with, inter alia, four core issues, in accordance with the rules of procedure,14 and by taking into consideration the security concerns of all States, _______________ 10 A/51/218, annex. 11 See A/63/858. 12 A/67/506-S/2012/752, annex I. 13 See CD/1864. 14 CD/8/Rev.9. A/RES/67/60 4 Reaffirming also the specific mandate conferred upon the Disarmament Commission by the General Assembly, in its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, to discuss the subject of nuclear disarmament as one of its main substantive agenda items, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 15 in which Heads of State and Government resolved to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Recalling also the statement on the total elimination of nuclear weapons adopted by the Sixteenth Ministerial Conference and Commemorative Meeting of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Bali, Indonesia, from 23 to 27 May 2011, recalled by the Heads of State and Government of Non-Aligned Countries at their Sixteenth Conference, in which the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries reiterated its call for an international conference to identify ways and means of eliminating nuclear weapons at the earliest possible date,16 Reaffirming that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, States should refrain from the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in settling their disputes in international relations, Seized of the danger of the use of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, in terrorist acts and the urgent need for concerted international efforts to control and overcome it, 1. Recognizes that the time is now opportune for all the nuclear-weapon States to take effective disarmament measures to achieve the total elimination of these weapons at the earliest possible time; 2. Reaffirms that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are substantively interrelated and mutually reinforcing, that the two processes must go hand in hand and that there is a genuine need for a systematic and progressive process of nuclear disarmament; 3. Welcomes and encourages the efforts to establish new nuclear-weapon- free zones in different parts of the world, including the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons, on the basis of agreements or arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regions concerned, which is an effective measure for limiting the further spread of nuclear weapons geographically and contributes to the cause of nuclear disarmament; 4. Welcomes the ongoing efforts between the States members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the nuclear-weapon States, and encourages the nuclear-weapon States in their early signing of the Protocol to the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone;17 5. Recognizes that there is a genuine need to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in strategic doctrines and security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; _______________ 15 Resolution 55/2. 16 A/65/896-S/2011/407, annex V. 17 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. A/RES/67/60 5 6. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems; 7. Also urges the nuclear-weapon States, as an interim measure, to de-alert and deactivate immediately their nuclear weapons and to take other concrete measures to reduce further the operational status of their nuclear-weapon systems, while stressing that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in and the total elimination of nuclear weapons; 8. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to undertake the step- by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and to carry out effective nuclear disarmament measures with a view to achieving the total elimination of these weapons within a specified framework of time; 9. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States, pending the achievement of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, to agree on an internationally and legally binding instrument on a joint undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and calls upon all States to conclude an internationally and legally binding instrument on security assurances of non-use and non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States; 10. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to commence plurilateral negotiations among themselves at an appropriate stage on further deep reductions of nuclear weapons as an effective measure of nuclear disarmament; 11. Underlines the importance of applying the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to the process of nuclear disarmament and to nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; 12. Also underlines the importance of the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty,6 and the reaffirmation by the States parties that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons;18 13. Calls for the full and effective implementation of the 13 practical steps for nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference; 14. Also calls for the full implementation of the action plan as set out in the conclusions and recommendations for follow-on actions of the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference, particularly the 22-point action plan on nuclear disarmament;7 15. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to carry out further reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; _______________ 18 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled “Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States”, para. 2. A/RES/67/60 6 16. Calls for the immediate commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of the report of the Special Coordinator19 and the mandate contained therein; 17. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to commence as early as possible its substantive work during its 2013 session, on the basis of a comprehensive and balanced programme of work that takes into consideration all the real and existing priorities in the field of disarmament and arms control, including the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty with a view to their conclusion within five years; 18. Calls for the conclusion of an international legal instrument or instruments on adequate and unconditional security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States; 19. Also calls for the early entry into force and strict observance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,8 while welcoming the recent ratification of the Treaty by Guatemala, Guinea and Indonesia; 20. Expresses its regret that the Conference on Disarmament was unable to establish an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament in 2012, as called for by the General Assembly in its resolution 66/51; 21. Reiterates its call upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, as soon as possible and as the highest priority, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament in 2013 and to commence negotiations on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons within a specified framework of time; 22. Calls for the convening of an international conference on nuclear disarmament in all its aspects at an early date to identify and deal with concrete measures of nuclear disarmament; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-eighth session under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Nuclear disarmament”. 48th plenary meeting 3 December 2012 _______________ 19 CD/1299. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/67/73 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 3 December 2012 [on the report of the First Committee (A/67/412)] 67/73. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions, Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(56)/RES/15, adopted on 20 September 2012, Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security, Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the Agency, Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 19951 in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the Treaty 2 as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 3 the Conference undertook to make determined efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty, called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and _______________ 1 See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. 2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 3 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). A/RES/67/73 2 underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty, Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference on 11 May 1995,1 in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards, Noting with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,4 the Conference emphasized the importance of a process leading to full implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East and decided, inter alia, that the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the co-sponsors of the 1995 resolution, in consultation with the States of the region, would convene a conference in 2012, to be attended by all States of the Middle East, on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at by the States of the region and with the full support and engagement of the nuclear-weapon States, Recalling that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become a party to the Treaty, Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region, Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime, Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to seriously consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, inviting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty and, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under Agency safeguards, Noting that 183 States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,5 including a number of States in the region, 1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;6 _______________ 4 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vols. I-III)). 5 See resolution 50/245 and A/50/1027. 6 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. I)), part I, Conclusions and recommendations for follow-on actions, sect. IV. A/RES/67/73 3 2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons2 and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East; 3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty without further delay, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, to renounce possession of nuclear weapons and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-eighth session the item entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/68/159 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2013 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/68/456/Add.2)] 68/159. Human rights and cultural diversity The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights2 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,2 as well as other pertinent human rights instruments, Recalling also its resolutions 54/160 of 17 December 1999, 55/91 of 4 December 2000, 57/204 of 18 December 2002, 58/167 of 22 December 2003, 60/167 of 16 December 2005, 62/155 of 18 December 2007, 64/174 of 18 December 2009 and 66/154 of 19 December 2011, and recalling further its resolutions 54/113 of 10 December 1999, 55/23 of 13 November 2000 and 60/4 of 20 October 2005 concerning the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, Noting that numerous instruments within the United Nations system promote cultural diversity, as well as the conservation and development of culture, in particular the Declaration of the Principles of International Culture Cooperation proclaimed on 4 November 1966 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its fourteenth session,3 Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,4 Recalling that, as stated in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, contained in the annex to its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, States have the duty to cooperate with one another, irrespective of the differences in their political, economic and social systems, in the various spheres of international relations, in the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and in the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination and all forms of religious intolerance, _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Fourteenth Session, Paris, 1966, Resolutions. 4 A/68/277. A/RES/68/159 Human rights and cultural diversity 2/5 Welcoming the adoption, by its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001, of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, Welcoming also the contribution of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, the Durban Review Conference, held in Geneva from 20 to 24 April 2009, and the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, held on 22 September 2011, to the promotion of respect for cultural diversity, Welcoming further the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,5 together with its Action Plan, 6 adopted on 2 November 2001 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-first session, in which member States invited the United Nations system and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of the principles set forth in the Declaration and its Action Plan, with a view to enhancing the synergy of actions in favour of cultural diversity, Recalling the Ministerial Meeting on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran on 3 and 4 September 2007, Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Expressing concern over the adverse impacts of lack of respect for and recognition of cultural diversity on human rights, justice, friendship and the fundamental right to development, Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, Recognizing also the contribution that diverse cultures have been making to the development and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Taking into account that a culture of peace actively fosters non-violence and respect for human rights and strengthens solidarity among peoples and nations and dialogue between cultures, Reaffirming that discriminatory treatment against different cultures and religions is detrimental to the principle of the equality of human beings, Recognizing that all cultures and civilizations share a common set of universal values, _______________ 5 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October–3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum, Resolutions, sect. V, resolution 25, annex I. 6 Ibid., annex II. Human rights and cultural diversity A/RES/68/159 3/5 Recognizing also that the promotion of the rights of indigenous people and their cultures and traditions will contribute to the respect for and observance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations, Considering that tolerance of cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred, violence and extremism among peoples and nations throughout the world, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, and convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity, and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, Convinced that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance towards and dialogue among various cultures and civilizations would contribute to the efforts of all peoples and nations to enrich their cultures and traditions by engaging in a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and intellectual, moral and material achievements, Acknowledging the diversity of the world, recognizing that all cultures and civilizations contribute to the enrichment of humankind, acknowledging the importance of respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity throughout the world, and, in order to promote international peace and security, committing itself to advancing human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as well as to encouraging tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples, 1. Affirms the importance for all peoples and nations to hold, develop and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions in a national and international atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual respect; 2. Emphasizes the important contribution of culture to development and the achievement of national development objectives and internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 3. Welcomes the adoption on 8 September 2000 of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,7 in which Member States consider, inter alia, that tolerance is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty- first century and that it should include the active promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, with human beings respecting one another in all their diversity of belief, culture and language, neither fearing nor repressing differences within and between societies but cherishing them as a precious asset of humanity; 4. Recognizes the right of everyone to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; 5. Affirms that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; _______________ 7 Resolution 55/2. A/RES/68/159 Human rights and cultural diversity 4/5 6. Expresses its determination to prevent and mitigate cultural homogenization in the context of globalization, through increased intercultural exchange guided by the promotion and protection of cultural diversity; 7. Affirms that intercultural dialogue essentially enriches the common understanding of human rights and that the benefits to be derived from the encouragement and development of international contacts and cooperation in the cultural fields are important; 8. Welcomes the recognition at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of the necessity of respecting and maximizing the benefits of diversity within and among all nations in working together to build a harmonious and productive future by putting into practice and promoting values and principles such as justice, equality and non-discrimination, democracy, fairness and friendship, tolerance and respect within and among communities and nations, in particular through public information and educational programmes to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity, including programmes in which the public authorities work in partnership with international and non-governmental organizations and other sectors of civil society; 9. Emphasizes that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations on the basis of equal dignity should be enhanced, through supporting efforts made at the international level towards reducing confrontation, suppressing xenophobia and promoting respect for diversity, and in that regard also emphasizes that States should oppose all attempts at uniculturalism or the imposition of particular models of social or cultural systems and promote dialogue among civilizations, a culture of peace and interfaith dialogue, which will contribute towards peace, security and development; 10. Welcomes the activities of the Non-Aligned Movement Centre for Human Rights and Cultural Diversity in Tehran, and acknowledges the important role that the Centre plays in the promotion of the universality of all human rights as well as their realization; 11. Recognizes that respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all enhances cultural pluralism, contributing to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural background, advancing the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights throughout the world and fostering stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; 12. Emphasizes that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance at the national, regional and international levels is important for enhancing respect for cultural rights and cultural diversity; 13. Also emphasizes that tolerance and respect for diversity facilitate the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including gender equality and the enjoyment of all human rights by all, and underlines the fact that tolerance and respect for cultural diversity and the universal promotion and protection of human rights are mutually supportive; 14. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; Human rights and cultural diversity A/RES/68/159 5/5 15. Calls upon States, relevant international organizations and non-governmental organizations to support and embark on intercultural initiatives on human rights in order to promote all human rights, thereby enriching their universality; 16. Urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic institutions so that they are more fully participatory and avoid marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 17. Calls upon States, international organizations and United Nations agencies, and invites civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to recognize and promote respect for cultural diversity for the purpose of advancing the objectives of peace, development and universally accepted human rights; 18. Stresses the necessity of freely using the media and new information and communications technologies to create the conditions for a renewed dialogue among cultures and civilizations; 19. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to bear in mind fully the issues raised in the present resolution in the course of its activities for the promotion and protection of human rights; 20. Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner, and invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to support initiatives aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue on human rights; 21. Urges relevant international organizations to conduct studies on how respect for cultural diversity contributes to fostering international solidarity and cooperation among all nations; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including efforts undertaken at the national, regional and international levels regarding the recognition and importance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations in the world and taking into account the views of Member States, relevant United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, and to submit the report to the General Assembly at its seventieth session; 23. Decides to continue consideration of the question at its seventieth session under the sub-item entitled “Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms” of the item entitled “Promotion and protection of human rights”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/68/24 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2013 [on the report of the First Committee (A/68/402)] 68/24. Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace The General Assembly, Recalling the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, contained in its resolution 2832 (XXVI) of 16 December 1971, and recalling also its resolutions 54/47 of 1 December 1999, 56/16 of 29 November 2001, 58/29 of 8 December 2003, 60/48 of 8 December 2005, 62/14 of 5 December 2007, 64/23 of 2 December 2009 and 66/22 of 2 December 2011 and other relevant resolutions, Recalling also the report of the Meeting of the Littoral and Hinterland States of the Indian Ocean, held in New York from 2 to 13 July 1979,1 Recalling further paragraph 102 of the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur on 24 and 25 February 2003,2 in which it was noted, inter alia, that the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean would continue his informal consultations on the future work of the Committee, Emphasizing the need to foster consensual approaches that are conducive to the pursuit of such endeavours, Noting the initiatives taken by countries of the region to promote cooperation, in particular economic cooperation, in the Indian Ocean area and the possible contribution of such initiatives to overall objectives of a zone of peace, Convinced that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would assist the progress of a mutually beneficial dialogue to develop conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 45 and corrigendum (A/34/45 and Corr.1). 2 A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. A/RES/68/24 Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace 2/2 Considering that greater efforts and more time are required to develop a focused discussion on practical measures to ensure conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee,3 1. Takes note of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean;3 2. Reiterates its conviction that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would greatly facilitate the development of a mutually beneficial dialogue to advance peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region; 3. Requests the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee to continue his informal consultations with the members of the Committee and to report through the Committee to the General Assembly at its seventieth session; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render, within existing resources, all necessary assistance to the Ad Hoc Committee, including the provision of summary records; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventieth session the item entitled “Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace”. 60th plenary meeting 5 December 2013 _______________ 3 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 29 (A/68/29). | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/68/88 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 11 December 2013 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/68/430)] 68/88. Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled “Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories”, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for 2013 relating to the item,1 Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, including, in particular, resolutions 46/181 of 19 December 1991, 55/146 of 8 December 2000 and 65/119 of 10 December 2010, Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those Territories against abuses, Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity that has a negative impact on the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the exercise of their right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) is contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter, Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/68/23), chap. V. A/RES/68/88 Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories 2/3 Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to promote the stability, diversification and strengthening of the economy of each Territory, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, Conscious also that foreign economic investment, when undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socioeconomic development of the Territories and also to the exercise of their right to self- determination, Concerned about any activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, 1. Reaffirms the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest; 2. Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the socioeconomic development of the Territories, especially during times of economic and financial crisis; 3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reaffirms the legitimate rights of their peoples over their natural resources; 4. Reaffirms its concern about any activities aimed at the exploitation of the natural resources that are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, in the Caribbean, the Pacific and other regions, and of their human resources, to the detriment of their interests, and in such a way as to deprive them of their right to dispose of those resources; 5. Reaffirms the need to avoid any economic and other activities that adversely affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 6. Calls once again upon all Governments that have not yet done so to take, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, legislative, administrative or other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own and operate enterprises in the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are detrimental to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, in order to put an end to such enterprises; Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories A/RES/68/88 3/3 7. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that the exploitation of the marine and other natural resources in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration is not in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and does not adversely affect the interests of the peoples of those Territories; 8. Invites all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 9. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self- Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all steps necessary to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, through all means at his disposal, to inform world public opinion of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV); 12. Appeals to trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and also appeals to the media to disseminate information about the developments in this regard; 13. Decides to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in those Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, including the indigenous populations, and at promoting the economic and financial viability of those Territories; 14. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/69/160 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2014 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/69/486)] 69/160. Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1 the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 2 the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination3 and other relevant human rights instruments, Recalling the provisions of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2004/16 of 16 April 20044 and 2005/5 of 14 April 20055 and relevant Human Rights Council resolutions, in particular resolutions 7/34 of 28 March 2008, 6 18/15 of 29 September 20117 and 21/33 of 28 September 2012,8 as well as General Assembly resolutions 60/143 of 16 December 2005, 61/147 of 19 December 2006, 62/142 of 18 December 2007, 63/162 of 18 December 2008, 64/147 of 18 December 2009, 65/199 of 21 December 2010, 66/143 of 19 December 2011, 67/154 of 20 December 2012 and 68/150 of 18 December 2013 on this issue and its resolutions 61/149 of 19 December 2006, 62/220 of 22 December 2007, 63/242 of 24 December 2008, 64/148 of 18 December 2009, 65/240 of 24 December 2010, 66/144 of 19 December 2011, 67/155 of 20 December 2012 and 68/151 of 18 December 2013, entitled “Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action”, _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. 4 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. 5 Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. 6 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53), chap. II. 7 Ibid., Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 53A and corrigendum (A/66/53/Add.1 and Corr.1), chap. II. 8 Ibid., Sixty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/67/53/Add.1), chap. II. A/RES/69/160 Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance 2/7 Acknowledging other important initiatives of the General Assembly aimed at raising awareness about the suffering of victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including in the historical perspective, in particular regarding commemoration of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, Recalling the Charter of the Nuremberg Tribunal and the Judgement of the Tribunal, which recognized as criminal, inter alia, the SS organization and all its integral parts, including the Waffen SS, through its officially accepted members implicated in or with knowledge of the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity connected with the Second World War, as well as other relevant provisions of the Charter and the Judgement, Recalling also the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001, 9 in particular paragraph 2 of the Declaration and paragraph 86 of the Programme of Action, as well as the relevant provisions of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference of 24 April 2009,10 in particular paragraphs 11 and 54, Alarmed, in this regard, at the spread in many parts of the world of various extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups, as well as racist extremist movements and ideologies, Deeply concerned by all recent manifestations of violence and terrorism incited by violent nationalism, racism, xenophobia and related intolerance, Recalling that in 2015 the international community will celebrate the seventieth anniversary of victory over Nazism in the Second World War, and looking forward in this regard to the initiative to hold a special solemn meeting at the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly, 1. Reaffirms the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration9 and of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference,10 in which States condemned the persistence and resurgence of neo-Nazism, neo-Fascism and violent nationalist ideologies based on racial and national prejudice and stated that those phenomena could never be justified in any instance or in any circumstances; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, prepared in accordance with the request contained in General Assembly resolution 68/150;11 3. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office for their efforts to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including the maintenance by the Office of the database on practical means to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 4. Expresses deep concern about the glorification, in any form, of the Nazi movement, neo-Nazism and former members of the Waffen SS organization, including by erecting monuments and memorials and holding public demonstrations _______________ 9 See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 10 See A/CONF.211/8, chap. I. 11 A/69/334. Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance A/RES/69/160 3/7 in the name of the glorification of the Nazi past, the Nazi movement and neo-Nazism, as well as by declaring or attempting to declare such members and those who fought against the anti-Hitler coalition and collaborated with the Nazi movement participants in national liberation movements; 5. Calls for the universal ratification and effective implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,3 and encourages those States parties that have not yet done so to consider making the declaration under its article 14, thus providing the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination with the competence to receive and consider communications from individuals or groups of individuals within their jurisdiction claiming to be victims of a violation by a State party of any of the rights set forth in the Convention; 6. Emphasizes the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur that “any commemorative celebration of the Nazi regime, its allies and related organizations, whether official or unofficial, should be prohibited by States”,12 and stresses in this regard that it is important that States take measures, in accordance with international human rights law, to counteract any celebration of the Nazi SS organization and all its integral parts, including the Waffen SS; 7. Expresses concern about recurring attempts to desecrate or demolish monuments erected in remembrance of those who fought against Nazism during the Second World War, as well as to unlawfully exhume or remove the remains of such persons, and in this regard urges States to fully comply with their relevant obligations, inter alia, under article 34 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949;13 8. Notes with concern the increase in the number of racist incidents worldwide, including the rise of skinhead groups, which have been responsible for many of these incidents, as well as the resurgence of racist and xenophobic violence targeting, inter alia, persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities; 9. Reaffirms that such acts may be qualified to fall within the scope of the Convention, that they may not be justified when they fall outside the scope of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association as well as the rights to freedom of expression and that they may fall within the scope of article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights2 and may be subject to certain restrictions, as set out in articles 19, 21 and 22 of the Covenant; 10. Condemns without reservation any denial or attempt to deny the Holocaust; 11. Welcomes the call of the Special Rapporteur for the active preservation of those Holocaust sites that served as Nazi death camps, concentration and forced labour camps and prisons, as well as his encouragement of States to take measures, including legislative, law enforcement and educational measures, to put an end to all forms of Holocaust denial; 12. Calls upon States to continue to take adequate steps, including through national legislation, in accordance with international human rights law, aimed at the _______________ 12 Ibid., para. 75. 13 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. A/RES/69/160 Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance 4/7 prevention of hate speech and incitement to violence against persons belonging to vulnerable groups; 13. Expresses deep concern about attempts at commercial advertising aimed at exploiting the sufferings of the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Second World War by the Nazi regime; 14. Stresses that the practices described above do injustice to the memory of the countless victims of crimes against humanity committed in the Second World War, in particular those committed by the SS organization and by those who fought against the anti-Hitler coalition and collaborated with the Nazi movement, and may negatively influence children and young people, and that failure by States to effectively address such practices is incompatible with the obligations of States Members of the United Nations under its Charter, including those related to the purposes and principles of the Organization; 15. Also stresses that such practices fuel contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and contribute to the spread and multiplication of various extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups, and in this regard calls for increased vigilance; 16. Expresses concern that the human rights and democratic challenges posed by extremist political parties, movements and groups are universal and no country is immune to them; 17. Emphasizes the need to take the measures necessary to put an end to the practices described above, and calls upon States to take more effective measures in accordance with international human rights law to combat those phenomena and extremist movements, which pose a real threat to democratic values; 18. Encourages States to adopt further measures to provide training for the police and other law enforcement bodies on the ideologies of extremist political parties, movements and groups whose advocacy constitutes incitement to racist and xenophobic violence, to strengthen their capacity to address racist and xenophobic crimes, to fulfil their responsibility of bringing to justice the perpetrators of such crimes and to combat impunity; 19. Notes the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur regarding the responsibility of political leaders and parties in relation to messages that incite racial discrimination or xenophobia; 20. Expresses concern that ethnic profiling and police violence against vulnerable groups discourage victims from seeking redress owing to distrust of the legal system, and in this regard encourages States to improve diversity within law enforcement agencies and impose appropriate sanctions against those within the public service found guilty of racially motivated violence or of using hate speech; 21. Recalls the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur to introduce into national criminal law a provision according to which committing an offence with racist or xenophobic motivations or aims constitutes an aggravating circumstance, allowing for enhanced penalties, and encourages those States whose legislation does not contain such provisions to consider that recommendation; 22. Underlines that the roots of extremism are multifaceted and must be addressed through adequate measures such as education, awareness-raising and the promotion of dialogue, and in this regard recommends the increase of measures to Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance A/RES/69/160 5/7 raise awareness among young people of the dangers of the ideologies and activities of extremist political parties, movements and groups; 23. Reaffirms, in this regard, the particular importance of all forms of education, including human rights education, as a complement to legislative measures, as outlined by the Special Rapporteur; 24. Emphasizes the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur presented at the sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly, in which he emphasized the importance of history classes in teaching the dramatic events and human suffering which arose out of the adoption of ideologies such as Nazism and Fascism;14 25. Stresses the importance of other positive measures and initiatives aimed at bringing communities together and providing them with space for genuine dialogue, such as round tables, working groups and seminars, including training seminars for State agents and media professionals, as well as awareness-raising activities, especially those initiated by civil society representatives, which require continued State support; 26. Calls upon States to continue to invest in education, in both conventional and non-conventional curricula, inter alia, in order to transform attitudes and correct ideas of racial hierarchies and superiority promoted by extremist political parties, movements and groups and counter their negative influence; 27. Underlines the positive role that relevant United Nations entities and programmes, in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, can play in the aforementioned areas; 28. Reaffirms article 4 of the Convention, according to which States parties to that instrument condemn all propaganda and all organizations that are based on ideas or theories of superiority of one race or group of persons of one colour or ethnic origin, or that attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form, and undertake to adopt immediate and positive measures designed to eradicate all incitement to, or acts of, such discrimination and, to that end, with due regard to the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights1 and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of the Convention, inter alia: (a) Shall declare an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, and incitement to racial discrimination, as well as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons of another colour or ethnic origin, and also the provision of any assistance to racist activities, including the financing thereof; (b) Shall declare illegal and prohibit organizations, and organized and all other propaganda activities, that promote and incite racial discrimination, and shall recognize participation in such organizations or activities as an offence punishable by law; (c) Shall not permit public authorities or public institutions, national or local, to promote or incite racial discrimination; 29. Also reaffirms that, as underlined in paragraph 13 of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence _______________ 14 A/64/295, para. 104. A/RES/69/160 Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance 6/7 should be prohibited by law, that all dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, or incitement to racial discrimination, as well as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts, shall be declared offences punishable by law, in accordance with the international obligations of States, and that these prohibitions are consistent with freedom of opinion and expression; 30. Recognizes the positive role that the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, as well as full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, including through the Internet, can play in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 31. Expresses concern about the use of the Internet to propagate racism, racial hatred, xenophobia, racial discrimination and related intolerance, and in this regard calls upon States parties to the Covenant to implement fully articles 19 and 20 thereof, which guarantee the right to freedom of expression and outline the grounds on which the exercise of this right can be legitimately restricted; 32. Recognizes the need to promote the use of new information and communications technologies, including the Internet, to contribute to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 33. Also recognizes the positive role that the media can play in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, promoting a culture of tolerance and representing the diversity of a multicultural society; 34. Encourages States, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to use all opportunities, including those provided by the Internet and social media, to counter, in accordance with international human rights law, the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred and to promote the values of equality, non-discrimination, diversity and democracy; 35. Encourages those States that have made reservations to article 4 of the Convention to give serious consideration to withdrawing such reservations as a matter of priority, as stressed by the Special Rapporteur; 36. Notes the importance of strengthening cooperation at the regional and international levels with the aim of countering all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular regarding issues raised in the present resolution; 37. Stresses the importance of cooperating closely with civil society and international and regional human rights mechanisms in order to counter effectively all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups, and other similar extremist ideological movements that incite racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 38. Encourages States parties to the Convention to ensure that their legislation incorporates the provisions of the Convention, including those of article 4; 39. Encourages States to adopt the legislation necessary to combat racism while ensuring that the definition of racial discrimination set out therein complies with article 1 of the Convention; 40. Recalls that any legislative or constitutional measures adopted with a view to countering extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups, and similar extremist ideological movements should Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance A/RES/69/160 7/7 be in conformity with the relevant international human rights norms, in particular articles 4 and 5 of the Convention and articles 19 to 22 of the Covenant; 41. Also recalls the request of the Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 2005/5,5 that the Special Rapporteur continue to reflect on this issue, make relevant recommendations in his future reports and seek and take into account in this regard the views of Governments and non-governmental organizations; 42. Encourages States to consider including in their reports for the universal periodic review and to relevant treaty bodies information on the steps taken to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including with the aim of implementing the provisions of the present resolution; 43. Requests the Special Rapporteur to prepare, for submission to the General Assembly at its seventieth session and to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-ninth session, reports on the implementation of the present resolution, in particular regarding paragraphs 4, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 24 and 25 above, based on the views collected in accordance with the request of the Commission, as recalled in paragraph 41 above; 44. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that have provided information to the Special Rapporteur in the course of the preparation of his reports to the General Assembly; 45. Stresses that such information is important for the sharing of experiences and best practices in the fight against extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups, and other extremist ideological movements that incite racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 46. Encourages Governments and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the exercise of the tasks outlined in paragraph 43 above; 47. Encourages Governments, non-governmental organizations and relevant actors to disseminate, as widely as possible, information regarding the contents of and the principles outlined in the present resolution, including through the media, but not limited to it; 48. Decides to remain seized of the issue. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/69/188 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2014 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/69/488/Add.3)] 69/188. Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments, Recalling all previous resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including Assembly resolution 68/183 of 18 December 2013 and Council resolution 25/25 of 28 March 2014,1 and mindful of the need for the international community to strengthen its coordinated efforts aimed at achieving the implementation of those resolutions, Deeply concerned at the grave human rights situation, the pervasive culture of impunity and the lack of accountability for human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Welcoming the report of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 2 and expressing grave concern at the detailed findings contained therein, Noting the transmission of the report of the commission of inquiry to the Security Council on 14 April 2014, Recalling the responsibility of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to protect its population from crimes against humanity, Taking note of the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,3 regretting that he still has not been allowed to visit the country and that he has received no cooperation from the authorities of the Democratic People’s _______________ 1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/69/53), chap. II. 2 A/HRC/25/63. 3 A/69/548. A/RES/69/188 Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 2/7 Republic of Korea, and taking note also of the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea submitted in accordance with resolution 68/183,4 Mindful that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,5 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,5 the Convention on the Rights of the Child6 and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,7 and recalling the concluding observations of the treaty bodies under the four treaties, Noting with appreciation the signature of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities8 and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography9 by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, encouraging the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take speedy steps to ratify the Convention and the Optional Protocol, and urging the Government to fully respect the rights of persons with disabilities and children, Acknowledging the participation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the second universal periodic review process, noting the acceptance by the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of 113 out of the 268 recommendations contained in the outcome of the review 10 and its stated commitment to implement them and look into the possibility of implementing a further 58 recommendations, and emphasizing the importance of the implementation of the recommendations in order to address the grave human rights violations in the country, Noting with appreciation the collaboration established between the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization in order to improve the health situation in the country, and the collaboration established with the United Nations Children’s Fund in order to improve the quality of education for children, Noting the decision on the resumption, on a modest scale, of the activities of the United Nations Development Programme in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and encouraging the engagement of the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with the international community to ensure that the programmes benefit the persons in need of assistance, Noting also the cooperation between the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the World Food Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on food security assessments, underscoring the importance of those assessments in analysing changes in the national, household and individual food security and nutritional situation and thereby in supporting donor confidence in the targeting of _______________ 4 A/69/639. 5 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 6 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 7 Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. 8 Ibid., vol. 2515, No. 44910. 9 Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531. 10 A/HRC/27/10. Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea A/RES/69/188 3/7 aid programmes, noting further the letter of understanding signed by the Government and the World Food Programme and the importance of further improvements in operating conditions, bringing access and monitoring arrangements closer to international standards for all United Nations entities, and noting with appreciation the work of international aid operators, Noting further the importance of the issue of international abductions and of the immediate return of all abductees, taking note of the outcome of the government-level consultation between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Japan in May 2014, and expecting concrete and positive results from the investigations being conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on all the Japanese nationals, in particular victims of abduction, Noting the importance of the inter-Korean dialogue, which could contribute to the improvement of the human rights and humanitarian situation in the country, Welcoming the resumption of the reunions of separated families across the border in February 2014, and, given that this is an urgent humanitarian concern of the entire Korean people, hoping that necessary arrangements for further reunions on a larger scale and a regular basis will be made by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea and members of the Korean diaspora, 1. Condemns the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including those which the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 22/13 of 21 March 2013, 11 has said may amount to crimes against humanity, and the continuing impunity for such violations; 2. Expresses its very serious concern at: (a) The persistence of continuing reports of violations of human rights, including the detailed findings made by the commission of inquiry in its report,2 such as: (i) Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including inhuman conditions of detention; rape; public executions; extrajudicial and arbitrary detention; the absence of due process and the rule of law, including fair trial guarantees and an independent judiciary; extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions; the imposition of the death penalty for political and religious reasons; collective punishments extending up to three generations; and the extensive use of forced labour; (ii) The existence of an extensive system of political prison camps, where a vast number of persons are deprived of their liberty and subjected to deplorable conditions and where alarming violations of human rights are perpetrated, and in this regard strongly urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to immediately end this practice and to release all political prisoners unconditionally and without any delay; (iii) The forcible transfer of populations and the limitations imposed on every person who wishes to move freely within the country and travel abroad, including the punishment of those who leave or try to leave the country _______________ 11 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/68/53), chap. IV, sect. A. A/RES/69/188 Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 4/7 without permission, or their families, as well as punishment of persons who are returned; (iv) The situation of refugees and asylum seekers expelled or returned to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and sanctions imposed on citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea who have been repatriated from abroad, leading to punishments of internment, torture, other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, sexual violence or the death penalty, and in this regard strongly urges all States to respect the fundamental principle of non-refoulement, to treat those who seek refuge humanely and to ensure unhindered access to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and his Office, with a view to protecting the human rights of those who seek refuge, and once again urges States parties to comply with their obligations under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees12 and the 1967 Protocol thereto 13 in relation to refugees from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea who are covered by those instruments; (v) All-pervasive and severe restrictions on the freedoms of thought, conscience, religion or belief, opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association, the right to privacy and equal access to information, by such means as the persecution, torture and imprisonment of individuals exercising their freedom of opinion and expression, religion or belief, and their families, and the right of everyone to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, of his or her country; (vi) Violations of economic, social and cultural rights, which have led to severe hunger, malnutrition, widespread health problems and other hardship for the population in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in particular for women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly; (vii) Violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, in particular the creation of internal conditions that force women to leave the country and make them extremely vulnerable to trafficking in persons for the purpose of prostitution, domestic servitude or forced marriage and the subjection of women to forced abortions, gender-based discrimination, including in the political and social spheres, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence; (viii) Violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of children, in particular the continued lack of access to basic economic, social and cultural rights for many children, and in this regard notes the particularly vulnerable situation faced by, inter alia, returned or repatriated children, street children, children with disabilities, children whose parents are detained, children living in detention or in institutions and children in conflict with the law; (ix) Violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, especially in the use of collective camps and of coercive measures that target the rights of persons with disabilities to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children; (x) Violations of workers’ rights, including the right to freedom of association and effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the _______________ 12 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. 13 Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea A/RES/69/188 5/7 right to strike as defined by the obligations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,5 and the prohibition of the economic exploitation of children and of any harmful or hazardous work of children as defined by the obligations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea under the Convention on the Rights of the Child;6 (xi) Discrimination based on the songbun system, which classifies people on the basis of State-assigned social class and birth, and also includes consideration of political opinions and religion; (b) The continued refusal of the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to recognize the mandate of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or to extend cooperation to the Special Rapporteur; (c) The continued lack of acknowledgement by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of the grave human rights situation in the country and its consequential lack of action to implement the recommendations contained in the outcome of its first universal periodic review;14 (d) The failure of the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to prosecute those responsible for human rights violations, including violations which the commission of inquiry has said may amount to crimes against humanity; 3. Underscores its very serious concern at the systematic abduction, denial of repatriation and subsequent enforced disappearance of persons, including those from other countries, on a large scale and as a matter of State policy, and in this regard strongly calls upon the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea urgently to resolve these issues of international concern, in a transparent manner, including by ensuring the immediate return of abductees; 4. Expresses its very deep concern at the precarious humanitarian situation in the country, which could rapidly deteriorate owing to limited resilience to natural disasters and to government policies causing limitations in the availability of and access to food, compounded by structural weaknesses in agricultural production resulting in significant shortages of diversified food and the State restrictions on the cultivation of and trade in foodstuffs, as well as the prevalence of chronic malnutrition, particularly among the most vulnerable groups, pregnant women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly, and urges the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in this regard, to take preventive and remedial action, cooperating where necessary with international donor agencies and in accordance with international standards for monitoring humanitarian assistance; 5. Commends the Special Rapporteur for the activities undertaken so far and for his continued efforts in the conduct of his mandate despite the denial of access; 6. Also commends the work of the commission of inquiry and recognizes the importance of its report, and regrets that the commission received no cooperation from the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including with regard to access to the country; _______________ 14 A/HRC/13/13. A/RES/69/188 Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 6/7 7. Acknowledges the commission’s finding that the body of testimony gathered and the information received provide reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, pursuant to policies established at the highest level of the State for decades; 8. Decides to submit the report of the commission of inquiry to the Security Council, and encourages the Council to consider the relevant conclusions and recommendations of the commission and take appropriate action to ensure accountability, including through consideration of referral of the situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the International Criminal Court and consideration of the scope for effective targeted sanctions against those who appear to be most responsible for acts that the commission has said may constitute crimes against humanity; 9. Welcomes the steps taken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights towards establishing a field-based structure in the Republic of Korea to strengthen the monitoring and documentation of the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, to ensure accountability, to provide the Special Rapporteur with increased support, to enhance the engagement and capacity-building of the Governments of all States concerned, civil society and other stakeholders and to maintain the visibility of the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including through sustained communications, advocacy and outreach initiatives; 10. Calls upon Member States to undertake to ensure that the field-based structure of the Office of the High Commissioner can function with independence, that it has sufficient resources and that it is not subjected to any reprisals or threats; 11. Strongly urges the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to respect fully all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, in this regard: (a) To immediately put an end to the systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights emphasized above, inter alia, by implementing fully the measures set out in the above-mentioned resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, and the recommendations addressed to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea by the Council in the context of the universal periodic review and by the commission of inquiry, the United Nations special procedures and treaty bodies; (b) To protect its inhabitants, address the issue of impunity and ensure that those responsible for violations of human rights are brought to justice before an independent judiciary; (c) To tackle the root causes leading to refugee outflows and prosecute those who exploit refugees by human smuggling, trafficking and extortion, while not criminalizing the victims; (d) To ensure that citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea who are expelled or returned to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are able to return in safety and dignity, are treated humanely and are not subjected to any kind of punishment, and to provide information on their status and treatment; (e) To extend its full cooperation to the Special Rapporteur, including by granting him full, free and unimpeded access to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and to other United Nations human rights mechanisms so that a full needs assessment of the human rights situation may be made; Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea A/RES/69/188 7/7 (f) To engage in technical cooperation activities in the field of human rights with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office, as pursued by the High Commissioner in recent years, with a view to improving the situation of human rights in the country, and to strive to implement the accepted recommendations stemming from the universal periodic review; (g) To engage in cooperation with the International Labour Organization; (h) To continue and reinforce its cooperation with United Nations humanitarian agencies; (i) To ensure full, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian aid and take measures to allow humanitarian agencies to secure its impartial delivery to all parts of the country on the basis of need in accordance with humanitarian principles, as it pledged to do, and to ensure access to adequate food and implement more effective food security policies, including through sustainable agriculture, sound food production distribution measures and the allocation of more funds to the food sector, and to ensure adequate monitoring of humanitarian assistance; (j) To further improve cooperation with the United Nations country team and development agencies so that they can directly contribute to improving the living conditions of the civilian population, including accelerating progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, in accordance with international monitoring and evaluation procedures; (k) To consider ratifying and acceding to remaining international human rights treaties, which would enable a dialogue with the human rights treaty bodies; 12. Urges the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to implement the recommendations of the commission of inquiry without delay; 13. Encourages all Member States, the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Office of the High Commissioner, the United Nations Secretariat, civil society organizations, foundations and engaged business enterprises and other stakeholders towards which the commission of inquiry has directed recommendations to implement or take forward those recommendations; 14. Welcomes the recent willingness expressed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to consider human rights dialogues with States and groups of States, technical cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner and a country visit of the Special Rapporteur; 15. Calls upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to continue to engage constructively with international interlocutors with a view to promoting concrete improvements in the human rights situation on the ground, including through dialogues, official visits to the country and more people-to-people contact; 16. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at its seventieth session, and to this end requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to report his findings and recommendations, as well as to report on the follow-up to the implementation of the recommendations of the commission of inquiry, in line with Human Rights Council resolution 25/25. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/69/21 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 November 2014 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/69/L.22 and Add.1)] 69/21. Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1 Taking note, in particular, of the action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat in accordance with their mandates, Recalling its resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977 and all its subsequent relevant resolutions, including its resolution 68/13 of 26 November 2013, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 68/13; 2. Considers that, by providing substantive support to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in the implementation of its mandate, the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a most useful and constructive contribution to raising international awareness of the question of Palestine and of the urgency of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine in all its aspects on the basis of international law and United Nations resolutions and the efforts being exerted in this regard and to generating international support for the rights of the Palestinian people; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee and under its guidance; 4. Requests the Division, in particular, to continue to monitor developments relevant to the question of Palestine, to organize international meetings and conferences in various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community and to ensure, within existing resources, the continued participation of eminent persons and international renowned experts in these meetings and conferences, to be invited on a par with the members of the Committee, to liaise and cooperate with civil society and parliamentarians, _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/69/35). A/RES/69/21 Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat 2/2 including through the Working Group of the Committee and its associated “UN Platform for Palestine”, to develop and expand the “Question of Palestine” website and the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, to prepare and widely disseminate publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine and to develop and enhance the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Government in contribution to Palestinian capacity-building efforts; 5. Also requests the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize, under the guidance of the Committee, an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, and encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation with the Division of the United Nations system entities with programme components addressing various aspects of the question of Palestine and the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Division in the performance of its tasks. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/69/210 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2014 [on the report of the Second Committee (A/69/468 and Corr.1)] 69/210. Entrepreneurship for development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 67/202 of 21 December 2012, Reaffirming the commitments to development and poverty eradication emanating from the United Nations Millennium Declaration1 and the commitments made at the 2005 World Summit, 2 the 2010 high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals3 and other major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions, Recalling the special event to follow up efforts made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, held on 25 September 2013, and its outcome document,4 Recalling also the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, entitled “The future we want”,5 and recognizing the potential of entrepreneurship to contribute to specific sustainable development objectives, Reaffirming the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development6 in its holistic approach and the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development: outcome document of the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus,7 _______________ 1 Resolution 55/2. 2 Resolution 60/1. 3 Resolution 65/1. 4 Resolution 68/6. 5 Resolution 66/288, annex. 6 Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18–22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 7 Resolution 63/239, annex. A/RES/69/210 Entrepreneurship for development 2/4 Recalling the Istanbul Declaration and Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020,8 Recalling also the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action9 and the agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its fifty-eighth session, 10 and stressing that women, particularly in developing countries, are important drivers of entrepreneurship, Taking note of the ministerial declaration adopted at the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2012 of the Economic and Social Council, entitled “Promoting productive capacity, employment and decent work to eradicate poverty in the context of inclusive, sustainable and equitable economic growth at all levels for achieving the Millennium Development Goals”,11 Welcoming the contribution of all relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society, to the implementation of the outcomes of the United Nations conferences and summits and their reviews in the economic, social, environmental and related fields, as well as the realization of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recognizing the important contribution entrepreneurship can make to sustainable development by creating jobs and driving economic growth and innovation, improving social conditions and contributing to addressing environmental challenges, and stressing the importance of giving appropriate consideration to the promotion of entrepreneurship in the context of the discussions on the post-2015 development agenda, Recognizing also the importance of developing comprehensive and comparable data to monitor progress in the implementation of entrepreneurship policies, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;12 2. Emphasizes the need for improved regulatory environments and policy initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and foster small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as microenterprises, and stresses the positive role entrepreneurship plays in driving job creation and expanding opportunities for all, including for women and youth; 3. Encourages Governments to take a coordinated and inclusive approach to promoting entrepreneurship involving all stakeholders, while noting initiatives of civil society, academia and the private sector as important entrepreneurship drivers, and to develop policies, taking into account national priorities and circumstances, that address the legal, social and regulatory barriers to equal, effective economic participation, and stresses the need for a comprehensive approach to entrepreneurship that includes support from development partners in the areas of technology transfer on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential _______________ 8 Report of the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Istanbul, Turkey, 9– 13 May 2011 (A/CONF.219/7), chap. I and II. 9 Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. 10 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2014, Supplement No. 7 (E/2014/27), chap. I, sect. A. 11 E/HLS/2012/1. 12 A/69/320. Entrepreneurship for development A/RES/69/210 3/4 terms, as mutually agreed, finance and capacity-building, with a focus on education and skills development; 4. Acknowledges the important role trade plays in enhancing the capacity of enterprises, and reaffirms in this regard the critical role that a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system can play in stimulating economic growth and development worldwide, thereby benefiting all countries at all stages of development as they advance towards sustainable development; 5. Emphasizes that partnerships with the private sector play an important role in promoting entrepreneurship, generating employment and investment, increasing revenue potential, developing new technologies and innovative business models and enabling high, sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth while protecting workers’ rights; 6. Invites Member States to strengthen the capacity of national financial institutions to reach out to those who have no access to banking, insurance and other financial services, and encourages them to adopt regulatory and supervisory frameworks that facilitate the safe and sound provision of services to such populations, increase access to information and promote financial literacy, particularly for women; 7. Encourages Member States to expand alternative sources of financing and diversify the retail financial service system to include non-traditional providers of financial services, such as microcredit and microfinance, stresses the value of a sound regulatory framework in this regard, and also encourages the provision of incentives to microfinance institutions that meet national standards for delivering sound financial services to the poor, with a particular emphasis on women; 8. Emphasizes the important role of national efforts aimed at bringing informal workers into the formal economy and integrating them into national social security systems; 9. Recognizes that technological improvement, particularly through the diffusion of technology, can provide new opportunities for businesses to improve their competitiveness, and in this regard encourages Member States to increase cooperation in support of technology exchange and transfer, innovation and capacity-building programmes for promoting entrepreneurship; 10. Also recognizes the value of teaching entrepreneurial skills at all levels of education, ensuring the full and equal participation of women and girls, and encourages entrepreneurship education through skills development, capacity- building, training programmes and business incubators; 11. Acknowledges the role of entrepreneurship in enabling youth to turn their creativity, energy and ideas into business opportunities by helping to facilitate their entry into the labour market; 12. Encourages the United Nations system, in cooperation with Member States, to identify indicators that can be used to evaluate the success of entrepreneurship policies; 13. Recognizes that democratic political institutions, transparent and accountable public and private entities, effective anti-corruption measures and responsible corporate governance are key conditions for making market economies and enterprises more responsive to the values and long-term goals of society; A/RES/69/210 Entrepreneurship for development 4/4 14. Acknowledges that the private sector can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development and support national regulatory and policy frameworks that enable business and industry to advance sustainable development initiatives, taking into account the importance of responsible business practices and corporate social responsibility; 15. Encourages the international community to support the efforts of countries in promoting entrepreneurship and fostering the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as microenterprises, taking into account the challenges and opportunities of increased trade liberalization; 16. Encourages countries to consider establishing or strengthening national centres of excellence in entrepreneurship and similar bodies, and also encourages cooperation and networking and the sharing of best practices between them; 17. Calls upon the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to further recognize and integrate entrepreneurship in its various forms into their policies, programmes and reports and to support national efforts in this regard, as appropriate; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session a report on the progress made in implementing the present resolution, highlighting indicators based on existing work, as well as identifying best practices and possible measures that could be taken at all levels in support of entrepreneurship. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/69/53 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2014 [on the report of the First Committee (A/69/440)] 69/53. Measures to uphold the authority of the 1925 Geneva Protocol The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolution 67/35 of 3 December 2012, Determined to act with a view to achieving effective progress towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, Recalling the long-standing determination of the international community to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical and biological weapons, as well as the continuing support for measures to uphold the authority of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925,1 as expressed by consensus in many previous resolutions, Emphasizing the necessity of easing international tension and strengthening trust and confidence between States, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General;2 2. Renews its previous call to all States to observe strictly the principles and objectives of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare,1 and reaffirms the vital necessity of upholding its provisions; 3. Calls upon those States that continue to maintain reservations to the 1925 Geneva Protocol to withdraw them; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. 62nd plenary meeting 2 December 2014 _______________ 1 League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV, No. 2138. 2 A/69/123. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/69/58 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2014 [on the report of the First Committee (A/69/440)] 69/58. Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 67/39 of 3 December 2012 and 68/32 of 5 December 2013, Welcoming the convening of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament, on 26 September 2013, and recognizing its contribution to furthering the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Emphasizing the importance of seeking a safer world for all and achieving peace and security in a world without nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that effective measures of nuclear disarmament have the highest priority, as affirmed at the first special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons are the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Acknowledging the significant contribution made by a number of countries towards realizing the objective of nuclear disarmament by the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as by voluntary renunciation of nuclear weapon programmes or withdrawal of all nuclear weapons from their territories, and strongly supporting the speedy establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, Recalling the resolve of the Heads of State and Government, as contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 1 to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, _______________ 1 Resolution 55/2. A/RES/69/58 Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament 2/3 Reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in the field of disarmament, and also reaffirming the continued importance and relevance of multilateral disarmament machinery as mandated by the General Assembly at its first special session devoted to disarmament, Acknowledging the important role of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academia, parliamentarians and the mass media, in advancing the objective of nuclear disarmament, Sharing the deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and in this context reaffirming the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 68/32,2 and welcoming the fact that a large number of Member States contributed their views to this report, Mindful of the solemn obligations of States parties, undertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 3 particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, Determined to work collectively towards the realization of nuclear disarmament, 1. Underlines the strong support, expressed at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament, held on 26 September 2013, for taking urgent and effective measures to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons; 2. Calls for urgent compliance with the legal obligations and the fulfilment of the commitments undertaken on nuclear disarmament; 3. Endorses the wide support expressed at the high-level meeting for a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons; 4. Calls for the urgent commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament for the early conclusion of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons to prohibit their possession, development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use and to provide for their destruction; 5. Recalls its decision to convene, no later than 2018, a United Nations high-level international conference on nuclear disarmament to review the progress made in this regard; 6. Takes note of the views provided by Member States with regard to achieving the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, in particular on the elements of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons, as reflected in the report submitted by the Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 68/32,2 and requests that the Secretary-General forward this report to the Conference on Disarmament and the Disarmament Commission for their early consideration; 7. Welcomes the commemoration and promotion of 26 September as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons devoted to furthering this objective; _______________ 2 A/69/172 and Add.1. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament A/RES/69/58 3/3 8. Expresses its appreciation to Member States, the United Nations system and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academia, parliamentarians, the mass media and individuals that developed activities in promotion of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons; 9. Requests the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly to make all the arrangements necessary to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, including by convening an annual meeting of the Assembly to commemorate the International Day and to provide a platform for the promotion of these activities; 10. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations system and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academia, parliamentarians, the mass media and individuals, to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons through all means of educational and public awareness-raising activities about the threat posed to humanity by nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimination in order to mobilize international efforts towards achieving the common goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States with regard to achieving the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, in particular on the elements of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons, and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventieth session, and also to transmit the report to the Conference on Disarmament; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its seventieth session; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventieth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, a sub-item entitled “Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/69/59 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2014 [on the report of the First Committee (A/69/440)] 69/59. Compliance with non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and commitments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 66/49 of 2 December 2011 and other relevant resolutions on the question, Recognizing the abiding concern of all Member States for ensuring respect for the rights and obligations arising from treaties to which they are parties and from other sources of international law, Convinced that observance by Member States of the Charter of the United Nations and compliance with non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements to which they are parties and with other agreed obligations are essential for regional and global peace, security and stability, Stressing that failure by States parties to comply with such agreements and with other agreed obligations not only adversely affects the security of States parties but also can create security risks for other States relying on the constraints and commitments stipulated in those agreements, Stressing also that the viability and effectiveness of non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and of other agreed obligations require that those agreements be fully complied with and enforced, Concerned by non-compliance by some States with their respective obligations, Noting that verification and compliance, and enforcement in a manner consistent with the Charter, are integrally related, Recognizing the importance of and support for effective national, regional and international capacities for such verification, compliance and enforcement, Recognizing also that full compliance by States with all their respective non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and with other agreed obligations they have undertaken contributes to efforts to prevent the development and proliferation, contrary to international obligations, of weapons of mass destruction, related technologies and means of delivery, as well as to efforts to deny non-State actors access to such capabilities, A/RES/69/59 Compliance with non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and commitments 2/2 1. Underscores the contribution that compliance with non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and with other agreed obligations makes to enhancing confidence and to strengthening international security and stability; 2. Urges all States to implement and to comply fully with their respective obligations; 3. Welcomes efforts by all States to pursue additional areas of cooperation, as appropriate, that can increase confidence in compliance with existing non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and commitments and reduce the possibility of misinterpretation and misunderstanding; 4. Calls upon all Member States to encourage and, for those States in a position to do so, to appropriately assist States which request assistance to increase their capacity to implement fully their obligations; 5. Calls upon Member States to support efforts aimed at the resolution of compliance questions by means consistent with such agreements and with international law; 6. Welcomes the role that the United Nations has played and continues to play in maintaining the integrity of certain arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements and in addressing threats to international peace and security; 7. Calls upon all concerned States to take concerted action, in a manner consistent with relevant international law, to encourage, through bilateral and multilateral means, the compliance by all States with their respective non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and with other agreed obligations, and to hold those not in compliance with such agreements accountable for their non-compliance in a manner consistent with the Charter of the United Nations; 8. Urges those States not currently in compliance with their respective obligations and commitments to make the strategic decision to come back into compliance; 9. Encourages efforts by all States, the United Nations and other international organizations, pursuant to their respective mandates, to take action, consistent with the Charter, to prevent serious damage to international security and stability arising from non-compliance by States with their existing non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament obligations; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-second session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Compliance with non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and commitments”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/69/62 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2014 [on the report of the First Committee (A/69/440)] 69/62. Preventing and combating illicit brokering activities The General Assembly, Noting the threat to international peace and security posed by illicit brokering activities circumventing the international arms control and non-proliferation framework, Concerned that, if proper measures are not taken, the illicit brokering of arms in all its aspects will adversely affect the maintenance of international peace and security, and prolong conflicts, and could be an obstacle to sustainable economic and social development and result in illicit transfers of conventional arms and the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors, Recognizing the need for Member States to prevent and combat illicit brokering activities, which covers not only conventional arms but also materials, equipment and technology that could contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, Reaffirming that efforts to prevent and combat illicit brokering activities should not hamper the legitimate arms trade and international cooperation with respect to materials, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes, Recalling Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004, in particular paragraph 3, in which the Council determined that all States shall develop and maintain appropriate effective border controls and law enforcement efforts to detect, deter, prevent and combat, including through international cooperation when necessary, illicit trafficking in and brokering of materials related to nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, in accordance with their national legal authorities and legislation and consistent with international law, Recalling also General Assembly resolution 67/43 of 3 December 2012, Noting international efforts to prevent and combat illicit arms brokering, in particular in small arms and light weapons, as demonstrated by the adoption in 2001 of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,1 and the entry into force in 2005 _______________ 1 Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9–20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. A/RES/69/62 Preventing and combating illicit brokering activities 2/3 of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,2 Recognizing the importance of States parties to the Arms Trade Treaty3 taking measures, pursuant to their national laws, to regulate brokering taking place under their jurisdiction, in accordance with article 10 of the Treaty, which will enter into force on 24 December 2014, Noting the adoption on 26 September 2013 of Security Council resolution 2117 (2013) on small arms and light weapons, in which the Council encourages cooperation and information-sharing on suspect brokering activities to address the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, Noting also the report of the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 60/81 of 8 December 2005 to consider further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons4 as an international initiative within the framework of the United Nations, Welcoming efforts to implement the Programme of Action, and welcoming also in this regard the outcome document of the Second United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action, held in New York from 27 August to 7 September 2012,5 including as it relates to illicit brokering of small arms and light weapons, Underlining the inherent right of Member States to determine the specific scope and content of domestic regulations in accordance with their legislative frameworks and export control systems, consistent with international law, Welcoming the efforts made by Member States to implement laws and/or administrative measures to regulate arms brokering within their legal systems, Encouraging cooperation among Member States to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in nuclear materials, and recognizing in this regard existing efforts at all levels, consistent with international law, Noting the holding of the Nuclear Security Summit on 24 and 25 March 2014 in The Hague, Encouraging Member States in a position to do so to share their experience and practices in relation to the control of illicit brokering and to further enhance international cooperation to this end, Noting with satisfaction the activities of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in relation to preventing and combating illicit brokering activities, Acknowledging the constructive role civil society can play in raising awareness and providing practical expertise on the prevention of illicit brokering activities, _______________ 2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2326, No. 39574. 3 See resolution 67/234 B. 4 A/62/163 and Corr.1. 5 A/CONF.192/2012/RC/4, annex I. Preventing and combating illicit brokering activities A/RES/69/62 3/3 1. Underlines the commitment of Member States to address the threat posed by illicit brokering activities; 2. Encourages Member States to fully implement relevant international treaties, instruments and resolutions to prevent and combat illicit brokering activities, and implement, where appropriate, the recommendations contained in the report of the Group of Governmental Experts;4 3. Calls upon Member States to establish appropriate national laws and/or measures to prevent and combat the illicit brokering of conventional arms and materials, equipment and technology that could contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, in a manner consistent with international law; 4. Acknowledges that national efforts to prevent and combat illicit brokering activities can be reinforced by such efforts at the regional and subregional levels; 5. Emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and assistance, capacity-building and information-sharing in preventing and combating illicit brokering activities, and encourages Member States to take such measures as appropriate and in a manner consistent with international law; 6. Encourages Member States to draw, where appropriate, on the relevant expertise of civil society in developing effective measures to prevent and combat illicit brokering activities; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-first session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Preventing and combating illicit brokering activities”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/69/81 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2014 [on the report of the First Committee (A/69/446)] 69/81. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty The General Assembly, Reiterating that the cessation of nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions constitutes an effective nuclear disarmament and non- proliferation measure, and convinced that this is a meaningful step in the realization of a systematic process for achieving nuclear disarmament, Recalling that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted by the General Assembly by its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, was opened for signature on 24 September 1996, Stressing that a universal and effectively verifiable Treaty constitutes a fundamental instrument in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and that, after more than 15 years, its entry into force is more urgent than ever before, Encouraged by the signing of the Treaty by 183 States, including 41 of the 44 whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, and welcoming the ratification of the Treaty by 163 States, including 36 of the 44 whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, among which there are 3 nuclear-weapon States, Recalling its resolution 68/68 of 5 December 2013, Welcoming the adoption by consensus of the conclusions and recommendations for follow-on actions of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 1 in which the Conference, inter alia, reaffirmed the vital importance of the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty as a core element of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and included specific actions to be taken in support of the entry into force of the Treaty, Welcoming also the Final Declaration adopted by the eighth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, held in New York on 27 September 2013, convened pursuant to article XIV of the _______________ 1 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. I)), part I, Conclusions and recommendations for follow-on actions. A/RES/69/81 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty 2/3 Treaty, and recalling the Joint Ministerial Statement on the Comprehensive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty, adopted at the ministerial meeting held in New York on 26 September 2014, Noting the establishment of a group of eminent persons to complement efforts to secure ratifications from the remaining Annex 2 countries and to support the article XIV process, and noting also that the group met in Stockholm on 10 and 11 April 2014 and decided to establish three subgroups to focus on the promotion of ratification by countries whose ratification is needed for the entry into force of the Treaty, 1. Stresses the vital importance and urgency of signature and ratification, without delay and without conditions, in order to achieve the earliest entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;2 2. Welcomes the contributions by the signatory States to the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, in particular its efforts to ensure that the verification regime of the Treaty will be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty upon its entry into force, in accordance with article IV of the Treaty; 3. Underlines the need to maintain momentum towards completion of all elements of the verification regime; 4. Urges all States not to carry out nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions, to maintain their moratoriums in this regard and to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty, while stressing that these measures do not have the same permanent and legally binding effect as the entry into force of the Treaty; 5. Shares the grave concern of the Security Council about the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 12 February 2013, expressed in Council resolution 2094 (2013) of 7 March 2013, recalls Council resolutions 1718 (2006) of 14 October 2006 and 1874 (2009) of 12 June 2009, calls for full compliance with the obligations under the relevant resolutions, and reaffirms its support for the Six-Party Talks; 6. Urges all States that have not yet signed the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to sign and ratify it as soon as possible; 7. Urges all States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to ensuring their earliest successful conclusion; 8. Welcomes, since its previous resolution on the subject, the ratification of the Treaty by the Congo and Niue, since every ratification is a significant step towards the early entry into force of the Treaty; 9. Also welcomes the recent expressions from among the remaining States whose ratification is needed for the Treaty to enter into force of their intention to pursue and complete the ratification process; 10. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and, where in a position to do so, to promote adherence to the Treaty through bilateral and joint outreach, seminars and other means; _______________ 2 See resolution 50/245 and A/50/1027. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty A/RES/69/81 3/3 11. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, to prepare a report on the efforts of States that have ratified the Treaty towards its universalization and on possibilities for providing assistance on ratification procedures to States that so request it and to submit such a report to the General Assembly at its seventieth session; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventieth session the item entitled “Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/70/155 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2015 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/70/489/Add.2)] 70/155. The right to development The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, which expresses, in particular, the determination to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom and, to that end, to employ international mechanisms for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1 as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 2 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,2 Recalling also the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling further the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, which confirmed that the right to development is an inalienable human right and that equality of opportunity for development is a prerogative both of nations and of individuals who make up nations, and that the individual is the central subject and beneficiary of development, Stressing the importance of the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna in 1993, and that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action 3 reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights and the individual as the central subject and beneficiary of development, Reaffirming the objective of making the right to development a reality for everyone, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the General Assembly on 8 September 2000,4 _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. 4 Resolution 55/2. A/RES/70/155 The right to development 2/10 Deeply concerned that the majority of indigenous peoples in the world live in conditions of poverty, and recognizing the critical need to address the negative impact of poverty and inequity on indigenous peoples by ensuring their full and effective inclusion in development and poverty eradication programmes, Recalling the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples and its outcome document, 5 Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interrelatedness, interdependence and mutually reinforcing nature of all civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, including the right to development, Expressing deep concern over the lack of substantial progress in the trade negotiations of the World Trade Organization, and calling upon all members of the World Trade Organization to redouble their efforts to promptly conclude the negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda, 6 taking into account that international trade is an engine for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction and contributes to the promotion of sustainable development, Recalling the outcome of the twelfth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in Accra from 20 to 25 April 2008, on the theme “Addressing the opportunities and challenges of globalization for development”, 7 Recalling also all its previous resolutions, Human Rights Council resolutions and those of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to development, in particular Commission resolution 1998/72 of 22 April 19988 on the urgent need to make further progress towards the realization of the right to development, Recalling further the outcome of the eleventh session of the Working Group on the Right to Development of the Human Rights Council, held in Geneva from 26 to 30 April 2010, as contained in the report of the Working Group 9 and as referred to in the report of the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,10 Recalling the Sixteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran from 26 to 31 August 2012, and the previous summits and conferences at which the States members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries stressed the need to operationalize the right to development as a priority, including through the elaboration of a convention on the right to development by the relevant machinery, taking into account the recommendations of relevant initiatives, Reiterating its continuing support for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development11 as a development framework for Africa, Expressing its appreciation for the efforts of the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Right to Development and the members of the high-level task _______________ 5 Resolution 69/2. 6 See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 7 See TD/442 and Corr.1 and 2. 8 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. 9 A/HRC/15/23. 10 A/HRC/15/24. 11 A/57/304, annex. The right to development A/RES/70/155 3/10 force on the implementation of the right to development in completing the 2008– 2010 three-phase road map established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 4/4 of 30 March 2007,12 Deeply concerned about the negative impacts of the global economic and financial crises on the realization of the right to development, Recognizing that, while development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of development may not be invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally recognized human rights, Recognizing also that Member States should cooperate with one another in ensuring development and eliminating obstacles to development, that the international community should promote effective international cooperation for the realization of the right to development and the elimination of obstacles to development and that lasting progress towards the implementation of the right to development requires effective development policies at the national level, as well as equitable economic relations and a favourable economic environment at the international level, Recognizing further that poverty is an affront to human dignity, Recognizing that extreme poverty and hunger are among the greatest global threats and require the collective commitment of the international community for their eradication, pursuant to Millennium Development Goal 1 and Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2, and therefore calling upon the international community, including the Human Rights Council, to contribute towards achieving that goal, Recognizing also that historical injustices, inter alia, have contributed to the poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparity, instability and insecurity that affect many people in different parts of the world, in particular in developing countries, Recognizing further that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is one of the critical elements in the promotion and realization of the right to development and is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, which requires a multifaceted and integrated approach, and committed to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated manner, Emphasizing that all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Emphasizing also that the right to development should be central to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 13 Welcoming the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, reaffirming that the Declaration on the Right to Development informed the 2030 Agenda, along with other relevant international instruments, and underlining the fact that the Sustainable Development Goals can be realized only through a credible, _______________ 12 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. III, sect. A. 13 Resolution 70/1. A/RES/70/155 The right to development 4/10 effective and universal commitment to the means of implementation by all stakeholders, Stressing that the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development presents a unique opportunity for the international community to demonstrate and reiterate its unequivocal commitment to the right to development, recognizing the high profile that it deserves, and redoubling its efforts to implement this right, 1. Takes note of the consolidated report of the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concerning the promotion and realization of the right to development;14 2. Recognizes the significance of all the events held to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, 15 including the panel discussion on the theme “The way forward in the realization of the right to development: between policy and practice”, held during the eighteenth session of the Human Rights Council; 3. Acknowledges the need to strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and realization of the right to development at the international level while urging all States to undertake at the national level the necessary policy formulation and to institute the measures required for the implementation of the right to development as an integral part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 4. Supports the realization of the mandate of the Working Group on the Right to Development, as renewed by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 9/3 of 24 September 2008,16 and recognizes the need for renewed efforts towards intensifying deliberations in the Working Group to fulfil its mandate at the earliest, while welcoming the commencement of the second reading of the draft criteria and corresponding operational subcriteria; 5. Reaffirms the recommendations adopted by the Working Group at its fourteenth session,17 and calls for their immediate, full and effective implementation by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant actors, noting also the efforts under way within the framework of the Working Group with a view to completing the tasks entrusted to it by the Council in its resolution 4/4;12 6. Emphasizes the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 establishing the Human Rights Council, and in this regard calls upon the Council to implement the agreement to continue to act to ensure that its agenda promotes and advances sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, and also in this regard to lead the raising of the right to development, as set out in paragraphs 5 and 10 of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,3 to the same level as and on a par with all other human rights and fundamental freedoms; 7. Stresses that the views, criteria and corresponding operational subcriteria, once considered, revised and endorsed by the Working Group, should be _______________ 14 A/HRC/30/22. 15 Resolution 41/128, annex. 16 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/63/53/Add.1), chap. I. 17 A/HRC/24/37. The right to development A/RES/70/155 5/10 used, as appropriate, in the elaboration of a comprehensive and coherent set of standards for the implementation of the right to development; 8. Emphasizes the importance of the Working Group taking appropriate steps to ensure respect for and practical application of the above-mentioned standards, which could take various forms, including the elaboration of guidelines on the implementation of the right to development, and evolve into a basis for the consideration of an international legal standard of a binding nature through a collaborative process of engagement; 9. Recalls the request made to the Working Group to consider at its seventeenth session a document, to be produced by its Chair-Rapporteur, containing a set of standards for the implementation of the right to development based on relevant United Nations resolutions and documents, including the Declaration on the Right to Development, relevant international conventions and decisions as well as internationally agreed development goals and United Nations resolutions, in consultation with Member States, relevant international organizations and other stakeholders; 10. Also recalls that the above-mentioned document would be prepared without prejudice to the ongoing discussions on the criteria and operational subcriteria, in the context of which the Working Group shall complete its second reading at its seventeenth session and decide on further action thereafter, with the objective of elaborating a comprehensive and coherent set of standards for the implementation of the right to development; 11. Decides to convene a two-day formal meeting of the Working Group, after its seventeenth session, to consider further and discuss the document containing the draft set of standards; 12. Stresses the importance of the core principles contained in the conclusions of the Working Group at its third session18 that are congruent with the purpose of international human rights instruments, such as equality, non- discrimination, accountability, participation and international cooperation, as critical to mainstreaming the right to development at the national and international levels, and underlines the importance of the principles of equity and transparency; 13. Also stresses that it is important that the Chair-Rapporteur and the Working Group, in the discharge of their mandates, take into account the need: (a) To promote the democratization of the system of international governance in order to increase the effective participation of developing countries in international decision-making; (b) To also promote effective partnerships such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development11 and other similar initiatives with the developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, for the purpose of the realization of their right to development, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; (c) To strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and realization of the right to development at the international level, while urging all States to undertake at the national level the necessary policy formulation and to institute the measures required for the implementation of the right to development as an integral part of all _______________ 18 See E/CN.4/2002/28/Rev.1, sect. VIII.A. A/RES/70/155 The right to development 6/10 human rights and fundamental freedoms, and also while urging all States to expand and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in ensuring development and eliminating obstacles to development in the context of promoting effective international cooperation for the realization of the right to development, bearing in mind that lasting progress towards the implementation of the right to development requires effective development policies at the national level and a favourable economic environment at the international level; (d) To consider ways and means to continue to ensure the operationalization of the right to development as a priority; (e) To mainstream the right to development in the policies and operational activities of the United Nations and the specialized agencies, funds and programmes, as well as in the policies and strategies of the international financial and multilateral trading systems, bearing in mind in this regard that the core principles of the international economic, commercial and financial spheres, such as equity, non-discrimination, transparency, accountability, participation and international cooperation, including effective partnerships for development, are indispensable in achieving the right to development and preventing discriminatory treatment arising from political or other non-economic considerations in addressing the issues of concern to the developing countries; 14. Encourages the Human Rights Council to continue to consider how to ensure follow-up to the work of the former Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on the right to development, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights and in compliance with decisions to be taken by the Council; 15. Reaffirms the commitment to implement the goals and targets set out in all the outcome documents of the major United Nations conferences and summits and their review processes, in particular those relating to the realization of the right to development, recognizing that the realization of the right to development is critical to achieving the objectives, goals and targets set in those outcome documents; 16. Also reaffirms that the realization of the right to development is essential to the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which regards all human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, places the human person at the centre of development and recognizes that, while development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, lack of development may not be invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally recognized human rights; 17. Stresses that the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of all human rights lies with the State, and reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized; 18. Reaffirms the primary responsibility of States to create national and international conditions favourable to the realization of the right to development, as well as their commitment to cooperate with one another to that end; 19. Expresses concern about the increasing cases of human rights violations and abuses by some transnational corporations and other business enterprises, underlines the need to ensure that appropriate protection, justice and remedies are provided to the victims of human rights violations and abuses resulting from their The right to development A/RES/70/155 7/10 activities, and underscores the fact that these entities must contribute to the means of implementation for the realization of the right to development; 20. Reaffirms the need for an international environment that is conducive to the realization of the right to development; 21. Stresses the need to strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and realization of the right to development at the international and national levels, and calls upon all States to institute the measures required for the implementation of the right to development as an integral part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 22. Emphasizes the critical importance of identifying and analysing obstacles impeding the full realization of the right to development at both the national and international levels; 23. Affirms that, while globalization offers both opportunities and challenges, the process of globalization remains deficient in achieving the objectives of integrating all countries into a globalized world, stresses the need for policies and measures at the national and global levels to respond to the challenges and opportunities of globalization if this process is to be made fully inclusive and equitable, recognizes that globalization has brought disparities between and within countries and that issues such as trade and trade liberalization, transfer of technology, infrastructure development and market access should be managed effectively in order to mitigate the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment and to make the right to development a reality for everyone; 24. Recognizes that, despite continuous efforts on the part of the international community, the gap between developed and developing countries remains unacceptably wide, that most of the developing countries continue to face difficulties in participating in the globalization process and that many risk being marginalized and effectively excluded from its benefits; 25. Expresses its deep concern, in this regard, about the negative impact on the realization of the right to development due to the further aggravation of the economic and social situation, in particular of developing countries, as a result of the ongoing international energy, food and financial crises, as well as the increasing challenges posed by global climate change and the loss of biodiversity, which have increased vulnerabilities and inequalities and have adversely affected development gains, in particular in developing countries; 26. Recalls the commitment in the United Nations Millennium Declaration4 of halving the number of people living in poverty by 2015, notes with concern that some developing countries have failed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and in this regard invites Member States and the international community to take proactive measures aimed at creating a conducive environment to contribute to the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular increasing international cooperation, including partnership and commitment, between developed and developing countries towards achieving the goals; 27. Urges developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts towards meeting the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help to meet development goals and targets; A/RES/70/155 The right to development 8/10 28. Recognizes the need to address market access for developing countries, including in the sectors of agriculture, services and non-agricultural products, in particular those of interest to developing countries; 29. Calls once again for the implementation of a desirable pace of meaningful trade liberalization, including in areas under negotiation in the World Trade Organization, the implementation of commitments on implementation-related issues and concerns, a review of special and differential treatment provisions, with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, effective and operational, the avoidance of new forms of protectionism, and capacity-building and technical assistance for developing countries as important issues in making progress towards the effective implementation of the right to development; 30. Recognizes the important link between the international economic, commercial and financial spheres and the realization of the right to development, stresses in this regard the need for good governance and for broadening the base of decision-making at the international level on issues of development concern and the need to fill organizational gaps, as well as to strengthen the United Nations system and other multilateral institutions, and also stresses the need to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting; 31. Also recognizes that good governance and the rule of law at the national level assist all States in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, and agrees on the value of the ongoing efforts being made by States to identify and strengthen good governance practices, including transparent, responsible, accountable and participatory government, that are responsive and appropriate to their needs and aspirations, including in the context of agreed partnership approaches to development, capacity-building and technical assistance; 32. Further recognizes the important role and the rights of women and the application of a gender perspective as a cross-cutting issue in the process of realizing the right to development, and notes in particular the positive relationship between the education of women and their equal participation in the civil, cultural, economic, political and social activities of the community and the promotion of the right to development; 33. Stresses the need for the integration of the rights of children, girls and boys alike, in all policies and programmes and for ensuring the promotion and protection of those rights, especially in areas relating to health, education and the full development of their capacities; 34. Recalls the Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: Intensifying Our Efforts to Eliminate HIV and AIDS, adopted on 10 June 2011 at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on HIV and AIDS, 19 stresses that further and additional measures must be taken at the national and international levels to fight HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases, taking into account ongoing efforts and programmes, and reiterates the need for international assistance in this regard; 35. Welcomes the political declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, _______________ 19 Resolution 65/277, annex. The right to development A/RES/70/155 9/10 adopted on 19 September 2011,20 with its particular focus on development and other challenges and social and economic impacts, particularly for developing countries; 36. Recalls the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”; 21 37. Also recalls the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,22 which entered into force on 3 May 2008, and stresses the need to take into consideration the rights of persons with disabilities and the importance of international cooperation in support of national efforts in the realization of the right to development; 38. Stresses its commitment to indigenous peoples in the process of the realization of the right to development, reaffirms the commitment to promote their rights in the areas of education, employment, vocational training and retraining, housing, sanitation, health and social security, in accordance with recognized international human rights obligations, and taking into account, as appropriate, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/295 of 13 September 2007, and in this regard recalls the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, held in 2014; 39. Recognizes the need for strong partnerships with civil society organizations and the private sector in pursuit of poverty eradication and development, as well as for corporate social responsibility; 40. Emphasizes the urgent need to take concrete and effective measures to prevent, combat and criminalize all forms of corruption at all levels, to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner international transfers of illicitly acquired assets and to strengthen international cooperation in asset recovery, consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, 23 particularly chapter V thereof, stresses the importance of a genuine political commitment on the part of all Governments through a firm legal framework, and in this context urges States to sign and ratify the Convention as soon as possible and States parties to implement it effectively; 41. Also emphasizes the need to strengthen further the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and realization of the right to development, including by ensuring the effective use of the financial and human resources necessary to fulfil its mandate, and calls upon the Secretary-General to provide the Office with the necessary resources; 42. Reaffirms the request to the High Commissioner, in mainstreaming the right to development, to effectively undertake activities aimed at strengthening the global partnership for development among Member States, development agencies and the international development, financial and trade institutions and to reflect those activities in detail in his next report to the Human Rights Council; 43. Calls upon the United Nations funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies, to mainstream the right to development in their operational _______________ 20 Resolution 66/2, annex. 21 Resolution 66/288, annex. 22 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2515, No. 44910. 23 Ibid., vol. 2349, No. 42146. A/RES/70/155 The right to development 10/10 programmes and objectives, and stresses the need for the international financial and multilateral trading systems to mainstream the right to development in their policies and objectives; 44. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs and bodies, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes, international development and financial institutions, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations; 45. Supports the decision of the Human Rights Council, as part of the activities to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, to request the High Commissioner to seek the views of Member States in preparing a paper on the realization and implementation of the right to development, as elaborated in the Declaration, in particular its article 4; 46. Decides to convene a one-day high-level segment of the General Assembly, in the margins of the general debate of the Assembly at its seventy-first session, in order to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development; 47. Encourages Member States, individually and collectively, to convene events with their own resources for the commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development; 48. Also encourages Member States to give particular consideration to the right to development in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; 49. Notes that the theme of the Human Rights Council high-level panel on human rights mainstreaming, to be held during the thirty-first session of the Council, in March 2016, will be “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and human rights, with an emphasis on the right to development”; 50. Encourages relevant bodies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, including United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies, relevant international organizations, including the World Trade Organization and relevant stakeholders, including civil society organizations, to give due consideration to the right to development in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to contribute further to the work of the Working Group on the Right to Development and to cooperate with the High Commissioner in the fulfilment of his mandate with regard to the implementation of the right to development; 51. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session and an interim report to the Human Rights Council on the implementation of the present resolution, including efforts undertaken at the national, regional and international levels in the promotion and realization of the right to development, and invites the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group to present an oral report and to engage in an interactive dialogue with the Assembly at its seventy-first session. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/70/17 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 24 November 2015 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/70/L.17 and Add.1)] 70/17. The Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled “The situation in the Middle East”, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Middle East,1 Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 2 to the occupied Syrian Golan, Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Stressing the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and other activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, Noting with satisfaction the convening in Madrid on 30 October 1991 of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the formula of land for peace, Expressing grave concern over the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track, and expressing the hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached, 1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981); _______________ 1 A/70/353. 2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. A/RES/70/17 The Syrian Golan 2/2 2. Also declares that the Israeli decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and has no validity whatsoever, as confirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 497 (1981), and calls upon Israel to rescind it; 3. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention of 1907, and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,2 continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under those instruments in all circumstances; 4. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region; 5. Calls upon Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks; 6. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Calls upon all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/70/172 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2015 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/70/489/Add.3)] 70/172. Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments, Recalling all previous resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including Assembly resolution 69/188 of 18 December 2014 and Council resolution 28/22 of 27 March 2015,1 and mindful of the need for the international community to strengthen its coordinated efforts aimed at achieving the implementation of those resolutions, Deeply concerned at the grave human rights situation, the pervasive culture of impunity and the lack of accountability for human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Stressing the importance of following up on the recommendations contained in the report of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,2 and expressing grave concern at the detailed findings contained therein, Welcoming the decision of the Security Council to add the situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the list of issues of which the Council is seized and the holding of an open meeting of the Council on 22 December 2014 during which the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was discussed, Recalling the responsibility of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to protect its population from crimes against humanity, _______________ 1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventieth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/70/53), chap. III, sect. A. 2 A/HRC/25/63. A/RES/70/172 Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 2/8 Taking note of the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,3 regretting that he still has not been allowed to visit the country and that he has received no cooperation from the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and taking note also of the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea submitted in accordance with resolution 69/188, 4 Mindful that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 5 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,5 the Convention on the Rights of the Child6 and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,7 and recalling the concluding observations of the treaty bodies under the four treaties and the importance of giving them consideration, Noting with appreciation the signature of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 8 and the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography9 by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, encouraging the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to expedite the ratification of the Convention, and urging the Government to fully respect the rights of persons with disabilities and children, Acknowledging the participation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the second universal periodic review process, noting the acceptance by the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of 113 out of the 268 recommendations contained in the outcome of the review 10 and its stated commitment to implement them and look into the possibility of implementing a further 58 recommendations, and emphasizing the importance of the implementation of the recommendations in order to address the grave human rights violations in the country, Noting with appreciation the collaboration established between the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization in order to improve the health situation in the country, and the collaboration established with the United Nations Children’s Fund to improve the nutrition of children and the quality of children’s education, Noting the activities undertaken by the United Nations Development Programme, on a modest scale, in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and encouraging the engagement of the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with the international community to ensure that the programmes benefit the persons in need of assistance, _______________ 3 A/70/362. 4 A/70/393. 5 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 6 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 7 Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. 8 Ibid., vol. 2515, No. 44910. 9 Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531. 10 A/HRC/27/10. Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea A/RES/70/172 3/8 Noting also the cooperation between the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the World Food Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on food security assessments, underscoring the importance of those assessments in analysing changes in the national, household and individual food security and nutritional situation and thereby in supporting donor confidence in the targeting of aid programmes, noting further the letter of understanding signed by the Government and the World Food Programme and the importance of further improvements in operating conditions, bringing access and monitoring arrangements closer to international standards for all United Nations entities, and noting with appreciation the work of international aid operators, Taking note of the United Nations report entitled “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 2015: needs and priorities” and its call to address the critical humanitarian needs in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Noting the importance of the issue of international abductions and of the immediate return of all abductees, taking note of the outcome of the government- level consultation between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Japan in May 2014, on the basis of which the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea commenced investigations on all the Japanese nationals, and expecting the resolution of all issues related to the Japanese nationals, in particular the return of all abductees, to be achieved at the earliest possible date, Welcoming the panel discussion on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including the issue of international abductions, enforced disappearances and related matters, held during the thirtieth session of the Human Rights Council, Noting the importance of the inter-Korean dialogue, which could contribute to the improvement of the human rights and humanitarian situation in the country, Welcoming the resumption of the reunions of separated families across the border in October 2015, and, given that this is an urgent humanitarian concern of the entire Korean people, owing, in particular, to the advanced age of many members of the separated families, hoping that necessary arrangements for further reunions on a larger scale and a regular basis will be made by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea and members of the Korean diaspora, Underlining the efforts of the Secretary-General to contribute to improving inter-Korean relations and promoting reconciliation and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the well-being of the Korean people, 1. Condemns the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including those which the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 22/13 of 21 March 2013, 11 has said may amount to crimes against humanity, and the continuing impunity for such violations; _______________ 11 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/68/53), chap. IV, sect. A. A/RES/70/172 Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 4/8 2. Expresses its very serious concern at: (a) The persistence of continuing reports of violations of human rights, including the detailed findings made by the commission of inquiry in its report, 2 such as: (i) Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including inhuman conditions of detention; rape; public executions; extrajudicial and arbitrary detention; the absence of due process and the rule of law, including fair trial guarantees and an independent judiciary; extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions; the imposition of the death penalty for political and religious reasons; collective punishments extending up to three generations; and the extensive use of forced labour; (ii) The existence of an extensive system of political prison camps, where a vast number of persons are deprived of their liberty and subjected to deplorable conditions and where alarming violations of human rights are perpetrated; (iii) The forcible transfer of populations and the limitations imposed on every person who wishes to move freely within the country and travel abroad, including the punishment of those who leave or try to leave the country without permission, or their families, as well as punishment of persons who are returned; (iv) The situation of refugees and asylum seekers expelled or returned to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and sanctions imposed on citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea who have been repatriated from abroad, leading to punishments of internment, torture, other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, sexual violence or the death penalty, and in this regard strongly urges all States to respect the fundamental principle of non- refoulement, to treat those who seek refuge humanely and to ensure unhindered access to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and his Office, with a view to protecting the human rights of those who seek refuge, and once again urges States parties to comply with their obligations under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees12 and the 1967 Protocol thereto 13 in relation to refugees from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea who are covered by those instruments; (v) All-pervasive and severe restrictions on the freedoms of thought, conscience, religion or belief, opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association, the right to privacy and equal access to information, by such means as the persecution, torture and imprisonment of individuals exercising their freedom of opinion and expression, religion or belief, and their families, and the right of everyone to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, of his or her country; (vi) Violations of economic, social and cultural rights, which have led to severe hunger, malnutrition, widespread health problems and other hardship for the population in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in particular for women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly; _______________ 12 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. 13 Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea A/RES/70/172 5/8 (vii) Violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, in particular the creation of internal conditions that force women to leave the country and make them extremely vulnerable to trafficking in persons for the purpose of prostitution, domestic servitude or forced marriage and the subjection of women to gender-based discrimination, including in the political and social spheres, forced abortions and other forms of sexual and gender- based violence; (viii) Violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of children, in particular the continued lack of access to basic economic, social and cultural rights for many children, and in this regard notes the particularly vulnerable situation faced by, inter alia, returned or repatriated children, street children, children with disabilities, children whose parents are detained, children living in detention or in institutions and children in conflict with the law; (ix) Violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, especially violations involving the use of collective camps and coercive measures that target the rights of persons with disabilities to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and allegations of the possible use of persons with disabilities in medical testing, forced relocation to rural areas and separation of children with disabilities from their parents; (x) Violations of workers’ rights, including the right to freedom of association and effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the right to strike as defined by the obligations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,5 and the prohibition of the economic exploitation of children and of any harmful or hazardous work of children as defined by the obligations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea under the Convention on the Rights of the Child;6 (xi) Discrimination based on the songbun system, which classifies people on the basis of State-assigned social class and birth, and also includes consideration of political opinions and religion; (b) The continued refusal of the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to extend an invitation to the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or to extend cooperation to the Special Rapporteur and other United Nations special procedures in accordance with their terms of reference, as well as to other United Nations human rights mechanisms; (c) The continued lack of acknowledgement by the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of the grave human rights situation in the country and its consequential lack of action to implement the recommendations contained in the outcome of its first universal periodic review 14 and to give consideration to the concluding observations of the treaty bodies; 3. Underscores its very serious concern at the systematic abduction, denial of repatriation and subsequent enforced disappearance of persons, including those from other countries, on a large scale and as a matter of State policy, and in this _______________ 14 A/HRC/13/13. A/RES/70/172 Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 6/8 regard strongly calls upon the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea urgently to resolve these issues of international concern, in a transparent manner, including by ensuring the immediate return of abductees; 4. Expresses its very deep concern at the precarious humanitarian situation in the country, which could rapidly deteriorate owing to limited resilience to natural disasters and to government policies causing limitations in the availability of and access to adequate food, compounded by structural weaknesses in agricultural production resulting in significant shortages of diversified food and the State restrictions on the cultivation of and trade in foodstuffs, as well as the prevalence of chronic malnutrition, particularly among the most vulnerable groups, pregnant and lactating women, children, persons with disabilities, the elderly and political prisoners, and urges the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in this regard, to take preventive and remedial action, cooperating where necessary with international donor agencies and in accordance with international standards for monitoring humanitarian assistance; 5. Commends the Special Rapporteur for the activities undertaken so far and for his continued efforts in the conduct of his mandate despite the denial of access; 6. Welcomes the findings contained in the report of the Special Rapporteur, 3 and takes note of his recommendations, in particular those aimed at exploring possible options to ensure justice and accountability; 7. Recalls its appreciation for the work of the commission of inquiry, recognizes the continuing importance of its report, and regrets that the commission received no cooperation from the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including with regard to access to the country; 8. Acknowledges the commission’s finding that the body of testimony gathered and the information received provide reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, pursuant to policies established at the highest level of the State for decades; 9. Expresses its concern at the failure of the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to prosecute those responsible for human rights violations, including violations which the commission of inquiry has said may amount to crimes against humanity, and encourages the international community to cooperate with accountability efforts and to ensure that such crimes do not remain unpunished; 10. Encourages the Security Council to continue its consideration of the relevant conclusions and recommendations of the commission of inquiry and take appropriate action to ensure accountability, including through consideration of referral of the situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the International Criminal Court and consideration of the scope for effective targeted sanctions against those who appear to be most responsible for acts that the commission has said may constitute crimes against humanity; 11. Also encourages the Security Council to continue to discuss the situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including the country’s human rights record, and looks forward to its continued and active engagement on this matter; 12. Welcomes the establishment by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of a field-based structure in Seoul to strengthen the monitoring and documentation of the situation of human rights in the Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea A/RES/70/172 7/8 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, to ensure accountability, to provide the Special Rapporteur with increased support, to enhance the engagement and capacity-building of the Governments of all States concerned, civil society and other stakeholders and to maintain the visibility of the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including through sustained communications, advocacy and outreach initiatives; 13. Calls upon Member States to undertake to ensure that the field-based structure of the Office of the High Commissioner can function with independence, that it has sufficient resources and support to fulfil its mandate and that it is not subjected to any reprisals or threats; 14. Strongly urges the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to respect fully all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, in this regard: (a) To immediately put an end to the systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights emphasized above, inter alia, by implementing fully the measures set out in the above-mentioned resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, and the recommendations addressed to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea by the Council in the context of the universal periodic review and by the commission of inquiry, the United Nations special procedures and treaty bodies; (b) To immediately close the political prison camps and to release all political prisoners unconditionally and without any delay; (c) To protect its inhabitants, address the issue of impunity and ensure that those responsible for violations of human rights are brought to justice before an independent judiciary; (d) To tackle the root causes leading to refugee outflows and prosecute those who exploit refugees through human smuggling, trafficking and extortion, while not criminalizing the victims; (e) To ensure that citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea who are expelled or returned to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are able to return in safety and dignity, are treated humanely and are not subjected to any kind of punishment, and to provide information on their status and treatment; (f) To extend its full cooperation to the Special Rapporteur, including by granting him full, free and unimpeded access to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and to other United Nations human rights mechanisms so that a full needs assessment of the human rights situation may be made; (g) To engage in technical cooperation activities in the field of human rights with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office, as pursued by the High Commissioner in recent years, with a view to improving the situation of human rights in the country; (h) To implement the accepted recommendations stemming from the universal periodic review and to consider positively those recommendations which are still under consideration, as well as the preparation of a midterm implementation report; (i) To become a member of the International Labour Organization and consider ratifying all the relevant conventions; (j) To continue and reinforce its cooperation with United Nations humanitarian agencies; A/RES/70/172 Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 8/8 (k) To ensure full, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian aid and take measures to allow humanitarian agencies to secure its impartial delivery to all parts of the country on the basis of need in accordance with humanitarian principles, as it pledged to do, to ensure access to adequate food and implement more effective food security and nutrition policies, including through sustainable agriculture, sound food production and distribution measures and the allocation of more funds to the food sector, and to ensure adequate monitoring of humanitarian assistance; (l) To further improve cooperation with the United Nations country team and development agencies so that they can directly contribute to improving the living conditions of the civilian population, including progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals; (m) To consider ratifying and acceding to the remaining international human rights treaties, which would enable a dialogue with the human rights treaty bodies, to resume reporting to monitoring bodies on treaties to which it is a party, and to give consideration to the concluding observations of such bodies in order to improve the human rights situation in the country; 15. Urges the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to implement the recommendations of the commission of inquiry without delay; 16. Encourages all Member States, the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Office of the High Commissioner, the United Nations Secretariat, relevant specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and forums, civil society organizations, foundations and engaged business enterprises and other stakeholders towards which the commission of inquiry has directed recommendations to implement or take forward those recommendations; 17. Encourages the United Nations system as a whole to continue to address the grave human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in a coordinated and unified manner; 18. Notes the willingness expressed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 2014 to consider human rights dialogues with States and groups of States, technical cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner and a country visit of the Special Rapporteur, and strongly encourages the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to continue to undertake such dialogues and cooperation initiatives as a matter of priority; 19. Calls upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to continue to engage constructively with international interlocutors with a view to promoting concrete improvements in the human rights situation on the ground, including through dialogues, official visits to the country and more people-to-people contact; 20. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at its seventy-first session, and to this end requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to report his findings and recommendations, as well as to report on the follow-up to the implementation of the recommendations of the commission of inquiry. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/70/173 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2015 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/70/489/Add.3)] 70/173. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1 the International Covenants on Human Rights2 and other international human rights instruments, Recalling its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the most recent of which is resolution 69/190 of 18 December 2014, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General of 31 August 2015 submitted pursuant to resolution 69/1903 and the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran of 6 October 2015, 4 submitted pursuant to Council resolution 28/21 of 27 March 2015;5 2. Continues to welcome the pledges made by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran with regard to some important human rights issues, particularly on eliminating discrimination against women and members of ethnic minorities and on greater space for freedom of expression and opinion; 3. Acknowledges proposals for legislative and administrative changes in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which, if properly implemented, would address some human rights concerns, including portions of the new Code of Criminal Procedure; 4. Welcomes recent announcements by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran of increased services for victims of domestic violence, as well as draft legislation that may increase penalties for perpetrators of violence against women; 5. Also welcomes steps taken to improve access to education for persons belonging to some ethnic minorities in their native languages; __________________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 A/70/352. 4 A/70/411. 5 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventieth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/70/53), chap. III, sect. A. A/RES/70/173 Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran 2/4 6. Acknowledges the participation of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in its second universal periodic review by the Human Rights Council, and welcomes its acceptance of 130 recommendations, as well as its recent engagement with human rights treaty bodies through the submission of periodic national reports, while remaining concerned about the Government’s implementation record in respect of the recommendations that it accepted during its first universal periodic review; 7. Expresses serious concern at the alarming high frequency of and increase in the carrying-out of the death penalty, in disregard of internationally recognized safeguards, including executions undertaken without notification to the prisoner’s family members or legal counsel, and at the continuing imposition and carrying-out of the death penalty against minors and persons who at the time of their offence were under the age of 18, in violation of the obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran under both the Convention on the Rights of the Child 6 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,2 and for crimes that do not qualify as the most serious crimes, and calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to abolish, in law and in practice, public executions, which are contrary to the 2008 prohibition of this practice by the former head of the judiciary, and executions carried out in violation of its international obligations or in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards; 8. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to ensure, in law and in practice, that no one is subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, which may include sexual violence, in conformity with the constitutional guarantees of the Islamic Republic of Iran and international obligations; 9. Urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to uphold, in law and in practice, procedural guarantees to ensure fair trial standards of law, including timely access to legal representation of one’s choice, the right not to be subjected to torture, cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and consideration of bail and other reasonable terms for release from custody pending trial, and urges the Government to cease enforced disappearances and the widespread and systematic use of arbitrary detention; 10. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to address the poor conditions of prisons, to eliminate the denial of access to adequate medical treatment and the consequent risk of death faced by prisoners and to put an end to the continued and sustained house arrest of leading opposition figures from the 2009 presidential elections despite serious concerns about their health, as well as the pressure exerted upon their relatives and dependants, including through arrest; 11. Also calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the judicial and security branches, to end widespread and serious restrictions, in law and in practice, on the right to freedom of expression, opinion, association and peaceful assembly, including through the ongoing harassment, intimidation, arbitrary detention and prosecution of, as well as the denial of access to higher education for, political opponents, human rights defenders, women’s and minority rights activists, labour leaders, students’ rights activists, academics, film- makers, journalists, bloggers, social media users, religious leaders, artists, lawyers, recognized and unrecognized religious minorities and their families, and urges the Government to release persons arbitrarily detained for the legitimate exercise of __________________ 6 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran A/RES/70/173 3/4 these rights, to consider rescinding unduly harsh sentences, including the death penalty and long-term exile, for exercising such fundamental freedoms and to end reprisals against individuals cooperating with the United Nations human rights mechanisms; 12. Strongly urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination and other human rights violations against women and girls, to take measures to ensure protection for women and girls against violence, to address the alarming incidence of child, early and forced marriage, to promote women’s participation in decision-making processes and, while recognizing the high enrolment of women in all levels of education in the Islamic Republic of Iran, to lift restrictions on women’s equal access to all aspects of education and women’s equal participation in the labour market and in all aspects of economic, cultural, social and political life; 13. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to ethnic, linguistic or other minorities, including but not limited to Arabs, Azeris, Balochis and Kurds and their defenders; 14. Expresses serious concern about ongoing severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief and restrictions on the establishment of places of worship, as well as attacks against places of worship and burial, as well as other human rights violations, including but not limited to harassment, persecution and incitement to hatred that lead to violence against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities, including Christians, Jews, Sufi Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Zoroastrians and members of the Baha’i faith and their defenders, and calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to release the seven Baha’i leaders declared by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the Human Rights Council to have been arbitrarily detained since 2008 and to eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination, including the closure of businesses, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities; 15. Urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to launch a comprehensive accountability process in response to cases of serious human rights violations, including those involving the Iranian judiciary and security agencies and those following the 2009 presidential elections, and calls upon the Government to end impunity for such violations; 16. Strongly urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to ensure credible, transparent and inclusive parliamentary elections in 2016 and to allow all candidates to stand in a manner consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights1 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in order to guarantee the free expression of the will of the Iranian people, and to that end calls upon the Government to allow independent national and international observation; 17. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to implement its obligations under those human rights treaties to which it is already a party, to withdraw any reservations that it has made where such reservations are overly general, imprecise or could be considered incompatible with the object and purpose of the treaty, to consider acting upon the concluding observations concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran adopted by the bodies of the international human rights treaties to which it is a party and to consider ratifying or acceding to the international human rights treaties to which it is not already a party; A/RES/70/173 Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran 4/4 18. Also calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to engage with international human rights mechanisms by: (a) Cooperating fully with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including by accepting the repeated requests made by the Special Rapporteur to visit the country in order to carry out his mandate; (b) Cooperating with other special mechanisms, including by facilitating long-standing requests for access to the country from thematic special procedures mandate holders, whose access to its territory has been restricted or denied, despite the standing invitation issued by the Islamic Republic of Iran, without imposing undue conditions upon those visits; (c) Implementing all accepted universal periodic review recommendations from its first cycle, in 2010, and its second cycle, in 2014, with the full and genuine participation of independent civil society and other stakeholders in the implementation process; (d) Building upon the engagement of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the universal periodic review process by continuing to explore cooperation on human rights and justice reform with the United Nations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; (e) Following through on its commitment to establish an independent national human rights institution, made in the context of its first universal periodic review by the Human Rights Council, with due regard for the recommendation of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 19. Further calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to translate the pledges made by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran with respect to human rights concerns into concrete action that results in demonstrable improvements as soon as possible and to ensure that its national laws are consistent with its obligations under international human rights law and that they are implemented in accordance with its international obligations; 20. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to address the substantive concerns highlighted in the reports of the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the specific calls to action found in previous resolutions of the General Assembly, and to respect fully its human rights obligations in law and in practice; 21. Strongly encourages the relevant thematic special procedures mandate holders to pay particular attention to, with a view to investigating and reporting on, the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution, including options and recommendations to improve its implementation, and to submit an interim report to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-first session; 23. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran at its seventy-first session under the item entitled “Promotion and protection of human rights”. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/70/198 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 22 December 2015 [on the report of the Second Committee (A/70/472)] 70/198. Agricultural technology for sustainable development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 68/209 of 20 December 2013, Reaffirming its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to working tirelessly for the full implementation of this Agenda by 2030, its recognition that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, its commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions — economic, social and environmental — in a balanced and integrated manner, and to building upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeking to address their unfinished business, Reaffirming also its resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015 on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supports and complements it, helps to contextualize its means of implementation targets with concrete policies and actions, and reaffirms the strong political commitment to address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment at all levels for sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity, Recalling the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,1 Agenda 21,2 the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, 3 the Johannesburg _______________ 1 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. 2 Ibid., annex II. 3 Resolution S-19/2, annex. A/RES/70/198 Agricultural technology for sustainable development 2/6 Declaration on Sustainable Development 4 and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation),5 Recalling also the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, entitled “The future we want”,6 Welcoming the Zero Hunger Challenge initiative launched by the Secretary- General at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development as a vision for a future free from hunger, and taking note of the joint report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme on the critical role of investments in social protection and agriculture, Recalling its resolution 66/222 of 22 December 2011 on the International Year of Family Farming, 2014, which raised the profile of the role of family farming and smallholder farming in contributing to the achievement of food security and improved nutrition, Recalling also its resolution 68/232 of 20 December 2013 on World Soil Day and the International Year of Soils, by which it designated 5 December as World Soil Day and declared 2015 the International Year of Soils, with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of soil to food security and essential ecosystem functions, Welcoming the outcome of the forty-second session of the Committee on World Food Security, held in Rome from 12 to 15 October 2015, taking note of the Committee’s voluntary Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems,7 and recalling its Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, 8 Welcoming also the Sendai Declaration and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030,9 adopted at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, Welcoming further the launch of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism established in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda in order to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, Recalling relevant strategies and programmes of action, including the Istanbul Declaration and Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020, 10 the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway,11 the Vienna Declaration and Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–2024,12 reaffirming the importance of _______________ 4 Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 5 Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 6 Resolution 66/288, annex. 7 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, document C 2015/20, appendix D. 8 Ibid., document CL 144/9 (C 2013/20), appendix D. 9 Resolution 69/283, annexes I and II. 10 Report of the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Istanbul, Turkey, 9–13 May 2011 (A/CONF.219/7), chaps. I and II. 11 Resolution 69/15, annex. 12 Resolution 69/137, annexes I and II. Agricultural technology for sustainable development A/RES/70/198 3/6 supporting the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the programme of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development,13 and recognizing the major challenge to the achievement of durable peace and sustainable development in countries in conflict and post-conflict situations, Recognizing that agricultural technology will have a beneficial impact on and an important role in the successful implementation of the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Acknowledging the positive transformative potential of strengthened urban- rural linkages in achieving sustainable development, and noting in that regard the holding of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in 2016, Stressing the crucial role of women in the agricultural sector and their contribution to enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and nutrition and eradicating rural poverty, and underlining the fact that meaningful progress in agricultural development necessitates, inter alia, closing the gender gap and ensuring that women have equal access to agricultural technologies, related services and inputs and all necessary productive resources, including tenure rights and access to land, fisheries and forests, as well as to affordable education and training, social services, social protection, health care, health services and financial services, and access to and participation in markets, Recognizing that young people play a significant role in supporting sustainable economic growth and that agricultural technology has an essential role to play in facilitating access to agricultural skills for young women and men, improving the livelihoods of youth and securing the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, Noting that sustainable agricultural technology, adapted to the needs of smallholders and family farmers, in particular women and youth in rural areas, can contribute to their transition from subsistence farming to innovative, commercial production, helping them to increase their own food security and nutrition, generate marketable surpluses and add value to their production, Acknowledging the role and work of civil society and the private sector in furthering progress in developing countries and promoting sustainable agriculture and management practices, the use of agricultural technology and the training of smallholder farmers, in particular rural women, Emphasizing the need to continue to innovate in agriculture food chains in order to respond to the challenges posed by, inter alia, climate change, the depletion and scarcity of natural resources, urbanization and globalization, and recognizing that agricultural research and sustainable agricultural technologies can contribute greatly to agricultural, rural and economic development, the adaptation of agriculture, food security and nutrition, help to build resilience and mitigate the negative impact of climate change, desertification, land degradation and drought, Stressing the need to support and strengthen information systems and statistical systems for better disaggregated data collection and processing, which will be key in monitoring progress in the adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies and their impact on improving food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture, _______________ 13 A/57/304, annex. A/RES/70/198 Agricultural technology for sustainable development 4/6 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;14 2. Urges Member States, relevant United Nations organizations and other stakeholders to strengthen efforts to improve the development of sustainable agricultural technologies and their transfer and dissemination under mutually agreed terms to developing countries, especially the least developed countries, in particular at the bilateral and regional levels, and to support national efforts to foster the utilization of local know-how and agricultural technologies, promote agricultural technology research and access to knowledge and information through suitable communication for development strategies and enable rural women, as well as men and youth, to increase sustainable agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and enhance food and nutritional security; 3. Encourages international, regional and national efforts to strengthen capacity in developing countries, especially that of smallholder and family farmers, in particular rural women and youth, in order to enhance the productivity and nutritional quality of food crops and animal products, promote sustainable practices in pre-harvest and post-harvest agricultural activities and enhance food security and nutrition-related programmes and policies that take into consideration the specific needs of women, young children and youth, with particular attention to securing the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour; 4. Calls upon Member States and relevant United Nations organizations and other stakeholders to mainstream gender perspectives into agricultural policies and projects and to focus on closing the gender gap by, inter alia, encouraging gender- balanced investments, in order to achieve equal access for women to labour-saving technologies and agricultural technology information and know-how, equipment, decision-making forums and associated agricultural resources to ensure that agriculture, food security and nutrition-related programmes and policies take into consideration the specific needs of women and the barriers that women face in accessing agricultural inputs and resources; 5. Encourages Governments to develop and implement youth-focused agricultural development projects and programmes, including through training, education, financial inclusion services, including microcredit services, and capacity- building, including with regard to innovation, in association with the private sector, in order to stimulate the interest and the involvement of youth in agriculture; 6. Acknowledges the need to revitalize the agricultural sector, promote rural development and ensure food security, notably in developing countries, in a sustainable manner, reaffirms the commitment to supporting sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries and pastoralism and to taking action to fight hunger and malnutrition among the urban poor, recognizes the enormous investment needs in those areas, and encourages increased public and private investments; 7. Invites Governments and international organizations, in collaboration with cooperatives and cooperative organizations, to promote, as appropriate, consistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization, the growth of agricultural cooperatives through easy access to affordable finance, the adoption of sustainable production techniques, investment in rural infrastructure and irrigation, strengthened marketing mechanisms, access to appropriate risk management instruments and support for the participation of women and youth in economic activities; _______________ 14 A/70/298. Agricultural technology for sustainable development A/RES/70/198 5/6 8. Underlines the importance of supporting and advancing research in improving and diversifying crop varieties and seed systems, as well as supporting the establishment of sustainable agricultural systems and management practices, such as conservation agriculture, animal disease control and integrated pest management, in order to make agriculture more resilient and, in particular, to make crops and farm animals more tolerant to diseases, pests and environmental stresses, including drought and climate change, in accordance with national regulations and relevant international agreements; 9. Stresses the need to significantly reduce pre-harvest, post-harvest and other food losses and waste throughout the food supply chain through, inter alia, improved production planning, the promotion of resource-efficient production and processing practices, improved preservation and packing technologies, improved transportation and logistics management and enhanced awareness of purchasing and consumption habits, to help all actors in the value chain to enjoy greater benefits; 10. Underlines the importance of the sustainable use and management of water resources to increase and ensure agricultural productivity, and calls for further efforts to develop and strengthen irrigation facilities and water-saving technology; 11. Encourages Member States, civil society and public and private institutions to develop partnerships to support financial and market services, including training, capacity-building, infrastructure and extension services, and calls for further efforts by all stakeholders to include smallholder farmers, in particular rural women and youth, in planning and taking decisions about making appropriate sustainable agricultural technologies and practices accessible and affordable to them; 12. Recognizes the potential of information and communications technology as a tool for improving agricultural productivity, practices and smallholder livelihoods, strengthening agricultural markets and institutions, improving agricultural services, empowering farmer communities and connecting farmers in developing countries to regional and global agricultural markets, and stresses the need to ensure the access of women and youth to information and communication technology, especially in rural areas; 13. Calls upon Member States to include sustainable agricultural development as an integral part of their national policies and strategies, notes the positive impact that North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation can have in this regard, and urges the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to include elements of agricultural technology, research and development in efforts to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,15 with a focus on the research and development of technology that is affordable, durable and sustainable and that can be easily used by and disseminated to smallholder farmers, in particular rural women; 14. Requests relevant United Nations organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, to promote, support and facilitate the exchange of experience among Member States through, inter alia, guidance and other public goods related to ways to augment sustainable agriculture and management practices, such as conservation agriculture, and to increase the adaptive capacity of agriculture and the use of agricultural technologies that support more sustainable food systems and have a positive impact on the entire value chain, including technology for _______________ 15 Resolution 70/1. A/RES/70/198 Agricultural technology for sustainable development 6/6 post-harvest crop storage, processing, handling and transportation, including in pressing environmental circumstances; 15. Underlines the instrumental role of agricultural technology, agricultural research and technology transfer on mutually agreed terms and the sharing of knowledge and practices in furthering sustainable development and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, calls, therefore, upon Member States and encourages relevant international bodies to support sustainable agricultural research and development, and in this regard calls for continued support to the international agricultural research system, including the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers and other relevant international organizations and initiatives; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include the item entitled “Sustainable development” in the provisional agenda of its seventy-second session, unless otherwise agreed in the discussions on the revitalization of the Second Committee. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/70/44 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 7 December 2015 [on the report of the First Committee (A/70/460)] 70/44. Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993, 49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 December 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998, 54/54 M of 1 December 1999, 55/33 P of 20 November 2000, 56/24 I of 29 November 2001, 57/77 of 22 November 2002, 58/39 of 8 December 2003, 59/88 of 3 December 2004, 60/75 of 8 December 2005, 61/82 of 6 December 2006, 62/44 of 5 December 2007, 63/44 of 2 December 2008, 64/42 of 2 December 2009, 65/46 of 8 December 2010, 66/37 of 2 December 2011, 67/62 of 3 December 2012, 68/56 of 5 December 2013 and 69/47 of 2 December 2014, Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security, Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same region or subregion, Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control, Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces, Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,1 which is a cornerstone of European security, _______________ 1 See CD/1064. A/RES/70/44 Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels 2/2 Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security, Believing also that an important objective of conventional arms control in regions of tension should be to prevent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression, 1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the meantime, to seek the views of Member States on the subject and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-first session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/70/62 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 7 December 2015 [on the report of the First Committee (A/70/461)] 70/62. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to the survival of mankind, Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons,1 Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strengthening international peace and security, Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federation and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, Recalling that in paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly2 it is stated that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and which would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, Determined to achieve an international convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction, Stressing that an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time, _______________ 1 A/51/218, annex. 2 Resolution S-10/2. A/RES/70/62 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons 2/2 Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament, during its 2015 session, was unable to undertake negotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 69/69 of 2 December 2014, 1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations in order to reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/70/84 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2015 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/70/496)] 70/84. Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967, 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 69/87 of 5 December 2014,1 Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2014,2 Concerned about the continuing human suffering resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, Taking note of the relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 19933 with regard to the modalities for the admission of persons displaced in 1967, and concerned that the process agreed upon has not yet been effected, Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, 1. Reaffirms the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Stresses the necessity for an accelerated return of displaced persons, and calls for compliance with the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 19933 on the return of displaced persons; _______________ 1 A/70/308. 2 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventieth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/70/13); and ibid., Supplement No. 13A (A/70/13/Add.1). 3 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. A/RES/70/84 Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities 2/2 3. Endorses, in the meantime, the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; 4. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with the Commissioner- General, to report to the General Assembly before its seventy-first session on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the present resolution. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/70/86 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2015 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/70/496)] 70/86. Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to its resolution 69/89 of 5 December 2014, 1 as well as that of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2015,2 Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights3 and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property, Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine refugees, Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,4 and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and a file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property, Expressing its appreciation for the preservation and modernization of the existing records, including the land records, of the Conciliation Commission, and stressing the importance of such records for a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in conformity with resolution 194 (III), _______________ 1 A/70/340. 2 A/70/319, annex. 3 Resolution 217 A (III). 4 Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700. A/RES/70/86 Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues 2/2 Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993, 5 to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees, 1. Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel; 3. Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues within the framework of the final status peace negotiations; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. 70th plenary meeting 9 December 2015 _______________ 5 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/70/90 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2015 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/70/497)] 70/90. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1 Recalling also the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,2 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights2 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 3 and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Reaffirming its relevant resolutions, including resolution 69/93 of 5 December 2014 as well as those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling the relevant resolutions of the Human Rights Council, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, and stressing the need for their implementation, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories4 and the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Special Committee,5 Taking note of the recent reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, 6 as well as of other relevant recent reports of the Human Rights Council, _______________ * Reissued for technical reasons on 12 January 2016. 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 4 A/70/406 and Corr.1. 5 A/70/341. 6 A/HRC/20/32; see also A/70/392. A/RES/70/90 Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem 2/7 Aware of the responsibility of the international community to promote human rights and ensure respect for international law, and recalling in this regard its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice, 7 and recalling also General Assembly resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Noting in particular the Court’s reply, including that the construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime are contrary to international law, Taking note of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, Noting the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and the core humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties, Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,8 to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Reaffirming further the obligation of the States parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention8 under articles 146, 147 and 148 with regard to penal sanctions, grave breaches and responsibilities of the High Contracting Parties, Recalling the statement of 15 July 1999 and the declarations adopted on 5 December 2001 and on 17 December 2014 9 by the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Reaffirming that all States have the right and the duty to take actions in conformity with international law and international humanitarian law to counter deadly acts of violence against their civilian population in order to protect the lives of their citizens, Stressing the need for full compliance with the Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached within the context of the Middle East peace process, including the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings, and the implementation of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,10 Stressing also the need for the full implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, both of 15 November 2005, to allow for the freedom of movement of the Palestinian civilian population within and into and out of the Gaza Strip, _______________ 7 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. 8 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. 9 A/69/711-S/2015/1, annex. 10 S/2003/529, annex. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem A/RES/70/90 3/7 Gravely concerned by the tensions and violence in the recent period throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and including with regard to the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif, and deploring the loss of innocent civilian life, Recognizing that security measures alone cannot remedy the escalating tensions, instability and violence, and calling for full respect for international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, including for the protection of civilian life, as well as for the promotion of human security, the de-escalation of the situation, the exercise of restraint, including from provocative actions and rhetoric, and the establishment of a stable environment conducive to the pursuit of peace, Expressing grave concern about the continuing systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including that arising from the excessive use of force and military operations causing death and injury to Palestinian civilians, including children, women and non-violent, peaceful demonstrators; the arbitrary imprisonment and detention of Palestinians, some of whom have been imprisoned for decades; the use of collective punishment; the closure of areas; the confiscation of land; the establishment and expansion of settlements; the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949; the destruction of property and infrastructure; the forced displacement of civilians; and all other actions by it designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Gravely concerned, in this regard, by the ongoing demolition of Palestinian homes by Israel, the occupying Power, in particular in Occupied East Jerusalem, including if carried out as an act of collective punishment in violation of international humanitarian law, and by the revocation of residence permits and eviction of Palestinian residents of the City, Deploring the conflict in and around the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014 and the civilian casualties caused, including the killing and injury of thousands of Palestinian civilians, including children, women and the elderly, the widespread destruction of thousands of homes and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, water, sanitation and electricity networks, economic, industrial and agricultural properties, public institutions, religious sites, and United Nations schools and facilities, the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians, and any violations of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, in this regard, Gravely concerned about the disastrous humanitarian situation and the critical socioeconomic and security situation in the Gaza Strip, including that resulting from the prolonged closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade and deepen poverty and despair among the Palestinian civilian population, and from the continuing and vastly negative repercussions of the military operations between December 2008 and January 2009, in November 2012 and in July and August 2014, as well as about the firing of rockets into Israel, Recalling the statement by the President of the Security Council of 28 July 2014,11 _______________ 11 S/PRST/2014/13; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2013–31 July 2014 (S/INF/69). A/RES/70/90 Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem 4/7 Stressing the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly resolution ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009, Stressing also that the situation in the Gaza Strip is unsustainable and that a durable ceasefire agreement must lead to a fundamental improvement in the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, including through the sustained and regular opening of crossing points, and ensure the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides, and regretting the lack of progress made in this regard, Gravely concerned by reports regarding serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law committed during the military operations in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009, including the findings in the summary by the Secretary-General of the report of the Board of Inquiry12 and in the report of the United Nations Fact-finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict,13 and the findings of the United Nations Headquarters Board of Inquiry into certain incidents that occurred in the Gaza Strip between 8 July and 26 August 201414 and of the independent commission of inquiry established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-21/1, 15 and reiterating the necessity for serious follow-up by all parties of the recommendations addressed to them towards ensuring accountability and justice, Expressing deep concern about the short- and long-term detrimental impact of such widespread destruction and the continued impeding of the reconstruction process by Israel, the occupying Power, on the human rights situation and on the socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian civilian population, Expressing deep concern also about the Israeli policy of closures and the imposition of severe restrictions, including through hundreds of obstacles to movement, checkpoints and a permit regime, all of which obstruct the freedom of movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian goods, and the follow-up and access to donor-funded projects of development cooperation and humanitarian assistance, throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and impair the Territory’s contiguity, consequently violating the human rights of the Palestinian people and negatively impacting their socioeconomic situation and the efforts aimed at rehabilitating and developing the Palestinian economy, which remains that of a critical humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, while taking note of developments with regard to the situation of access there and the resumption of some trade from Gaza to the West Bank for the first time since 2007, and calling for the full lifting of restrictions, Expressing grave concern that thousands of Palestinians, including many children and women, continue to be held in Israeli prisons or detention centres under harsh conditions, including, inter alia, unhygienic conditions, solitary confinement, the extensive use of administrative detention of excessive duration without charge and denial of due process, lack of proper medical care and widespread medical neglect, including for prisoners who are ill, with the risk of fatal consequences, and denial of family visits, that impair their well-being, and expressing grave concern also about the ill-treatment and harassment and all reports of torture of any Palestinian prisoners, _______________ 12 See A/63/855-S/2009/250. 13 A/HRC/12/48. 14 See S/2015/286, annex. 15 A/HRC/29/52. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem A/RES/70/90 5/7 Expressing deep concern about the recent hunger strikes by numerous Palestinian prisoners in protest of the harsh conditions of their imprisonment and detention by the occupying Power, while taking note of the agreement reached in May 2012 on conditions of detention in Israeli prisons and calling for its full and immediate implementation, Recalling the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) 16 and the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules),17 and calling for respect for those Rules, Recalling also the prohibition under international humanitarian law of the deportation of civilians from occupied territories, Stressing the need for the prevention of all acts of violence, harassment, provocation and incitement by extremist Israeli settlers and groups of armed settlers, especially against Palestinian civilians, including children, and their properties, including homes, agricultural lands and historic and religious sites, including in Occupied East Jerusalem, and deploring the violation of the human rights of Palestinians in this regard, including acts of violence leading to death and injury among civilians, Convinced of the need for an international presence to monitor the situation, to contribute to ending the violence and protecting the Palestinian civilian population and to help the parties to implement the agreements reached, and in this regard recalling the positive contribution of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, Noting the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the Palestinian security sector, and noting also the continued cooperation that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and building confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to all major population centres, Urging the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of religious and cultural sensitivity, including in East Jerusalem, and to take every possible step to defuse tensions and promote conditions conducive to the credibility and success of the peace negotiations, Emphasizing the right of all people in the region to the enjoyment of human rights as enshrined in the international human rights covenants, 1. Reiterates that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,8 and contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, are illegal and have no validity; 2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people, including the killing and injury of civilians, the arbitrary detention and imprisonment of civilians, the forced displacement of civilians, and the destruction and confiscation of civilian property, including home demolitions, including if carried out as collective punishment in _______________ 16 Resolution 70/175, annex. 17 Resolution 65/229, annex. A/RES/70/90 Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem 6/7 violation of international humanitarian law, and that it fully respect human rights law and comply with its legal obligations in this regard, including in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions; 3. Also demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 19498 and cease immediately all measures and actions taken in violation and in breach of the Convention; 4. Calls for urgent measures to ensure the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in accordance with the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law and as called for by the Security Council in its resolution 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994; 5. Also calls for full cooperation by Israel with the relevant special rapporteurs and other relevant mechanisms and inquiries of the Human Rights Council, including the facilitation of entry to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, for monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation therein; 6. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all of its settlement activities, the construction of the wall and any other measures aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, all of which, inter alia, gravely and detrimentally impact the human rights of the Palestinian people and the prospects for achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides; 7. Calls for urgent attention to the plight and the rights, in accordance with international law, of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails, and calls for efforts between the two sides for the further release of prisoners and detainees, and also calls for respect for the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules)16 and the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules);17 8. Condemns all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, especially the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which have caused extensive loss of life and vast numbers of injuries, including among thousands of children and women, massive damage and destruction to homes, economic, industrial and agricultural properties, vital infrastructure, including water, sanitation and electricity networks, religious sites and public institutions, including hospitals and schools, and United Nations facilities, and agricultural lands, and large-scale internal displacement of civilians; 9. Expresses grave concern at the firing of rockets against Israeli civilian areas resulting in loss of life and injury; 10. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009); 11. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice7 and as demanded in General Assembly resolutions ES-10/15 and ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003, and that it Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem A/RES/70/90 7/7 immediately cease the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, dismantle forthwith the structure situated therein, repeal or render ineffective all legislative and regulatory acts relating thereto, and make reparations for all damage caused by the construction of the wall, which has gravely impacted the human rights and the socioeconomic living conditions of the Palestinian people; 12. Reiterates the need for respect for the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and for guarantees of the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, including movement into and from East Jerusalem, into and from the Gaza Strip, between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and to and from the outside world; 13. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cease its imposition of prolonged closures and economic and movement restrictions, including those amounting to a blockade on the Gaza Strip, and in this regard to fully implement the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, both of 15 November 2005, in order to allow for the sustained and regular movement of persons and goods and for the acceleration of long overdue and massive reconstruction needs and economic recovery in the Gaza Strip, while noting the recent tripartite agreement facilitated by the United Nations in this regard; 14. Urges Member States to continue to provide emergency assistance to the Palestinian people to alleviate the financial crisis and the dire socioeconomic and humanitarian situation, particularly in the Gaza Strip; 15. Emphasizes the need to preserve and develop the Palestinian institutions and infrastructure for the provision of vital public services to the Palestinian civilian population and the promotion of human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, and welcomes in this regard the formation of the Palestinian national consensus government under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas, consistent with the Palestine Liberation Organization commitments and the Quartet principles; 16. Urges all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their inalienable human rights, including their right to self- determination; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/70/94 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2015 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/70/501)] 70/94. Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1970 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, in which it requested the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to study the information transmitted to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations and to take such information fully into account in examining the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling also its resolution 69/97 of 5 December 2014, in which it requested the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), Stressing the importance of the timely transmission by the administering Powers of adequate information under Article 73 e of the Charter, in particular in relation to the preparation by the Secretariat of the working papers on the Territories concerned, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,1 1. Reaffirms that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self-government in terms of Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter with respect to that Territory; 2. Requests the administering Powers concerned, in accordance with their Charter obligations, to transmit or continue to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General for information purposes, subject to such limitation as security and constitutional considerations may require, statistical and other information of a technical nature relating to the economic, social and educational conditions in the Territories for which they are respectively responsible, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned, including the constitution, legislative act or executive order providing for the government of the Territory and the _______________ 1 A/70/67. A/RES/70/94 Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations 2/2 constitutional relationship of the Territory to the administering Power, within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year in those Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of the working papers relating to the Territories concerned; 4. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under General Assembly resolution 1970 (XVIII), in accordance with established procedures. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/71/11 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 21 November 2016 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/71/L.6 and Add.1)] 71/11. Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions relevant to cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Recalling also article 3 of the Charter of the League of Arab States, 1 which entrusts the Council of the League with the function of determining the means whereby the League will collaborate with international organizations to guarantee international peace and security, organize political, security, social, economic, cultural, technical, environmental and administrative relations, and enhance and strengthen the League’s capacity in those areas, Taking into consideration the report of the Secretary-General entitled “An Agenda for Peace”, 2 and in particular section VII concerning cooperation with regional organizations, and the “Supplement to an Agenda for Peace”, 3 Recognizing the need for further strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States in the pursuit of the common goals and objectives of the two organizations, Taking note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations, 4 Welcoming the signing on 24 September 2016 of the protocol of amendment of the text of the cooperation agreement between the two organizations, and recognizing the need to continue to take the measures necessary to strengthen the existing cooperation between the two organizations, Commending the resolutions and recommendations of the twelfth sectoral meeting between the United Nations and the League of Arab States and their specialized organizations, held in Cairo in October 2015, on the theme “The _______________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 70, No. 241. 2 A/47/277-S/24111. 3 A/50/60-S/1995/1. 4 A/71/160-S/2016/621 and Add.1. A/RES/71/11 Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States 2/2 repercussions of underestimating human rights: towards a comprehensive cooperation approach”, as well as the thirteenth general cooperation meeting between the United Nations and the League of Arab States and their systems, held in Geneva in May 2016, at which challenges and threats undermining international peace and stability, as well as development, were addressed, 1. Requests the Secretariat of the United Nations and the League of Arab States to consider the possibility of forming a high-level working group to follow up on the implementation of the provisions of the protocol of amendment of the text of the cooperation agreement between the two organizations until a liaison office to the League of Arab States is opened in Cairo, with the aim of improving and achieving further coordination between the two organizations in the fields addressed in the protocol; 2. Also requests the Secretariat of the United Nations and the League of Arab States to continue their periodic consultations, at all levels, in order to exchange information, and review and strengthen coordination and follow-up mechanisms, particularly in the political and security fields; 3. Calls upon United Nations specialized agencies, programmes and institutions to continue their interaction with their counterparts from Arab organizations and institutions and to improve mechanisms for consultation with them, in order to implement mutually agreed projects and programmes and to make the greatest possible use of Arab institutions and their technical expertise in implementing projects undertaken in the Arab region; 4. Emphasizes the importance of holding the thirteenth sectoral meeting between the two organizations and their specialized agencies, in 2017, concerning cooperation on the preservation and management of water resources in the Arab region, and the fourteenth general cooperation meeting between the two organizations and their systems during 2018, for which the dates and venue will be agreed upon in due course; 5. Calls upon the specialized agencies, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to inform the Secretary-General, no later than January 2018, of the progress made in its cooperation with the League of Arab States, in particular, the implementation of the multilateral proposals adopted at the thirteenth general cooperation meeting between the two organizations; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-third session, under the item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations”, the sub-item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States”. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/71/182 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2016 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/71/483)] 71/182. Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Recalling all of its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 70/142 of 17 December 2015, and Human Rights Council resolutions 15/12 of 30 September 2010,1 15/26 of 1 October 2010,2 18/4 of 29 September 2011,3 21/8 of 27 September 2012,4 24/13 of 26 September 2013,5 27/10 of 25 September 2014,6 30/6 of 1 October 20157 and 33/4 of 29 September 2016,8 as well as all resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights in this regard, Recalling also all of its relevant resolutions, in which, inter alia, it condemned any State that permitted or tolerated the recruitment, financing, training, assembly, transit or use of mercenaries with the objective of overthrowing the Governments of States Members of the United Nations, especially those of developing countries, or of fighting against national liberation movements, and recalling further the relevant resolutions and international instruments adopted by the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Organization of African Unity, inter alia, the Organization of African Unity Convention for the elimination of mercenarism in Africa,9 as well as by the African Union, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations concerning the strict observance of the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, the territorial integrity of States, the self-determination of peoples, the non- _______________ 1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/65/53/Add.1), chap. II. 2 Ibid., chap. I. 3 Ibid., Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 53A and corrigendum (A/66/53/Add.1 and Corr.1), chap. II. 4 Ibid., Sixty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/67/53/Add.1), chap. III. 5 Ibid., Sixty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/68/53/Add.1), chap. III. 6 Ibid., Sixty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 53A and corrigenda (A/69/53/Add.1 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. IV, sect. A. 7 Ibid., Seventieth Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/70/53/Add.1), chap. III. 8 Ibid., Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 53A and corrigendum (A/71/53/Add.1 and Corr.1), chap. II. 9 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1490, No. 25573. A/RES/71/182 Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination 2/4 use of force or of the threat of use of force in international relations and non-interference in affairs within the domestic jurisdiction of States, Reaffirming also that, by virtue of the principle of self-determination, all peoples have the right freely to determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development and that every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,10 Acknowledging with appreciation the work and contributions of the open-ended intergovernmental working group established by the Human Rights Council with the mandate of considering the possibility of elaborating an international regulatory framework, including the option of elaborating a legally binding instrument on the regulation, monitoring and oversight of the activities of private military and security companies, Alarmed and concerned at the danger that the activities of mercenaries constitute to peace and security in developing countries in various parts of the world, in particular in areas of conflict, Deeply concerned at the loss of life, the substantial damage to property and the negative effects on the policies and economies of affected countries resulting from international criminal mercenary activities, Extremely alarmed and concerned about recent mercenary activities in some developing countries in various parts of the world, including in areas of armed conflict, and the threat they pose to the integrity of and respect for the constitutional order of the affected countries, Convinced that, notwithstanding the way in which mercenaries or mercenary-related activities are used or the form that they take to acquire some semblance of legitimacy, they are a threat to peace, security and the self-determination of peoples and an obstacle to the enjoyment of all human rights by peoples, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the latest report of the Working Group of the Human Rights Council on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination;11 2. Reaffirms that the use of mercenaries and their recruitment, financing, protection and training are causes for grave concern to all States and that they violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Recognizes that armed conflict, terrorism, arms trafficking and covert operations by third Powers encourage, inter alia, the demand for mercenaries on the global market; 4. Urges, once again, all States to take the steps necessary and to exercise the utmost vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take legislative measures to ensure that their territories and other territories under their control are not used for, and that their nationals do not take part in, the recruitment, assembly, financing, training, protection or transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to impede the right of peoples to self-determination, to destabilize or overthrow the Government of any State or to dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial _______________ 10 Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. 11 A/71/318. Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination A/RES/71/182 3/4 integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in accordance with the right of peoples to self-determination; 5. Requests all States to exercise the utmost vigilance against any kind of recruitment, training, hiring or financing of mercenaries by private companies offering international military consultancy and security services, and to impose a specific ban on such companies intervening in armed conflicts or actions to destabilize constitutional regimes; 6. Encourages States that import military assistance or consultancy and security services provided by private companies to establish national regulatory mechanisms for registering and licensing those companies in order to ensure that the imported services provided by those private companies neither impede the enjoyment of human rights nor violate human rights in the recipient country; 7. Emphasizes its utmost concern about the impact of the activities of private military and security companies on the enjoyment of human rights, in particular when operating in armed conflicts, and notes that private military and security companies and their personnel are rarely held accountable for violations of human rights; 8. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider taking the action necessary to accede to or ratify the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries;12 9. Welcomes the cooperation extended by those countries that received a visit by the Working Group on the use of mercenaries and the adoption by some States of national legislation that restricts the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries; 10. Condemns recent mercenary activities in developing countries in various parts of the world, in particular in areas of conflict, and the threat they pose to the integrity of and respect for the constitutional order of those countries and the exercise of the right of their peoples to self-determination, and stresses the importance for the Working Group on the use of mercenaries of looking into sources and root causes, as well as the political motivations of mercenaries and for mercenary-related activities; 11. Calls upon States to investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever and wherever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occur and to bring to trial those found responsible or to consider their extradition, if so requested, in accordance with national law and applicable bilateral or international treaties; 12. Condemns any form of impunity granted to perpetrators of mercenary activities and to those responsible for the use, recruitment, financing and training of mercenaries, and urges all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law, to bring them, without distinction, to justice; 13. Calls upon Member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law, to cooperate with and assist the judicial prosecution of those accused of mercenary activities in transparent, open and fair trials; 14. Recalls the holding of the fourth session of the open-ended intergovernmental working group to consider the possibility of elaborating an international regulatory framework on the regulation, monitoring and oversight of the activities of private military and security companies, expresses satisfaction at the participation of experts, including the members of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries, as resource persons at the above-mentioned session, and requests the Working Group and other experts to continue _______________ 12 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2163, No. 37789. A/RES/71/182 Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination 4/4 their participation during the fifth session of the open-ended intergovernmental working group; 15. Requests the Working Group on the use of mercenaries to continue the work already done by the Special Rapporteurs on the use of mercenaries of the Commission on Human Rights with respect to the strengthening of the international legal framework for the prevention and sanction of the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries, taking into account the proposal for a new legal definition of a mercenary drafted by the Special Rapporteur in his report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtieth session;13 16. Also requests the Working Group on the use of mercenaries to continue to study and identify sources and causes, emerging issues, manifestations and trends regarding mercenaries or mercenary-related activities and their impact on human rights, particularly on the right of peoples to self-determination; 17. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as a matter of priority, to publicize the adverse effects of the activities of mercenaries on the right of peoples to self-determination and, when requested and where necessary, to render advisory services to States that are affected by those activities; 18. Recommends that all Member States, including those confronted with the phenomenon of private military and security companies, as contracting States, States of operations, home States or States whose nationals are employed to work for a private military and security company, contribute to the work of the open-ended intergovernmental working group, taking into account the initial work done by the Working Group on the use of mercenaries; 19. Urges all States to cooperate fully with the Working Group on the use of mercenaries in the fulfilment of its mandate; 20. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide the Working Group on the use of mercenaries with all the assistance and support necessary for the fulfilment of its mandate, both professional and financial, including through the promotion of cooperation between the Working Group and other components of the United Nations system that deal with countering mercenary- related activities, in order to meet the demands of its current and future activities; 21. Requests the Working Group on the use of mercenaries to consult States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on the implementation of the present resolution and to report, with specific recommendations, to the General Assembly at its seventy-second session its findings on the use of mercenaries to undermine the enjoyment of all human rights and to impede the exercise of the right of peoples to self- determination; 22. Decides to consider the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self- determination at its seventy-second session under the item entitled “Right of peoples to self-determination”. 65th plenary meeting 19 December 2016 _______________ 13 See E/CN.4/2004/15, para. 47. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/71/187 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2016 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/71/484/Add.2)] 71/187. Moratorium on the use of the death penalty The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1 the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 2 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,3 Recalling the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, 4 and in this regard welcoming the increasing number of accessions to and ratifications of the Second Optional Protocol, Reaffirming its resolutions 62/149 of 18 December 2007, 63/168 of 18 December 2008, 65/206 of 21 December 2010, 67/176 of 20 December 2012 and 69/186 of 18 December 2014 on the question of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, in which the General Assembly called upon States that still maintain the death penalty to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing it, Welcoming all relevant decisions and resolutions of the Human Rights Council, Mindful that any miscarriage or failure of justice in the implementation of the death penalty is irreversible and irreparable, Convinced that a moratorium on the use of the death penalty contributes to respect for human dignity and to the enhancement and progressive development of human rights, and considering that there is no conclusive evidence of the deterrent value of the death penalty, Noting ongoing local and national debates and regional initiatives on the death penalty, as well as the readiness of an increasing number of Member States to make _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 4 Ibid., vol. 1642, No. 14668. A/RES/71/187 Moratorium on the use of the death penalty 2/3 available to the public information on the use of the death penalty, and also, in this regard, the decision by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 26/2 of 26 June 20145 to convene biennial high-level panel discussions in order to further exchange views on the question of the death penalty, Recognizing the role of national human rights institutions in contributing to ongoing local and national debates and regional initiatives on the death penalty, Welcoming the considerable movement towards the abolition of the death penalty globally and the fact that many States are applying a moratorium, including long-standing moratoriums, either in law or in practice, on the use of the death penalty, Emphasizing the need to ensure that persons facing the death penalty are treated with humanity and with respect for their inherent dignity and in compliance with their rights under international human rights law, Noting the technical cooperation among Member States, as well as the role of relevant United Nations entities and human rights mechanisms, in supporting State efforts to establish moratoriums on the death penalty, Bearing in mind the work of special procedures mandate holders who have addressed human rights issues related to the death penalty within the framework of their respective mandates, 1. Reaffirms the sovereign right of all countries to develop their own legal systems, including determining appropriate legal penalties, in accordance with their international law obligations; 2. Expresses its deep concern about the continued application of the death penalty; 3. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 69/1866 and the recommendations contained therein; 4. Also welcomes the steps taken by some States to reduce the number of offences for which the death penalty may be imposed, as well as steps taken to limit its application; 5. Further welcomes initiatives and political leadership encouraging national discussions and debates on the possibility of moving away from capital punishment through domestic decision-making; 6. Welcomes the decisions made by an increasing number of States from all regions, at all levels of government, to apply a moratorium on executions, followe d in many cases by the abolition of the death penalty; 7. Calls upon all States: (a) To respect international standards that provide safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, in particular the minimum standards, as set out in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/50 of 25 May 1984, as well as to provide the Secretary-General with information in this regard; _______________ 5 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/69/53), chap. V, sect. A. 6 A/71/332. Moratorium on the use of the death penalty A/RES/71/187 3/3 (b) To comply with their obligations under article 36 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,7 particularly the right to receive information on consular assistance; (c) To make available relevant information, disaggregated by sex, age and race, as applicable, and other applicable criteria, with regard to their use of the death penalty, inter alia, the number of persons sentenced to death, the number of persons on death row and the number of executions carried out, the number of death sentences reversed or commuted on appeal and information on any scheduled execution, which can contribute to possible informed and transparent national and international debates, including on the obligations of States pertaining to the use of the death penalty; (d) To progressively restrict the use of the death penalty and not to impose capital punishment for offences committed by persons below 18 years of age, on pregnant women or on persons with mental or intellectual disabilities; (e) To reduce the number of offences for which the death penalty may be imposed; (f) To ensure that those facing the death penalty can exercise their right to apply for pardon or commutation of their death sentence by ensuring that clemency procedures are fair and transparent and that prompt information is provided at all stages of the process; (g) To establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty; 8. Calls upon States which have abolished the death penalty not to reintroduce it, and encourages them to share their experience in this regard; 9. Encourages States which have a moratorium to maintain it and to share their experience in this regard; 10. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider acceding to or ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty; 4 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its seventy-third session under the item entitled “Promotion and protection of human rights”. 65th plenary meeting 19 December 2016 _______________ 7 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 596, No. 8638. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/71/223 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 2016 [on the report of the Second Committee (A/71/463/Add.1)] 71/223. Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/199 of 20 December 2000, 56/226 of 24 December 2001, 57/253 and 57/270 A of 20 December 2002, 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, 64/236 of 24 December 2009, 65/152 of 20 December 2010, 66/197 of 22 December 2011, 66/288 of 27 July 2012, 67/203 of 21 December 2012, 68/210 of 20 December 2013, 68/309 of 10 September 2014, 68/310 of 15 September 2014, 69/108 of 8 December 2014, 69/214 of 19 December 2014 and 70/201 of 22 December 2015 and all other relevant resolutions on the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1 Agenda 21, 2 the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, 3 the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development 4 and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation) 5 and the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”,6 as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for _______________ 1 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3–14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. 2 Ibid., annex II. 3 Resolution S-19/2, annex. 4 Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 5 Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 6 Resolution 66/288, annex. A/RES/71/223 Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2/6 Development, 7 the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development: outcome document of the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, 8 the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, 9 the key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, 10 the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action11 and the outcome document of the special event to follow up efforts made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, 12 Reaffirming its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to working tirelessly for the full implementation of the Agenda by 2030, its recognition that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, its commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions — economic, social and environmental — in a balanced and integrated manner, and to building upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeking to address their unfinished business, Reaffirming also its resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015 on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supports and complements it, helps to contextualize its means of implementation targets with concrete policies and actions, and reaffirms the strong political commitment to address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment at all levels for sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity, Recalling the Istanbul Declaration13 and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020, 14 adopted by the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Istanbul, Turkey from 9 to 13 May 2011, and endorsed by the General Assembly in resolution 65/280 of 17 June 2011, in which the Assembly called upon all the relevant stakeholders to commit to implementing the Programme of Action, Recalling also the Political Declaration adopted by the Comprehensive High- level Midterm Review of the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020, held in Antalya, Turkey, from 27 to 29 May 2016, and endorsed by the General Assembly in its _______________ 7 Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18–22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 8 Resolution 63/239, annex. 9 Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5–13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 10 Resolution S-21/2, annex. 11 Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. 12 Resolution 68/6. 13 Report of the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Istanbul, Turkey, 9–13 May 2011 (A/CONF.219/7), chap. I. 14 Ibid., chap. II. Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development A/RES/71/223 3/6 resolution 70/294 of 25 July 2016, in which the Assembly called upon all the relevant stakeholders to commit to implementing the Declaration, Recalling further the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–202415 and the Vienna Declaration,16 Recalling the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway, 17 Reaffirming the importance of supporting the implementation of Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the programme of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Reaffirming also the Sendai Declaration and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030,18 adopted at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, Recalling the New Urban Agenda, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III),19 Welcoming the Paris Agreement 20 and its early entry into force, and encouraging all its parties to fully implement the Agreement, and parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 21 that have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, where appropriate, as soon as possible, Emphasizing the importance of oceans for sustainable development, as embodied in Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and various decisions taken by the former Commission on Sustainable Development, and welcoming in this regard its decision, in its resolutions 70/226 of 22 December 2015 and 70/303 of 9 September 2016, to convene the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, to be held at United Nations Headquarters from 5 to 9 June 2017, Recognizing that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, and that although each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to achieve their sustainable development goals related to the internationally agreed poverty-related targets and goals, including those contained in Agenda 21, the relevant outcomes of United Nations conferences, the United Nations Millennium Declaration 22 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, _______________ 15 Resolution 69/137, annex II. 16 Ibid., annex I. 17 Resolution 69/15, annex. 18 Resolution 69/283, annexes I and II. 19 Resolution 71/256, annex. 20 See FCCC/CP/2015/10/Add.1, decision 1/CP.21, annex. 21 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. 22 Resolution 55/2. A/RES/71/223 Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 4/6 Reaffirming the need to further mainstream sustainable development at all levels, integrating economic, social and environmental aspects and recognizing their interlinkages, so as to achieve sustainable development in all its dimensions, and reiterating that sustainable development is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, Recognizing that eradicating poverty, changing unsustainable and promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are the overarching and essential objectives for sustainable development, Noting that the advancement of sustainable consumption and production cuts across the three dimensions of sustainable development in an integrated manner, Welcoming and recalling the commitment in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to making fundamental changes in the way that societies produce and consume goods and services, stressing that Governments, international organizations, the business sector and other non-State actors and individuals must contribute to changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns, including through the mobilization, from all sources, of financial and technical assistance to strengthen developing countries’ scientific, technological and innovative capacities to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production, encouraging the further implementation of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, 23 and noting the importance of all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries, Reaffirming the importance of freedom, peace and security, respect for all human rights, including the right to development and the right to an adequate standard of living, as well as the right to food, the rule of law, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and the overall commitment to just and democratic societies for development, Stressing the importance of inclusiveness within the United Nations development system and that no country is left behind in the implementation of the present resolution, 1. Reaffirms the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”,6 and urges its full implementation; 2. Stresses the importance of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and the resulting processes for the elaboration of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development24 and for the realization of sustainable development; 3. Recognizes in this regard that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development builds upon elements from the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, inter alia, the establishment of the high-level political forum on sustainable development, the format and organizational arrangements of which were later established by its resolution 67/290 of 9 July 2013, a strengthened Economic and Social Council, as later defined in its resolution 68/1 of 20 September 2013, the process that led to the adoption of the _______________ 23 A/CONF.216/5, annex. 24 Resolution 70/1. Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development A/RES/71/223 5/6 Sustainable Development Goals, as later defined in its resolutions 68/309 and 70/1, the strengthening of the science-policy interface, including in the form of the Global Sustainable Development Report, and the process that led to the adoption of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development; 25 5. Stresses the importance of overcoming silos and seeking innovative and coordinated approaches in integrating the three dimensions of sustainable development — economic, social and environmental — at the global, regional and national levels, and requests the United Nations to further mainstream and integrate the three dimensions throughout the United Nations system; 6. Affirms the contributions of the ongoing efforts and commitments towards the full implementation of Agenda 21,2 the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,3 the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,5 including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, as well as the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, and stresses the importance of their continued implementation in the pursuit of sustainable development; 7. Urges the speedy and effective implementation and the effective follow-up and review of the sustainable development priorities for small island developing States identified in the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway17 and set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and reaffirms that small island developing States remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities; 8. Emphasizes that regional and subregional organizations have a role to play in promoting sustainable development in their respective regions by, inter alia, promoting peer learning and cooperation, including South-South and triangular cooperation, as well as effective linkages among global, regional, subregional and national processes, as appropriate, to advance sustainable development; 9. Notes that the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, among other commitments on sustainable consumption and production, adopted the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns23 as a tool for action on sustainable consumption and production, and in this regard recognizes the commitment by the United Nations Environment Assembly to accelerate its implementation, including through relevant voluntary actions by Member States; 10. Takes note of United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 2/8 of 27 May 2016 on sustainable consumption and production;26 11. Decides to designate the Economic and Social Council to receive reports from the Board and the secretariat of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, and affirms that due consideration should continue to be given to sustainable consumption and _______________ 25 A/71/212. 26 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/71/25), annex. A/RES/71/223 Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 6/6 production at the meetings of the high-level political forum on sustainable development under the auspices of the Council; 12. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the mainstreaming of the three dimensions of sustainable development throughout the United Nations system, 27 reiterates the call of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the further mainstreaming of the three dimensions throughout the United Nations system, and in this regard invites the Secretary-General to continue to report to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, on progress made, including for the consideration of the high-level political forum on sustainable development; 13. Calls upon the relevant organizations of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates and resources, to ensure that no country is left behind in the implementation of the present resolution; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to include in the report a comprehensive and substantive analysis of the unfinished business of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-second session, under the item entitled “Sustainable development”, the sub-item entitled “Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development”, unless otherwise agreed. 66th plenary meeting 21 December 2016 _______________ 27 A/71/76-E/2016/55. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/71/327 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 11 September 2017 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/71/L.90)] 71/327. The United Nations in global economic governance The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 65/94 of 8 December 2010, 66/256 of 16 March 2012 and 67/289 of 9 July 2013, Recalling also the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda and its outcome document, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, 1 and all major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social, environmental and related fields for the promotion of sustainable development and their outcomes and follow-up processes, in particular the third International Conference on Financing for Development and its outcome document, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, 2 and the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development and its outcome document,3 and welcoming in this regard the second Economic and Social Council forum on financing for development follow-up and its intergovernmentally agreed conclusions and recommendations,4 Recalling further the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,5 Reaffirming its respect for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Acknowledging the vital importance of an inclusive, transparent and effective multilateral system in order to better address the urgent global challenges of today, recognizing the universality of the United Nations, and reaffirming its commitment to promote and strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the United Nations system, Reaffirming the role and authority of the General Assembly on global matters of concern to the international community, as set out in the Charter, _______________ 1 Resolution 70/1. 2 Resolution 69/313, annex. 3 Resolution 63/303, annex. 4 See E/FFDF/2017/3. 5 See FCCC/CP/2015/10/Add.1, decision 1/CP.21, annex. A/RES/71/327 The United Nations in global economic governance 2/4 Acknowledging that the United Nations, particularly the General Assembly, provides a universal and inclusive multilateral forum which confers incomparable value to its discussions and its decisions on global matters of concern to the international community, Recognizing the need to deal with interconnected socioeconomic challenges, promote sustained, inclusive and equitable growth and strengthen mechanisms that reduce inequalities in order to achieve sustainable development, Acknowledging that global economic governance in an increasingly interconnected world is of critical importance for the success of national efforts for achieving sustainable development in all countries, and that, while efforts have been made over the years, there remains the need to continue improving global economic governance and to strengthen the role of the United Nations in this regard with extensive consultations and joint contribution for the shared benefits, Concerned about addressing the effects of the world financial and economic crisis so as to avoid its recurrence and continue to promote the global economic stability and underlying institutional reforms required to ensure sustained, inclusive and equitable global economic growth for the benefit of all countries, Reiterating the important role of the regional commissions and the regional and subregional development banks in supporting policy dialogue among countries at the regional level on macroeconomic, financial, trade and development issues and the importance of other regional, interregional and subregional initiatives and arrangements, including integration processes, aimed at promoting development and cooperation among their members, Noting the critical importance of the ongoing efforts of multilateral institutions, particularly those of the United Nations system, to find common solutions to global challenges and the relevance of intergovernmental groupings that make policy recommendations or take policy decisions with global implications, and recognizing the benefits derived from increased interaction with those groupings, with a view to promoting transparency and coherence and strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation in matters of global economic governance, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;6 2. Reiterates the need for inclusive, transparent and effective multilateral approaches to managing global challenges, and in this regard reaffirms the central role of the United Nations system in ongoing efforts to find common solutions to such challenges, in the spirit of win-win cooperation, and to create a community of shared future for humankind, based upon our common humanity; 3. Recognizes the important role of the United Nations in providing an intergovernmental forum, including through international conferences and summits, for universal dialogue and consensus on global challenges, with the participation of relevant stakeholders, including from the private sector, civil society and academia; 4. Reaffirms the central position of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations, as well as the role of the Assembly in global matters of concern to the international community, as set out in the Charter of the United Nations; _______________ 6 A/71/378. The United Nations in global economic governance A/RES/71/327 3/4 5. Also reaffirms the value of multilateralism to the global trading system and the commitment to achieving a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization that contributes to growth, sustainable development and employment generation in all sectors, emphasizes that bilateral and regional trading arrangements should contribute and be complementary to the goals of the multilateral trading system, and looks forward to the Eleventh Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, to be held in Buenos Aires from 10 to 13 December 2017, and its outcome; 6. Recognizes the need to continue to enhance the coherence and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems and the importance of ensuring their openness, fairness and inclusiveness as complements to national development efforts to ensure sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals; 7. Reaffirms the importance of broadening and strengthening the participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making and norm-setting, notes in this regard the important steps taken on the reform of the governance structures, quotas and voting rights of the Bretton Woods institutions, which go in the direction of better reflecting current realities and enhancing the voice, the participation and the voting rights of developing countries, and recognizes the importance of continuing such reform processes in an ambitious and expeditious manner in order to deliver more effective, credible, accountable and legitimate institutions; 8. Recognizes the importance and benefits of continuing interaction among the United Nations, in particular the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, and international and regional forums, organizations and groups dealing with global matters of concern to the international community, as appropriate, and underlines in this context the importance of flexible and regular interaction between the United Nations and intergovernmental groupings that make policy recommendations or take policy decisions with global implications, including the Group of 20; 9. Welcomes the practice of informal engagement between the United Nations and intergovernmental groupings that make policy recommendations or take policy decisions with global implications, including the Group of 20, through informal briefings organized at the initiative of the President of the General Assembly, and in this regard invites the President to continue this practice by inviting appropriate representatives to an interactive dialogue with the membership of the Assembly in order to ensure continuity in their engagement, with a view to promoting transparency and coherence as well as strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation in matters of global economic governance; 10. Recognizes the importance of the interaction between the Secretary- General and the States members of the General Assembly regarding the participation of the Secretary-General in summits of intergovernmental groupings that make policy recommendations or take policy decisions with global implications, including the summits of the Group of 20, and invites the President of the General Assembly to continue to organize informal meetings for that purpose; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-third session, under the item entitled “Strengthening of the United Nations system”, the sub-item entitled “Central role of the United Nations system in global governance”, to be considered thereafter on a biennial basis; A/RES/71/327 The United Nations in global economic governance 4/4 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including concrete options for closer interaction between the United Nations and intergovernmental groupings, to be prepared in consultation with Member States and relevant organizations of the United Nations system, taking into account the Sustainable Development Goals and the follow-up processes to all major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, as appropriate. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/71/37 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2016 [on the report of the First Committee (A/71/450)] 71/37. Reducing nuclear danger The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Reaffirming that any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would constitute a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Convinced that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war, Convinced also that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Considering that, until nuclear weapons cease to exist, it is imperative on the part of the nuclear-weapon States to adopt measures that assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering also that the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons carries unacceptable risks of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, which would have catastrophic consequences for all mankind, Emphasizing the need to adopt measures to avoid accidental, unauthorized or unexplained incidents arising from computer anomalies or other technical malfunctions, Conscious that limited steps relating to de-alerting and de-targeting have been taken by the nuclear-weapon States and that further practical, realistic and mutually reinforcing steps are necessary to contribute to the improvement in the international climate for negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, Mindful that a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in the security policies of nuclear-weapon States would have a positive impact on international peace and security and improve the conditions for the further reduction and the elimination of nuclear weapons, A/RES/71/37 Reducing nuclear danger 2/2 Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly 1 and by the international community, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons2 that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Recalling also the call, in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 3 to seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and the resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, 1. Calls for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in this context, immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons, including through de-alerting and de-targeting nuclear weapons; 2. Requests the five nuclear-weapon States to take measures towards the implementation of paragraph 1 above; 3. Calls upon Member States to take the measures necessary to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament, with the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraph 5 of its resolution 70/37 of 7 December 2015;4 5. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts and support initiatives that would contribute to the full implementation of the seven recommendations identified in the report of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters that would significantly reduce the risk of nuclear war, 5 and also to continue to encourage Member States to consider the convening of an international conference, as proposed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 3 to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy-second session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-second session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Reducing nuclear danger”. 51st plenary meeting 5 December 2016 _______________ 1 Resolution S-10/2. 2 A/51/218, annex. 3 Resolution 55/2. 4 A/71/126. 5 A/56/400, para. 3. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/71/51 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2016 [on the report of the First Committee (A/71/450)] 71/51. Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 B of 10 December 1996, 52/38 N of 9 December 1997, 53/77 Q of 4 December 1998, 54/54 L of 1 December 1999, 55/33 I of 20 November 2000, 56/24 G of 29 November 2001, 57/73 of 22 November 2002, 58/49 of 8 December 2003, 59/85 of 3 December 2004, 60/58 of 8 December 2005, 61/69 of 6 December 2006, 62/35 of 5 December 2007, 63/65 of 2 December 2008, 64/44 of 2 December 2009, 65/58 of 8 December 2010, 67/55 of 3 December 2012, 69/35 of 2 December 2014 and 70/45 of 7 December 2015, Recalling also the provisions on nuclear-weapon-free zones of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disarmament,1 Recalling further the adoption by the Disarmament Commission at its 1999 substantive session of a text entitled “Establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned”,2 Determined to pursue the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Determined also to continue to contribute to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to the process of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, in particular in the field of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, with a view to strengthening international peace and security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 3 which reaffirmed the _______________ 1 Resolution S-10/2. 2 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. 3 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I–III (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vols. I–III)). A/RES/71/51 Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas 2/3 conviction that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones contributes towards realizing the objectives of nuclear disarmament, Stressing the importance of the treaties of Tlatelolco, 4 Rarotonga,5 Bangkok6 and Pelindaba 7 establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as the Antarctic Treaty,8 inter alia, for achieving a world entirely free of nuclear weapons, Welcoming the convening by Indonesia of the Third Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia, on 24 April 2015, Noting that 115 States are currently parties and signatories to nuclear-weapon- free zone treaties, Underlining the value of enhancing cooperation among the nuclear-weapon- free zone treaty members by means of mechanisms such as joint meetings of States parties, signatories and observers to those treaties, Reaffirming the applicable principles and rules of international law relating to the freedom of the high seas and the rights of passage through maritime space, including those of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 9 1. Reaffirms its conviction of the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and in extending the areas of the world that are nuclear-weapon-free, and calls for greater progress towards the total elimination of all nuclear weapons; 2. Welcomes the continued contribution that the Antarctic Treaty8 and the treaties of Tlatelolco,4 Rarotonga,5 Bangkok6 and Pelindaba7 are making towards freeing the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons; 3. Notes with satisfaction that all nuclear-weapon-free zones in the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas are now in force; 4. Calls upon all States concerned to continue to work together in order to facilitate adherence to the protocols to nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties by all relevant States that have not yet done so, in this regard welcomes the ratification by China, France, the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of the Protocol to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia and the steps taken by the United States of America towards the ratification of the protocols to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, to the Treaty of Pelindaba and to the Treaty of Rarotonga, and encourages progress with a view to concluding consultations between the nuclear-weapon States and the parties to the Bangkok Treaty on the Protocol to that Treaty; 5. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to withdraw any reservations or interpretive declarations contrary to the object and purpose of the treaties establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones; _______________ 4 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. 5 The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. 6 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. 7 A/50/426, annex. 8 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. 9 Ibid., vol. 1833, No. 31363. Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas A/RES/71/51 3/3 6. Welcomes the steps taken to conclude further nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, and calls upon all States to consider all relevant proposals, including those reflected in its resolutions on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; 7. Congratulates the States parties and signatories to the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba, as well as of Central Asia and Mongolia, for their efforts to pursue the common goals envisaged in those treaties and to promote the nuclear-weapon-free status of the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas, and calls upon them to explore and implement further ways and means of cooperation among themselves and their treaty agencies; 8. Encourages efforts to reinforce coordination among nuclear-weapon-free zones; 9. Encourages the competent authorities of the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties to provide assistance to the States parties and signatories to those treaties so as to facilitate the accomplishment of the goals of the treaties; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-second session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/71/67 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2016 [on the report of the First Committee (A/71/450)] 71/67. Nuclear disarmament verification The General Assembly, Recalling the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disarmament, 1 in particular the paragraphs relevant to verification, and the roles and respective mandates of the disarmament machinery bodies established therein, Recalling also the decisions taken and commitments made by States parties at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference 2 and the 2000 3 and 2010 4 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons related to nuclear disarmament verification, Reaffirming the shared commitment to further progress in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Reiterating its deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and reaffirming the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law, Recalling the unequivocal undertaking of the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons5 are committed under article VI thereof, Recalling also that significant steps by all the nuclear-weapon States leading to nuclear disarmament should promote international stability, peace and security, and be based on the principle of increased and undiminished security for all, _______________ 1 Resolution S-10/2. 2 See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. 3 See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)). 4 See 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. I)), part I. 5 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. A/RES/71/67 Nuclear disarmament verification 2/3 Recalling further that all States parties to the Treaty commit to apply the principles of irreversibility, verifiability and transparency in relation to the implementation of their treaty obligations, Convinced that, while verification is not an aim in itself, further development of the multilateral nuclear disarmament verification capabilities will be required to provide assurance of compliance with multilateral nuclear disarmament agreements for the achievement and maintenance of a world without nuclear weapons, Convinced also that, irrespective of different positions on the means to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons, identifying and developing practical and effective measures of nuclear disarmament verification and monitoring will foster confidence and facilitate efforts to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons, Recalling its resolution 62/21 of 5 December 2007 on verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification, in which it took note of the report of the Panel of Government Experts on verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification, 6 as well as the reports of the Secretary-General of 1990 and 1995,7 and recalling also the report of the Disarmament Commission outlining general principles elaborated upon or added to those stated in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,8 Recalling also that the International Atomic Energy Agency, in carrying out its functions, shall conduct its activities in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations to promote peace and international cooperation, and in conformity with policies of the United Nations furthering the establishment of safeguarded worldwide disarmament and with any international agreements entered into pursuant to such policies, Mindful of the role of verification in existing bilateral and multilateral disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control agreements, and the importance of making use of existing capabilities of relevant international organizations and experiences and lessons learned, as appropriate, Mindful also that, given the challenges associated with verifying nuclear disarmament, continuous capacity-building and technical development are critical to bridging any shortcomings and establishing effective multilateral nuclear disarmament verification, Noting initiatives and partnerships among Member States, such as the initiative of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification, to enable active collaboration between States, in conformity with their international obligations, in developing practical methods that could contribute to the verification of irreversible dismantlement of nuclear weapons, Noting also the contribution of representatives of civil society from the non-governmental, academic and research communities, _______________ 6 See A/61/1028. 7 A/45/372 and Corr.1 and A/50/377 and Corr.1. 8 A/51/182/Rev.1. Nuclear disarmament verification A/RES/71/67 3/3 1. Calls for further efforts to reduce and eliminate all types of nuclear weapons, and reaffirms the unequivocal undertaking of the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals; 2. Reaffirms that disarmament and arms limitation agreements should provide for adequate measures of verification satisfactory to all parties concerned in order to create the necessary confidence and ensure that they are being observed by all parties, and notes the development of broader partnerships and cooperative verification arrangements; 3. Calls upon all States to work together to identify and develop practical and effective disarmament verification measures facilitating the objective of achieving and maintaining a world without nuclear weapons through, inter alia, advancing, understanding and addressing technical challenges of nuclear disarmament verification and monitoring, including tools, solutions and methods and capacity-building; 4. Calls for the development and strengthening of practical and effective nuclear disarmament verification measures, which will build confidence and facilitate the advancement of nuclear disarmament efforts, and affirms in this context the importance of credible verification in providing assurance of compliance with nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation obligations and commitments; 5. Encourages the Conference on Disarmament and the Disarmament Commission to substantively address nuclear disarmament verification; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the development and strengthening of practical and effective nuclear disarmament verification measures and on the importance of such measures in achieving and maintaining a world without nuclear weapons, and to report back to the General Assembly at its seventy-second session; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to establish a group of governmental experts of up to 25 participants on the basis of equitable geographical distribution to consider the role of verification in advancing nuclear disarmament, taking into account the aforementioned report, which will meet in Geneva in 2018 and 2019 for a total of three sessions of five days each; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-second session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, a sub-item entitled “Nuclear disarmament verification”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/71/71 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2016 [on the report of the First Committee (A/71/450)] 71/71. Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 67/39 of 3 December 2012, 68/32 of 5 December 2013, 69/58 of 2 December 2014 and 70/34 of 7 December 2015, Welcoming the convening of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament, on 26 September 2013, and recognizing its contribution to furthering the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Emphasizing the importance of seeking a safer world for all and achieving peace and security in a world without nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that effective measures of nuclear disarmament have the highest priority, as affirmed at the first special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons are the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Acknowledging the significant contribution made by a number of countries towards realizing the objective of nuclear disarmament by the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as by voluntary renunciation of nuclear weapon programmes or withdrawal of all nuclear weapons from their territories, and strongly supporting the speedy establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, Recalling the resolve of the Heads of State and Government, as contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,1 to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, _______________ 1 Resolution 55/2. A/RES/71/71 Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament 2/3 Reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in the field of disarmament, and also reaffirming the continued importance and relevance of multilateral disarmament machinery as mandated by the General Assembly at its first special session devoted to disarmament, Acknowledging the important role of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academia, parliamentarians and the mass media, in advancing the objective of nuclear disarmament, Sharing the deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and in this context reaffirming the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 70/34,2 and welcoming the fact that a large number of Member States contributed their views to this report, Mindful of the solemn obligations of States parties, undertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 3 particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, Expressing its deep concern that the negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament for the conclusion of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons have not yet commenced, Determined to work collectively towards the realization of nuclear disarmament, 1. Underlines the strong support, expressed at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament, held on 26 September 2013, for taking urgent and effective measures to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons; 2. Calls for urgent compliance with the legal obligations and the fulfilment of the commitments undertaken on nuclear disarmament; 3. Endorses the wide support expressed at the high-level meeting for a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons; 4. Calls for the urgent commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament for the early conclusion of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons to prohibit their possession, development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use and to provide for their destruction; 5. Recalls its decision to convene, no later than 2018, a United Nations high-level international conference on nuclear disarmament to review the progress made in this regard; 6. Stresses the need to establish a preparatory committee for the United Nations high-level international conference in New York; 7. Takes note of the views provided by Member States with regard to achieving the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, in particular on the elements of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons, as reflected in the report submitted by the Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 70/34,2 and _______________ 2 A/71/131. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament A/RES/71/71 3/3 requests the Secretary-General to forward this report to the Conference on Disarmament and the Disarmament Commission for their early consideration; 8. Welcomes the commemoration and promotion of 26 September as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons devoted to furthering this objective; 9. Expresses its appreciation to Member States, the United Nations system and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academia, parliamentarians, the mass media and individuals that developed activities in promotion of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons; 10. Requests the President of the General Assembly to organize, on 26 September every year, a one-day high-level plenary meeting of the Assembly to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons; 11. Decides that the aforementioned high-level plenary meeting shall be held with the participation of Member and observer States, represented at the highest possible level, as well as with the participation of the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake all arrangements necessary to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, including through the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna, as well as the United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament; 13. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations system and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academia, parliamentarians, the mass media and individuals, to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons through all means of educational and public awareness-raising activities about the threat posed to humanity by nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimination in order to mobilize international efforts towards achieving the common goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States with regard to achieving the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, in particular on the elements of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons, and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy-second session, and also to transmit the report to the Conference on Disarmament; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its seventy-second session; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-second session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/71/75 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2016 [on the report of the First Committee (A/71/451)] 71/75. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to the survival of mankind, Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons, 1 Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strengthening international peace and security, Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federation and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, Recalling that in paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly 2 it is stated that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and which would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, _______________ 1 A/51/218, annex. 2 Resolution S-10/2. A/RES/71/75 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons 2/2 Determined to achieve an international convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction, Stressing that an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time, Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament, during its 2016 session, was unable to undertake negotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 70/62 of 7 December 2015, 1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations in order to reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/71/95 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 December 2016 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/494)] 71/95. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,1 as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights2 and the International Covenants on Human Rights,3 Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968 and 70/87 of 9 December 2015, and the relevant resolutions of the Human Rights Council, including resolutions S-12/1 of 16 October 2009, 4 S-21/1 of 23 July 20145 and 29/25 of 3 July 2015,6 Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Taking into account the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 7 and recalling in this regard its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Recalling the statement of 15 July 1999 and the declarations adopted on 5 December 2001 and on 17 December 20148 by the Conference of High Contracting _______________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. 2 Resolution 217 A (III). 3 Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 4 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/64/53/Add.1), chap. I. 5 Ibid., Sixty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/69/53), chap. VI. 6 Ibid., Seventieth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/70/53), chap. II. 7 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. 8 A/69/711-S/2015/1, annex. A/RES/71/95 Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories 2/5 Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, and welcoming initiatives by States parties, both individually and collectively, according to article 1 of the Convention and aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Taking note of the report of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, 9 Taking note also of Human Rights Council resolution 31/36 of 24 March 2016,10 Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross and grave violation of human rights, Noting with deep regret the onset of the fiftieth year of the Israeli occupation, and stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative trends on the ground and to restore a political horizon for advancing and accelerating meaningful negotiations aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a complete end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all core final status issues, without exception, leading to a peaceful, just, lasting and comprehensive solution for the question of Palestine, Recognizing that the occupation and ensuing persistent and systematic violations of international law by Israel, including international humanitarian and human rights law, are considered to be the main sources of other Israeli violations and discriminatory policies against the Palestinian civilian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Gravely concerned about the continuing detrimental impact of ongoing unlawful Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in the death and injury of civilians and the widespread destruction of property and vital infrastructure, including during the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, as well as ongoing settlement activities and construction of the wall, the internal forced displacement of civilians, the imposition of collective punishment measures, particularly against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, where continuing severe restrictions on movement amount to a blockade, and the detention and imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians, Expressing grave concern about tensions, instability and violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, due to the illegal policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, including, in particular, provocations and incitements regarding the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif, Gravely concerned about all acts of violence, intimidation and provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and properties, including homes, mosques, churches and agricultural lands, _______________ 9 A/HRC/22/63. 10 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/71/53), chap. IV, sect. A. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories A/RES/71/95 3/5 Gravely concerned also by reports regarding serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law committed during the military operations in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009, including the findings in the summary by the Secretary-General of the report of the Board of Inquiry11 and in the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict,12 and reiterating the necessity for serious follow-up by all parties to the recommendations addressed to them towards ensuring accountability and justice, Deploring the killing and injury of thousands of civilians, including women and children, during the military operations in the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, Taking note of the report of the independent commission of inquiry established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-21/1,13 and stressing the imperative of ensuring accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity, ensure justice, deter further violations, protect civilians and promote peace, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories14 and the relevant reports of the Secretary-Genera1,15 Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 199316 and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Stressing the urgency of bringing a complete end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and thus an end to the violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people, and of allowing for the realization of their inalienable human rights, including their right to self-determination and their independent State, Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,17 Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,18 Noting the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and the core humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties, 1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its impartiality and efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly in spite of the obstruction of its mandate; _______________ 11 See A/63/855-S/2009/250. 12 A/HRC/12/48. 13 A/HRC/29/52. 14 A/71/352. 15 A/71/321, A/71/392, A/71/315, A/71/355 and A/71/364. 16 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. 17 A/66/371-S/2011/592. 18 A/67/738. A/RES/71/95 Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories 4/5 2. Reiterates its demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cooperate, in accordance with its obligations as a State Member of the United Nations, with the Special Committee in implementing its mandate, and deplores the continued lack of cooperation in this regard; 3. Deplores those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the report of the Special Committee covering the reporting period; 14 4. Expresses grave concern about the critical situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the Gaza Strip, as a result of unlawful Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns and calls for the immediate cessation of all illegal Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the wall, the lifting of the blockade of the Gaza Strip, as well as a complete cessation of the excessive and indiscriminate use of force and military operations against the civilian population, settler violence, the destruction and confiscation of properties, including home demolitions as a measure of reprisal, the forced displacement of civilians, all measures of collective punishment, and the detention and imprisonment of thousands of civilians; 5. Requests the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli violations of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,1 and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories, including prisoners and detainees, are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; 6. Also requests the Special Committee to submit regularly to the Secretary- General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Further requests the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment and status of the thousands of prisoners and detainees, including children and women, in Israeli prisons and detention centres in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and expresses grave concern about harsh conditions and ill-treatment of prisoners and recent hunger strikes, stressing the need for respect for all applicable rules of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, 1 the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) 19 and the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules); 20 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To provide the Special Committee with all necessary facilities, including those required for its visits to the occupied territories, so that it may investigate the Israeli policies and practices referred to in the present resolution; _______________ 19 Resolution 70/175, annex. 20 Resolution 65/229, annex. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories A/RES/71/95 5/5 (b) To utilize his good offices to facilitate and support the Special Committee in carrying out its mandate; (c) To continue to make available such staff as may be necessary to assist the Special Committee in the performance of its tasks; (d) To circulate regularly to Member States the periodic reports mentioned in paragraph 6 above; (e) To ensure the widest circulation of the reports of the Special Committee and of information regarding its activities and findings, by all means available, through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and, where necessary, to reprint those reports of the Special Committee that are no longer available; (f) To report to the General Assembly at its seventy-second session on the tasks entrusted to him in the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-second session the item entitled “Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/72/178 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2017 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/72/439/Add.2)] 72/178. The human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 64/292 of 28 July 2010, in which it recognized the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights, and 70/169 of 17 December 2015, entitled “The human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation”, Reaffirming all previous resolutions of the Human Rights Council regarding the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, inter alia, Council resolution 33/10 of 29 September 2016,1 Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,2 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,3 the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,3 the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,4 the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,5 the Convention on the Rights of the Child6 and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 7 Recalling also its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, __________________ 1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 53A and corrigendum (A/71/53/Add.1 and A/71/53/Add.1/Corr.1), chap. II. 2 Resolution 217 A (III). 3 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 4 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. 5 Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. 6 Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. 7 Ibid., vol. 2515, No. 44910. A/RES/72/178 The human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation 17-22995 2/6 Recalling further the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of June 19928 and its resolution 66/288 of 27 July 2012, entitled “The future we want”, and emphasizing the critical importance of water and sanitation within the three dimensions of sustainable development, Reaffirming its resolution 71/222 of 21 December 2016, by which it proclaimed the period 2018–2028 the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development”, Recalling its resolution 71/256 of 23 December 2016, entitled “New Urban Agenda”, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), held from 17 to 20 October 2016 in Quito, which promotes equitable and affordable access to sustainable basic physical and social infrastructure for all, without discrimination, including safe drinking water and sanitation, Recalling also the designation, pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 47/193 of 22 December 1992 and 67/291 of 24 July 2013, of 22 March as World Water Day and 19 November as World Toilet Day, which are important opportunities to promote, among other issues, awareness of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation and of the remaining challenges in this regard, Recalling further that, in its resolution 67/291, entitled “Sanitation for All”, it encouraged all Member States, as well as the organizations of the United Nations system and international organizations and other stakeholders, to approach the sanitation issue in a much broader context and to encompass all its aspects, including hygiene promotion, the provision of basic sanitation services, sewage and wastewater treatment and reuse in the context of integrated water management, Taking note of the relevant commitments and initiatives promoting the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation made at the 2014 high-level meeting of the Sanitation and Water for All partnership and in the Ngor Declaration on Sanitation and Hygiene, adopted at the fourth African Conference on Sanitation and Hygiene, in 2015, the Dhaka Declaration, adopted at the sixth South Asian Conference on Sanitation, in 2016, the Lima Declaration, adopted at the fourth Latin American and Caribbean Conference on Sanitation, in 2016, and the Dar es Salaam road map for achieving the Ngor commitments on water security and sanitation in Africa, adopted at the sixth Africa Water Week, in 2016, and in the call for action of the high-level symposium on the theme “Sustainable Development Goal 6 and targets: ensuring that no one is left behind in access to water and sanitation”, held in Dushanbe from 9 to 11 August 2016, Recalling general comment No. 15 (2002) of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the right to water (articles 11 and 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) 9 and the statement on the right to sanitation of the Committee of 19 November 2010,10 as well as the reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, __________________ 8 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3−14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. 9 Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 2 (E/2003/22), annex IV. 10 Ibid., 2011, Supplement No. 2 (E/2011/22), annex VI. The human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation A/RES/72/178 3/6 17-22995 Welcoming the work of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund in the 2017 update published by their Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation,11 Welcoming also the fact that, according to the Joint Monitoring Programme report, an estimated 71 per cent of the global population uses a safely managed drinking water service system, while being deeply concerned, however, that 12 per cent of the global population still lacks even a basic drinking water service, Deeply concerned that 4.5 billion people lack a safely managed sanitation service, 2.3 billion people still lack even a basic sanitation service and 892 million people worldwide still practise open defecation, which is one of the clearest manifestations of poverty and extreme poverty, Deeply concerned also about the lack of access to adequate water and sanitation services and its dramatic consequences for the overall health situation in humanitarian crises, including in times of conflict and natural disaster, acknowledging that people living in countries affected by conflict, violence and instability are four times as likely to lack basic drinking water and twice as likely to lack basic sanitation as people living in unaffected countries, Deeply concerned further that women and girls often face, especially in humanitarian crises, including in times of conflict or natural disaster, particular barriers in accessing water and sanitation and that they shoulder the main burden of collecting household water in many parts of the world, restricting their time for other activities, such as education and leisure, or for earning a livelihood, Deeply concerned that the lack of access to adequate water and sanitation services, including for menstrual hygiene management, especially in schools, contributes to reinforcing the widespread stigma associated with menstruation, negatively affecting gender equality and women’s and girls’ enjoyment of human rights, including the right to education and the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Deeply concerned also that women and girls are particularly at risk and exposed to attacks, sexual and gender-based violence, harassment and other threats to their safety while collecting household water and when accessing sanitation facilities outside their homes or practising open defecation, Deeply alarmed that water, sanitation and hygiene-related diseases hit children the hardest and that, in humanitarian crises, including in times of conflict or natural disaster, children suffer the most from interruptions in water and sanitation services, and underscoring that progress on reducing child mortality, morbidity and stunting is linked to children’s and women’s access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Welcoming the fact that the Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation has established an extensive global database and has been instrumental in developing global norms to benchmark progress, while taking into consideration the fact that official figures very often do not fully capture all the dimensions of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Deeply concerned that non-existent or inadequate sanitation facilities and serious deficiencies in water management and wastewater treatment can negatively affect water provision and sustainable access to safe drinking water and that, according to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2017, over __________________ 11 World Health Organization/United Nations Children’s Fund, Progress on Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: 2017 updates and SDG baselines (Geneva, 2017). A/RES/72/178 The human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation 17-22995 4/6 80 per cent of the world’s wastewater, and over 95 per cent in some of the least developed countries, is released into the environment without treatment, Affirming the importance of continually improving the availability of high- quality, accessible, timely and reliable disaggregated data on progress related to safe drinking water and sanitation services as an indispensable means for States to plan for, implement and monitor the progressive realization of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation for all, Stressing the importance of monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goals and targets, including the Goal on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, Recognizing that, in progressively realizing the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, as well as other human rights, States should increasingly pursue integrated approaches and strengthen their water resource management, including by improving wastewater treatment and by preventing and reducing surface and groundwater pollution, Emphasizing that national legislation and policies are crucial to the progressive realization of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Affirming the importance of regional and international technical cooperation, where appropriate, as a means to promote the progressive realization of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, without any prejudice to questions of international water law, including international watercourse law, Reaffirming the responsibility of States to ensure the promotion and protection of all human rights, which are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and must be treated globally, in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Recalling that the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation are derived from the right to an adequate standard of living and are inextricably related to the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as well as to the right to life and human dignity, Expressing concern that climate change has contributed and continues to contribute to the increased frequency and intensity of both sudden-onset natural disasters and slow-onset events, and that these events have adverse effects on the full enjoyment of all human rights, including the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, 1. Reaffirms that the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, as components of the right to an adequate standard of living, are essential for the full enjoyment of the right to life and all human rights; 2. Recognizes that the human right to safe drinking water entitles everyone, without discrimination, to have access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use, and that the human right to sanitation entitles everyone, without discrimination, to have physical and affordable access to sanitation, in all spheres of life, that is safe, hygienic, secure, socially and culturally acceptable and that provides privacy and ensures dignity, while reaffirming that both rights are components of the right to an adequate standard of living; 3. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, and takes note with The human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation A/RES/72/178 5/6 17-22995 appreciation of his reports on development cooperation,12 as well as his report on service regulation and the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; 13 4. Calls upon States: (a) To implement the internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goals and targets,14 including the Goal on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, consistent with their obligations under international law; (b) To ensure the progressive realization of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation for all in a non-discriminatory manner while eliminating inequalities in access, including for individuals belonging to groups at risk and to marginalized groups, on the grounds of race, gender, age, disability, ethnicity, culture, religion and national or social origin or on any other grounds; (c) To continuously monitor and regularly analyse the status of the realization of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; (d) To identify patterns of failure to respect, protect or fulfil the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation for all persons without discrimination and to address their structural causes in policymaking and budgeting within a broader framework, while undertaking holistic planning aimed at achieving sustainable universal access, including in instances where the private sector, donors and non-governmental organizations are involved in service provision; (e) To promote both women’s leadership and their full, effective and equal participation in decision-making on water and sanitation management and to ensure that a gender-based approach is adopted in relation to water and sanitation programmes, including measures, inter alia, to reduce the time spent by women and girls in collecting household water, in order to address the negative impact of inadequate water and sanitation services on the access of girls to education and to protect women and girls from being physically threatened or assaulted, including from sexual violence, while collecting household water and when accessing sanitation facilities outside of their home or practising open defecation; (f) To progressively eliminate open defecation by adopting policies to increase access to sanitation, including for individuals belonging to vulnerable and marginalized groups; (g) To approach the sanitation issue in a much broader context, taking into account the need to pursue integrated approaches; (h) To consult and coordinate with local communities and other stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, on adequate solutions to ensure sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation; (i) To enhance efforts to substantially reduce the share of untreated wastewater released into the environment and to ensure that plans and programmes for improving sanitation services take into account the need for appropriate systems for the treatment of sewage produced, including disposal of infant faeces, with the aim of reducing the risks to human health, drinking water resources and the environment; __________________ 12 A/71/302 and A/72/127. 13 A/HRC/36/45. 14 Resolution 70/1. A/RES/72/178 The human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation 17-22995 6/6 (j) To provide for effective accountability mechanisms for all water and sanitation service providers, including private sector providers, to ensure that they respect human rights and do not cause or contribute to human rights violations or abuses; 5. Calls upon non-State actors, including business enterprises, both transnational and others, to comply with their responsibility to respect human rights, including the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, including by cooperating with State investigations into allegations of abuses of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, and by progressively engaging with States to detect and remedy abuses of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; 6. Invites regional and international organizations to complement efforts by States to progressively realize the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; 7. Calls upon Member States to enhance global partnerships for sustainable development as a means to achieve and sustain the Goals and the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,14 and highlights that the 2030 Agenda marks a paradigm shift towards a more balanced and integrated plan of action for achieving sustainable development that reflects the indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights; 8. Reaffirms that the high-level political forum on sustainable development, under the auspices of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, has the central role in overseeing follow-up and review at the global level, and encourages Member States to share their experiences and best practices with regard to the Goals under review during the 2018 high-level political forum, including the Goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; 9. Also reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility to ensure the full realization of all human rights and to endeavour to take steps, individually and through international assistance and cooperation, especially economic and technical cooperation, to the maximum of their available resources, with a view to progressively achieving the full realization of the rights to safe drinking water and sanitation by all appropriate means, including, in particular, the adoption of legislative measures; 10. Stresses the important role of the international cooperation and technical assistance provided by States, specialized agencies of the United Nations system and international and development partners, as well as by donor agencies, and urges development partners to adopt a human rights-based approach when designing and implementing development programmes in support of national initiatives and plans of action related to the rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; 11. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its seventy-fourth session. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/72/190 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2017 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/72/439/Add.3)] 72/190. Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1 international human rights treaties and other relevant international instruments and declarations, Recalling the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 19492 and Additional Protocol I thereto, of 1977,3 as applicable, as well as relevant customary international law, Confirming the primary responsibility of States to promote and protect human rights, Reaffirming the responsibility of States to respect international law, including the principle that all States shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State and from acting in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations, recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, in which it approved the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming the principles contained therein, Recalling its resolution 68/262 of 27 March 2014 on the territorial integrity of Ukraine, in which it affirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, resolution 71/205 of 19 December 2016 on the situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine), __________________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970–973. 3 Ibid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. A/RES/72/190 Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine 17-23187 2/5 and relevant decisions of international organizations, specialized agencies and bodies within the United Nations system, Condemning the ongoing temporary occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (hereinafter “Crimea”) – by the Russian Federation, and reaffirming the non-recognition of its annexation, Supporting the commitment by Ukraine to adhere to international law in its efforts to put an end to the Russian occupation of Crimea, and welcoming the commitments by Ukraine to protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens, Reaffirming the obligation of States to ensure that persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities may exercise fully and effectively all human rights and fundamental freedoms without any discrimination and in full equality before the law, Welcoming the reports of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation in Ukraine, of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, and of the human rights assessment mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, in which they stated that violations and abuses of human rights continued to take place in Crimea and pointed to the sharp deterioration of the overall human rights situation, Welcoming also the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine), submitted pursuant to resolution 71/2054 Reaffirming its grave concern that the human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine continues to be denied access to Crimea, despite its existing mandate, which covers the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, Condemning the imposition and retroactive application of the legal system of the Russian Federation, and its negative impact on the human rights situation in Crimea, the imposition of automatic Russian Federation citizenship on protected persons in Crimea, which is contrary to international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions and customary international law, and the regressive effects on the enjoyment of human rights of those who have rejected that citizenship, Condemning also the reported serious violations and abuses committed against residents of Crimea, in particular extrajudicial killings, abductions, enforced disappearances, politically motivated prosecutions, discrimination, harassment, intimidation, violence, including sexual violence, arbitrary detentions, torture and ill- treatment, in particular to extract confessions, and psychiatric internment, and their transfer or deportation from Crimea to the Russian Federation, as well as reported abuses of other fundamental freedoms, including the freedoms of expression, religion or belief and association and the right to peaceful assembly, Reaffirming its serious concern at the decision of the so-called Supreme Court of Crimea of 26 April 2016 and the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of 29 September 2016 to declare the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, the self-governing body of the Crimean Tatars, to be an extremist organization and to ban its activities, __________________ 4 See A/72/498. Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine A/RES/72/190 3/5 17-23187 Condemning the increasing pressure exerted upon religious minority communities, including through frequent police raids, threats against and persecution of those belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, the Protestant Church, mosques and Muslim religious schools, Greek-Catholics, Roman Catholics and Jehovah’s Witnesses, and condemning also the baseless prosecution of dozens of peaceful Muslims for allegedly belonging to Islamic organizations, Taking note of the order of the International Court of Justice of 19 April 2017 on provisional measures in the case concerning the Application of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Ukraine v. Russian Federation),5 Recalling the prohibition under the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the occupying Power to compel protected persons to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces, including through pressure or propaganda that is aimed at securing voluntary enlistment, Underlining the importance of the measures to develop transparent, accessible, non-discriminatory and expeditious procedures and regulations governing access to Crimea for human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers, as well as the possibility to appeal, in accordance with national legislation and in conformity with all applicable international law, Welcoming the support provided by Ukraine to media outlets and civil society organizations that have fled Crimea, which improves the ability of the media and civil society to work independently and without interference, Welcoming also the continued efforts of the Secretary-General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and other international and regional organizations to support Ukraine in promoting, protecting and ensuring human rights, and expressing further concern over the lack of safe and unfettered access by established regional and international human rights monitoring mechanisms and human rights non-governmental organizations to Crimea, 1. Condemns violations, abuses, measures and practices of discrimination against the residents of the temporarily occupied Crimea, including Crimean Tatars, as well as Ukrainians and persons belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, by the Russian occupation authorities; 2. Also condemns the unlawful imposition of laws, jurisdiction and administration in the occupied Crimea by the Russian Federation, and demands that the Russian Federation respect obligations under international law with regard to respecting the laws in force in Crimea prior to occupation; 3. Urges the Russian Federation: (a) To uphold all of its obligations under applicable international law as an occupying Power; (b) To fully and immediately comply with the order of the International Court of Justice of 19 April 2017 on provisional measures in the case concerning the Application of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Ukraine v. Russian Federation);5 __________________ 5 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-second Session, Supplement No. 4 (A/72/4), chap. V, sect. A. A/RES/72/190 Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine 17-23187 4/5 (c) To take all measures necessary to bring an immediate end to all violations and abuses against residents of Crimea, in particular reported discriminatory measures and practices, arbitrary detentions, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and to revoke all discriminatory legislation; (d) To respect the laws in force in Ukraine and to repeal laws imposed in Crimea by the Russian Federation that allow for forced evictions and the confiscation of private property in Crimea, in violation of applicable international law; (e) To immediately release Ukrainian citizens who were unlawfully detained and judged without regard for elementary standards of justice, as well as those transferred or deported across internationally recognized borders from Crimea to the Russian Federation; (f) To address the issue of impunity and ensure that those found to be responsible for violations and abuses are held accountable before an independent judiciary; (g) To create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for journalists, human rights defenders and defence lawyers to perform their work independently and without undue interference in Crimea; (h) To restore enjoyment of the rights of all individuals, without any discrimination based on origin and on religion or belief, and to revoke the decisions that banned cultural and religious institutions, non-governmental organizations, human rights organizations and media outlets, and to restore enjoyment of the rights of individuals belonging to ethnic communities in Crimea, in particular Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, including to engage in cultural gatherings; (i) To ensure the availability of education in the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages; (j) To revoke immediately the decision declaring the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People an extremist organization and banning its activities, repeal the decision banning leaders of the Mejlis from entering Crimea and refrain from maintaining or imposing limitations on the ability of the Crimean Tatar community to conserve its representative institutions; (k) To end the practice of compelling Crimean residents to serve in the armed or auxiliary forces of the Russian Federation, including through pressure or propaganda; (l) To cooperate fully and immediately with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe on the situation of human rights in Crimea; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to seek ways and means, including through consultations with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant regional organizations, to ensure safe and unfettered access to Crimea by established regional and international human rights monitoring mechanisms, in particular the human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, to enable them to carry out their mandate; 5. Urges the Russian Federation to ensure the proper and unimpeded access of international human rights monitoring missions and human rights non-governmental organizations to Crimea, including all places where persons may be deprived of their liberty, recognizing that the international presence in Crimea is of paramount importance in preventing further deterioration of the situation; Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine A/RES/72/190 5/5 17-23187 6. Supports the efforts of Ukraine to maintain economic, financial, political, social, informational, cultural and other ties with its citizens in the occupied Crimea in order to facilitate their access to democratic processes, economic opportunities and objective information; 7. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare, by the end of its seventy-second session, the second dedicated thematic report on the situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, and to update the Human Rights Council on the issue at its thirty-seventh session, in accordance with the existing mandate and within the existing resources of the human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, which is currently funded by voluntary contributions; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary steps to ensure the full and effective coordination of all United Nations bodies with regard to the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to continue its consideration of the matter at its seventy-third session under the item entitled “Promotion and protection of human rights”. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/72/209 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 20 December 2017 [on the report of the Second Committee (A/72/420)] 72/209. Oil slick on Lebanese shores The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 61/194 of 20 December 2006, 62/188 of 19 December 2007, 63/211 of 19 December 2008, 64/195 of 21 December 2009, 65/147 of 20 December 2010, 66/192 of 22 December 2011, 67/201 of 21 December 2012, 68/206 of 20 December 2013, 69/212 of 19 December 2014, 70/194 of 22 December 2015 and 71/218 of 21 December 2016 on the oil slick on Lebanese shores, Reaffirming the outcome of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, especially principle 7 of the Declaration of the Conference, 1 in which States were requested to take all possible steps to prevent pollution of the seas, Emphasizing the need to protect and preserve the marine environment in accordance with international law, Taking into account the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,2 especially principle 16, in which it was stipulated that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, and taking into account also chapter 17 of Agenda 21,3 Noting with great concern the environmental disaster caused by the destruction by the Israeli Air Force on 15 July 2006 of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of the Jiyah electric power plant in Lebanon, resulting in an oil slick that covered the entirety of the Lebanese coastline, extended to the Syrian coastline and hindered efforts to achieve sustainable development, as already highlighted by the General __________________ 1 See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, 5–16 June 1972 (A/CONF.48/14/Rev.1), part one, chap. I. 2 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3–14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. 3 Ibid., annex II. A/RES/72/209 Oil slick on Lebanese shores 17-23275 2/3 Assembly in its resolutions 61/194, 62/188, 63/211, 64/195, 65/147, 66/192, 67/201, 68/206, 69/212, 70/194 and 71/218, Noting that the Secretary-General expressed grave concern at the lack of any acknowledgement on the part of the Government of Israel of its responsibilities vis-à-vis reparations and compensation to the Government and people of Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic affected by the oil spill, Recalling that, in paragraph 5 of its resolution 71/218, it reiterated its request to the Government of Israel to assume responsibility for prompt and adequate compensation to the Government of Lebanon and other countries directly affected by the oil slick, such as the Syrian Arab Republic, whose shores have been partially polluted, and recognizing the conclusion of the Secretary-General that this request of the General Assembly has yet to be implemented, Acknowledging that the Secretary-General concluded that this oil spill is not covered by any of the international oil spill compensation funds and thus merits special consideration, and recognizing that further consideration needs to be given to the option of securing the relevant compensation from the Government of Israel, Acknowledging also the conclusions on measuring and quantifying the environmental damage set out in the report of the Secretary-General,4 Noting again with appreciation the assistance offered by donor countries and international organizations for the clean-up operations and the early recovery and reconstruction of Lebanon through bilateral and multilateral channels, including the Athens Coordination Meeting on the response to the marine pollution incident in the Eastern Mediterranean, held on 17 August 2006, as well as the Stockholm Conference for Lebanon’s Early Recovery, held on 31 August 2006, Acknowledging that the Secretary-General has welcomed the agreement of the Lebanon Recovery Fund to host the Eastern Mediterranean oil spill restoration trust fund, under its existing mechanism, and expressing concern that to date no contributions have been made to the trust fund, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;4 2. Reiterates, for the twelfth consecutive year, its deep concern about the adverse implications of the destruction by the Israeli Air Force of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of the Lebanese Jiyah electric power plant for the achievement of sustainable development in Lebanon; 3. Considers that the oil slick has heavily polluted the shores of Lebanon and partially polluted Syrian shores and consequently has had serious implications for livelihoods and the economy of Lebanon, owing to the adverse implications for natural resources, biodiversity, fisheries and tourism, and for human health in the country; 4. Acknowledges the conclusions in the report of the Secretary-General, in which he stated that studies show that the value of the damage to Lebanon amounted to 856.4 million United States dollars in 2014, and requests the Secretary-General to urge United Nations bodies and agencies and other relevant organizations involved in the initial assessment of the relevant environmental damage to undertake, within existing resources, a further study, building on, inter alia, the initial work of the World Bank presented in the report of the Secretary-General submitted to the General __________________ 4 A/72/353. Oil slick on Lebanese shores A/RES/72/209 3/3 17-23275 Assembly at its sixty-second session,5 with a view to measuring and quantifying the environmental damage sustained by neighbouring countries; 5. Reiterates its request in this regard to the Government of Israel to assume responsibility for prompt and adequate compensation to the Government of Lebanon for the aforementioned damage and to other countries directly affected by the oil slick, such as the Syrian Arab Republic, whose shores have been partially polluted, for the costs of repairing the environmental damage caused by the destruction, including the restoration of the marine environment, in particular in the light of the conclusion contained in the report of the Secretary-General that there remains grave concern at the lack of implementation of the relevant provisions of the resolutions of the General Assembly on the subject vis-à-vis reparations and compensation to the Government and people of Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic affected by the oil spill; 6. Reiterates its appreciation for the efforts of the Government of Lebanon and those of Member States, regional and international organizations, regional and international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector in the initiation of clean-up and rehabilitation operations on the polluted shores, and encourages Member States and the above-mentioned entities to continue their financial and technical support to the Government of Lebanon towards achieving the completion of clean-up and rehabilitation operations, with the aim of preserving the ecosystem of Lebanon and that of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin; 7. Welcomes the agreement of the Lebanon Recovery Fund to host the Eastern Mediterranean oil spill restoration trust fund, based on voluntary contributions, to provide assistance and support to the States directly and adversely affected in their integrated environmentally sound management, from clean-up to safe disposal of oily waste, of this environmental disaster resulting from the destruction of the oil storage tanks at the Jiyah electric power plant; 8. Notes that in his report the Secretary-General urged Member States, international organizations, international and regional financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to intensify their support for Lebanon in this matter, particularly for recovery and rehabilitation activities on the Lebanese coast, reiterates its invitation to States and the international donor community to make voluntary financial contributions to the trust fund, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to mobilize international technical and financial assistance in order to ensure that the trust fund has sufficient and adequate resources; 9. Recognizes the multidimensionality of the adverse impact of the oil slick, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy- third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled “Sustainable development”. 74th plenary meeting 20 December 2017 __________________ 5 A/62/343. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/72/21 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 4 December 2017 [on the report of the First Committee (A/72/401)] 72/21. Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace The General Assembly, Recalling the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, contained in its resolution 2832 (XXVI) of 16 December 1971, and recalling also its resolutions 54/47 of 1 December 1999, 56/16 of 29 November 2001, 58/29 of 8 December 2003, 60/48 of 8 December 2005, 62/14 of 5 December 2007, 64/23 of 2 December 2009, 66/22 of 2 December 2011, 68/24 of 5 December 2013 and 70/22 of 7 December 2015 and other relevant resolutions, Recalling also the report of the Meeting of the Littoral and Hinterland States of the Indian Ocean, held in New York from 2 to 13 July 1979,1 Recalling further paragraph 102 of the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur on 24 and 25 February 2003,2 in which it was noted, inter alia, that the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean would continue his informal consultations on the future work of the Committee, Emphasizing the need to foster consensual approaches that are conducive to the pursuit of such endeavours, Noting the initiatives taken by countries of the region to promote cooperation, in particular economic cooperation, in the Indian Ocean area and the possible contribution of such initiatives to overall objectives of a zone of peace, Convinced that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the __________________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 45 and corrigendum (A/34/45 and A/34/45/Corr.1). 2 A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. A/RES/72/21 Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace 17-21687 2/2 Ad Hoc Committee is important and would assist the progress of a mutually beneficial dialogue to develop conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, Considering that greater efforts and more time are required to develop a focused discussion on practical measures to ensure conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee,3 1. Takes note of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean; 3 2. Reiterates its conviction that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would greatly facilitate the development of a mutually beneficial dialogue to advance peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region; 3. Requests the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee to continue his informal consultations with the members of the Committee and to report through the Committee to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render, within existing resources, all necessary assistance to the Ad Hoc Committee, including the provision of summary records; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fourth session the item entitled “Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace”. 62nd plenary meeting 4 December 2017 __________________ 3 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-second Session, Supplement No. 29 (A/72/29). | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/72/216 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 20 December 2017 [on the report of the Second Committee (A/72/420/Add.1)] 72/216. Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/199 of 20 December 2000, 56/226 of 24 December 2001, 57/253 and 57/270 A of 20 December 2002, 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, 64/236 of 24 December 2009, 65/152 of 20 December 2010, 66/197 of 22 December 2011, 66/288 of 27 July 2012, 67/203 of 21 December 2012, 68/210 of 20 December 2013, 68/309 of 10 September 2014, 68/310 of 15 September 2014, 69/108 of 8 December 2014, 69/214 of 19 December 2014, 70/201 of 22 December 2015 and 71/223 of 21 December 2016 and all other relevant resolutions on the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1 Agenda 21,2 the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,3 the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development 4 and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation)5 and the outcome document of the United Nations __________________ 1 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3−14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. 2 Ibid., annex II. 3 Resolution S-19/2, annex. 4 Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 5 Ibid., resolution 2, annex. A/RES/72/216 Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 17-23285 2/6 Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”,6 as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,7 the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development: outcome document of the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus,8 the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,9 the key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,10 the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action11 and the outcome document of the special event to follow up efforts made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, 12 Reaffirming its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to working tirelessly for the full implementation of the Agenda by 2030, its recognition that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, its commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions — economic, social and environmental — in a balanced and integrated manner, and to building upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeking to address their unfinished business, Reaffirming also its resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015 on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supports and complements it, helps to contextualize its means of implementation targets with concrete policies and actions, and reaffirms the strong political commitment to address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment at all levels for sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity, Recalling the Istanbul Declaration13 and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020,14 adopted by the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Istanbul, Turkey from 9 to 13 May 2011, and endorsed by the General Assembly in resolution 65/280 of 17 June 2011, in which the Assembly called upon all the relevant stakeholders to commit to implementing the Programme of Action, Recalling also the Political Declaration adopted by the Comprehensive High- level Midterm Review of the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020, held in Antalya, Turkey, from 27 to 29 May 2016, and endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 70/294 of 25 July 2016, in which the Assembly called upon all the relevant stakeholders to commit to implementing the Declaration, __________________ 6 Resolution 66/288, annex. 7 Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18−22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 8 Resolution 63/239, annex. 9 Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5–13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 10 Resolution S-21/2, annex. 11 Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. 12 Resolution 68/6. 13 Report of the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Istanbul, Turkey, 9–13 May 2011 (A/CONF.219/7), chap. I. 14 Ibid., chap. II. Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development A/RES/72/216 3/6 17-23285 Recalling further the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–202415 and the Vienna Declaration,16 Recalling the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway, 17 Reaffirming the importance of supporting the implementation of Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the programme of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Reaffirming also the Sendai Declaration and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030,18 adopted at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, Welcoming the successful conclusion of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), held in Quito from 17 to 20 October 2016, Welcoming also the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change19 and its early entry into force, encouraging all its parties to fully implement the Agreement, and parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 20 that have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, where appropriate, as soon as possible, Emphasizing the importance of oceans for sustainable development, as embodied in Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and various decisions taken by the former Commission on Sustainable Development, reaffirming in this regard the outcome of the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, 21 taking note of its seven partnership dialogues, and calling upon all stakeholders to urgently undertake, inter alia, the actions highlighted in the call for action adopted at the Conference and implement the respective voluntary commitments pledged by individual Member States and other stakeholders during the Conference, Recognizing that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, and that although each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to achieve their sustainable development goals related to the internationally agreed poverty-related targets and goals, including those contained in Agenda 21, the relevant outcomes of United Nations conferences, the United Nations Millennium Declaration22 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Reaffirming the need to further mainstream sustainable development at all levels, integrating economic, social and environmental aspects and recognizing their interlinkages, so as to achieve sustainable development in all its dimensions, and __________________ 15 Resolution 69/137, annex II. 16 Ibid., annex I. 17 Resolution 69/15, annex. 18 Resolution 69/283, annexes I and II. 19 See FCCC/CP/2015/10/Add.1, decision 1/CP.21, annex. 20 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. 21 Resolution 71/312, annex. 22 Resolution 55/2. A/RES/72/216 Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 17-23285 4/6 reiterating that sustainable development is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, Recognizing that eradicating poverty, changing unsustainable and promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are the overarching and essential objectives for sustainable development, Stressing the importance of inclusiveness within the United Nations development system and that no country and no one is left behind in the implementation of the present resolution, 1. Reaffirms the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”,6 and urges its full implementation; 2. Stresses the importance of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and the resulting processes for the elaboration of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development23 and for the realization of sustainable development; 3. Recognizes in this regard that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development builds upon elements from the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, inter alia, the establishment of the high- level political forum on sustainable development, the format and organizational arrangements of which were later established by its resolution 67/290 of 9 July 2013, a strengthened Economic and Social Council, as later defined in its resolution 68/1 of 20 September 2013, the process that led to the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, as later defined in its resolutions 68/309 and 70/1, the strengthening of the science-policy interface, including in the form of the Global Sustainable Development Report, and the process that led to the adoption of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism; 4. Stresses the need, in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to benefit from and build on experiences, best practices, challenges and the lessons learned from the unfinished business of the previous agreements on sustainable development, including the Millennium Development Goals; 5. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development;24 6. Stresses the importance of overcoming silos and seeking innovative and coordinated approaches in integrating the three dimensions of sustainable development — economic, social and environmental — at the global, regional and national levels, and requests the United Nations to further mainstream and integrate the three dimensions throughout the United Nations system; 7. Affirms the contributions of the ongoing efforts and commitments towards the full implementation of Agenda 21,2 the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,3 the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,5 including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, as well as the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, and stresses the importance of their continued implementation in the pursuit of sustainable development; __________________ 23 Resolution 70/1. 24 A/72/228. Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development A/RES/72/216 5/6 17-23285 8. Urges the speedy and effective implementation and the effective follow- up and review of the sustainable development priorities for small island developing States identified in the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway17 and set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and reaffirms that small island developing States remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities; 9. Emphasizes that regional and subregional organizations have a role to play in promoting sustainable development in their respective regions by, inter alia, promoting peer learning and cooperation, including South-South and triangular cooperation, as well as effective linkages among global, regional, subregional and national processes, as appropriate, to advance sustainable development; 10. Notes that the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, among other commitments on sustainable consumption and production, adopted the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns25 as a tool for action on sustainable consumption and production, and in this regard recognizes the commitment by the United Nations Environment Assembly to accelerate its implementation, including through relevant voluntary actions by Member States; 11. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the mainstreaming of the three dimensions of sustainable development throughout the United Nations system,26 reiterates the call of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the further mainstreaming of the three dimensions throughout the United Nations system, and in this regard invites the Secretary-General to continue to report to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, on progress made, including for the consideration of the high-level political forum on sustainable development; 12. Urges the United Nations to intensify support for States in fully implementing the New Urban Agenda, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), held in Quito in 2016;27 13. Calls upon the relevant organizations of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates and resources, to ensure that no country and no one is left behind in the implementation of the present resolution; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to include in the report a comprehensive and substantive analysis of the unfinished business of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, including on demographic dynamics, trade, land resources, toxic chemicals and groundwater contamination, waste, transfer of and cooperation on technology and promotion of sustainable patterns of production and consumption, and also to include the lessons learned in their full implementation, as well as success stories and best practices; __________________ 25 A/CONF.216/5, annex. 26 A/72/75-E/2017/56. 27 Resolution 71/256, annex. A/RES/72/216 Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 17-23285 6/6 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-third session, under the item entitled “Sustainable development”, the sub-item entitled “Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/72/23 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 4 December 2017 [on the report of the First Committee (A/72/403)] 72/23. Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, Recalling also its resolutions 51/37 of 10 December 1996, 54/44 of 1 December 1999, 57/50 of 22 November 2002, 60/46 of 8 December 2005, 63/36 of 2 December 2008, 66/21 of 2 December 2011 and 69/27 of 2 December 2014 relating to the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, Recalling further paragraph 77 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,1 Determined to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction that have characteristics comparable in destructive effect to those of weapons of mass destruction identified in the definition of weapons of mass destruction adopted by the United Nations in 1948,2 Noting with appreciation the discussions which have been held in the Conference on Disarmament under the item entitled “New types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons; radiological weapons”, 3 __________________ 1 Resolution S-10/2. 2 The definition was adopted by the Commission for Conventional Armaments (see S/C.3/32/Rev.1 and S/C.3/32/Rev.1/Corr.1). 3 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/64/27), chap. III, sect. E; ibid., Sixty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/65/27), chap. III, sect. E; ibid., Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/66/27), chap. III, sect. E; ibid., Sixty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/67/27), chap. III, sect. E; ibid., Sixty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/68/27), chap. III, sect. E; ibid., Sixty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/69/27), chap. III, sect. E; ibid., Seventieth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/70/27), chap. III, sect. E; ibid., Seventy- first Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/71/27), chap. III, sect. E; and ibid., Seventy-second Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/72/27), chap. III, sect. E. A/RES/72/23 Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament 17-21691 2/2 Noting the desirability of keeping the matter under review, as appropriate, 1. Reaffirms that effective measures should be taken to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament, without prejudice to further overview of its agenda, to keep the matter under review, as appropriate, with a view to making, when necessary, recommendations on undertaking specific negotiations on identified types of such weapons; 3. Calls upon all States, immediately following any recommendations of the Conference on Disarmament, to give favourable consideration to those recommendations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Conference on Disarmament all documents relating to the consideration of this item by the General Assembly at its seventy-second session; 5. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report the results of any consideration of the matter in its annual reports to the General Assembly; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fifth session the item entitled “Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/72/311 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 10 September 2018 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/72/L.59/Rev.1 and A/72/L.59/Rev.1/Add.1)] 72/311. Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa,1 its resolution 53/92 of 7 December 1998 and subsequent annual resolutions, including resolutions 67/293 of 24 July 2013, 68/278 of 16 June 2014, 69/291 of 19 June 2015, 70/292 of 7 July 2016 and 71/315 of 19 July 2017, as well as its resolutions 66/286 of 23 July 2012, 67/294 of 15 August 2013, 68/301 of 17 July 2014, 69/290 of 19 June 2015, 70/295 of 25 July 2016 and 71/320 of 8 September 2017 on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and 59/213 of 20 December 2004, 63/310 of 14 September 2009, 65/274 of 18 April 2011 and 67/302 of 16 September 2013 on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, Recalling also, in this context, Security Council resolutions 1809 (2008) of 16 April 2008 on peace and security in Africa, 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000, 1820 (2008) of 19 June 2008, 1888 (2009) of 30 September 2009, 1889 (2009) of 5 October 2009, 1960 (2010) of 16 December 2010, 2106 (2013) of 24 June 2013, 2122 (2013) of 18 October 2013 and 2242 (2015) of 13 October 2015 on women and peace and security, 2250 (2015) of 9 December 2015 and 2419 (2018) of 6 June 2018 on youth, peace and security, 1366 (2001) of 30 August 2001 on the role of the Council in the prevention of armed conflicts, 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005, 1882 (2009) of 4 August 2009, 1998 (2011) of 12 July 2011, 2068 (2012) of 19 September 2012 and 2225 (2015) of 18 June 2015 on children and armed conflict, 1625 (2005) of 14 September 2005 on strengthening the effectiveness of the role of __________________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/56/45). A/RES/72/311 Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa 18-15055 2/12 the Council in conflict prevention, particularly in Africa, 2195 (2014) of 19 December 2014 on threats to international peace and security, 1631 (2005) of 17 October 2005, 2033 (2012) of 12 January 2012 and 2320 (2016) of 18 November 2016, as well as the statements by the President of the Security Council of 16 December 2014 2 and 24 May 2016 3 on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security, and resolution 2167 (2014) of 28 July 2014 on United Nations peacekeeping operations, Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome, 4 through which world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the special needs of Africa, and its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006, Reaffirming the political declaration on Africa’s development needs adopted at the high-level meeting on 22 September 2008,5 Recalling the 2015 high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on the Sustainable Development Goals and its outcome document, 6 and recognizing that development, peace and security and human rights are closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing, Recalling also the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, and its outcome document entitled “The future we want”,7 Recalling further its resolution 66/293 of 17 September 2012 establishing a monitoring mechanism to review commitments made towards Africa’s development, Reaffirming the political declaration on the peaceful resolution of conflicts in Africa adopted at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly held on 25 April 2013,8 Reaffirming also the importance of supporting the African Union Agenda 2063, as a strategic vision and an action plan for ensuring a positive socioeconomic transformation in Africa by 2063, and acknowledging the emphasis in Agenda 2063 on peace and security as critical enablers for sustainable development, Reaffirming further its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to working tirelessly for the full implementation of the Agenda by 2030, its recognition that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, its commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated manner, and to building upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeking to address their unfinished business, Reaffirming its resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015 on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supports and __________________ 2 S/PRST/2014/27; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2014–31 July 2015 (S/INF/70). 3 S/PRST/2016/8. 4 Resolution 60/1. 5 Resolution 63/1. 6 Resolution 70/1. 7 Resolution 66/288, annex. 8 Resolution 67/259. Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa A/RES/72/311 3/12 18-15055 complements it, and helps to contextualize its means of implementation targets with concrete policies and actions, and reaffirms the strong political commitment to address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment at all levels for sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity, Stressing that the responsibility for peace and security in Africa, including the capacity to address the root causes of conflict and to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner, lies primarily with African countries, while recognizing the need for the provision of support by the international community and the United Nations, taking into account the responsibilities of the Organization in this regard according to the Charter of the United Nations, Underscoring the importance of continuing the efforts of the African Union and subregional organizations to prevent and settle conflicts and promote human rights, democracy, the rule of law and constitutional order in Africa, Recognizing, in particular, the capacity of the African Union and subregional organizations to address the causes of conflict in Africa, Noting that, despite the positive trends and advances in obtaining durable peace in Africa, the conditions required for sustainable development have yet to be consolidated throughout the continent and that there is therefore an urgent need to continue to develop African human and institutional capacities, particularly in countries emerging from conflict, Reaffirming the commitment to ensure that there shall be no tolerance for impunity for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity or for violations of international humanitarian law and gross violations of human rights law, and that such violations shall be properly investigated and appropriately sanctioned, including by bringing the perpetrators of any crimes to justice, through national mechanisms or, where appropriate, regional or international mechanisms, in accordance with international law, and for that purpose encouraging States to strengthen national judicial systems and institutions, Underscoring the importance of taking into account lessons learned from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which Hutu and others who opposed the genocide were also killed, Reaffirming the need to strengthen the synergy between Africa’s economic and social development programmes and its peace and security agenda, Recognizing the importance of aligning international support with Africa’s own priorities, including but not limited to industrialization, youth employment, the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities, aimed at the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through action-oriented efforts, Underlining the importance of enhancing national and regional initiatives, with international support, to address the negative implications of the illegal exploitation of natural resources in all its aspects for peace, security and development in Africa, and condemning the illicit trade in and proliferation of arms, especially small arms and light weapons, Acknowledging that the achievement of durable peace and sustainable development in countries in conflict and post-conflict situations requires that national Governments and international partners continue to develop coordinated approaches tailored to the peacebuilding needs and challenges faced by those countries, Emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach to sustaining peace, particularly through the prevention of conflict and addressing its root causes, strengthening the rule of law at the international and national levels, and promoting A/RES/72/311 Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa 18-15055 4/12 sustained and sustainable economic growth, poverty eradication, social development, sustainable development, national reconciliation and unity, including through inclusive dialogue and mediation, access to justice and transitional justice, accountability, good governance, democracy, accountable institutions, gender equality and respect for, and protection of, human rights and fundamental freedoms, recognizing that effective peacebuilding must involve the entire United Nations system, and in this regard emphasizing the importance of joint analysis and effective strategic planning across the United Nations system in its long-term engagement in conflict-affected countries and, where appropriate, in cooperation and coordination with regional and subregional organizations, Reaffirming, in this regard, the importance of the Peacebuilding Commission as a dedicated mechanism to address, within its existing mandate and in an integrated manner, the special needs of countries emerging from conflict towards recovery, reintegration and reconstruction and to assist them in laying the foundation for peace and sustainable development, taking into consideration national priorities and the principle of national ownership, Reaffirming also the primary responsibility of national Governments and authorities in identifying, driving and directing priorities, strategies and activities for sustaining peace, and in this regard emphasizing that inclusivity is key to advancing national peacebuilding processes and objectives in order to ensure that the needs of all segments of society are taken into account, Welcoming the adoption of Security Council resolution 2413 (2018) and General Assembly resolution 72/276, on 26 April 2018, reaffirming Council resolution 2282 (2016) and Assembly resolution 70/262, both of 27 April 2016, on the review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture, affirming the importance of sustaining peace, and recognizing the importance of their implementation for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission and enabling it to realize its full potential, in accordance with Assembly resolution 60/180 and Council resolution 1645 (2005), both of 20 December 2005, and Assembly resolution 65/7 and Council resolution 1947 (2010), both of 29 October 2010, and in this regard taking note of the outcome report of the Cairo regional workshop held in November 2014, which provides perspectives from Africa on the need to consolidate the regional dimension in the activities of the Peacebuilding Commission in Africa,9 Encouraging the United Nations system, the African Union and subregional organizations to enhance their interaction with civil society, including women’s and youth associations, academia and research institutions, on issues relevant to the promotion of peace, security and sustainable development in Africa, and welcoming the ongoing efforts in this regard, including by the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations contained in his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa; 10 2. Welcomes the progress made by African countries, the African Union and subregional organizations in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and development, calls for intensified efforts and a coordinated approach among national Governments, the African Union, subregional organizations, the United Nations system and relevant partners in addressing those challenges, with a view to achieving further progress towards the goal of a conflict- free Africa, and in this regard recognizes the important role played by civil society organizations, including women’s organizations; __________________ 9 See A/69/654-S/2014/882. 10 A/72/269-S/2017/780. Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa A/RES/72/311 5/12 18-15055 3. Recalls the adoption of the African Union Agenda 2063 and its first 10-year implementation plan (2014–2023), which outlines key African flagship projects, fast-track programmes, priority areas, specific targets and African strategies and policy measures at all levels, and acknowledges the importance of supporting the implementation of the plan; 4. Welcomes, in this regard, the high-level events organized during the 2017 Africa Week on the theme “Supporting an integrated, prosperous, people-centred and peaceful Africa: towards the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, organized by the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, in close partnership with the African Union Commission, the Planning and Coordination Agency of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, the African Peer Review Mechanism, regional economic communities and the United Nations system; 5. Also welcomes the commitment of the African leaders to Africa’s political, social and economic integration agenda and to the ideal of pan-Africanism and African renaissance, as well as the pledge to “end all wars in Africa by 2020” and “achieve the goal of a conflict-free Africa”, as affirmed in the solemn declaration adopted on 26 May 2013 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Organization of African Unity/African Union, expresses its readiness to contribute, and calls upon all, in particular relevant United Nations entities, to help to achieve this goal, including by considering defining a concrete five-year actionable plan in support of the goal of achieving a conflict-free Africa by 2020; 6. Underlines the importance of the strategic partnerships among the United Nations, the African Union and the regional economic communities, including in promoting an integrated and coherent implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development6 and the African Union Agenda 2063; 7. Notes the ongoing efforts of the African Union, in collaboration with regional economic communities and development partners, including the United Nations system, to develop an action plan towards implementing the decision of the 2013 solemn declaration that the continent would “silence the guns by 2020”, and calls upon Member States and the United Nations system, as appropriate, to intensify their support and cooperation with African countries, the African Union and the African regional economic communities and relevant regional mechanisms towards the timely realization of the goal of silencing the guns by 2020; 8. Takes note, in this regard, of the high-level expert group meeting on the theme “Tackling the socioeconomic root causes of conflict towards achieving the goal of a conflict-free Africa in the context of the implementation of Africa’s transformative Agenda 2063 and the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, held in Cairo on 16 and 17 November 2015; 9. Reaffirms the need to promote and protect effectively the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migration status, especially those of women and children, and to address international migration through international, regional or bilateral cooperation and dialogue and through a comprehensive and balanced approach, recognizing the roles and responsibilities of countries of origin, transit and destination in promoting and protecting the human rights of all migrants and avoiding approaches that might aggravate their vulnerability, and recognizes in this regard the importance of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, adopted at the high-level plenary meeting of A/RES/72/311 Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa 18-15055 6/12 the General Assembly on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants, held on 19 September 2016;11 10. Underlines the need to address the economic, social and environmental impact of climate change, desertification and land degradation in Africa, and highlights the importance of enhancing efforts to strengthen the implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing resilience in Africa, in particular the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and other initiatives launched under the leadership of the African Union Commission such as the Great Green Wall and the Land Policy Initiative, as well as initiatives launched by African countries such as the Adaptation of African Agriculture and the Security, Stability and Sustainability initiatives; 11. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the African Union and subregional organizations to strengthen their peacekeeping capacity in peacekeeping operations on the continent, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and in close coordination with the United Nations, through the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, as well as the ongoing efforts to develop a continental early warning system, strengthen the readiness of the African Standby Force and enhance mediation capacity and preventive diplomacy, including through the Panel of the Wise; 12. Recognizes the growing and emerging challenges and risks facing United Nations peacekeeping operations and political missions, and in this regard takes note of the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations12 and the report of the Secretary-General entitled “The future of United Nations peace operations: implementation of the recommendations of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations”,13 as well as the recommendations supported by Member States in the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, 14 in particular on prevention, mediation and stronger global regional partnerships, including between the United Nations and the African Union, and encourages the Security Council, as appropriate, to consult with relevant regional organizations, particularly the African Union, especially if transitioning from a regional to a United Nations peacekeeping operation; 13. Calls upon the United Nations system and Member States to support the peace consolidation mechanisms and processes, including the African Peace and Security Architecture, the African Governance Architecture, the African Union Post- Conflict Reconstruction and Development Framework and the African Union Centre for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development, in order to fully contribute to conflict prevention, peacemaking initiatives, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction; 14. Calls upon Member States to assist African countries in post-conflict situations, at their request, in achieving a smooth transition from relief to development and to support relevant United Nations bodies, including the Peacebuilding Commission; 15. Calls upon the United Nations system, the international community and all partners to support the efforts of African countries to promote political, social and economic inclusion; __________________ 11 Resolution 71/1. 12 See A/70/95-S/2015/446. 13 A/70/357-S/2015/682. 14 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/71/19). Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa A/RES/72/311 7/12 18-15055 16. Stresses the importance of creating an environment conducive to national reconciliation and social and economic recovery in countries emerging from conflict; 17. Calls upon the international community to enhance support and fulfil its commitments to take further action in areas critical to Africa’s economic and social development, in the spirit of win-win cooperation and to create a shared future, based upon our common humanity, and welcomes the efforts by development partners to strengthen cooperation with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development;15 18. Invites the United Nations and the donor community to increase efforts to support ongoing regional efforts to build African mediation and negotiation capacity; 19. Calls upon the United Nations system and Member States to support the African Union in its effort to effectively integrate training in international humanitarian law and international human rights law, with particular emphasis on the rights of women and children, into the training of civilian, police and military personnel of national standby contingents at both the operational and tactical levels, as set out in article 13 of the Protocol relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union; 20. Recognizes that international and regional efforts to prevent conflict and consolidate peace in Africa should be channelled towards the sustainable development of Africa and the human and institutional capacity-building of African countries and organizations, particularly in priority areas identified at the continental level; 21. Welcomes, in this regard, the joint visits of the Secretary-General and the President of the World Bank to the countries of the Horn of Africa in October 2014, and to the Great Lakes region in May 2013, as well as the joint visit of the Secretary- General, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the President of the World Bank, the President of the African Development Bank and the European Union Commissioner for Development to the Sahel region in November 2013, and calls for the fulfilment of all the pledges made to support peace and development in these regions; 22. Also welcomes the adoption of its resolution 71/254 of 23 December 2016 on the Framework for a Renewed United Nations-African Union Partnership on Africa’s Integration and Development Agenda 2017–2027, and calls upon the Secretary-General to provide, as appropriate, predictable support for full, effective and efficient implementation of the Framework; 23. Affirms the importance of the role of the Interdepartmental Task Force on African Affairs and the Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa in ensuring greater coherence and coordination of United Nations system support to Africa, including support to the African Union, particularly in the areas of conflict prevention and conflict resolution, human rights, governance and the rule of law, and post- conflict reconstruction and development; 24. Stresses the critical importance of a regional approach to conflict prevention, in particular with respect to cross-border issues such as transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration programmes, the prevention of illegal exploitation of natural resources and trafficking in high-value commodities and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, and emphasizes in this regard the central role of the African Union and subregional organizations in addressing such issues; __________________ 15 A/57/304, annex. A/RES/72/311 Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa 18-15055 8/12 25. Expresses grave concern about the growing threat posed by terrorism to the peace, security and social and economic development of Africa, takes note of the communiqué of the Peace and Security Council summit on the prevention and combating of terrorism and violent extremism in Africa, held in Nairobi on 2 September 2014, and encourages the United Nations to work with African countries, the African Union and the regional economic communities to support the development and implementation of regional and national counter-terrorism action plans; 26. Calls upon United Nations counter-terrorism entities, within existing mandates, and Member States to provide assistance and capacity-building towards Africa’s efforts to counter violent extremism and terrorism; 27. Calls upon the United Nations system, the African Union and the international community to intensify their cooperation in the global fight against terrorism through the implementation of the relevant international and regional treaties and protocols and, in particular, the Plan of Action on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism in Africa of the African Union, as well as their support for the African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism, based in Algiers; 28. Takes note of the decision on the establishment of the African Union Special Fund on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Africa, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union at its twenty-seventh ordinary session, held in Kigali on 17 and 18 July 2016, and encourages the United Nations system and Member States to support the efforts of the African Union in this regard; 29. Welcomes the initiative by the Secretary-General, and takes note of his Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism;16 30. Notes with concern that violence against women and children, including sexual violence, continues and may increase even as armed conflicts draw to an end, urges further progress in the implementation of policies and guidelines relating to the protection of and assistance to women and children in conflict and post-conflict situations in Africa, including more systematic monitoring and reporting, notes the adoption by the General Assembly and the Security Council of relevant resolutions, and encourages the entities that compose United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, as well as other relevant parts of the United Nations system, to assist the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict in the implementation of her mandate, including in Africa; 31. Also notes with concern the tragic plight of children in conflict situations in Africa, in particular the phenomenon of the recruitment and use of children by parties to armed conflicts, as well as other violations and abuses committed against children, stresses the need for the protection of children in armed conflicts and for ensuring that the protection and rights of children in armed conflicts are integrated into all peace processes, also stresses the need for post-conflict counselling, reintegration, rehabilitation and education, with due regard for the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, and encourages the relevant parts of the United Nations system to assist the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in the implementation of her mandate, including in Africa; 32. Stresses the importance of addressing the socioeconomic dimension of youth unemployment, as well as facilitating the enhanced participation of youth in decision-making processes, with a view to addressing social, political and economic challenges; __________________ 16 See A/70/674. Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa A/RES/72/311 9/12 18-15055 33. Calls for the enhancement of the role of youth in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding, consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 2250 (2015) and 2419 (2018) on youth, peace and security; 34. Welcomes the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union to proclaim “Winning the fight against corruption: a sustainable path to Africa’s transformation” as the theme for 2018; 35. Calls for the enhancement of the role of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding, consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 2242 (2015) on women and peace and security, and welcomes in this regard the report of the Secretary-General containing the results of the global study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000),17 recognizes with appreciation all the work undertaken for the global study, and encourages follow-up of its recommendations; 36. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the African Union to ensure the protection of the rights of women in conflict and post-conflict situations, recalls in this regard the adoption and entry into force of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, the African Union Gender Policy, the African Union five-year Gender, Peace and Security Programme, 2015–2020, the declaration by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union of 2015 as the Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the Southern African Development Community Protocol on Gender and Development, as well as the Framework of Cooperation concerning the Prevention and Response to Conflict-related Sexual Violence in Africa signed by the African Union Commission and the United Nations, stresses the significance of those instruments for all countries in Africa for strengthening the role of women in peace and conflict prevention on the continent, strongly urges the United Nations and all relevant parties to redouble their efforts and support in this regard, and recalls the decision of the African Union to declare 2016 as the African Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women; 37. Also welcomes the ongoing efforts of the African Union to ensure the protection of children in conflict and post-conflict situations, recalls in this regard the adoption and entry into force of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, as well as the declaration signed on 17 September 2013 by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the Peace and Security Department of the African Union Commission, in order to mainstream protection mechanisms in all peace and security activities of the African Union, in close partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund, and stresses the significance of those instruments for all countries in Africa in protecting children affected by armed conflicts on the continent; 38. Takes note of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, which entered into force on 6 December 2012, and the Kampala Declaration on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, adopted on 23 October 2009; 39. Calls for the safeguarding of the principle of refugee protection in Africa and the resolution of the plight of refugees, including through support for efforts aimed at addressing the causes of refugee movement and bringing about the voluntary, dignified, safe and sustainable return and reintegration of those populations, and calls upon the international community, including Member States, the Office of the United __________________ 17 S/2015/716. A/RES/72/311 Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa 18-15055 10/12 Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant United Nations organizations, within their respective mandates, to take concrete action to meet the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons and to contribute generously to projects and programmes aimed at alleviating their plight, facilitating durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons and supporting vulnerable local host communities; 40. Recognizes the important contribution of the African Peer Review Mechanism since its inception in improving governance and supporting socioeconomic development in African countries; 41. Takes note of the decision adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union at its summit in January 2017 on the revitalization of the African Peer Review Mechanism, expanding the monitoring and evaluation mandate of the Mechanism, and invites the United Nations system and Member States to provide voluntary substantial financial and capacity-building support to the Mechanism to advance its activities; 42. Welcomes African-led initiatives to strengthen political, economic and corporate governance, such as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the African Peer Review Mechanism, encourages more African countries to participate in this process, and calls upon the United Nations system and Member States to assist African countries and regional and subregional organizations, upon their request, in their ongoing efforts to promote democracy, constitutional order and the rule of law, to enhance good governance and to continue to fight against impunity, as well as in the holding of free, fair, inclusive, peaceful and transparent elections; 43. Recognizes the role of the Peacebuilding Commission in ensuring that national ownership of the peacebuilding process in conflict-affected countries is observed and that nationally identified priorities are at the core of international and regional efforts in peacebuilding and sustaining peace in the countries under consideration, notes the important steps taken by the Commission in engaging with a broad range of country and regional situations, including Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Sahel and the Great Lakes, and calls for sustained regional and international commitment to the implementation of nationally identified peacebuilding priorities; 44. Also recognizes the progress made by the Peacebuilding Commission in enhancing its relationship with regional and subregional organizations in Africa, in particular the African Union, including among others through visits of the Chair of the Commission to the headquarters of the African Union in 2016 and 2017 and through a joint event of the Commission and the Peace and Security Council held on 18 July 2018, and in this regard welcomes the signing of a memorandum of understanding on peacebuilding between the Peacebuilding Support Office and the African Union Commission on 18 September 2017 with a view to strengthening the collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union to provide a framework and strengthen cooperation in support of peacebuilding and sustaining peace efforts in Africa; 45. Further recognizes the profound socioeconomic impact of diseases, inter alia, the Ebola virus disease, in Central and West Africa, including on the capacity to provide basic services and economic activities, expresses deep concern about the potential reversal, due to the Ebola outbreak, of the gains made by the affected countries in development, peacebuilding, political stability and the reconstruction of socioeconomic infrastructure in recent years, and encourages effective measures and targeted investments to overcome these difficulties and to support recovery priorities, including the importance of maintaining strong Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa A/RES/72/311 11/12 18-15055 surveillance and response systems and building strong and resilient national health systems, particularly in the most affected countries, in line with the outcome of the International Ebola Recovery Conference, held in New York on 10 July 2015 and the International Health Regulations (2005) adopted by the World Health Assembly; 18 46. Acknowledges the particular challenges infectious disease outbreaks pose in conflict-affected areas and their effect on health crisis management, as health systems in areas of conflict are often compromised and ill-equipped to deal with the threat posed by infectious disease outbreaks, and strongly condemns violence attacks and threats directed against medical personnel and facilities, which have long-term consequences for the civilian population and the health-care systems of the countries concerned, as well as for the neighbouring regions, and have a negative impact on sustainable development; 47. Calls upon the United Nations system, and invites Member States, to assist African countries emerging from conflict, upon their request as appropriate, in their efforts to build national capacities, including through national security sector reform strategies, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, including children formerly associated with armed forces or armed groups, the provision for the safe return of internally displaced persons and refugees, the launch of income-generation activities, particularly for youth and women, and the delivery of basic public services; 48. Urges continued support for measures to address the challenges of poverty eradication and hunger, job creation and sustainable development in Africa, including, as appropriate, debt relief, improved market access, support for the private sector and entrepreneurship, fulfilment of commitments on official development assistance and increased flows of foreign direct investment and transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms; 49. Recognizes the need for African countries to make continued efforts to create enabling environments for inclusive growth in support of sustainable development and for the international community to make continued efforts to increase the flow of new and additional resources for financing for development from all sources, public and private, domestic and foreign, to support those development efforts by African countries, and welcomes the various important initiatives established between African countries and their development partners in this regard; 50. Calls upon the United Nations system and Member States, bilateral and multilateral partners and new partners to deliver expeditiously on commitments and to ensure the full and speedy implementation of the provisions of the political declaration on Africa’s development needs,5 as well as the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development; 51. Encourages African Governments to strengthen structures and policies in order to create an environment conducive to the promotion of inclusive economic growth and to attracting foreign direct investment, by, inter alia, continuing to achieve a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate, with proper contract enforcement and respect for property rights, and to promote socioeconomic development and social justice, calls upon African Member States and regional and subregional organizations to assist the African countries concerned, at their request, by enhancing their capacity to devise and improve their national natural resources and public revenue management structures, and in this regard invites the international community to assist in that process by providing adequate financial and technical assistance and by renewing its commitment to efforts aimed at combating __________________ 18 World Health Organization, document WHA58/2005/REC/1, resolution 58.3, annex. A/RES/72/311 Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa 18-15055 12/12 the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of those countries, in conformity with international law; 52. Recalls relevant resolutions on the strengthening of cooperation and communication between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations or arrangements, and encourages coordination and cooperation between the United Nations system and regional and subregional organizations and regional economic communities in advocacy and in the mobilization of the support of the international community for African countries and towards the priorities of their continental and regional institutions; 53. Welcomes the convening of the first United Nations-African Union annual conference at the level of the Secretary General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission at United Nations Headquarters on 19 April 2017 and the signing of the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, and the signing of the African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on 27 January 2018, and underlines the importance of enhancing the partnership between the two organizations in all areas of peace, security and sustainable development; 54. Emphasizes the importance of deepening cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, based on consultations, regular meetings at all levels, shared analysis, comparative advantages and division of labour to better address today’s challenges, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations; 55. Notes the completion of the review of the implementation of the recommendations contained in the 1998 report of the Secretary-General, 19 and requests the Secretary-General to develop, in consultation with relevant partners, policy proposals on issues identified in his report, including enhancing cooperation among the United Nations, the African Union and subregional organizations, particularly in conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping, post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery, and promoting socioeconomic development, good governance, the rule of law and human rights; 56. Takes note of the recommendations presented by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session on possible ways to strengthen the interdepartmental task force on African affairs, 20 including through enhancing joint advocacy for international support to Africa, assisting in the mobilization of support for the implementation of relevant programmes and initiatives in Africa and championing approaches and solutions that take into account the enabling environment that peace and security provide for development, and reaffirms the need to ensure further coherence and an integrated approach for United Nations support to Africa, including in following up on the implementation of all global summit and conference outcomes related to Africa; 57. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor and report to the General Assembly on an annual basis on persistent and emerging challenges to the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, including the root causes of conflict and conditions to promote sustainable development, as well as on the approach and support of the United Nations system. 113th plenary meeting 10 September 2018 __________________ 19 A/52/871-S/1998/318. 20 See A/67/205/Add.1-S/2012/715/Add.1. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/72/43 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 4 December 2017 [on the report of the First Committee (A/72/409)] 72/43. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemical weapons, in particular resolution 71/69 of 5 December 2016, Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction, Reaffirming its strong support for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction1 and for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on the twentieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention and its deep appreciation of the Organisation, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons, Re-emphasizing its unequivocal support for the decision of the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to continue the mission to establish the facts surrounding the allegations of the use of chemical weapons, including toxic chemicals, for hostile purposes in the Syrian Arab Republic, while stressing that the safety and security of mission personnel remains the top priority, and recalling the continuation of the work, pursuant to Security Council resolutions 2235 (2015) of 7 August 2015 and 2319 (2016) of 17 November 2016, of the Joint Investigative Mechanism of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations, which was established to identify to the greatest extent feasible individuals, entities, groups or Governments that were perpetrators, organizers, sponsors or otherwise involved in the use of chemicals as __________________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. A/RES/72/43 Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction 17-21720 2/5 weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical, in the Syrian Arab Republic, where the fact-finding mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons determined that a specific incident in the Syrian Arab Republic involved or likely involved the use of chemicals as weapons, Reaffirming the importance of the outcome of the Third Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, held in The Hague from 8 to 19 April 2013 (the Third Review Conference), including its consensus final report, in which the Conference addressed all aspects of the Convention and made important recommendations on its continued implementation, Emphasizing that the Third Review Conference welcomed the fact that the Convention is a unique multilateral agreement banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction in a non-discriminatory and verifiable manner under strict and effective international control and noted with satisfaction that the Convention continues to be a remarkable success and an example of effective multilateralism, Convinced that the Convention, 20 years after its entry into force, has reinforced its role as the international norm against chemical weapons, and that it constitutes a major contribution to: (a) International peace and security, (b) Eliminating chemical weapons and preventing their re-emergence, (c) The ultimate objective of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, (d) Excluding completely, for the sake of all mankind, the possibility of the use of chemical weapons, (e) Promoting international cooperation and exchange in scientific and technical information in the field of chemical activities among States parties for peaceful purposes in order to enhance the economic and technological development of all States parties, 1. Reaffirms its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances, emphasizing that any use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anyone, under any circumstances is unacceptable and is and would be a violation of international law and expressing its strong conviction that those individuals responsible for the use of chemical weapons must and should be held accountable; 2. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons as reported by the Joint Investigative Mechanism of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations in: (a) Its reports of 24 August 20162 and 21 October 2016,3 which concluded that there was sufficient information to determine that the Syrian Arab Armed Forces were responsible for the attacks which released toxic substances in Talmenes, Syrian Arab Republic, on 21 April 2014, in Sarmin, Syrian Arab Republic, on 16 March 2015, and in Qmenas, Syrian Arab Republic, also on 16 March 2015, and that the so-called “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant” used sulfur mustard in Marea, Syrian Arab Republic, on 21 August 2015; and __________________ 2 See S/2016/738/Rev.1. 3 See S/2016/888. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction A/RES/72/43 3/5 17-21720 (b) Its report of 26 October 2017,4 which concluded that there was sufficient information to be confident that Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant was responsible for the use of sulfur mustard at Umm Hawsh on 15 and 16 September 2016 and that the Syrian Arab Republic was responsible for the release of sarin at Khan Shaykhun on 4 April 2017; and demands that the perpetrators immediately desist from any further use of chemical weapons; 3. Reiterates the grave concern expressed by the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its decision EC-84/DEC.8 of 9 March 2017 that, according to statements by the Government of Malaysia, a chemical weapon – the Schedule 1 nerve agent VX – was used in a fatal incident on 13 February 2017 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2; 4. Emphasizes that the universality of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction1 is essential to achieving its object and purpose and to enhancing the security of States parties, as well as to international peace and security, underlines the fact that the objectives of the Convention will not be fully realized as long as there remains even a single State not party to the Convention that could possess or acquire such weapons, and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay; 5. Underlines the fact that the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of all articles of the Convention makes a major contribution to international peace and security through the elimination of existing stockpiles of chemical weapons and the prohibition of their acquisition and use, and provides for assistance and protection in the event of use or threat of use of chemical weapons and for international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities; 6. Notes the impact of scientific and technological progress on the effective implementation of the Convention and the importance for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and its policymaking organs of taking due account of such developments; 7. Reaffirms that the obligation of the States parties to complete the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and the destruction or conversion of chemical weapons production facilities in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the Annex on Implementation and Verification (Verification Annex) and under the verification of the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is essential for the realization of the object and purpose of the Convention; 8. Stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical weapons, chemical weapons production facilities or chemical weapons development facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end; 9. Recalls that the Third Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention expressed concern regarding the statement made by the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in his report to the Executive Council of the Organisation at its sixty-eighth session, provided in accordance with paragraph 2 of decision C-16/DEC.11 of 1 December 2011 adopted by the Conference of the States Parties at its sixteenth session, that three possessor States parties, namely, __________________ 4 See S/2017/904. A/RES/72/43 Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction 17-21720 4/5 Libya, the Russian Federation and the United States of America, had been unable to fully meet the final extended deadline of 29 April 2012 for the destruction of their chemical weapons stockpiles, and also expressed determination that the destruction of all categories of chemical weapons should be completed in the shortest time possible in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the Verification Annex, and with the full application of the relevant decisions that have been taken; 10. Welcomes the confirmation by the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons expressed in his report of 5 October 2017,5 based upon information received from the Russian Federation and independent information received from the inspectors of the Organisation, regarding the completion of the full destruction of chemical weapons declared by the Russian Federation; 11. Also welcomes the ongoing progress related to the destruction of Libya’s remaining category 2 chemical weapons outside the territory of Libya in line with the relevant Executive Council decisions; 12. Notes with concern that, along with the threat of the possible production, acquisition and use of chemical weapons by States, the international community also faces the danger of the production, acquisition and use of chemical weapons by non-State actors, including terrorists, concerns which have highlighted the necessity of achieving universal adherence to the Convention, as well as the high level of readiness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and stresses that the full and effective implementation of all provisions of the Convention, including those on national implementation (article VII) and assistance and protection (article X), constitutes an important contribution to the efforts of the United Nations in the global fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 13. Notes that the effective application of the verification system builds confidence in compliance with the Convention by States parties; 14. Stresses the importance of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in verifying compliance with the provisions of the Convention as well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives; 15. Expresses grave concern that the Technical Secretariat, as reported by the Director General in his report of 4 October 2017,6 is not able to resolve all identified gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies in the declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic and, therefore, cannot fully verify that the Syrian Arab Republic has submitted a declaration that can be considered accurate and complete in accordance with the Convention or Executive Council decision EC-M-33/DEC.1, and underscores the importance of such full verification; 16. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities; 17. Welcomes the progress made in the national implementation of article VII obligations, commends the States parties and the Technical Secretariat for assisting other States parties, on request, with the implementation of the follow-up to the plan of action regarding article VII obligations, and urges States parties that have not fulfilled their obligations under article VII to do so without further delay, in accordance with their constitutional processes; __________________ 5 EC-86/DG.31. 6 EC-86/DG.30. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction A/RES/72/43 5/5 17-21720 18. Emphasizes the continuing relevance and importance of the provisions of article X of the Convention, welcomes the activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in relation to assistance and protection against chemical weapons, supports further efforts by both States parties and the Technical Secretariat to promote a high level of readiness to respond to chemical weapons threats as articulated in article X, and welcomes the effectiveness and efficiency of the increased focus on making full use of regional and subregional capacities and expertise, including taking advantage of established training centres; 19. Reaffirms that the provisions of the Convention shall be implemented in a manner that avoids hampering the economic or technological development of States parties and international cooperation in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under the Convention, including the international exchange of scientific and technical information, and chemicals and equipment for the production, processing or use of chemicals for purposes not prohibited under the Convention; 20. Emphasizes the importance of the provisions of article XI of the Convention relating to the economic and technological development of States parties, recalls that the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of those provisions contributes to universality, and reaffirms the undertaking of the States parties to foster international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities of the States parties and the importance of that cooperation and its contribution to the promotion of the Convention as a whole; 21. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the object and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties; 22. Stresses the importance of the preparatory work related to the Fourth Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention; 23. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons within the framework of the relationship agreement between the United Nations and the Organisation, 7 in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; 24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-third session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction”. 62nd plenary meeting 4 December 2017 __________________ 7 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2160, No. 1240. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/72/53 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 4 December 2017 [on the report of the First Committee (A/72/409)] 72/53. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 B of 1 December 1999, 55/33 V of 20 November 2000, 56/24 M of 29 November 2001, 57/74 of 22 November 2002, 58/53 of 8 December 2003, 59/84 of 3 December 2004, 60/80 of 8 December 2005, 61/84 of 6 December 2006, 62/41 of 5 December 2007, 63/42 of 2 December 2008, 64/56 of 2 December 2009, 65/48 of 8 December 2010, 66/29 of 2 December 2011, 67/32 of 3 December 2012, 68/30 of 5 December 2013, 69/34 of 2 December 2014, 70/55 of 7 December 2015 and 71/34 of 5 December 2016, Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or injure thousands of people – women, girls, boys and men – every year, and which place people living in affected areas at risk and hinder the development of their communities, Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and to assure their destruction, Wishing to do the utmost to ensure assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims, Noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to implement the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction1 and the substantial progress made towards addressing the global anti-personnel landmine problem, __________________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597. A/RES/72/53 Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction 17-21737 2/3 Recalling the first to fifteenth meetings of the States parties to the Convention, held in Maputo (1999), Geneva (2000), Managua (2001), Geneva (2002), Bangkok (2003), Zagreb (2005), Geneva (2006), the Dead Sea (2007), Geneva (2008 and 2010), Phnom Penh (2011), Geneva (2012, 2013 and 2015) and Santiago (2016), and the First, Second and Third Review Conferences of the States Parties to the Convention, held in Nairobi (2004), Cartagena, Colombia (2009), and Maputo (2014), Recalling also that, at the Third Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, the international community reviewed the implementation of the Convention and the States parties adopted a declaration and an action plan for the period 2014–2019 to support enhanced implementation and promotion of the Convention, Underlining the importance of cooperation and assistance in the implementation of the Convention, including through the so-called individualized approach, which offers mine-affected countries a platform for presenting their challenges, Noting with satisfaction that 162 States have ratified or acceded to the Convention and have formally accepted the obligations of the Convention, Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization and norms, Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in some conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development, 1. Invites all States that have not signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction1 to accede to it without delay; 2. Urges the one remaining State that has signed but has not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay; 3. Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of and compliance with the Convention, including through the continued implementation of the action plan for the period 2014–2019; 4. Expresses strong concern regarding the use of anti-personnel mines in various parts of the world, including use highlighted in recent allegations, reports and documented evidence; 5. Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information as required under article 7 of the Convention in order to promote transparency and compliance with the Convention; 6. Invites all States that have not ratified the Convention or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to make global mine action efforts more effective; 7. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine risk education programmes and the removal and destruction of anti-personnel mines placed or stockpiled throughout the world; 8. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and, where in a position to do so, to promote adherence to the Convention through bilateral, subregional, regional and multilateral contacts, outreach, seminars and other means; Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction A/RES/72/53 3/3 17-21737 9. Reiterates its invitation and encouragement to all interested States, the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the Sixteenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention, to be held in Vienna from 18 to 21 December 2017, and to participate in the future programme of meetings of the States parties to the Convention; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with article 11, paragraph 1, of the Convention, to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the Seventeenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention and, on behalf of the States parties and in accordance with article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention, to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations, to attend the Seventeenth Meeting of the States Parties as observers; 11. Calls upon States parties and participating States to address issues arising from outstanding dues and from recently implemented United Nations financial and accounting practices; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-third session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/72/67 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 4 December 2017 [on the report of the First Committee (A/72/412)] 72/67. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions, the latest of which is resolution 71/83 of 5 December 2016, Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(61)/RES/14, adopted on 21 September 2017, Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security, Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the Agency, Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,1 in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons2 as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,3 the Conference undertook to make determined efforts towards the __________________ 1 See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I)/Corr.2), annex. 2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 3 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I–III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II), NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Part III) and NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Part IV)). A/RES/72/67 The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East 17-21759 2/3 achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty, called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty, Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on 11 May 1995,1 in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty, and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards, Acknowledging that, in the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,4 the Conference emphasized the importance of a process leading to full implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East and decided, inter alia, that the Secretary- General of the United Nations and the co-sponsors of the 1995 resolution, in consultation with the States of the region, would convene a conference in 2012, to be attended by all States of the Middle East, on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at by the States of the region, and with the full support and engagement of the nuclear-weapon States, Expressing regret and concern that the conference was not convened in 2012 as mandated and that little progress has been achieved towards the implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty, Noting, in this context, the relevant resolutions of the League of Arab States aiming at the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,5 Recalling that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become a party to the Treaty, Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region, Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime, Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to seriously consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, inviting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty __________________ 4 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I–III (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. I), NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. II) and NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. III)). 5 A/72/340 (Part II). The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East A/RES/72/67 3/3 17-21759 and, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under Agency safeguards, Noting that 183 States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,6 including a number of States in the region, 1. Recalls the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,7 and calls for the speedy and full implementation of the commitments contained therein; 2. Stresses that the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty1 is an essential element of the outcome of the 1995 Conference and of the basis on which the Treaty was indefinitely extended without a vote in 1995; 3. Reiterates that the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty remains valid until its goals and objectives are achieved; 4. Calls for immediate steps towards the full implementation of that resolution; 5. Reaffirms the importance of Israel’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons2 and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East; 6. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty without further delay, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, to renounce possession of nuclear weapons and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full- scope Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-third session the item entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East”. 62nd plenary meeting 4 December 2017 __________________ 6 See resolution 50/245 and A/50/1027. 7 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. I)), part I, Conclusions and recommendations for follow-on actions, sect. IV. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/72/73 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2017 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/72/L.18 and A/72/L.18/Add.1)] 72/73. Oceans and the law of the sea The General Assembly, Recalling its annual resolutions on the law of the sea and on oceans and the law of the sea, including resolution 71/257 of 23 December 2016, as well as other relevant resolutions concerning the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (the Convention),1 Recalling also, in this regard, resolution 69/292 of 19 June 2015 on the development of an international legally binding instrument under the Convention on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,2 the reports on the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole on the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects (the Regular Process)3 and of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (the Informal Consultative Process) at its eighteenth meeting,4 the report of the twenty-seventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention5 and the report of the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development,6 Recognizing the pre-eminent contribution provided by the Convention to the strengthening of peace, security, cooperation and friendly relations among all nations __________________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. 2 See A/72/70 and A/72/70/Add.1. 3 A/72/89 and A/72/494. 4 A/72/95. 5 SPLOS/316. 6 A/CONF.230/14. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 2/55 in conformity with the principles of justice and equal rights and to the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples of the world, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, as well as to the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Emphasizing the universal and unified character of the Convention, and reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained, as recognized also by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,7 Noting with satisfaction that, in the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, entitled “The future we want”,8 as endorsed by the General Assembly in resolution 66/288 of 27 July 2012, States recognized that oceans, seas and coastal areas form an integrated and essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem and are critical to sustaining it, and that international law, as reflected in the Convention, provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources, and stressed the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and seas and of their resources for sustainable development, including through their contributions to poverty eradication, sustained economic growth, food security and creation of sustainable livelihoods and decent work, while at the same time protecting biodiversity and the marine environment and addressing the impacts of climate change, Recalling that, in “The future we want”, States underscored that broad public participation and access to information and judicial and administrative proceedings were essential to the promotion of sustainable development and that sustainable development required the meaningful involvement and active participation of regional, national and subnational legislatures and judiciaries, and all major groups, and, in this regard, that they agreed to work more closely with major groups and other stakeholders and encouraged their active participation, as appropriate, in processes that contribute to decision-making, planning and implementation of policies and programmes for sustainable development at all levels, Welcoming the outcome document of the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, held from 25 to 27 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, as adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, and in this regard reaffirming the commitment to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, as reflected in Goal 14 of the outcome document, Recognizing the important contribution of the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources to the achievement of the sustainable development goals contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Recalling its resolution 71/312 of 6 July 2017 in which it endorsed the declaration entitled “Our ocean, our future: call for action” adopted by the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, held from 5 to 9 June 2017, coinciding with __________________ 7 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3−14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. 8 Resolution 66/288, annex. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 3/55 17-21819 World Oceans Day on 8 June, and in this regard affirming the important role of the declaration in demonstrating the collective will to take action to conserve and sustainably use our oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, Recognizing the important contributions of the partnership dialogues and voluntary commitments made in the context of the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 to the effective and timely implementation of Goal 14, Recognizing also the appointment by the Secretary-General of the Special Envoy for the Ocean, Recognizing further paragraphs 64 and 65 of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, adopted by the Conference, which was held from 13 to 16 July 2015,9 Welcoming the outcomes of the second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme, especially the resolutions on oceans and seas,10 marine plastic litter and microplastics, 11 sustainable coral reefs management12 and the role, functions and modalities for United Nations Environment Programme implementation of the Samoa Pathway as a means of facilitating achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, 13 Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, and reaffirming the need to improve cooperation and coordination at the national, regional and global levels, in accordance with the Convention, to support and supplement the efforts of each State in promoting the implementation and observance of the Convention and the integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Reiterating the essential need for cooperation, including through capacity- building and transfer of marine technology, to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, while recognizing the need to also address the particular challenges faced by developing middle-income countries, Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels, through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of the oceans and their resources, Recalling that marine science is important for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world’s marine environment and resources, helping to understand, predict and respond to natural events and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, by improving knowledge, through sustained __________________ 9 Resolution 69/313, annex. 10 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/71/25), annex, resolution 2/10. 11 Ibid., resolution 2/11. 12 Ibid., resolution 2/12. 13 Ibid., resolution 2/4. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 4/55 research efforts and the evaluation of monitoring results, and applying such knowledge to management and decision-making, Reiterating its deep concern at the serious adverse impacts on the marine environment and biodiversity, in particular on vulnerable marine ecosystems and their physical and biogenic structure, including coral reefs, cold water habitats, hydrothermal vents and seamounts, of certain human activities, Emphasizing the need for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships, Expressing deep concern at the adverse economic, social and environmental impacts of the physical alteration and destruction of marine habitats that may result from land-based and coastal development activities, in particular those land reclamation activities that are carried out in a manner that has a detrimental impact on the marine environment, Reiterating its serious concern at the current and projected adverse effects of climate change and ocean acidification on the marine environment and marine biodiversity, and emphasizing the urgency of addressing these issues, Noting with concern, in this regard, the findings by the World Meteorological Organization, in its annual Greenhouse gas bulletin, that for the first time, in 2015, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were 400 parts per million, on average across the year as a whole, Expressing concern that climate change continues to increase the severity and incidence of coral bleaching throughout tropical seas and weakens the ability of reefs to withstand ocean acidification, which could have serious and irreversible negative effects on marine organisms, particularly corals, as well as to withstand other pressures, including overfishing and pollution, Reiterating its deep concern at the vulnerability of the environment and the fragile ecosystems of the polar regions, including the Arctic Ocean and the Arctic ice cap, particularly affected by the projected adverse effects of climate change and ocean acidification, Recognizing the need for a more integrated and ecosystem-based approach to, further study of and the promotion of measures for enhanced cooperation, coordination and collaboration relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction, Recognizing also that the realization of the benefits of the Convention could be enhanced by international cooperation, technical assistance and advanced scientific knowledge, as well as by funding and capacity-building, Recognizing further that hydrographic surveys and nautical charting are critical to the safety of navigation and life at sea, environmental protection, including the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems, and the economics of the global shipping industry, and encouraging further efforts towards electronic charting, which not only provides significantly increased benefits for safe navigation and management of ship movement, but also provides data and information that can be used for sustainable fisheries activities and other sectoral uses of the marine environment, the delimitation of maritime boundaries and environmental protection, and noting that, under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, 14 ships on international voyages are required to carry an electronic chart display and information system, in accordance with the implementation schedule as set out in that Convention, __________________ 14 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1184, No. 18961. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 5/55 17-21819 Recognizing that ocean data buoys deployed and operated in accordance with international law are critical for improving understanding of weather, climate and ecosystems, and that certain types of ocean data buoys contribute to saving lives by detecting tsunamis, and reiterating its serious concern at intentional and unintentional damage to such buoys, Emphasizing that underwater archaeological, cultural and historical heritage, including shipwrecks and watercraft, holds essential information on the history of humankind and that such heritage is a resource that needs to be protected and preserved, Recognizing the duty of States under article 303, paragraph 1, of the Convention to protect objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea and to cooperate for this purpose, Expressing concern, in this regard, at various threats posed to such objects, including their destruction as well as the illicit trafficking in such objects, Recognizing that illicit trafficking in wildlife is, in some cases, committed by transnational organized criminal groups using maritime routes, contributes to damage to ecosystems and livelihoods and requires enhanced regional and global cooperation and coordination in response, in accordance with international law, Noting with concern the continuing problem of transnational organized crime committed at sea, including illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and illicit trafficking in firearms, and threats to maritime safety and security, including piracy, armed robbery at sea, smuggling and terrorist acts against shipping, offshore installations and other maritime interests, and noting the deplorable loss of life and adverse impact on international trade, energy security and the global economy resulting from such activities, Reiterating the importance of the fair treatment of crew members and its influence on maritime safety, Recognizing that fibre-optic submarine cables transmit most of the world’s data and communications and hence are vitally important to the global economy and the national security of all States, conscious that these cables are susceptible to intentional and accidental damage from shipping and other activities and that the maintenance, including the repair, of these cables is important, noting that these matters have been brought to the attention of States at various workshops and seminars, and conscious of the need for States to adopt national laws and regulations to protect submarine cables and render their wilful damage or damage by culpable negligence punishable offences, Noting the importance of the delineation of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and that it is in the broader interest of the international community that coastal States with a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles submit information on the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (the Commission), and welcoming the submissions to the Commission by a considerable number of States Parties to the Convention on the outer limits of their continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, that the Commission has continued to fulfil its role, including of making recommendations to coastal States, and that the summaries of recommendations are being made publicly available, 15 __________________ 15 Available from the web page of the Commission maintained by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 6/55 Noting also that many coastal States Parties have submitted preliminary information indicative of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, as provided for in the decision of the eighteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention regarding the workload of the Commission and the ability of States, particularly developing States, to fulfil the requirements of article 4 of annex II to the Convention, as well as the decision contained in SPLOS/72, paragraph (a),16 Noting further that some coastal States may continue to face particular challenges in relation to preparing and presenting submissions to the Commission, Noting that financial and technical assistance may be sought by developing countries for activities in relation to preparing and presenting submissions to the Commission, including through the voluntary trust fund established by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/7 of 30 October 2000 for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission for developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, and compliance with article 76 of the Convention, as well as other accessible international assistance, Recognizing the importance of the trust funds established pursuant to resolution 55/7 in facilitating the participation of members of the Commission from developing States in the meetings of the Commission and in fulfilling the requirements of article 4 of annex II to the Convention, noting with appreciation the recent contributions made to them, while observing with concern that the lack of funds in the voluntary trust fund for the purpose of defraying the cost of the participation in its meetings of the members of the Commission from developing States may prevent the Commission from implementing the decision of the twenty-sixth Meeting of States Parties that requested the Commission to meet for up to 26 weeks, and may preclude the Commission from advancing its work as a result of the potential lack of a quorum at the 2018 sessions, and in this regard urging States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to contribute to the trust fund, Reaffirming the importance of the work of the Commission for coastal States and for the international community, Recognizing that practical difficulties can arise when there is a considerable delay between the preparation of submissions and their consideration by the Commission, including in retaining expertise up to and during the consideration of the submissions by the Commission, Recognizing also the significant workload of the Commission in view of the large number of submissions already received and a number of submissions yet to be received, which places additional demands and challenges on its members and the secretariat as provided by the Secretary-General of the United Nations through the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat (the Division), and welcoming the decision of the twenty-first Meeting of States Parties to the Convention regarding the workload of the Commission, 17 Noting with concern the projected timetable of the work of the Commission on the submissions already received by it and those yet to be received, and in this regard noting the decision of the twenty-sixth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention to renew the request made by the twenty-first Meeting of States Parties to the Convention and to request the Commission to consider, in coordination with the Secretariat, as from 16 June 2017, within the existing resources made available to the Secretariat, that the Commission, and its subcommissions meeting simultaneously as __________________ 16 SPLOS/183. 17 SPLOS/229. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 7/55 17-21819 far as possible, meet at United Nations Headquarters for up to 26 weeks but not less than an intended minimum of 21 weeks a year for a period of five years, distributed in such a way that the Commission determines to be the most effective, and that no two sessions be sequential, and to request the Commission to prepare a plan of sessions to be held in 2017 on the basis of that request,18 Recognizing the need to ensure that the Commission can perform its functions under the Convention expeditiously, efficiently and effectively and maintain its high level of quality and expertise, Expressing concern about the implications of the workload of the Commission for the conditions of service of its members, Recalling, in this regard, the decisions of the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth Meetings of States Parties to the Convention regarding the conditions of service of the members of the Commission,19 Recalling also its decision, in resolutions 57/141 of 12 December 2002 and 58/240 of 23 December 2003, to establish a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socioeconomic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments, as recommended by the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 20 and noting the need for cooperation among all States to this end, Recalling further its decisions, in resolution 65/37 A of 7 December 2010, resolution 66/231 of 24 December 2011, resolution 70/235 of 23 December 2015 and resolution 71/257 regarding the Regular Process, as established under the United Nations and accountable to the General Assembly, Recalling that the Division was designated to provide secretariat support to the Regular Process, including its established institutions, Recalling also the cross-cutting role of ocean science in Sustainable Development Goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and taking note that, at its twenty-ninth session, the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization endorsed the proposal for an international decade of ocean science for sustainable development, to be established for the period 2021–2030, Recognizing the importance and the contribution of the work of the Informal Consultative Process established by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/33 of 24 November 1999 to facilitate the annual review of developments in ocean affairs by the Assembly, Noting the continuously growing responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular resolutions 49/28 of 6 December 1994, 52/26 of 26 November 1997, 54/33, 65/37 A, 65/37 B of 4 April 2011, 66/231, 67/78 of 11 December 2012, 68/70 of 9 December 2013, 69/245 of 29 December 2014, 69/292, 70/235 and 71/257 and in this context the unprecedented substantial increase in activities of the Division, in particular in view of the growing number of requests to the Division for additional outputs and servicing of meetings, the provision of technical assistance and capacity-building, the need for enhanced support and assistance to the Commission and the role of the Division in carrying out the functions in resolution 69/292, as the secretariat of the __________________ 18 See SPLOS/303. 19 SPLOS/286 and SPLOS/303. 20 See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 8/55 Regular Process, in relation to the functions as focal point for UN-Oceans and in relation to support for the implementation by Member States of the oceans-related Sustainable Development Goals in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Reaffirming the importance of the work of the International Seabed Authority (the Authority) in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (the Part XI Agreement),21 Reaffirming also the importance of the work of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (the Tribunal) in accordance with the Convention, I Implementation of the Convention and related agreements and instruments 1. Reaffirms its annual resolutions on the law of the sea and on oceans and the law of the sea, including resolution 71/257, and other relevant resolutions concerning the Convention;1 2. Also reaffirms the unified character of the Convention and the vital importance of preserving its integrity; 3. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to fully achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention and the Part XI Agreement;21 4. Calls upon States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (the Fish Stocks Agreement); 22 5. Calls upon States to harmonize their national legislation with the provisions of the Convention and, where applicable, relevant agreements and instruments, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention do not purport to exclude or to modify the legal effect of the provisions of the Convention in their application to the State concerned and to withdraw any such declarations or statements; 6. Calls upon States Parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to deposit with the Secretary-General charts or lists of geographical coordinates, as provided for in the Convention, preferably using the generally accepted and most recent geodetic datums; 7. Notes, in this regard, the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General to improve the existing geographic information system for the deposit by States of charts and geographical coordinates concerning maritime zones, including lines of delimitation, submitted pursuant to the Convention, and to give due publicity thereto, as requested in paragraph 6 of resolution 59/24 of 17 November 2004, as well as the ongoing cooperation with the International Hydrographic Organization to develop the technical standards for the collection, storage and dissemination of the information deposited, in order to ensure compatibility among geographic information systems, electronic nautical charts and other systems, and re-emphasizes the importance of the prompt completion of these efforts; __________________ 21 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1836, No. 31364. 22 Ibid., vol. 2167, No. 37924. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 9/55 17-21819 8. Urges all States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in taking measures to protect and preserve objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea, in conformity with the Convention, and calls upon States to work together on such diverse challenges and opportunities as the appropriate relationship between salvage law and scientific management and conservation of underwater cultural heritage, increasing technological abilities to discover and reach underwater sites, looting and growing underwater tourism; 9. Acknowledges the recent deposit of instruments of ratification and acceptance of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage,23 calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to that Convention, and notes in particular the rules annexed to that Convention, which address the relationship between salvage law and scientific principles of management, conservation and protection of underwater cultural heritage among Parties, their nationals and vessels flying their flag; II Capacity-building 10. Emphasizes that capacity-building is essential to ensure that States, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able to fully implement the Convention, benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas and participate fully in global and regional forums on ocean affairs and the law of the sea; 11. Also emphasizes the need to address the particular challenges faced by developing middle-income countries through capacity-building; 12. Recalls, in this regard, that, in “The future we want”,8 States recognized the importance of building the capacity of developing countries to be able to benefit from the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and seas and their resources, and in this regard emphasized the need for cooperation in marine scientific research to implement the provisions of the Convention and the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, as well as for the transfer of technology, taking into account the Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology adopted by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its twenty-second session, in 2003; 13. Emphasizes the need for international cooperation for capacity-building, including cross-sectoral cooperation, at national, regional and global levels, to address, in particular, gaps in capacity-building in ocean affairs and the law of the sea, including marine science; 14. Calls for capacity-building initiatives to take into account the needs of developing countries, and calls upon States, international organizations and donor agencies to make efforts to ensure the sustainability of such initiatives; 15. Calls upon donor agencies and international financial institutions to keep their programmes systematically under review to ensure the availability in all States, particularly in developing States, of the economic, legal, navigational, scientific and technical skills necessary for the full implementation of the Convention and the objectives of the present resolution, as well as the sustainable development of the oceans and seas nationally, regionally and globally, and in so doing to bear in mind the interests and needs of landlocked developing States; __________________ 23 Ibid., vol. 2562, No. 45694. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 10/55 16. Encourages intensified efforts to build capacity for developing countries, in particular for the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, to improve aids to navigation and search and rescue services, hydrographic services and the production of nautical charts, including electronic charts, as well as the mobilization of resources and building of capacity with support from international financial institutions and the donor community; 17. Calls upon States and international institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes, technical partnerships and fellowships, to continue to support and strengthen capacity-building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research by, inter alia, training personnel to develop and enhance relevant expertise, providing the necessary equipment, facilities and vessels and transferring environmentally sound technologies; 18. Also calls upon States and international institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes, technical partnerships and fellowships, to support and strengthen capacity-building activities in developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, to develop their maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement capabilities to promote effective compliance with and implementation and enforcement of their responsibilities under international law; 19. Further calls upon States and international institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes, technical partnerships and fellowships, to develop and strengthen capacity-building activities in and to transfer to developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, on mutually agreed terms, and taking into account the Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, environmentally sound technologies to study and minimize the impacts of ocean acidification; 20. Notes the international scientific cooperation within the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network and its efforts in building scientific capacity for ocean acidification monitoring, research and experimentation, including through the Pier2Peer scientific mentorship programme; 21. Emphasizes the need to focus on strengthening South-South cooperation as an additional way to build capacity and as a cooperative mechanism to further enable countries to set their own priorities and needs and to foster actions to implement such cooperation; 22. Recognizes with appreciation the important contribution to capacity- building in the field of the law of the sea by the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy, a cooperative undertaking by the Center for Oceans Law and Policy of the University of Virginia School of Law, the Aegean Institute of the Law of the Sea and Maritime Law, the Law of the Sea Institute of Iceland, the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, the Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea of Utrecht University and the Centre for International Law of the National University of Singapore that offers a prominent three-week summer course annually in Rhodes, Greece, and has graduated 900 students from more than 120 countries; 23. Also recognizes with appreciation the important contribution to capacity- building in the field of the law of the sea by the Summer Academy of the International Foundation for the Law of the Sea at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; 24. Further recognizes with appreciation the important contribution of the Korea Maritime Institute to the trust fund to support the internship programmes at the Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 11/55 17-21819 Tribunal since 2011 and its continued efforts to provide education and training for capacity-building of developing countries through the Yeosu Academy of the Law of the Sea programme; 25. Notes the holding of three sessions of the Summer Academy on the Continental Shelf in 2014, 2015 and 2016 in the Faroe Islands, organized by the University of the Faroe Islands; 26. Recognizes the importance of the work of the Malta-based International Maritime Law Institute of the International Maritime Organization, as a centre of education and training of specialists in maritime law, including government legal advisers and other high-level officials, mainly from developing States, confirms its effective capacity-building role in the field of international maritime law, shipping law and marine environmental law, and urges States, intergovernmental organizations and financial institutions to make voluntary financial contributions to the budget of the Institute which runs annually; 27. Also recognizes the importance of the World Maritime University of the International Maritime Organization as a centre of excellence for maritime education and research, confirms its effective capacity-building role in the field of maritime transportation, policy, administration, management, safety, security and environmental protection, as well as its role in the international exchange and transfer of knowledge, and urges States, intergovernmental organizations and other bodies to make voluntary financial contributions to the University’s newly established Endowment Fund; 28. Welcomes ongoing activities for capacity-building so as to address maritime security and protection of the marine environment of developing States, and encourages States and international financial institutions to provide additional funding for capacity-building programmes, including for transfer of technology, including through the International Maritime Organization and other competent international organizations; 29. Recognizes the ongoing activities of the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in coordinating capacity-building efforts to support developing States in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in marine and coastal areas, in particular through the Sustainable Ocean Initiative; 24 30. Also recognizes the considerable need to provide sustained capacity- building assistance, including on financial and technical aspects, by relevant international organizations and donors to developing States, with a view to further strengthening their capacity to take effective measures against the multiple facets of international criminal activities at sea, in line with the relevant international instruments, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto;25 31. Further recognizes the need to build the capacity of developing States to raise awareness of and support the implementation of improved waste management practices, noting the particular vulnerability of small island developing States to the impact of marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities and marine debris and nutrient pollution;26 __________________ 24 See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/12/29, sect. I, and Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity decision XII/23, paras. 19–22. 25 United Nations, Treaty Series, vols. 2225, 2237, 2241 and 2326, No. 39574. 26 See 2012 Guidelines for the Development of a Regional Reception Facilities Plan, International Maritime Organization, resolution MEPC.221(63). A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 12/55 32. Recognizes the importance of assisting developing States, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, in implementing the Convention, urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial or other contributions to the trust funds, as referred to in resolutions 55/7, 57/141 and 64/71 of 4 December 2009, established for this purpose, and expresses its appreciation to those that have contributed; 27 33. Acknowledges the importance of capacity-building for developing States, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, for the protection of the marine environment and the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources; 34. Recognizes that promoting the voluntary transfer of technology is an essential aspect of building capacity in marine science; 35. Encourages States to use the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, and recalls the important role of the secretariat of that Commission in the implementation and promotion of the Criteria and Guidelines; 36. Also encourages States to consider additional opportunities for capacity- building at the regional level; 37. Welcomes the efforts of the Tribunal in holding regional workshops; 38. Notes with satisfaction the publication of the first edition of the Global Ocean Science Report by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; 39. Notes with appreciation the adoption by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the new Capacity Development Strategy (2015–2021), which takes into account that capacity development is a fundamental tenet of the mission of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; 40. Expresses its appreciation for the contribution of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to capacity-building through its Ocean Teacher Academy training system, which has provided training in ocean data and information management, and notes the setting up of the Ocean Teacher Global Academy, operating through a network of regional training centres, which builds capacity and promotes expertise available in developing countries; 41. Welcomes the establishment by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at its twenty-ninth session of the Group of Experts on Capacity Development; 42. Also welcomes the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, within its mandate, reiterated by member States at its fourteenth session, held in Nairobi from 17 to 22 July 2016, to continue to assist developing countries, upon request, in enhancing the sustainability and climate resilience of their transport systems and infrastructure, including coastal transport infrastructure; 43. Notes with satisfaction the efforts of the Division to compile information on capacity-building initiatives, requests the Secretary-General to continue to regularly update such information provided by States, international organizations and donor agencies and include it in his annual report to the General Assembly, invites States, international organizations and donor agencies to submit such information to __________________ 27 See A/70/74/Add.1, para. 137. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 13/55 17-21819 the Secretary-General for this purpose, and requests the Division to post the information on capacity-building initiatives from the annual report of the Secretary- General on the website of the Division in an easily accessible manner so as to facilitate the matching of capacity-building needs with opportunities; 44. Calls upon States to continue to assist developing States, and especially the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, at the bilateral and, where appropriate, multilateral levels, in the preparation of submissions to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, including the assessment of the nature and extent of the continental shelf of a coastal State, and recalls that coastal States can make requests to the Commission for scientific and technical advice in the preparation of data for their submissions, in accordance with article 3 of annex II to the Convention; 45. Recognizes the importance of the trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission for developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, and compliance with article 76 of the Convention, and of providing assistance to developing States to meet the travel and daily subsistence allowance costs associated with meeting with the Commission when their submissions are being examined and upon the invitation of the Commission, in accordance with paragraph 31 of the terms of reference, guidelines and rules of the trust fund;28 46. Calls upon the Division to continue to disseminate information on relevant procedures related to the trust fund established for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission and to continue its dialogue with potential beneficiaries with a view to providing financial support to developing countries for activities to facilitate their submissions in accordance with the requirements of article 76 of the Convention and with the Rules of Procedure29 and the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission 30 and to defray the costs of travel and daily subsistence allowance for delegates to participate in meetings with the Commission upon its invitation; 47. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with States and relevant international organizations and institutions, to continue to support training and other activities to assist developing States in the preparation and presentation of their submissions to the Commission; 48. Recognizes with appreciation the contribution of the Division to capacity- building activities at the national and regional levels, in particular the work of the Division in promoting wider appreciation of the Convention and in assisting with its implementation, through the provision of information, advice and assistance to States and intergovernmental organizations, and recognizes in particular the continued delivery of a programme of assistance to the Government of Somalia under a project funded by the Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, including two strategic fellowships, as well as the Division’s support for Member State implementation of the relevant parts of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;31 49. Notes the partnership between the Division and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on a training programme on marine scientific research __________________ 28 Resolution 55/7, annex II, resolution 58/240, annex, and resolution 70/235, annex. 29 CLCS/40/Rev.1. 30 CLCS/11, CLCS/11/Corr.1, CLCS/11/Add.1 and CLCS/11/Add.1/Corr.1. 31 Resolution 70/1. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 14/55 under the Convention, and encourages States, relevant international organizations and other donors to consider supporting the initiative; 50. Invites States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to support the capacity-building activities of the Division, including by making earmarked voluntary contributions to the trust fund established by the Secretary- General for the Office of Legal Affairs to support the promotion of international law, and expresses its appreciation to those that have contributed; 51. Recognizes with appreciation the important contribution to the capacity- building of developing countries and the promotion of the law of the sea made by the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, which was established by the General Assembly in 1981 in honour of the first President of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea and which, relying on its network of 17 host institutions, has awarded to date 31 fellowships to individuals from 26 Member States, and recalls in this regard the provisions of its resolutions on the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law;32 52. Expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the voluntary trust fund for the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, notes that there are insufficient funds available to grant a regular award for placement of a fellow in the Division in 2019, expresses its commitment to further promote the importance of the Fellowship, and urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make voluntary financial contributions in support of the Fellowship so that a regular award may be granted for 2019 and beyond; 53. Recognizes with appreciation the important contribution of the United Nations-Nippon Foundation of Japan Fellowship Programme, which has awarded 142 fellowships to individuals from 76 Member States since 2004, to human resources development for developing Member States in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea and related disciplines, as well as the fostering of global interlinkages and continuing capacity development through the alumni programme, which held an Alumni Meeting in 2017 in New York in conjunction with the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, and also recognizes with appreciation the provision of a fellowship under the Strategic Award of the United Nations-Nippon Foundation of Japan Fellowship Programme in 2017; 54. Encourages competent international organizations, the United Nations Development Programme and international financial institutions and funds to consider expanding their programmes within their respective fields of competence for assistance to developing countries and to coordinate their efforts, and recognizes the funding available from the Global Environment Facility, as well as other funds allocated for projects relating to oceans; __________________ 32 Resolutions 69/117, para. 8, 70/116, para. 4, 71/139, para. 7, and 72/115, paras. 7 and 8. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 15/55 17-21819 III Meeting of States Parties 55. Welcomes the report of the twenty-seventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;5 56. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the twenty-eighth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention from 11 to 14 June 2018, with full conference services, including documentation, as required; IV Peaceful settlement of disputes 57. Notes with satisfaction the continued and significant contribution of the Tribunal to the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with Part XV of the Convention, and underlines the important role and authority of the Tribunal concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Part XI Agreement; 58. Pays tribute to the important and long-standing role of the International Court of Justice with regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea; 59. Notes that States parties to an international agreement relating to the purposes of the Convention may submit to, inter alia, the Tribunal or the International Court of Justice any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of that agreement submitted in accordance with that agreement, and also notes the possibility, provided for in the Statutes of the Tribunal and the Court, to submit disputes to a chamber; 60. Encourages States Parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider making a written declaration, choosing from the means set out in article 287 of the Convention for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Part XI Agreement, bearing in mind the comprehensive character of the dispute settlement mechanism provided for in Part XV of the Convention; V The Area 61. Reiterates the importance of the ongoing elaboration and standardization by the Authority, pursuant to article 145 of the Convention, of rules, regulations and procedures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment, for, inter alia, the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the Area and for the prevention of damage to the flora and fauna of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from activities in the Area; 62. Notes that, as at 10 August 2017, the Authority had approved 29 plans of work for exploration for marine mineral resources in the Area; 63. Notes with appreciation the decision taken by the Council of the Authority at its twenty-third session, to approve an application for extension of an approved plan of work for exploration for polymetallic nodules, pursuant to section 1, paragraph 9, of the annex to the Part XI Agreement;33 64. Welcomes the progress of the work of the Authority on draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, takes note of the development of a __________________ 33 See ISBA/23/C/15. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 16/55 road map for adoption and approval of such regulations, and encourages the Authority to continue its work on the draft regulations as a matter of priority and to provide sufficient opportunities and time for substantive consideration and discussion of successive drafts; 65. Notes that all States Parties to the Convention and other stakeholders are invited to provide input on the draft regulations by 17 November 2017, and no later than 31 December 2017;34 66. Recalls the relevance of the advisory opinion on the responsibilities and obligations of States sponsoring persons and entities with respect to activities in the Area, issued by the Seabed Disputes Chamber of the Tribunal on 1 February 2011;35 67. Recognizes the importance of the responsibilities entrusted to the Authority by articles 143 and 145 of the Convention, which refer to marine scientific research and protection of the marine environment in the Area, respectively; 68. Welcomes the decision of the Assembly, at the twenty-third session of the Authority, in approving the final report on the first periodic review of the international regime of the Area pursuant to article 154 of the Convention;36 69. Also welcomes the decision of the Assembly, in the context of the first periodic review of the international regime of the Area pursuant to article 154 of the Convention, to request the Secretary-General of the Authority, in view of the importance of a long-term plan defining the strategic direction and aims of the Authority, to submit a draft strategic plan to the Assembly for consideration at its twenty-fourth session, in 2018, and to regularly inform member States on progress with respect to this plan;36 70. Encourages the Authority to continue its work towards the standardization of marine bathymetric information collected in the Area, in cooperation with relevant international organizations, including the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the International Hydrographic Organization, particularly under the Seabed 2030 project;37 71. Notes that a workshop dedicated to the review of the status of implementation of the environmental management plan for the Clarion-Clipperton Zone will be held during the first half of 2018, and encourages the Authority to make progress on the development of environmental management plans in other specific areas in the Area, in particular where there are currently exploration contracts, recalling paragraph 60 of resolution 70/235; 72. Expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the voluntary trust fund established pursuant to the decision of the Authority at its eighth session38 for the purpose of defraying the cost of participation of the members of the Legal and Technical Commission from developing countries and the members of the Finance Committee from developing countries in the meetings of the Commission and of the Committee, and to States that have made contributions to the endowment fund for marine scientific research in the Area established by the Authority at its twelfth session,39 for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the conduct of collaborative marine scientific research in the Area, and encourages States to make additional contributions to these funds; __________________ 34 See ISBA/23/C/12. 35 See ISBA/17/A/9. 36 See ISBA/23/A/13. 37 See ISBA/23/A/2. 38 ISBA/8/A/11. 39 ISBA/12/A/11. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 17/55 17-21819 VI Effective functioning of the Authority and the Tribunal 73. Commends the progress in the work of the Authority; 74. Also commends the work of the Tribunal since its establishment; 75. Appeals to all States Parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Tribunal in full and on time, and also appeals to States Parties in arrears with their contributions to fulfil their obligations without delay; 76. Expresses serious concern about the number of States Parties to the Convention in arrears with their assessed contributions to the Authority, appeals to all States Parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Authority in full and on time, and urges them to fulfil their obligations without delay, in particular those States whose exercise of voting rights has been suspended by virtue of article 184 of the Convention, and invites the Secretary-General of the Authority to continue his efforts to recover arrears, including bilateral efforts; 77. Expresses concern about the low attendance at the annual sessions of the Assembly of the Authority, notes that the Assembly has endorsed the revised schedule of meetings for 2018 and 2019, including two meetings of the Council of the Authority to be held in March and July 2018, respectively, welcomes the decision of the Assembly to request the Secretary-General of the Authority to establish a voluntary trust fund for the purpose of defraying the cost of participation of members of the Council from developing States in its second annual meeting, and encourages member States, observers and other stakeholders to contribute financially to the voluntary trust fund;36 78. Recognizes the ongoing efforts of the Authority to organize sensitization seminars to promote awareness of its work, and notes in this regard the holding of the workshop entitled “Marine mineral resources of Africa’s continental shelf and adjacent international seabed area: prospects for the sustainable development of Africa’s maritime domain, in support of Africa’s blue economy”, in Kampala from 2 to 4 May 2017, and calls upon other States and regions to consider inviting the Authority to organize such seminars in order to promote wider participation by the international community in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the Area; 79. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the Tribunal 40 and to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Authority; 41 80. Emphasizes the importance of the rules and staff regulations of the Tribunal in promoting the recruitment of a geographically representative staff in the Professional and higher categories, and welcomes the actions taken by the Tribunal in observance of those rules and regulations; 81. Calls upon coastal States that have not yet done so to deposit a copy of charts or lists of geographical coordinates showing the outer limit lines of the continental shelf with the Secretary-General of the Authority, as provided for in article 84, paragraph 2, of the Convention; __________________ 40 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2167, No. 37925. 41 Ibid., vol. 2214, No. 39357. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 18/55 VII The continental shelf and the work of the Commission 82. Recalls that, in accordance with article 76, paragraph 8, of the Convention, information on the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured shall be submitted by the coastal State to the Commission set up under annex II to the Convention on the basis of equitable geographical representation, that the Commission shall make recommendations to coastal States on matters related to the establishment of the outer limits of their continental shelf, and that the limits of the shelf established by a coastal State on the basis of these recommendations shall be final and binding; 83. Also recalls that, in accordance with article 77, paragraph 3, of the Convention, the rights of the coastal State over the continental shelf do not depend on occupation, effective or notional, or on any express proclamation; 84. Notes with satisfaction that a considerable number of States Parties to the Convention have submitted information to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, in conformity with article 76 of the Convention and article 4 of annex II to the Convention, taking into account the decision of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention contained in SPLOS/72, paragraph (a); 85. Also notes with satisfaction that a considerable number of States Parties to the Convention have submitted to the Secretary-General, pursuant to the decision of the eighteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, 42 preliminary information indicative of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and a description of the status of preparation and intended date of submission in accordance with the requirements of article 76 of the Convention and with the Rules of Procedure and the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission, and notes with satisfaction that additional submissions referred to in preliminary information have been filed with the Commission; 86. Further notes with satisfaction the progress in the work of the Commission43 and that it is giving current consideration to a number of submissions that have been made regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles; 87. Takes note of the 29 recommendations made by the Commission on the submissions of a number of coastal States, and welcomes the fact that summaries of recommendations are being made publicly available in accordance with paragraph 11.3 of annex III to the Rules of Procedure of the Commission; 88. Notes that the consideration by the Commission of submissions by coastal States in accordance with article 76 of and annex II to the Convention is without prejudice to the application of other parts of the Convention by States Parties; 89. Also notes the considerable number of submissions yet to be considered by the Commission and the demands that this places on its members and the secretariat as provided by the Division, and emphasizes the need to ensure that the Commission can perform its functions expeditiously, efficiently and effectively and maintain its high level of quality and expertise; 90. Takes note with appreciation of the decision of the Commission at its forty-fourth session to continue to extend the duration of its sessions for 2018 to three __________________ 42 See SPLOS/183. 43 See CLCS/98, CLCS/100 and CLCS/101. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 19/55 17-21819 sessions of seven weeks each, including plenary meetings, 44 and further notes the decision of the Commission to establish new subcommissions so that nine subcommissions would actively consider submissions;45 91. Notes that the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, in its decisions regarding the conditions of service of the members of the Commission,46 reaffirmed the obligation of States under the Convention whose experts were serving on the Commission to defray the expenses of the experts they had nominated while the experts are in performance of Commission duties, including the provision of medical coverage, and urged those States to do their utmost to ensure the full participation of those experts in the work of the Commission, including the meetings of subcommissions, in accordance with the Convention; 92. Also notes the decision of the twenty-seventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention to continue the consideration of the conditions of service of the members of the Commission within the open-ended working group established by the twenty-third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;5 93. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take appropriate measures, within overall existing resource levels, to further strengthen the capacity of the Division, serving as the secretariat of the Commission, in order to ensure enhanced support and assistance to the Commission and its subcommissions in their consideration of submissions, as required by paragraph 9 of annex III to the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, in particular its human resources, taking into account the need for simultaneous work on several submissions; 94. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to provide all necessary secretariat services to the Commission in accordance with article 2, paragraph 5, of annex II to the Convention; 95. Requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate and timely measures to ensure secretariat services for the Commission and its subcommissions for the extended duration of time requested in the decisions of the twenty-first17 and twenty- sixth18 Meetings of States Parties to the Convention; 96. Also requests the Secretary-General, consequently, to continue to allocate appropriate and sufficient resources to the Division to provide adequate services and assistance to the Commission in view of the number of its working weeks; 97. Expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the voluntary trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission, 28 and encourages States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make additional contributions to this fund; 98. Also expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the voluntary trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of defraying the cost of participation of the members of the Commission from developing States in the meetings of the Commission,28 expresses its serious concern at the critical lack of funds in this trust fund, urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make additional contributions to it, and authorizes the use, as appropriate, of the trust fund, and in accordance with the purpose of its terms of reference, to defray the cost of the participation of the Chair __________________ 44 See CLCS/100. 45 See CLCS/80, CLCS/80/Corr.1, CLCS/83 and CLCS/83/Corr.1. 46 SPLOS/276 and SPLOS/286. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 20/55 of the Commission, when nominated by a developing country, in the Meetings of States Parties to the Convention; 99. Authorizes the Secretary-General, as an interim measure and subject to the availability of funds in the trust fund referred to in paragraph 98 above, following the allocation of the required funds to cover the costs of travel and daily subsistence allowance of the members of the Commission from developing States for the sessions of the Commission in 2018, to reimburse those members for the costs of medical travel insurance from that trust fund on a session-by-session basis and subject to a reasonable limit that the Secretary-General shall determine, based on the information regarding medical travel insurance available to him; 100. Takes note of the written information, provided by the Secretary-General in response to the request in paragraph 81 of resolution 69/245, on options for mechanisms to provide medical insurance coverage to members of the Commission, including costs, and the information provided by the Secretariat during the twenty- seventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, and expresses its intention to continue to consider these and other options and, if necessary, to further review the terms of reference for the trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of facilitating the participation of members of the Commission from developing States in the meetings of the Commission; 101. Emphasizes the continued need for members of the Commission to have suitable working space for their work at the sessions of the Commission and its subcommissions, recognizes, with regard to the long-term accommodation discussions, that, owing to its exceptional character, the Commission has special requirements for its working space, including the need for fit-for-purpose working space, adequate technical equipment and climate control, and needs to remain located within the same premises as the Division, and emphasizes that, in the context of any relocation of the Division or any change in its working space, full regard will be paid to these special requirements of the Commission; 102. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the forty-sixth, forty- seventh and forty-eighth sessions of the Commission, in New York, from 29 January to 16 March 2018, from 16 July to 31 August 2018 and from 15 October to 30 November 2018, respectively, with full conference services, including documentation, for the plenary parts of these sessions, 47 as well as any resumed sessions as may be required by the Commission, and requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to meet these requirements within overall existing resources; 103. Welcomes the convening of a half-day open meeting of the Commission on 10 March 2017, during its forty-third session, to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of its establishment;48 104. Expresses its firm conviction about the importance of the work of the Commission, carried out in accordance with the Convention as well as in accordance with its Rules of Procedure, including with respect to the participation of coastal States in relevant proceedings concerning their submissions, and recognizes the continued need for active interaction between coastal States and the Commission; 105. Expresses its appreciation to States that have exchanged views in order to increase understanding of issues, including expenditures involved, arising from the application of article 76 of the Convention, thus facilitating the preparation of __________________ 47 From 5 to 9 February and from 5 to 9 March 2018 during the forty-sixth session, and from 6 to 10 August and from 27 to 31 August 2018 during the forty-seventh session. 48 See CLCS/98. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 21/55 17-21819 submissions by States, in particular developing States, to the Commission, and encourages States to continue to exchange views; 106. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with Member States, to continue to support workshops or symposiums on scientific and technical aspects of the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, taking into account the need to strengthen capacity-building for developing countries in preparing their submissions; VIII Maritime safety and security and flag State implementation 107. Encourages States to ratify or accede to international agreements addressing the safety and security of navigation, as well as maritime labour, and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with the Convention and other relevant international instruments aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements, and emphasizes the need for capacity-building for and assistance to developing States; 108. Recognizes that the legal regimes governing maritime safety and maritime security may have common and mutually reinforcing objectives that may be interrelated and could benefit from synergies, and encourages States to take this into account in their implementation; 109. Emphasizes the need for further efforts to promote a culture of safety and security in the shipping industry and to address the shortage of adequately trained personnel, and urges the establishment of more centres to provide the required education and training; 110. Also emphasizes that safety and security measures should be implemented in support of and with minimal negative effects on seafarers and fishers, especially in relation to their working conditions, and welcomes the ongoing cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Labour Organization in relation to decent work and employment in fisheries and aquaculture and on child labour in fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the work that has been conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Labour Organization on the issue of trafficking in persons and forced labour on fishing vessels; 111. Welcomes the consideration by the International Maritime Organization of the fair treatment of seafarers, and recalls the adoption by the Organization on 4 December 2013 of resolution A.1090(28) on the fair treatment of crew members in respect of shore leave and access to shore-side facilities; 112. Notes the theme for the 2017 World Maritime Day, “Connecting ships, ports and people”; 113. Invites States that have not yet done so to become parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978,49 as amended, and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995; 114. Acknowledges the entry into force of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185)50 and the Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) of the International Labour Organization, encourages States that have not yet done so to __________________ 49 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1361, No. 23001. 50 Ibid., vol. 2304, No. 41069. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 22/55 consider becoming parties to them as well as to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended, calls upon States to effectively implement their obligations under those instruments, and emphasizes the need to provide to States, at their request, technical cooperation and assistance in this regard; 115. Invites States to ratify or accede to the Cape Town Agreement of 2012 on the Implementation of the Provisions of the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977; 116. Welcomes ongoing cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization relating to the safety of fishers and fishing vessels, and underlines the urgent need for continued work in that area; 117. Notes the adoption by the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization of resolution A.1078(28) of 4 December 2013 which revised the International Maritime Organization ship identification number scheme to allow its voluntary application to seagoing ships of 100 gross tonnage and above, including fishing vessels; 118. Recalls that all actions taken to combat threats to maritime security must be in accordance with international law, including the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention; 119. Recognizes the crucial role of international cooperation at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels in combating, in accordance with international law, threats to maritime security, including piracy, armed robbery against ships at sea and terrorist acts against shipping, offshore installations and other maritime interests, through bilateral and multilateral instruments and mechanisms aimed at monitoring, preventing and responding to such threats, the enhanced sharing of information among States relevant to the detection, prevention and suppression of such threats, and the prosecution of offenders with due regard to national legislation, and the need for sustained capacity-building to support such objectives, and in this regard welcomes the Work Plan for Maritime Security 2015–2017, which was reaffirmed at the twenty-fourth Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, held in Manila on 7 August 2017; 120. Welcomes the adoption by the African Union Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa of the Charter on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa; 121. Acknowledges the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in promoting international cooperation and strengthening capacity to combat the problem of transnational organized crime committed at sea; 122. Notes with concern that piracy and armed robbery at sea affect a wide range of vessels engaged in maritime activities, and expresses grave concern at the threats posed by piracy and armed robbery at sea to the safety and welfare of seafarers and other persons; 123. Emphasizes the importance of promptly reporting incidents to enable accurate information on the scope of the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships at sea and, in the case of armed robbery against ships at sea, by affected vessels to the coastal State, underlines the importance of effective information-sharing with States potentially affected by incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships at sea, notes with appreciation the important role of the International Maritime Organization and the important contribution of the Information Sharing Centre of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, based in Singapore, which aspires to be recognized as a centre of Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 23/55 17-21819 excellence within its purpose and mandate, and notes also the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea mechanism and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations covering the high-risk area; 124. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, to actively combat piracy and armed robbery at sea by adopting measures, including those relating to assistance with capacity-building through training of seafarers, port staff and enforcement personnel in the prevention, reporting and investigation of incidents, by bringing the alleged perpetrators to justice, in accordance with international law, and by adopting national legislation, as well as by providing enforcement vessels and equipment and guarding against fraudulent ship registration; 125. Encourages States to ensure effective implementation of international law applicable to combating piracy, as reflected in the Convention, calls upon States to take appropriate steps under their national law to facilitate, in accordance with international law, the apprehension and prosecution of those who are alleged to have committed acts of piracy, including the financing or facilitation of such acts, also taking into account other relevant instruments that are consistent with the Convention, and encourages States to cooperate, as appropriate, with a view to developing their national legislation in this regard; 126. Invites all States, the International Maritime Organization, the International Labour Organization and other relevant international organizations and agencies to adopt or recommend, as appropriate, measures to protect the interest and welfare of seafarers and fishers who are victims of pirates, after their release from captivity, including their post-incident care and reintegration into society; 127. Notes the ongoing cooperation between the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Division with respect to the compilation of national legislation on piracy, also notes that copies of national legislation received by the Secretariat have been placed on the website of the Division, and encourages the aforementioned bodies to further cooperate with the view to assisting Member States, upon request, in developing their national laws on piracy; 128. Recognizes continued national, bilateral and trilateral initiatives, as well as regional cooperative mechanisms, in accordance with international law, to address piracy, including the financing or facilitation of acts of piracy, and armed robbery at sea, and calls upon States to give immediate attention to adopting, concluding and implementing cooperation agreements at the regional level on combating piracy and armed robbery against ships; 129. Expresses serious concern at the inhuman conditions hostages taken at sea face in captivity and also the adverse impact on their families, calls for the immediate release of all hostages taken at sea, and stresses the importance of cooperation among Member States on the issue of hostage-taking at sea; 130. Welcomes, in this regard, the ongoing work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Hostage Support Programme, funded by the Board of the Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, in securing the release of seafarers held hostage off the coast of Somalia; 51 131. Also welcomes the recent achievements against piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia resulting from efforts at the global and regional levels, which have resulted in a steady decline in pirate attacks as well as hijackings since 2011, in that regard continues to be gravely concerned by the ongoing threat that __________________ 51 See S/2013/623, paras. 11–13, and S/2014/740, para. 10. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 24/55 piracy and armed robbery at sea continue to pose in the region off the coast of Somalia, notes the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 2383 (2017) of 7 November 2017, as well as the statements by the President of the Council of 25 August 201052 and of 19 November 2012,53 also notes that the authorization in resolution 2383 (2017) and relevant resolutions54 apply only with respect to the situation in Somalia and shall not affect the rights, obligations or responsibilities of Member States under international law, including any rights or obligations under the Convention, with respect to any other situation, and underscores, in particular, that they shall not be considered as establishing customary international law; 132. Notes the continued efforts within the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, following the adoption of Security Council resolution 1851 (2008) of 16 December 2008, and commends the contributions of all States in the efforts to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia; 133. Takes note of the outcome of the London Conference on Somalia held on 11 May 2017, and the commitment of the Federal Government of Somalia and federal member states of Somalia to developing their maritime security capabilities; 134. Recognizes the primary responsibility of the Federal Government of Somalia in combating piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, acknowledges the importance of a comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the situation in Somalia, and emphasizes the need to address the underlying causes of piracy and to assist Somalia and States in the region, at their request, in strengthening institutional capacity to fight piracy and tackle its underlying causes, including the financing or facilitation of acts of piracy, and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia and to bring to justice those involved in such acts; 135. Notes the International Maritime Organization guidelines to assist in the investigation of the crimes of piracy and armed robbery against ships, revised interim guidance to shipowners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, revised interim recommendations for flag States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, revised interim recommendations for port and coastal States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, interim guidance to private maritime security companies providing privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, and interim guidance for flag States on measures to prevent and mitigate Somalia-based piracy; 136. Welcomes the successful prosecution of piracy cases in Belgium, India, Mauritius and Seychelles during the past year, as well as the successful cooperation between China and Somalia in transferring suspected pirates in May 2017, while noting with concern that the continuing limited capacity and domestic legislation to facilitate the custody and prosecution of suspected pirates after their capture has hindered more robust international action against pirates off the coast of Somalia; 137. Encourages States to ensure that ships flying their flag apply ship security measures approved in accordance with national and international law; 138. Notes the efforts made by the shipping industry to cooperate with the efforts by States regarding piracy off the coast of Somalia, in particular in assisting ships that navigate in that area, and recalls the adoption on 30 November 2011 by the __________________ 52 S/PRST/2010/16; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2010–31 July 2011 (S/INF/66). 53 S/PRST/2012/24; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2012–31 July 2013 (S/INF/68). 54 See Security Council resolution 2316 (2016), first preambular paragraph. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 25/55 17-21819 Assembly of the International Maritime Organization of resolution A.1044(27) on piracy and armed robbery against ships in waters off the coast of Somalia; 139. Also notes the continued implementation of the Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden (Djibouti Code of Conduct), adopted on 29 January 2009 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization, in the four thematic areas of information-sharing, training, national legislation and capacity- building, and notes the adoption in January 2017 of the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct; 140. Expresses its deep concern at the continuing incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, in particular violence against innocent crew members of vessels, notes the adoption by the Security Council of resolutions 2018 (2011) of 31 October 2011 and 2039 (2012) of 29 February 2012 and the statement by the President of the Council of 25 April 2016,55 supports the recent efforts to address this problem at the global and regional levels, recalls the primary role of States in the region to counter the threat and address the underlying causes of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, welcomes the adoption in Yaoundé on 25 June 2013 of the Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy, Armed Robbery against Ships, and Illegal Maritime Activity in West and Central Africa, and calls upon States in the region to implement the Code of Conduct as soon as possible and consistent with international law, in particular the Convention; 141. Urges States to ensure the full implementation of resolution A.1069(28) of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization on prevention and suppression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in the Gulf of Guinea; 142. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation56 and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf,56 invites States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the 2005 Protocol to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation 57 and the 2005 Protocol to the 1988 Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf, 58 and urges States parties to take appropriate measures to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments through the adoption of legislation, where appropriate; 143. Calls upon States to effectively implement the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code and the amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,59 and to work with the International Maritime Organization to promote safe and secure shipping while ensuring freedom of navigation; 144. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, to improve the protection of offshore installations by adopting measures related to the prevention, reporting and investigation of acts of violence against installations, in accordance with international law, and by implementing such measures through national legislation to ensure proper and adequate enforcement; __________________ 55 S/PRST/2016/4. 56 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1678, No. 29004. 57 International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.15/21. 58 International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.15/22. 59 International Maritime Organization, documents SOLAS/CONF.5/32 and 34, and document MSC 81/25/Add.1, annex 2, resolution MSC.202(81), introducing the long-range identification and tracking of ships system. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 26/55 145. Emphasizes the progress in regional cooperation, including the efforts of littoral States, on the enhancement of safety, security and environmental protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and the effective functioning of the Cooperative Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (the Cooperative Mechanism) to promote dialogue and facilitate close cooperation between the littoral States, user States, shipping industries and other stakeholders in line with article 43 of the Convention, notes with appreciation the convening of the tenth Cooperation Forum, in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, on 2 and 3 October 2017, the tenth Project Coordination Committee Meeting, in Kota Kinabalu on 4 October 2017, the forty-second Tripartite Technical Experts Group Meeting, in Kota Kinabalu on 5 and 6 October 2017, and the eighteenth and nineteenth Aids to Navigation Fund Committee Meetings, in Singapore, on 11 and 12 April 2017 and 14 and 15 September 2017, respectively, the events being key pillars of the Cooperative Mechanism, also notes with appreciation the important role of the Information Sharing Centre of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, based in Singapore, and calls upon States to give immediate attention to adopting, concluding and implementing cooperation agreements at the regional level; 146. Recognizes that some transnational organized criminal activities threaten legitimate uses of the oceans and endanger the lives of people at sea, as well as the livelihoods and security of coastal communities; 147. Notes that transnational organized criminal activities are diverse and may be interrelated in some cases and that criminal organizations are adaptive and take advantage of the vulnerabilities of States, in particular coastal and small island developing States in transit areas, and calls upon States and relevant intergovernmental organizations to increase cooperation and coordination at all levels to detect and suppress the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and illicit trafficking in firearms, in accordance with international law; 148. Recognizes the importance of enhancing international cooperation at all levels to fight transnational organized criminal activities, including illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, within the scope of the United Nations instruments against illicit drug trafficking, as well as the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and illicit trafficking in firearms and criminal activities at sea falling within the scope of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;60 149. Encourages States to cooperate at the bilateral, regional and global levels to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora where such trafficking occurs via maritime routes, through, inter alia, the use of applicable international legal instruments as appropriate, such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the United Nations Convention against Corruption61 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,62 and reiterates its call upon Member States expressed in its resolution 71/326 of 11 September 2017 to make illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora a serious crime, in accordance with their national legislation and as defined in article 2 (b) and article 3, paragraph 1 (b), of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, in order to ensure that, where the offence is transnational in nature and involves an organized criminal group, effective international cooperation can be __________________ 60 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2225, No. 39574. 61 Ibid., vol. 2349, No. 42146. 62 Ibid., vol. 993, No. 14537. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 27/55 17-21819 afforded under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to prevent and combat transnational organized crime; 150. Notes with grave concern the recent proliferation of, and endangerment of lives through, the smuggling of migrants by sea, underscores the necessity to address such situations in accordance with applicable international law, and encourages States, acting nationally or through relevant global or regional organizations, as appropriate, to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to flag, port and coastal States, upon request, to enhance their capabilities to prevent smuggling of migrants and human trafficking by sea; 151. Calls upon States, in that context, to take measures in accordance with relevant international obligations to prevent and combat all forms of trafficking in persons, to identify victims of human trafficking, including among migrant flows, and to provide trafficking victims with appropriate protection and assistance, according to their national law and policy; 152. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,63 the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,64 and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,65 and to take appropriate measures to ensure their effective implementation; 153. Calls upon States to ensure freedom of navigation, the safety of navigation and the rights of transit passage, archipelagic sea lanes passage and innocent passage in accordance with international law, in particular the Convention; 154. Welcomes the work of the International Maritime Organization relating to the protection of shipping lanes of strategic importance and significance, and in particular in enhancing safety, security and environmental protection in straits used for international navigation, and calls upon that Organization, States bordering straits and user States to continue their cooperation to keep such straits safe, secure and environmentally protected and open to international navigation at all times, consistent with international law, in particular the Convention; 155. Calls upon user States and States bordering straits used for international navigation to continue to cooperate by agreement on matters relating to navigational safety, including safety aids for navigation, and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution from ships, and welcomes developments in this regard; 156. Calls upon States that have accepted the amendments to regulation XI-1/6 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, 66 to implement the Code of International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident, 67 which took effect on 1 January 2010, and, in particular, to comply with the mandatory submission of a marine safety investigation report to the International Maritime Organization for __________________ 63 Ibid., vol. 2241, No. 39574. 64 Ibid., vol. 2326, No. 39574. 65 Ibid., vol. 2237, No. 39574. 66 International Maritime Organization, document MSC 84/24/Add.1, annex 3, resolution MSC.257(84). 67 International Maritime Organization, document MSC 84/24/Add.1, annex 1, resolution MSC.255(84). A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 28/55 every marine safety investigation conducted into a very serious marine casualty to identify trends and develop knowledge and risk-based recommendations; 157. Notes the adoption by the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization at its twenty-eighth session of the resolution on guidelines on the preservation and collection of evidence following an allegation of a serious crime having taken place on board a ship or following a report of a missing person from a ship, and pastoral and medical care of persons affected;68 158. Recognizes the important work of the International Hydrographic Organization, calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming members of that Organization, encourages all its members to actively consider, in accordance with applicable rules and procedures, applications of States that wish to become members of that Organization, and urges all States to work with that Organization to increase the coverage of hydrographic information on a global basis to enhance capacity-building and technical assistance and to promote safe navigation, particularly through the production and use of accurate electronic navigational charts, especially in areas used for international navigation, in ports and where there are vulnerable or protected marine areas; 159. Also recognizes the importance of navigational warning services based on marine meteorological data for the safety of ships and lives at sea and the optimization of navigation routes, and notes the collaboration between the World Meteorological Organization and the International Maritime Organization for the enhancement of these services and their extension to the Arctic region; 160. Encourages States to continue their efforts in the implementation of all areas of the Action Plan for the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material, approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in March 2004; 161. Notes that cessation of the transport of radioactive materials through the regions of small island developing States is an ultimate desired goal of small island developing States and some other countries, and recognizes the right of freedom of navigation in accordance with international law; that States should maintain dialogue and consultation, in particular under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Maritime Organization, with the aim of improved mutual understanding, confidence-building and enhanced communication in relation to the safe maritime transport of radioactive materials; that States involved in the transport of such materials are urged to continue to engage in dialogue with small island developing States and other States to address their concerns; and that these concerns include the further development and strengthening, within the appropriate forums, of international regulatory regimes to enhance safety, disclosure, liability, security and compensation in relation to such transport; 162. Acknowledges, in the context of paragraph 161 above, the potential environmental and economic impacts of maritime incidents and accidents on coastal States, in particular those related to the transport of radioactive materials, and emphasizes the importance of effective liability regimes in that regard; 163. Encourages States to draw up plans and to establish procedures to implement the Guidelines on Places of Refuge for Ships in Need of Assistance adopted by the International Maritime Organization on 5 December 2003;69 __________________ 68 International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.1091(28). 69 International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.949(23). Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 29/55 17-21819 164. Invites States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007; 70 165. Requests States to take appropriate measures with regard to ships flying their flag or of their registry to address hazards that may be caused by wrecks and drifting or sunken cargo to navigation or the marine environment; 166. Calls upon States to ensure that masters on ships flying their flag take the steps required by relevant instruments71 to provide assistance to persons in distress at sea, and urges States to cooperate and to take all measures necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the amendments to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue72 and to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea73 relating to the delivery of persons rescued at sea to a place of safety, as well as of the associated Guidelines on the Treatment of Persons Rescued at Sea; 74 167. Recognizes that all States must fulfil their search and rescue responsibilities in accordance with international law, including the Convention, reaffirms the ongoing need for the International Maritime Organization and other relevant organizations to assist, in particular, developing States both to increase and improve their search and rescue capabilities, including, as appropriate, through the establishment of additional rescue coordination centres and regional sub-centres, and to take effective action to address, to the extent feasible, the issue of unseaworthy ships and small craft within their national jurisdiction, and emphasizes in this regard the importance of cooperation for these purposes, including within the framework of the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979; 75 168. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant actors in relation to disembarkation of persons rescued at sea, notes in this regard the need to implement all relevant and applicable international instruments and the importance of cooperation among States as provided for in those instruments, and underlines in particular the importance of full respect for the principle of non-refoulement in accordance with applicable international law; 169. Invites States to implement the Revised Guidelines on the Prevention of Access by Stowaways and the Allocation of Responsibilities to Seek the Successful Resolution of Stowaway Cases adopted by the International Maritime Organization on 2 December 2010;76 170. Calls upon States to continue to cooperate in developing comprehensive approaches to international migration and development, including through dialogue on all their aspects; __________________ 70 International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.16/19. 71 Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944, annex 12, International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, as amended, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, and International Convention on Salvage, 1989. 72 International Maritime Organization, document MSC 78/26/Add.1, annex 5, resolution MSC.155(78). 73 International Maritime Organization, document MSC 78/26/Add.1, annex 3, resolution MSC.153(78). 74 International Maritime Organization, document MSC 78/26/Add.2, annex 34, resolution MSC.167(78). 75 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1405, No. 23489. 76 International Maritime Organization, document MSC 88/26/Add.1, annex 6, resolution MSC.312(88). A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 30/55 171. Also calls upon States to take measures to protect fibre-optic submarine cables and to fully address issues relating to these cables, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the Convention; 172. Encourages greater dialogue and cooperation among States and the relevant regional and global organizations through workshops and seminars on the protection and maintenance of fibre-optic submarine cables to promote the security of such critical communications infrastructure; 173. Also encourages the adoption by States of laws and regulations addressing the breaking or injury of submarine cables or pipelines beneath the high seas done wilfully or through culpable negligence by a ship flying its flag or by a person subject to its jurisdiction, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the Convention; 174. Affirms the importance of maintenance, including the repair, of submarine cables, undertaken in conformity with international law, as reflected in the Convention; 175. Reaffirms that flag, port and coastal States all bear responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation and enforcement of international instruments relating to maritime security and safety, in accordance with international law, in particular the Convention, and that flag States have primary responsibility that requires further strengthening, including through increased transparency of ownership of vessels and the monitoring of organizations authorized to carry out surveys and issue certificates on their behalf, taking into account the entry into force of the Code for Recognized Organizations on 1 January 2015;77 176. Urges flag States without an effective maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement capabilities to ensure effective compliance with and implementation and enforcement of their responsibilities under international law, in particular the Convention, and, until such action is taken, to consider declining the granting of the right to fly their flag to new vessels, suspending their registry or not opening a registry, and calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of substandard vessels; 177. Recognizes that international shipping rules and standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization in respect of maritime safety, efficiency of navigation and the prevention and control of marine pollution, complemented by best practices of the shipping industry, have led to a significant reduction in maritime accidents and pollution incidents; 178. Notes that audits of Member States under the International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme became mandatory in January 2016 under nine mandatory International Maritime Organization instruments and are to be carried out in accordance with the Framework and the Procedures for the International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme and using the International Maritime Organization Instruments Implementation Code (III Code);78 179. Welcomes the adoption by the International Maritime Organization of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended,79 and encourages States and competent __________________ 77 International Maritime Organization, resolutions MSC.349(92) and MEPC.237(65). 78 See International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolutions A.1018(26), A.1067(28), A.1068(28) and A.1070(28). 79 International Maritime Organization, document MEPC 62/24/Add.1, annex 19, resolution Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 31/55 17-21819 international organizations and bodies to support the effective implementation of the requirements of the Polar Code, which entered into force on 1 January 2017;80 180. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization on matters related to passenger ship safety in light of recent accidents, and encourages States and competent international organizations and bodies to support continued efforts, including technical cooperation activities, to improve passenger ship safety; 181. Recognizes that maritime safety can also be improved through effective port State control, the strengthening of regional arrangements and increased coordination and cooperation among them and increased transparency and information-sharing, making ample use of information systems, such as the International Maritime Organization Global Integrated Shipping Information System,81 including among safety and security sectors; 182. Encourages flag States to take appropriate measures sufficient to achieve or maintain recognition by intergovernmental arrangements that recognize satisfactory flag State performance, including, as appropriate, satisfactory port State control examination results on a sustained basis, with a view to improving quality shipping and furthering flag State implementation of relevant instruments under the International Maritime Organization as well as relevant goals and objectives of the present resolution; IX Marine environment and marine resources 183. Emphasizes once again the importance of the implementation of Part XII of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, and calls upon all States to cooperate and take measures consistent with the Convention, directly or through competent international organizations, for the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 184. Calls upon States to implement the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the outcome document of the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” as adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 70/1, including Goal 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, and recalls that the Goals and targets are integrated and indivisible; 185. Reiterates, in this regard, the call made in the declaration entitled “Our ocean, our future: call for action” for action to be taken on an urgent basis to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development;82 186. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States noted with concern that the health of oceans and marine biodiversity are negatively affected by marine pollution, including marine debris, especially plastic, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals and nitrogen-based compounds, from a number of marine and land-based sources, including shipping and land run-off, and that States committed to take action to reduce __________________ MEPC.203(62). 80 International Maritime Organization resolutions MSC.385(94) and MEPC.264(68) and related amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (resolution MSC.386(94) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (resolution MEPC.265(68). 81 International Maritime Organization, resolutions A.1029(26) and A.1074(28). 82 Resolution 71/312, annex. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 32/55 the incidence and impacts of such pollution on marine ecosystems, including through the effective implementation of relevant conventions adopted in the framework of the International Maritime Organization, and the follow-up of relevant initiatives such as the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities,83 as well as the adoption of coordinated strategies to this end, and that they further committed to take action, by 2025, based on collected scientific data, to achieve significant reductions in marine debris to prevent harm to the coastal and marine environment; 187. Encourages States, in accordance with the commitment expressed in “The future we want” and based on collected scientific data, to take action by 2025 to achieve significant reductions in marine debris to prevent harm to the coastal and marine environment; 188. Notes the discussions at the seventeenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, which focused on the theme “Marine debris, plastics and microplastics” and which, inter alia, highlighted that the size of the problem had increased exponentially since the topic of marine debris was addressed at the sixth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, in 2005, noted that marine debris in general, and plastics in particular, were some of the greatest environmental concerns of our time, along with climate change, ocean acidification and loss of biodiversity, discussed prevention and emphasized the need to address the issue, both downstream, through improved mechanisms for waste management, disposal and recycling, and upstream, by addressing consumption and production patterns, including through awareness-raising campaigns;84 189. Also notes the eighteenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, which focused on the theme “The effects of climate change on oceans”, during which delegations discussed, inter alia, the environmental, social and economic impacts on all States, in particular developing States, of the effects of climate change on the oceans, as well as the urgent need to address such effects and impacts, the need for international cooperation and coordination, including concerted and immediate action to combat the effects of climate change on the oceans, as well as the need for continued coordinated international focus in recognition that, owing to the interconnected nature of the oceans, ensuing impacts cannot be overcome by any single State and, in particular, in view of the grave implications for countries with low-lying coasts, some of whose very existence is under threat;4 190. Further notes the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, notes with concern its findings on the acidification of the oceans and the substantial risks to marine ecosystems, especially polar ecosystems, coral reefs, plankton and other organisms which have a calcareous exoskeleton, or a shell, like crustaceans, and the potentially detrimental consequences for fisheries and livelihoods, as well as the findings of the World Meteorological Organization contained in its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, and notes its decision to foster collaboration with organizations and institutions that address the carbon budget of the ocean, 85 and in this regard encourages States and competent international organizations and other relevant institutions, individually and in cooperation, to urgently pursue further research on ocean acidification, especially programmes of observation and measurement, noting in particular the continued work under the Convention on Biological Diversity86 and paragraphs 6 to 10 of decision XII/23 on marine and __________________ 83 A/51/116, annex II. 84 See A/71/204. 85 World Meteorological Organization, Seventeenth World Meteorological Congress, Geneva, 25 May–12 June 2015, resolution 46 (Cg-17). 86 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 33/55 17-21819 coastal biodiversity, adopted at the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea, from 6 to 17 October 2014,87 and to increase national, regional and global efforts to address levels of ocean acidity and the negative impact of such acidity on vulnerable marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs; 191. Notes with appreciation that, at its forty-third session, held in Nairobi, from 11 to 13 April 2016, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change decided to prepare a special report on climate change and oceans and the cryosphere; 88 192. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States called for support for initiatives that address ocean acidification and the impacts of climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems and resources and in this regard reiterated the need to work collectively to prevent further ocean acidification, as well as to enhance the resilience of marine ecosystems and of the communities whose livelihoods depend on them, and to support marine scientific research, monitoring and observation of ocean acidification and particularly vulnerable ecosystems, including through enhanced international cooperation in this regard; 193. Welcomes, in this regard, the holding in Monaco, from 15 to 17 October 2017, of the fourth International Workshop on the Socioeconomic Impacts of Ocean Acidification, on the theme “From sciences to solutions: ocean acidification impacts on ecosystem services – case study on coral reefs”, organized by the Scientific Centre of Monaco and the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre of the International Atomic Energy Agency; 194. Notes with concern the approximately 30 per cent increase in the acidity of ocean surface waters since the beginning of the industrial era 89 and the wide range of impacts associated with the continuing and alarming acidification of the world’s oceans, and urges States to make significant efforts to tackle the causes of ocean acidification, recognizing countries’ national circumstances and respective capabilities, and to further study and minimize its impacts, to enhance local, national, regional and global cooperation in this regard, including the sharing of relevant information and the development of worldwide capacity, including in developing countries, to measure ocean acidification, and to take steps to make marine ecosystems healthier and, as a result, more resilient, to the extent possible, to the impacts of ocean acidification; 195. Recognizes the attention paid to ocean acidification at the fourteenth and eighteenth meetings of the Informal Consultative Process, and commits itself to continue to pay attention to this important issue, including by taking into account the First Global Integrated Marine Assessment (the first World Ocean Assessment), the ongoing work of the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre and the scientific cooperation fostered by the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network; 196. Encourages States, individually or in collaboration with relevant international organizations and bodies, to enhance their scientific activity to better understand the effects of climate change on the marine environment and marine biodiversity, support continued coordination of scientific work to study and minimize the impacts of ocean acidification and develop ways and means of adaptation, taking into account, as appropriate, the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches; __________________ 87 See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/12/29, sect. I. 88 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, decision IPCC/XLIII-6. 89 As stated in the 2013 report of Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on the physical science basis of climate change. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 34/55 197. Notes the vital role that coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses, play in climate adaptation and mitigation through carbon sequestration, and in increasing the resilience of coastal ecosystems to ocean acidification, and the range of other benefits that these ecosystems provide, including sustainable livelihoods, food security and biodiversity conservation, and coastal protection, and encourages States and relevant international institutions and organizations to work collaboratively to protect and restore coastal blue carbon ecosystems; 198. Welcomes the Paris Agreement90 and its early entry into force on 4 November 2016, encourages all its parties to fully implement the Agreement and parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 91 that have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, as appropriate, as soon as possible, and recognizes the importance of raising awareness of the adverse impact of climate change on the marine environment, marine biodiversity and sea level; 199. Also welcomes, in this regard, the convening of the twenty-third session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the second part of the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement in Bonn, Germany, from 6 to 17 November 2017; 200. Encourages States that have not yet done so to become parties to international agreements addressing the protection and preservation of the marine environment and its living marine resources against the introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens and marine pollution from all sources, including the dumping of wastes and other matter, and other forms of physical degradation, as well as agreements that provide for preparedness for, response to and cooperation on pollution incidents and that include provisions on liability and compensation for damage resulting from marine pollution, and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with international law, including the Convention, aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements; 201. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States noted the significant threat that alien invasive species pose to marine ecosystems and resources and committed to implement measures to prevent the introduction and manage the adverse environmental impacts of alien invasive species, including, as appropriate, those adopted in the framework of the International Maritime Organization; 202. Notes with satisfaction that the conditions for the entry into force of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004,92 have been fulfilled and that that Convention entered into force on 8 September 2017, and encourages States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to it; 203. Encourages States, directly or through competent international organizations, to consider the further development and application, as appropriate and consistent with international law, including the Convention, of environmental impact assessment processes covering planned activities under their jurisdiction or control that may cause substantial pollution of or significant and harmful changes to the marine environment, and also encourages the communication of the reports of the __________________ 90 See FCCC/CP/2015/10/Add.1, decision 1/CP.21, annex. 91 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. 92 International Maritime Organization, document BWM/CONF/36, annex. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 35/55 17-21819 results of such assessments to the competent international organizations in accordance with the Convention; 204. Encourages States that have not done so to become parties to regional seas conventions and the protocols thereto addressing the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 205. Encourages States, in accordance with international law, including the Convention and other relevant instruments, either bilaterally or regionally, to jointly develop and promote contingency plans for responding to pollution incidents, as well as other incidents that are likely to have significant adverse effects on the marine environment and biodiversity; 206. Recognizes the importance of improving understanding of the impact of climate change on oceans and seas, and recalls that, in “The future we want”, States noted that sea-level rise and coastal erosion are serious threats for many coastal regions and islands, particularly in developing countries and in this regard called upon the international community to enhance its efforts to address these challenges; 207. Notes with concern the severe impacts on coastal communities of extreme weather events, such as tropical cyclones and associated storm surges, and encourages cooperative actions by relevant United Nations bodies and organizations, including the World Meteorological Organization, to assist States in improving forecasting of such events and its application in multi-hazard early warning systems and risk management; 208. Also notes with concern that the health of the oceans and marine biodiversity are negatively affected by marine debris, especially plastic, from land- based and marine sources, and notes that the “UNEP frontiers 2016 report” identifies microplastics as one of six key emerging environmental issues; 209. Recognizes the need for better understanding of the sources, amounts, pathways, distribution, trends, nature and impacts of marine debris, especially plastics and microplastics, and to examine possible measures and best available techniques and environmental practices to prevent its accumulation and minimize its levels in the marine environment, and welcomes in this regard the work conducted under the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection, led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and its report entitled “Sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the marine environment – a global assessment”, and the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme on marine plastic debris and microplastics, which reviews best-available knowledge and experiences in this regard and gives recommendations for further steps to reduce plastic litter and microplastic in the oceans;93 210. Calls upon States to implement resolution 2/11 on marine plastic litter and microplastics, adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme at its second session, held in Nairobi from 23 to 27 May 2016;11 211. Acknowledges the request by the United Nations Environment Assembly in paragraph 21 of its resolution 2/11 to the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, in close cooperation with other relevant bodies and organizations, to undertake an assessment of the effectiveness of relevant international, regional and subregional governance strategies and approaches to combat marine plastic litter and microplastics, taking into consideration the relevant international, regional and subregional regulatory frameworks and identifying possible gaps and options for addressing them, including through regional cooperation and coordination, __________________ 93 UNEP/EA.2/5. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 36/55 and to submit the assessment at the next session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, within available resources for this purpose; 212. Welcomes the activities of relevant United Nations bodies and organizations, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization and other intergovernmental organizations, to address the sources and impacts of marine debris, including through the Global Partnership on Marine Litter, as well as actions relating to marine debris taken under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals,94 in particular the adoption by the Conference of the Parties to that Convention at its eleventh meeting of resolution 11.30 on management of marine debris, and notes the work of the International Whaling Commission on assessing the impacts of marine debris on cetaceans; 213. Encourages States to further develop partnerships with industry and civil society to raise awareness of the extent of the impact of marine debris on the biological diversity, health and productivity of the marine environment and consequent economic loss and to cooperate with other States, industry and civil society, as appropriate, on environmentally sound and cost-effective measures to prevent and reduce, as appropriate, marine debris and microplastics in the marine environment, including through strengthened cooperation under the Global Partnership on Marine Litter; 214. Urges States to integrate the issue of marine debris into national and, as appropriate, regional strategies dealing with waste management, especially in the coastal zone, ports and maritime industries, including recycling, reuse, reduction and disposal, to consider developing an integrated waste management infrastructure and to encourage the development of appropriate economic incentives with the aim of reducing marine debris to address this issue, including the development of cost- recovery systems that provide an incentive to use port reception facilities and discourage ships from discharging marine debris at sea, and support for measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution from any source, including land-based sources, such as community-based coastal and waterway clean-up and monitoring activities, and encourages States to cooperate regionally and subregionally to identify potential sources and coastal and oceanic locations where marine debris aggregates and to develop and implement joint prevention and recovery programmes for marine debris as well as to raise awareness of the issue of marine debris and the need to consider environmentally sound options for its removal; 215. Notes the holding of the Workshop on Best Practices Sharing in Marine Debris Management in Coastal Cities of the APEC Region, under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation framework, in Xiamen, China, on 4 November 2017; 216. Also notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization to prevent pollution from ships, including through the designation of Special Areas under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended, 95 and encourages the International Maritime Organization to continue working on the prevention of pollution from ships; 217. Encourages States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Protocol of 1997 (annex VI – Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from __________________ 94 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1651, No. 28395. 95 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, annex IV (Regulations for the prevention of pollution by sewage from ships) and annex V (Regulations for the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships). Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 37/55 17-21819 Ships) to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended; 96 218. Encourages States that have not yet done so to become parties to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (the London Protocol); 219. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization and the resolution on International Maritime Organization policies and practices related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships;97 220. Urges States to cooperate in correcting the shortfall in port waste reception facilities in accordance with the action plan to address the inadequacy of port waste reception facilities developed by the International Maritime Organization; 221. Recognizes that most of the pollution load of the oceans emanates from land-based activities and affects the most productive areas of the marine environment, and calls upon States, as a matter of priority, to implement the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities and to take all appropriate measures to fulfil the commitments of the international community embodied in the Manila Declaration on Furthering the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities;98 222. Encourages States to take part in the Fourth Intergovernmental Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, to be held in Indonesia in 2018; 223. Expresses its concern regarding the spreading of hypoxic dead zones and harmful algal blooms in oceans as a result of eutrophication fuelled by riverine run- off of fertilizers, sewage outfall and reactive nitrogen resulting from the burning of fossil fuels and resulting in serious consequences for ecosystem functioning, and calls upon States to enhance their efforts to reduce eutrophication, particularly by reducing total nutrient pollution from land-based sources and, to this effect, to continue to cooperate within the framework of relevant international organizations, in particular the Global Programme of Action and the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management and Global Wastewater Initiative, including through capacity-building initiatives and efforts to monitor, via the Global Ocean Observing System, stressors such as harmful algal blooms, areas of hypoxia, sargassum seaweed invasions and jellyfish blooms, to assess their possible linkage to eutrophication and their potential adverse impacts on the marine environment as well as on human health; 224. Calls upon all States to ensure that urban and coastal development projects and related land-reclamation activities are carried out in a responsible manner that protects the marine habitat and environment and mitigates the negative consequences of such activities; 225. Welcomes the entry into force on 16 August 2017 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury,99 and encourages States that have not yet done so to take, as soon as possible, the domestic measures necessary to enable them to meet their obligations upon ratification and thereafter to ratify, accept, approve or accede to that Convention; __________________ 96 International Maritime Organization, document MEPC 62/24/Add.1, annex 19, resolution MEPC.203(62). 97 International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.963(23). 98 United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP(DEPI)/GPA/IGR.3/6, annex. 99 United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/CONF/4, annex II. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 38/55 226. Also welcomes the continued work of States, the United Nations Environment Programme and regional organizations in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action, and encourages increased emphasis on the link between fresh water, the coastal zone and marine resources in the implementation of international development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,100 and of the time-bound targets in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation),20 in particular the target on sanitation, and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development; 101 227. Recalls the resolution of the thirtieth Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (the London Convention) and the third Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, held from 27 to 31 October 2008, on the regulation of ocean fertilization,102 in which the Contracting Parties agreed, inter alia, that the scope of the London Convention and Protocol includes ocean fertilization activities and that, given the present state of knowledge, ocean fertilization activities other than for legitimate scientific research should not be allowed, and that scientific research proposals should be assessed on a case-by-case basis using an assessment framework to be developed by the scientific groups under the London Convention and Protocol, and also agreed that, to this end, such other activities should be considered as contrary to the aims of the London Convention and Protocol and should not currently qualify for any exemption from the definition of dumping in article III, paragraph 1 (b), of the London Convention and article 1, paragraph 4.2, of the London Protocol; 228. Also recalls the resolution of the thirty-second Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Convention and the fifth Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, held from 11 to 15 October 2010, on the Assessment Framework for Scientific Research Involving Ocean Fertilization; 103 229. Notes the continued work of the Contracting Parties to the London Convention and Protocol towards a global, transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanism for ocean fertilization activities and other activities that fall within the scope of the London Convention and Protocol and have the potential to cause harm to the marine environment, and notes the resolution adopted by the eighth Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, held from 14 to 18 October 2013, on the amendment to the London Protocol to regulate the placement of matter for ocean fertilization and other marine geoengineering activities;104 230. Recalls decision IX/16 C, adopted at the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Bonn, from 19 to 30 May 2008,105 in which the Conference of the Parties, inter alia, bearing in mind the ongoing scientific and legal analysis occurring under the auspices of the London Convention and Protocol, requested parties and urged other Governments, in accordance with the precautionary approach, to ensure that ocean fertilization activities were not carried out until there was an adequate scientific basis on which to justify such activities, including an assessment of associated risks, and that a global, __________________ 100 Resolution 55/2. 101 Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18–22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 102 International Maritime Organization, document LC 30/16, annex 6, resolution LC-LP.1 (2008). 103 International Maritime Organization, document LC 32/15 and Corr.1, annex 5, resolution LC-LP.2 (2010). 104 International Maritime Organization, document LC 35/15, annex 4, resolution LP.4(8). 105 See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/9/29, annex I. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 39/55 17-21819 transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanism was in place for those activities, with the exception of small-scale scientific research studies within coastal waters, and stated that such studies should be authorized only if justified by the need to gather specific scientific data, should be subject to a thorough prior assessment of the potential impacts of the research studies on the marine environment, should be strictly controlled and should not be used for generating and selling carbon offsets or for any other commercial purposes, and takes note of decision X/29, adopted at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Nagoya, Japan, from 18 to 29 October 2010,106 in which the Conference of the Parties requested parties to implement decision IX/16 C; 231. Also recalls that, in “The future we want”, States stressed their concern about the potential environmental impacts of ocean fertilization, recalled in this regard the decisions related to ocean fertilization adopted by the relevant intergovernmental bodies, and resolved to continue addressing ocean fertilization with utmost caution, consistent with the precautionary approach; 232. Reaffirms paragraph 119 of resolution 61/222 of 20 December 2006 regarding ecosystem approaches and oceans, including the proposed elements of an ecosystem approach, means to achieve implementation of an ecosystem approach and requirements for improved application of an ecosystem approach, and in this regard: (a) Notes that continued environmental degradation in many parts of the world and increasing competing demands require an urgent response and the setting of priorities for management actions aimed at conserving ecosystem integrity; (b) Also notes that ecosystem approaches to ocean management should be focused on managing human activities in order to maintain and, where needed, restore ecosystem health to sustain goods and environmental services, provide social and economic benefits for food security, sustain livelihoods in support of international development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and conserve marine biodiversity; (c) Recalls that States should be guided in the application of ecosystem approaches by a number of existing instruments, in particular the Convention, which sets out the legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas, and its implementing Agreements, as well as other commitments, such as those contained in the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Summit on Sustainable Development call for the application of an ecosystem approach by 2010, and in this context encourages States to enhance their efforts towards applying such an approach; (d) Encourages States to cooperate and coordinate their efforts and take, individually or jointly, as appropriate, all measures, in conformity with international law, including the Convention and other applicable instruments, to address impacts on marine ecosystems within and beyond areas of national jurisdiction, taking into account the integrity of the ecosystems concerned; 233. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States committed themselves to protect and restore the health, productivity and resilience of oceans and marine ecosystems, to maintain their biodiversity, enabling their conservation and sustainable use for present and future generations, and to effectively apply an ecosystem approach and the precautionary approach in the management, in accordance with international law, of activities having an impact on the marine environment, to deliver on all three dimensions of sustainable development; __________________ 106 See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/10/27, annex. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 40/55 234. Encourages competent organizations and bodies that have not yet done so to incorporate an ecosystem approach into their mandates, as appropriate, in order to address impacts on marine ecosystems; 235. Acknowledges the request by the United Nations Environment Assembly at its second session, in paragraph 6 of its resolution 2/10, to the United Nations Environment Programme to step up its work, including through its Regional Seas Programme, on assisting countries and regions in the application of the ecosystem approach to managing the marine and coastal environment, including through enabling intersectoral cooperation in integrated coastal zone management and marine spatial planning;10 236. Invites States, in particular those States with advanced technology and marine capabilities, to explore prospects for improving cooperation with and assistance to developing States, in particular least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, with a view to better integrating into national policies and programmes sustainable and effective development in the marine sector; 237. Notes the information compiled by the Secretariat107 in relation to the assistance available to and measures that may be taken by developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, to realize the benefits of sustainable and effective development of marine resources and uses of the oceans, as provided by States and competent international organizations and global and regional funding agencies, and urges them to provide information for the annual report of the Secretary-General and for incorporation on the website of the Division; 238. Encourages States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009108 to facilitate its entry into force; 239. Encourages continued cooperation between the parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal109 and the International Maritime Organization on regulations on the prevention of pollution from ships; 240. Notes the role of the Basel Convention in protecting the marine environment against the adverse effects which may result from such wastes; 241. Notes with concern the potential for serious environmental consequences resulting from oil spill incidents or pollution incidents involving hazardous or noxious substances, urges States, consistent with international law, to cooperate, directly or through competent international organizations, and share best practices, in the fields of protection of the marine environment, human health and safety, prevention, emergency response and mitigation, and in this regard encourages the undertaking of and collaboration on scientific research, including marine scientific research, to better understand the consequences of marine oil spills or marine spills involving hazardous or noxious substances; 242. Encourages States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation, 1990,110 and the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Cooperation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000, of __________________ 107 A/63/342. 108 International Maritime Organization, document SR/CONF/45. 109 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1673, No. 28911. 110 Ibid., vol. 1891, No. 32194. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 41/55 17-21819 the International Maritime Organization, and in this regard to consider developing and joining regional arrangements to enhance international cooperation for combating major oil and hazardous substances pollution incidents; 243. Encourages States to consider becoming parties to the 2010 Protocol to the 1996 International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea; 111 X Marine biodiversity 244. Reaffirms its central role relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction; 245. Notes the work and contributions of States and relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies in the context of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction; 246. Recalls, in this regard, its resolution 69/292, entitled “Development of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction”; 247. Takes note of the extensive and complex discussions and exchange of views at the four sessions of the Preparatory Committee established by resolution 69/292, which concluded on 21 July 2017, as well as of the report of the Preparatory Committee and the recommendations contained therein;112 248. Recognizes the abundance and diversity of marine genetic resources and their value in terms of the benefits, goods and services they can provide; 249. Also recognizes the importance of research on marine genetic resources for the purpose of enhancing the scientific understanding, potential use and application, and enhanced management of marine ecosystems; 250. Encourages States and international organizations, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes and partnerships, to continue in a sustainable and comprehensive way to support, promote and strengthen capacity- building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research, taking into account, in particular, the need to create greater taxonomic capabilities; 251. Notes the work under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity113 and the Convention on Biological Diversity elaborated programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity,114 and, while reiterating the central role of the General Assembly relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, notes with appreciation the complementary technical and scientific work done by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity; 252. Reaffirms the need for States, individually or through competent international organizations, to urgently consider ways to integrate and improve, based on the best available scientific information and the precautionary approach and in __________________ 111 International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.17/10. 112 A/AC.287/2017/PC.4/2. 113 See A/51/312, annex II, decision II/10. 114 United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex, decision VII/5, annex I. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 42/55 accordance with the Convention and related agreements and instruments, the management of risks to the marine biodiversity of seamounts, cold water corals, hydrothermal vents and certain other underwater features; 253. Notes the adoption by the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Cancun, Mexico, from 4 to 17 December 2016, of a voluntary specific workplan on biodiversity in cold water areas within the jurisdictional scope of the Convention, 115 and invites Parties to that Convention to implement the workplan; 254. Calls upon States and international organizations to urgently take further action to address, in accordance with international law, destructive practices that have adverse impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals; 255. Calls upon States to strengthen, in a manner consistent with international law, in particular the Convention, the conservation and management of marine biodiversity and ecosystems, and national policies in relation to area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; 256. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States reaffirmed the importance of area-based conservation measures, including marine protected areas, consistent with international law and based on best available scientific information, as a tool for conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components, and noted decision X/2 of the tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, that by 2020, 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are to be conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area- based conservation measures;106 257. Encourages States, in this regard, to further progress towards the establishment of marine protected areas, including representative networks, and calls upon States to further consider options to identify and protect ecologically or biologically significant areas, consistent with international law and on the basis of the best available scientific information; 258. Invites States to identify measures to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, enshrined in decision X/2 of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and takes note of the announcements made by some States in this regard; 259. Reaffirms the need for States to continue and intensify their efforts, directly and through competent international organizations, to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools for conserving and managing vulnerable marine ecosystems, including the possible establishment of marine protected areas, consistent with international law, as reflected in the Convention, and based on the best scientific information available; 260. Notes the work of States, relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, in the assessment of scientific information on and compilation of ecological criteria for the identification of marine areas that may require protection, in the light of the objective of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools, such as ecosystem approaches and the establishment of marine __________________ 115 United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/13/25, sect. I, decision XIII/11, annex II. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 43/55 17-21819 protected areas consistent with international law, as reflected in the Convention, and based on scientific information, including representative networks; 20 261. Recalls that the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, at its ninth meeting, adopted scientific criteria for identifying ecologically or biologically significant marine areas in need of protection in open-ocean waters and deep-sea habitats and scientific guidance for selecting areas to establish a representative network of marine protected areas, including in open-ocean waters and deep-sea habitats,116 and notes the ongoing work under the Convention on Biological Diversity on the application of the scientific criteria for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas through the organization of a series of regional workshops; 262. Also recalls that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has developed guidance for the identification of vulnerable marine ecosystems through the International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas, and notes its ongoing work to support application of the Guidelines by States and to maintain a database of vulnerable marine ecosystems; 263. Notes with appreciation the work of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative under the Convention on Biological Diversity, and notes in this regard the global dialogue with regional seas organizations and regional fisheries bodies on accelerating progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, held in Seoul, from 26 to 29 September 2016; 264. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization to identify and designate as Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas marine areas which are recognized for their significance in terms of ecological, socioeconomic or scientific criteria and are vulnerable to damage by international shipping activities; 117 265. Acknowledges the Micronesia Challenge, the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape project, the Caribbean Challenge and the Coral Triangle Initiative, which, in particular, seek to create and link domestic marine protected areas to better facilitate ecosystem approaches, and reaffirms the need for further international cooperation, coordination and collaboration in support of such initiatives; 266. Reiterates its support for the International Coral Reef Initiative, notes that the next International Coral Reef Initiative General Meeting is scheduled to be held in Nairobi, from 7 to 9 December 2017, and supports the elaborated programme of work of the Convention on Biological Diversity on marine and coastal biological diversity related to coral reefs under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity; 267. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States recognized the significant economic, social and environmental contributions of coral reefs, in particular to islands and other coastal States, as well as the significant vulnerability of coral reefs and mangroves to impacts, including from climate change, ocean acidification, overfishing, destructive fishing practices and pollution, and supported international cooperation with a view to conserving coral reef and mangrove ecosystems and realizing their social, economic and environmental benefits, as well as facilitating technical collaboration and voluntary information-sharing; 268. Encourages States and relevant international institutions to improve efforts to address coral bleaching by, inter alia, improving monitoring to predict and identify bleaching events, supporting and strengthening action taken during such __________________ 116 United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/9/29, annex I, decision IX/20, annexes I and II. 117 International Maritime Organization, Revised Guidelines for the Identification and Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas, Assembly resolution A.982(24). A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 44/55 events and improving strategies to manage reefs to support their natural resilience and enhance their ability to withstand other pressures, including ocean acidification, and in this regard also encourages States to implement the priority actions to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 10 for coral reefs and closely associated ecosystems, adopted by the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity;87 269. Encourages States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in exchanging information in the event of accidents involving vessels on coral reefs and in promoting the development of economic assessment techniques for both restoration and non-use values of coral reef systems; 270. Emphasizes the need to mainstream sustainable coral reef management and integrated watershed management into national development strategies, as well as into the activities of relevant United Nations agencies and programmes, international financial institutions and the donor community; 271. Notes that ocean noise has potential significant adverse impacts on living marine resources, affirms the importance of sound scientific studies in addressing this matter, encourages further research, studies and consideration of the impacts of ocean noise on living marine resources, notes the work of States and competent international organizations in that regard, and requests the Division to continue to compile the peer- reviewed scientific studies it receives from Member States and intergovernmental organizations pursuant to paragraph 107 of resolution 61/222 and, as appropriate, to make them, or references and links to them, available on its website; 272. Also notes the approval by the International Maritime Organization of Guidelines for the Reduction of Underwater Noise from Commercial Shipping to Address Adverse Impacts on Marine Life, and invites the International Maritime Organization to promote and encourage their implementation for existing ships and new vessels, when appropriate, including by promoting measures that may reduce cavitation;118 273. Encourages further research into technologies to reduce the impact of underwater noise on marine life; XI Marine science 274. Calls upon States, individually or in collaboration with each other or with competent international organizations and bodies, to continue to strive to improve understanding and knowledge of the oceans and the deep sea, including, in particular, the extent and vulnerability of deep sea biodiversity and ecosystems, by increasing their marine scientific research activities in accordance with the Convention; 275. Encourages, in that regard, relevant international organizations and other donors to consider supporting the Endowment Fund of the International Seabed Authority in order to promote the conduct of collaborative marine scientific research in the international seabed area by supporting the participation of qualified scientists and technical personnel from developing countries in relevant programmes, initiatives and activities; 276. Notes with concern that human-related threats, such as marine debris, ship strikes, underwater noise, persistent contaminants, coastal development activities, oil spills and discarded fishing gear, together may severely impact marine life, including its higher trophic levels, and calls upon States and competent international organizations to cooperate and coordinate their research efforts in this regard so as to __________________ 118 International Maritime Organization, document MEPC.1/Circ.833, annex. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 45/55 17-21819 reduce these impacts and preserve the integrity of the whole marine ecosystem, while fully respecting the mandates of relevant international organizations; 277. Welcomes the programme entitled “Promote and facilitate the conduct of marine scientific research under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea” of the Division and the Korea Maritime Institute, carried out in cooperation with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission with the aim of assisting developing countries, especially small island developing States, to build their capacities in the field of marine scientific research, and notes with appreciation that the second course under the programme was developed with the cooperation of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and delivered in Castries, from 2 to 5 May 2017; 278. Invites all relevant organizations, funds, programmes and bodies within the United Nations system, in consultation with interested States, to coordinate relevant activities with regional and national marine scientific and technological centres in small island developing States, as appropriate, to ensure the more effective achievement of their objectives in accordance with relevant United Nations small island developing States development programmes and strategies; 279. Welcomes the resolution adopted by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at its twenty-eighth session, held in Paris from 18 to 25 June 2015, regarding the adoption of the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition as an important catalyst project linking Indian Ocean processes to the global ocean and atmosphere, officially launched in Goa, India, on 4 December 2015 for an initial period of five years, invites States to participate in this initiative, and notes that two nodes of the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition Joint Project Office have been established to coordinate operations of the expedition in Perth, Australia, and Hyderabad, India; 280. Notes with appreciation the work of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, with the advice of the Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea, on the development of procedures for the implementation of Parts XIII and XIV of the Convention; 281. Also notes with appreciation the work of the Advisory Body of Experts, including its work in cooperation with the Division, on the practice of member States related to marine scientific research and transfer of marine technology within the framework of the Convention, and welcomes the decision of the Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at its forty-fifth session, held in Paris from 26 to 28 June 2012, that the Advisory Body will continue its work focused on priorities as tasked by Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission governing bodies in line with the terms of reference, mobilizing extrabudgetary resources when necessary; 282. Recalls the issuance of the revised publication entitled Marine Scientific Research: A guide to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in December 2010, and requests the Secretariat to continue to make efforts to publish the guide in all official languages of the United Nations; 283. Notes that the depth of a significant percentage of the world’s oceans, seas and waterways has yet to be measured directly and that bathymetric knowledge underpins the safe, sustainable and cost-effective execution of almost every human activity in, on or under the sea; 284. Welcomes the work of the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans project under the International Hydrographic Organization and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and, in particular, the outcome of the Forum for Future A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 46/55 Ocean Floor Mapping, held in June 2016 in Monaco, and the subsequent development by the Guiding Committee of the Seabed 2030 project for improving bathymetry globally; 285. Encourages Member States to consider contributing to mechanisms that encourage the widest possible availability of all bathymetric data, so as to support the sustainable development, management and governance of the marine environment; 286. Notes with appreciation the contribution to marine biodiversity research of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System, a free and open-access data holding and sharing facility, hosted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; 287. Welcomes the increasing attention being focused on oceans as a potential source of renewable energy, and notes in this regard the summary of discussions of the Informal Consultative Process at its thirteenth meeting; 119 288. Stresses the importance of increasing the scientific understanding of the oceans-atmosphere interface, including through participation in ocean observing programmes and geographic information systems, such as the Global Ocean Observing System, sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Meteorological Organization and the International Council for Science, particularly considering their role in monitoring and forecasting climate change and variability and in the establishment and operation of tsunami warning systems; 289. Welcomes the progress made by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Member States towards the establishment and operation of regional and national tsunami warning and mitigation systems, also welcomes the continued collaboration of the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations in this effort, further welcomes the development and recent dissemination of the new Enhanced Tsunami Products for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System and the development of Enhanced Tsunami Products for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, which will assist countries in the Pacific and the Caribbean to assess tsunami threats and issue warnings, and encourages Member States to establish and sustain their national warning and mitigation systems, within a global, ocean-related multi-hazard approach, as necessary, to reduce loss of life and damage to national economies and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities to natural disasters; 290. Stresses the need for continued efforts in developing mitigation and preparedness measures for natural disasters, particularly following tsunami events caused by earthquakes, such as the 11 March 2011 event in Japan; 291. Urges States to take necessary action and to cooperate in relevant organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the World Meteorological Organization, to address damage to ocean data buoys deployed and operated in accordance with international law, including through education and outreach about the importance and purpose of these buoys and by strengthening these buoys against such damage and increasing reporting of such damage; 292. Decides to proclaim the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development for the 10-year period beginning on 1 January 2021, within existing structures and available resources, and calls upon the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to prepare an implementation plan for the Decade in consultation with Member States, specialized agencies, funds, programmes and __________________ 119 A/67/120. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 47/55 17-21819 bodies of the United Nations, as well as other intergovernmental organizations, non- governmental organizations and relevant stakeholders; 293. Requests that the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission provide information on the development of the implementation plan and regularly consult with, and report to, Member States on the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science and its implementation; 294. Invites the Secretary-General to inform the General Assembly on the implementation of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science through his report on oceans and the law of the sea, on the basis of information to be provided by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; 295. Invites UN-Oceans and its participants to collaborate with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science; XII Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects 296. Reiterates the need to strengthen the regular scientific assessment of the state of the marine environment in order to enhance the scientific basis for policymaking; 297. Reaffirms the principles guiding the Regular Process and its objective and scope as agreed upon at the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole in 2009; 298. Recalls that the Regular Process, as established under the United Nations, is accountable to the General Assembly and is an intergovernmental process guided by international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other applicable international instruments, and takes into account relevant Assembly resolutions; 299. Reaffirms the importance of the first World Ocean Assessment as the outcome of the first cycle of the Regular Process; 300. Notes with concern the findings of the first World Ocean Assessment that the world’s ocean is facing major pressures simultaneously with such great impacts that the limits of its carrying capacity are being, or, in some cases, have been reached, and that delays in implementing solutions to the problems that have already been identified as threatening to degrade the world’s ocean will lead, unnecessarily, to incurring greater environmental, social and economic cost; 301. Recalls the importance of making Governments, United Nations system organizations, bodies, funds and programmes, intergovernmental organizations, the scientific community and the general public aware of the first World Ocean Assessment and the Regular Process, and recognizes with appreciation the activities undertaken in this regard during various intergovernmental meetings, including the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, in particular those of the secretariat of the Regular Process; 302. Also recalls that, in the first cycle, the scope of the Regular Process focused on establishing a baseline, and decides that the scope of the second cycle will extend to evaluating trends and identifying gaps; 303. Welcomes the holding of the eighth and ninth meetings of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole, on 17 and 18 April 2017 and from 6 to 8 September 2017, respectively, in accordance with paragraph 317 of resolution 71/257; A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 48/55 304. Takes note of the recommendations and guidance adopted by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole at its eighth meeting, and endorses the recommendations adopted by the Working Group at its ninth meeting;3 305. Takes note with appreciation of the technical abstracts of the first World Ocean Assessment on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction; the ocean and the Sustainable Development Goals under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and the impacts of climate change and related changes in the atmosphere on the oceans, prepared in accordance with the programme of work for the period 2017–2020 for the second cycle of the Regular Process; 306. Notes with appreciation that advance unedited copies of the technical abstracts were made available to the Preparatory Committee established by resolution 69/292, the eighteenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process and the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14; 307. Recognizes with appreciation the work of the members of the Group of Experts of the Regular Process with respect to the preparation of the technical abstracts, as well as the contribution of a number of members from the writing teams of the Pool of Experts of the first cycle of the Regular Process, in accordance with paragraph 309 of resolution 71/257, to this exercise; 308. Recalls that the Regular Process shall be overseen and guided by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole, and decides that the Ad Hoc Working Group shall facilitate the delivery of the outputs of the second cycle as outlined in the programme of work for the period 2017–2020 for the second cycle of the Regular Process; 309. Recognizes with appreciation the important role of the Co-Chairs and the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole in providing guidance during the intersessional periods, including in operationalizing the second cycle of the Regular Process; 310. Requests the Bureau to continue to implement the decisions and guidance of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole during the intersessional period, including by providing oversight of the delivery of the programme of work for the period 2017–2020 for the second cycle of the Regular Process; 311. Notes the endorsement by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole of the terms of reference and working methods of the Group of Experts for the second cycle of the Regular Process, prepared in accordance with paragraph 310 of resolution 71/257;120 312. Takes note of the mechanism for the establishment of the Pool of Experts for the second cycle of the Regular Process121 developed by the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole in accordance with paragraph 311 of resolution 71/257, and encourages the appointment of experts to the Pool of Experts in accordance with the mechanism; 313. Welcomes the expressions of interest of individuals who served in the Pool of Experts during the first cycle of the Regular Process to serve in the Pool of Experts for the second cycle; __________________ 120 A/72/89, annex. 121 A/72/494, annex I. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 49/55 17-21819 314. Takes note of the terms of reference for national focal points developed by the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole;122 315. Welcomes the designation by States of national focal points pursuant to paragraph 312 of resolution 71/257, and urges States that have not yet done so to designate their national focal points as soon as possible; 316. Urges regional groups that have not yet done so to appoint experts to the Group of Experts in accordance with paragraph 287 of resolution 70/235, taking into account the need to ensure geographical distribution and adequate expertise in socioeconomic disciplines; 317. Notes the adoption by the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole of guidelines to assist the first round of workshops of the second cycle of the Regular Process,123 finalized by the Group of Experts in consultation with the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working Group and the secretariat of the Regular Process; 318. Welcomes the holding of the workshops in support of the Regular Process in Lisbon in September 2017, in Auckland, New Zealand, in October 2017, in Camboriú, Brazil, in November 2017, in Bangkok in November 2017 and in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, in December 2017; 319. Notes the elements for discussion on the shape and structure of the assessment or assessments to be carried out in the second cycle of the Regular Process prepared by the Group of Experts, in accordance with the programme of work, and decides that, in the elaboration of an outline, the Group of Experts should proceed on the basis of the preparation of a single comprehensive assessment; 320. Recalls the crucial importance of the Regular Process for ongoing ocean- related intergovernmental processes and its possible inputs, including for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the development of an international legally binding instrument, under the Convention, on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Informal Consultative Process, as outlined in the programme of work for the period 2017–2020 for the second cycle of the Regular Process; 321. Also recalls the importance of ensuring that assessments, such as those included in the Global Sustainable Development Report and those prepared under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and the Regular Process, support one another and avoid unnecessary duplication, and also recalls the importance of compatibility and synergies between such assessments and assessments at the regional level; 322. Requests intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide information on recent and ongoing assessments and other processes at the regional and global levels relevant to the Regular Process in order for the secretariat to update the inventory of recent and ongoing assessments and other processes at the regional and global levels relevant to the Regular Process; 323. Takes note of the guidance for contributors, part I, prepared by the Group of Experts pursuant to paragraph 310 of resolution 71/257;124 324. Takes note with appreciation of the work undertaken thus far by the secretariat in compiling a capacity-building inventory of needs and opportunities __________________ 122 Ibid., annex II. 123 Ibid., annex III. 124 See A/72/494, annex IV. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 50/55 relevant for the Regular Process, in accordance with the programme of work, based on information contributed by relevant United Nations system organizations, bodies, funds and programmes and by relevant intergovernmental organizations; 325. Invites States and non-governmental organizations, as well as intergovernmental organizations that have not already done so, to provide relevant information for inclusion in the capacity-building inventory of needs and opportunities relevant for the Regular Process being compiled and maintained by the secretariat; 326. Recalls its invitation, in paragraph 313 of resolution 71/257, to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Maritime Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Meteorological Organization and relevant United Nations system organizations, bodies, funds and programmes, as appropriate, to assist in the implementation of the second cycle of the Regular Process with regard to the following activities: awareness-raising, the identification of experts for the Pool of Experts, technical and scientific support for the Bureau and the Group of Experts, hosting workshops and meetings of the writing teams, capacity-building and the scoping process for the assessment; 327. Welcomes the adoption by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at its twenty-ninth session, from 21 to 29 June 2017, of decision IOC-XXIX/8.2, in particular regarding the provision of technical and scientific support to the second cycle of the Regular Process in accordance with the guidance of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole; 328. Recalls its invitation, in paragraph 314 of resolution 71/257, to relevant intergovernmental organizations to contribute, as appropriate, to the activities of the second cycle; 329. Urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make financial contributions to the voluntary trust fund125 and to make other contributions to the Regular Process; 330. Requests the Secretary-General to convene, in 2018, two meetings of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole of no more than four days total duration, the tenth meeting on 28 February and 1 March 2018 to approve the outline of the assessment, and the eleventh meeting on 23 and 24 August 2018, with a view to providing recommendations to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session on the preparation of the assessment to be carried out in the second cycle and on the implementation of the second cycle, and encourages the widest possible attendance of participants in the Ad Hoc Working Group; XIII Regional cooperation 331. Notes with appreciation efforts and initiatives at the regional level, in various regions, to further the implementation of the Convention and to respond, including through capacity-building, to issues related to maritime safety and security, the conservation and sustainable use of living marine resources, the protection and preservation of the marine environment and the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity; __________________ 125 See resolution 69/245, para. 278. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 51/55 17-21819 332. Invites States and international organizations to enhance their cooperation to better protect the marine environment; 333. Notes the Caribbean-focused Assistance Fund, which is intended to facilitate, mainly through technical assistance, the voluntary undertaking of maritime delimitation negotiations between Caribbean States, notes once again the Fund for Peace: Peaceful Settlement of Territorial Disputes, established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in 2000 as a primary mechanism, given its broader regional scope, for the prevention and resolution of pending territorial, land border and maritime boundary disputes, and calls upon States and others in a position to do so to contribute to these funds; 334. Welcomes the adoption of the outcome document of the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway126 and the new modalities set forth for strengthened action on a range of small island developing States challenges and priorities, including challenges related to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, and the preservation of the marine environment, and reaffirms its commitment to work with small island developing States towards full implementation of the Samoa Pathway to ensure its success; 335. Recognizes the results of the International Polar Year, 2007–2008 with particular emphasis on new knowledge about the linkages between environmental change in the polar regions and global climate systems, and encourages States and scientific communities to strengthen their cooperation in this respect; 336. Acknowledges the important contributions to scientific understanding of the marine environment and its resources, as well as the scientific advice for their sustainable use, provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in its wide-ranging cooperation with organizations at the regional level under the Convention for the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, 1964;127 337. Welcomes regional cooperation, and in this regard notes the Pacific Oceanscape Framework as an initiative to enhance cooperation among coastal States in the Pacific island region to foster marine conservation and sustainable development; 338. Notes with appreciation the various cooperative efforts displayed by States at the regional and subregional levels, and in this regard welcomes initiatives, such as the Integrated Assessment and Management of the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem; 339. Acknowledges relevant cooperation among the members of the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic; 340. Recalls the decision of the Assembly of the African Union in January 2015 to adopt Agenda 2063, also recalls that the African Union launched the Decade of African Seas and Oceans (2015–2025), and notes that the African Day of the Seas and Oceans is to be celebrated annually on 25 July; 341. Notes the adoption of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–2024 by the second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Vienna from 3 to 5 November 2014,128 following the comprehensive 10-year review of the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs __________________ 126 Resolution 69/15, annex. 127 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 652, No. 9344. 128 Resolution 69/137, annex II. A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 52/55 of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries,129 and also notes the need for cooperation to address the development needs and challenges faced by landlocked developing countries associated with, inter alia, their lack of direct territorial access to the sea, remoteness and isolation from world markets, in line with the objectives of the Vienna Programme of Action; 342. Also notes the efforts of the Sargasso Sea Commission, led by the Government of Bermuda, to raise awareness of the ecological significance of the Sargasso Sea; 343. Further notes the adoption of the Arctic Council Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation; 344. Notes the cooperation between the OSPAR Commission established by the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic and the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission; XIV Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea 345. Welcomes the report of the Co-Chairs on the work of the Informal Consultative Process at its eighteenth meeting, which focused on the theme of the effects of climate change on oceans;4 346. Recognizes the role of the Informal Consultative Process as a unique forum for comprehensive discussions on issues related to oceans and the law of the sea, consistent with the framework provided by the Convention and chapter 17 of Agenda 21,7 and that the perspective of the three pillars of sustainable development should be further enhanced in the examination of the selected topics; 347. Welcomes the work of the Informal Consultative Process and its contribution to improving coordination and cooperation between States and strengthening the annual debate of the General Assembly on oceans and the law of the sea by effectively drawing attention to key issues and current trends; 348. Also welcomes efforts to improve and focus the work of the Informal Consultative Process, and in that respect recognizes the primary role of the Informal Consultative Process in integrating knowledge, the exchange of opinions among multiple stakeholders and coordination among competent agencies, and enhancing awareness of topics, including emerging issues, while promoting the three pillars of sustainable development, and recommends that the Informal Consultative Process devise a transparent, objective and inclusive process for the selection of topics and panellists so as to facilitate the work of the General Assembly during informal consultations concerning the annual resolution on oceans and the law of the sea; 349. Recalls the need to strengthen and improve the efficiency of the Informal Consultative Process, and encourages States, intergovernmental organizations and programmes to provide guidance to the Co-Chairs to this effect, particularly before and during the preparatory meeting for the Informal Consultative Process; 350. Also recalls that a further review of the effectiveness and utility of the Informal Consultative Process will be undertaken by the General Assembly at its seventy-third session; __________________ 129 Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 53/55 17-21819 351. Requests the Secretary-General to convene, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 54/33, the nineteenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, in New York from 18 to 22 June 2018, to provide it with the facilities necessary for the performance of its work, including documentation, and to arrange for support to be provided by the Division, in cooperation with other relevant parts of the Secretariat, as appropriate; 352. Expresses its continued serious concern regarding the lack of resources available in the voluntary trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of assisting developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing States, in attending the meetings of the Informal Consultative Process, and urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make additional contributions to the trust fund; 353. Decides that those representatives from developing countries who are invited by the Co-Chairs, in consultation with Governments, to make presentations during the meetings of the Informal Consultative Process shall receive priority consideration in the disbursement of funds from the voluntary trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 in order to cover the costs of their travel, and shall also be eligible to receive daily subsistence allowance subject to the availability of funds after the travel costs of all other eligible representatives from those countries mentioned in paragraph 352 above have been covered; 354. Recalls its decision that, in its deliberations on the report of the Secretary- General on oceans and the law of the sea, the Informal Consultative Process shall focus its discussions at its nineteenth meeting, in 2018, on the theme “Anthropogenic underwater noise”; XV Coordination and cooperation 355. Encourages States to work closely with and through international organizations, funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies of the United Nations system and relevant international conventions, to identify emerging areas of focus for improved coordination and cooperation and how best to address these issues; 356. Expresses its concern at the desecration of graves at sea and the looting of wrecks of ships constituting such graves, and calls upon States to cooperate, as appropriate, to prevent the looting and desecration of wrecks of ships constituting graves in order to ensure that proper respect is given to all human remains located in maritime waters, consistent with international law, including, as appropriate, the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, among parties thereto; 357. Encourages bodies established by the Convention to strengthen coordination and cooperation, as appropriate, in fulfilling their respective mandates; 358. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of heads of intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations engaged in activities relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, as well as funding institutions, and underlines the importance of their constructive and timely input for the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and of their participation in relevant meetings and processes; A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea 17-21819 54/55 359. Welcomes the work done by the secretariats of relevant United Nations specialized agencies, programmes, funds and bodies and the secretariats of related organizations and conventions to enhance inter-agency coordination and cooperation on ocean issues, including, where appropriate, through UN-Oceans, the inter-agency coordination mechanism on ocean and coastal issues within the United Nations system; 360. Recognizes the work undertaken by UN-Oceans, in particular the inventory of mandates, under the revised terms of reference for the work of UN-Oceans, and with the United Nations Legal Counsel/Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea as the focal point of UN-Oceans, and, as an interim measure, in this regard invites States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make financial earmarked contributions to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General for the Office of Legal Affairs to support the promotion of international law, and authorizes the Secretary-General to disburse funds from such contributions to that trust fund for the purposes of the maintenance of an online searchable database for an inventory of the mandates of UN-Oceans members and priorities approved by the respective governing bodies of the participating organizations of UN-Oceans, with a view to identifying possible areas of collaboration and synergy, as well as for travel associated with the performance of the functions of the focal point; 361. Decides to defer the review of the terms of reference for the work of UN-Oceans until its seventy-third session; XVI Activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 362. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual report on oceans and the law of the sea, prepared by the Division, as well as for the other activities of the Division, which reflect the high standard of assistance provided to Member States by the Division; 363. Notes with satisfaction the ninth observance by the United Nations of World Oceans Day in 2017,130 recognizes with appreciation the efforts deployed by the Division in organizing its celebration in the context of the commemorative event held during the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, and invites the Division to continue to promote and facilitate international cooperation on the law of the sea and ocean affairs in the context of the future observance of World Oceans Day, as well as through its participation in other events; 364. Recalls the responsibilities and functions entrusted to the Secretary- General in the Convention and in the related resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, notes the increased number of requests to the Division for additional outputs and servicing of meetings and in relation to the support to be provided by the Division as secretariat of the Regular Process during the second cycle of the Regular Process, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the allocation of appropriate resources to the Division for the performance of its activities under the approved budget for the Organization; 365. Requests the Secretary-General to continue the publication activities of the Division, in particular through the publication of The Law of the Sea: A Select Bibliography and the Law of the Sea Bulletin; __________________ 130 By its resolution 63/111, the General Assembly designated 8 June as World Oceans Day. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 55/55 17-21819 XVII Seventy-third session of the General Assembly 366. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report for consideration by the General Assembly at its seventy-third session on developments and issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, including the implementation of the present resolution, in accordance with resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and to prepare a separate report on the topic that is the focus of the nineteenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process; 367. Emphasizes the critical role of the annual report of the Secretary-General, which integrates information on developments relating to the implementation of the Convention and the work of the Organization, its specialized agencies and other institutions in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea at the global and regional levels, and as a result constitutes the basis for the annual consideration and review of developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review; 368. Notes that the reports referred to in paragraph 366 above will also be submitted to States Parties pursuant to article 319 of the Convention regarding issues of a general nature that have arisen with respect to the Convention; 369. Also notes the desire to further improve the efficiency of and effective participation of delegations in the informal consultations concerning the annual General Assembly resolution on oceans and the law of the sea, decides that the period of the informal consultations on that resolution should not exceed a maximum of two weeks in total and that the consultations should be scheduled in such a way that the Division has sufficient time to produce the report referred to in paragraph 366 above, requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide support to the consultations through the Division, and invites States to submit text proposals for inclusion in the resolution to the Coordinator of the informal consultations at the earliest possible date; 370. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-third session the item entitled “Oceans and the law of the sea”. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/72/92 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 7 December 2017 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/72/453)] 72/92. Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled “Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories”, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for 2017 relating to the item, 1 Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, including, in particular, resolutions 46/181 of 19 December 1991, 55/146 of 8 December 2000 and 65/119 of 10 December 2010, Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those Territories against abuses, Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity, including the use of the Non-Self-Governing Territories for military activity, that has a negative impact on the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the exercise of their right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter, General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and the other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization is contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter, __________________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/72/23), chap. VI. A/RES/72/92 Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories 17-22124 2/4 Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, Taking into account General Assembly resolution 1803 (XVII) of 14 December 1962 regarding the sovereignty of peoples over their natural wealth and resources in accordance with the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to promote the stability, diversification and strengthening of the economy of each Territory, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their devastating impact in 2017 in the Non-Self-Governing Territories in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in the loss of life and negative economic, social and environmental consequences for their vulnerable societies, hampering the achievement of sustainable development in these Territories, in particular in Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, as well as in Puerto Rico, whose situation is addressed in the Special Committee, Stressing the importance of inclusiveness within the United Nations development system and with respect to the implementation of relevant General Assembly resolutions, including resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, and resolution 71/226 of 21 December 2016 on disaster risk reduction, Conscious that foreign economic investment, when undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socioeconomic development of the Territories and also to the exercise of their right to self- determination in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, Concerned about any activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, 1. Reaffirms the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and with other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest; 2. Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the socioeconomic development of the Territories, especially during times of economic and financial crisis; 3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reaffirms the legitimate rights of their peoples over their natural resources; Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories A/RES/72/92 3/4 17-22124 4. Reaffirms its concern about any activities aimed at the exploitation of the natural resources that are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, in the Caribbean, the Pacific and other regions, and of their human resources, to the detriment of their interests, and in such a way as to deprive them of their right to dispose of those resources; 5. Reaffirms the need to avoid any economic or other activities, including the use of the Non-Self-Governing Territories for military activity, that adversely affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and in this regard reminds the administering Powers of their responsibility and accountability vis-à-vis any detriment to the interests of the peoples of those Territories, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 6. Calls once again upon all Governments that have not yet done so to take, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, legislative, administrative or other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own and operate enterprises in the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are detrimental to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, in order to put an end to such enterprises; 7. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that the exploitation of the marine and other natural resources in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration is not in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and does not adversely affect the interests of the peoples of those Territories; 8. Invites all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 9. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self- Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all steps necessary to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination; 11. Also calls upon the administering Powers concerned to provide all the necessary assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories affected by the hurricanes in order to alleviate the humanitarian needs in the affected communities, support the recovery and rebuilding efforts and enhance capabilities for emergency preparedness and risk reduction; 12. Encourages the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations to continue to provide assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories affected by the hurricanes and other natural disasters and to formulate appropriate programmes to support emergency response and recovery and rebuilding efforts, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on this matter; A/RES/72/92 Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories 17-22124 4/4 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, through all means at his disposal, to inform world public opinion of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter, General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and the other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 14. Appeals to trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and also appeals to the media to disseminate information about the developments in this regard; 15. Decides to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in those Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, in particular the indigenous populations, and at promoting the economic and financial viability of those Territories; 16. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/72/93 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 7 December 2017 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/72/454)] 72/93. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations”, Having also considered the report of the Secretary-General1 and the report of the Economic and Social Council2 on the item, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for 2017 relating to the item, 3 Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and the resolutions of the Special Committee, as well as other relevant resolutions and decisions, including, in particular, Economic and Social Council resolutions 2015/16 of 20 July 2015 and 2016/20 of 27 July 2016, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, __________________ 1 A/72/69. 2 E/2017/59. 3 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/72/23), chap. VII. A/RES/72/93 Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations 17-22125 2/5 Conscious of the need to facilitate the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV), Noting that the large majority of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are small island Territories, Welcoming the assistance extended to Non-Self-Governing Territories by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Welcoming also the participation in the capacity of observers of those Non-Self-Governing Territories that are associate members of regional commissions in the world conferences in the economic and social spheres, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and in accordance with relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations, including resolutions and decisions of the Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, Noting that only some specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system have been involved in providing assistance to Non-Self- Governing Territories, Stressing that, because the development options of the small island Non-Self- Governing Territories are limited, there are special challenges to planning for and implementing sustainable development and that those Territories will be constrained in meeting those challenges without the continuing cooperation and assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, Stressing also the importance of securing the resources necessary for funding expanded programmes of assistance for the peoples concerned and the need to enlist the support of all major funding institutions within the United Nations system in that regard, Reaffirming the mandates of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to take all appropriate measures, within their respective responsibilities, to ensure the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions, Expressing its appreciation to the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community and other regional organizations for the continued cooperation and assistance that they have extended to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in this regard, Expressing its conviction that closer contacts and consultations between and among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations help to facilitate the effective formulation of programmes of assistance to the peoples concerned, Mindful of the imperative need to keep under continuous review the activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in the implementation of the various resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to decolonization, Bearing in mind the extremely fragile economies of the small island Non-Self- Governing Territories and their vulnerability to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cyclones and sea level rise, and recalling the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 71/104 of 6 December 2016 on the implementation of the Declaration by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations, Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations A/RES/72/93 3/5 17-22125 Welcoming the attendance of the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and other specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Kingstown from 16 to 18 May 2017, and encouraging further participation by specialized agencies and institutions associated with the United Nations in the future regional seminars of the Special Committee, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;1 2. Recommends that all States intensify their efforts through the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system should continue to be guided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations in their efforts to contribute to the implementation of the Declaration and all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 4. Also reaffirms that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self- determination entails, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have continued to cooperate with the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and requests all the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to implement the relevant provisions of those resolutions; 6. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to intensify their engagement with the work of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples as an important element for the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), including participation in the regional seminars on decolonization, upon the invitation of the Special Committee; 7. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international and regional organizations to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of the Territories; 8. Urges those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have not yet provided assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories to do so as soon as possible; 9. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system and regional organizations to strengthen existing measures of support and formulate appropriate programmes of assistance to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, within the framework of their respective mandates, in order to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of those Territories; A/RES/72/93 Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations 17-22125 4/5 10. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system concerned to provide information on: (a) Environmental problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) The impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, and other environmental problems, such as beach and coastal erosion and droughts, on those Territories; (c) Ways and means to assist the Territories to fight drug trafficking, money- laundering and other illegal and criminal activities; (d) Illegal exploitation of the marine and other natural resources of the Territories and the need to utilize those resources for the benefit of the peoples of the Territories; 11. Recommends that the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system formulate, with the active cooperation of the regional organizations concerned, concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and submit the proposals to their governing and legislative organs; 12. Also recommends that the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system continue to review at the regular meetings of their governing bodies the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 13. Recalls the adoption by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean of its resolution 574 (XXVII) of 16 May 1998,4 calling for the necessary mechanisms for its associate members, including Non-Self-Governing Territories, to participate in the special sessions of the General Assembly, subject to the rules of procedure of the Assembly, to review and assess the implementation of the plans of action of those United Nations world conferences in which the Territories originally participated in the capacity of observer, and in the work of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies; 14. Requests the Chair of the Special Committee to deepen cooperation with the President of the Economic and Social Council on the identical agenda items of both bodies on assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories, through regular consultations, in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization; 15. Recalls the publication by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme, the specialized agencies and the Special Committee, of an information leaflet on assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories, which was updated for the United Nations website on decolonization, and requests its continued updating and wide dissemination; 16. Welcomes the continuing efforts made by the United Nations Development Programme in maintaining close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, including the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and in providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; __________________ 4 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 21 (E/1998/41), sect. III.G. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations A/RES/72/93 5/5 17-22125 17. Encourages the Non-Self-Governing Territories to take steps to establish and/or strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies, inter alia, with the assistance of the relevant specialized agencies; 18. Requests the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self- Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations, including resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, so that the Territories may benefit from the related activities of those agencies and organizations; 19. Recommends that all Governments intensify their efforts through the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to accord priority to the question of providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies, with the assistance of those agencies and organizations, a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions, including the present resolution, since the circulation of his previous report; 21. Commends the Economic and Social Council for its debate and resolution on this question, and requests it to continue to consider and intensify its cooperation with the Special Committee, with the aim of developing appropriate measures for the further coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in implementing the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 22. Requests the specialized agencies to report annually to the Secretary- General on the implementation of the present resolution; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the governing bodies of the appropriate specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations so that those bodies may take the measures necessary to implement it, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 24. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/73/123 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 7 December 2018 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/532)] 73/123. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for 2018,1 Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all its subsequent resolutions concerning the implementation of the Declaration, the most recent of which was resolution 72/111 of 7 December 2017, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its resolution 65/119 of 10 December 2010, by which it declared the period 2011–2020 the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and the need to examine ways and means to ascertain the wishes of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories on the basis of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization, Recognizing that the eradication of colonialism has been one of the priorities of the United Nations and continues to be one of its priorities for the decade that began in 2011, Regretting that measures to eliminate colonialism by 2010, as called for in its resolution 55/146 of 8 December 2000, have not been successful, Reiterating its conviction of the need for the eradication of colonialism, as well as racial discrimination and violations of basic human rights, __________________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-third Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/73/23). A/RES/73/123 Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples 18-21511 2/4 Noting with satisfaction the continued efforts of the Special Committee in contributing to the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, Stressing the importance of the formal participation of all administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee with regard to the relevant Territories under their administration in accordance with Article 73 of the Charter of the United Nations, Noting with satisfaction the cooperation and active participation of certain administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, and encouraging the others also to do so, Noting that the Pacific regional seminar was held in Saint George’s from 9 to 11 May 2018, 1. Reaffirms its resolution 1514 (XV) and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, including its resolution 65/119, by which it declared the period 2011–2020 the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon the administering Powers, in accordance with those resolutions, to take all steps necessary to enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise fully as soon as possible their right to self-determination, including independence, on a case-by-case basis; 2. Reaffirms once again that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 2 3. Reaffirms its determination to continue to take all steps necessary to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism and the faithful observance by all States of the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 4. Affirms its support once again for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 5. Calls upon the administering Power of each Territory on the agenda of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to cooperate fully in the work of the Special Committee and to participate formally in its future sessions and seminars; 6. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee to develop and finalize, as soon as possible, a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; 7. Recalls with satisfaction the professional, open and transparent conduct of both the February 2006 and the October 2007 referendums to determine the future status of Tokelau, monitored by the United Nations; 8. Requests the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration and to carry out the actions approved by the General Assembly regarding the Second and Third International __________________ 2 Resolution 217 A (III). Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples A/RES/73/123 3/4 18-21511 Decades for the Eradication of Colonialism in all Territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, including independence, and in particular: (a) To formulate specific proposals to bring about an end to colonialism and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session; (b) To continue to examine the implementation by Member States of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization; (c) To continue to examine the political, economic and social situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to recommend to the General Assembly, as appropriate, the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (d) To develop and finalize, as soon as possible and in cooperation with the administering Power and the Territory in question, a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories, to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (e) To continue to dispatch visiting and special missions to the Non-Self- Governing Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (f) To conduct seminars, as appropriate, for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information on the work of the Special Committee, and to facilitate participation by the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in those seminars; (g) To take all steps necessary to enlist worldwide support among Governments, as well as national and international organizations, for the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration and the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; (h) To observe annually the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self- Governing Territories; 9. Calls upon the administering Powers to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee in the discharge of its mandate and, inter alia, to facilitate visiting missions of the Committee to the Territories on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions on specific Territories; 10. Reaffirms that the United Nations visiting missions to the Non-Self- Governing Territories, where applicable, are an effective means of ascertaining the situation of the peoples of the Territories, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions on specific Territories, and therefore requests the Special Committee to undertake at least one visiting mission a year; 11. Recalls that the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,3 updated as necessary, represents an important legislative authority for the attainment of self-government by the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and that the case-by-case assessment of the attainment of self-government in each Territory can make an important contribution to this process; 12. Calls upon all States, in particular the administering Powers, as well as the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to give __________________ 3 A/56/61, annex. A/RES/73/123 Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples 18-21511 4/4 effect within their respective spheres of competence to the recommendations of the Special Committee for the implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 13. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that economic and other activities in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the peoples but instead promote development, and to assist them in the exercise of their right to self-determination; 14. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to terminate military activities and eliminate military bases in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration in compliance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 15. Urges the administering Powers to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the relevant administering Powers to take all steps necessary to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 16. Urges all States, directly and through their action in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to provide moral and material assistance, as needed, to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requests the administering Powers to take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economies of those Territories; 17. Requests the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide economic, social and other assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to continue to do so, as appropriate, after they exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; 18. Requests the Secretary-General, President pro tempore of the Special Committee, to meet informally at least once a year with the Chair and the Bureau of the Committee during the intersessional period, in order to explore innovative ways of using his good offices to help to advance the decolonization agenda on a case-by- case basis; 19. Approves the report of the Special Committee covering its work during 2018,1 in which the programme of work for 2019 is outlined, in particular the Caribbean regional seminar and a visiting mission to one of the Territories on its agenda, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions on specific Territories; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to review the resources at the disposal of the Special Committee in order to ensure that the Committee has the funding, facilities and services commensurate with its envisioned yearly programmes, as mandated in relevant General Assembly resolutions, including, especially, in paragraph 8 of its resolution 72/111. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/73/124 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 11 December 2018 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/73/L.35 and A/73/L.35/Add.1)] 73/124. Oceans and the law of the sea The General Assembly, Reaffirming its annual resolutions on the law of the sea and on oceans and the law of the sea, including resolution 72/73 of 5 December 2017, as well as other relevant resolutions concerning the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (the Convention),1 Recalling, in this regard, resolution 72/249 of 24 December 2017 on an international legally binding instrument under the Convention on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, Underscoring the importance of the work undertaken by the intergovernmental conference to elaborate the text of an international legally binding instrument under the Convention on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General,2 the reports on the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole on the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects (the Regular Process)3 and of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (the Informal Consultative Process) at its nineteenth meeting4 and the report of the twenty-eighth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention,5 Recognizing the pre-eminent contribution provided by the Convention to the strengthening of peace, security, cooperation and friendly relations among all nations __________________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. 2 A/73/68 and A/73/368. 3 A/73/74 and A/73/373. 4 A/73/124. 5 SPLOS/324. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 2/58 in conformity with the principles of justice and equal rights and to the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples of the world, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, as well as to the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Emphasizing the universal and unified character of the Convention, and reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained, as recognized also by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,6 Noting with satisfaction that, in the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, entitled “The future we want”,7 as endorsed by the General Assembly in resolution 66/288 of 27 July 2012, States recognized that oceans, seas and coastal areas form an integrated and essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem and are critical to sustaining it, and that international law, as reflected in the Convention, provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources, and stressed the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and seas and of their resources for sustainable development, including through their contributions to poverty eradication, sustained economic growth, food security and creation of sustainable livelihoods and decent work, while at the same time protecting biodiversity and the marine environment and addressing the impacts of climate change, Recalling that, in “The future we want”, States underscored that broad public participation and access to information and judicial and administrative proceedings were essential to the promotion of sustainable development and that sustainable development required the meaningful involvement and active participation of regional, national and subnational legislatures and judiciaries, and all major groups, and, in this regard, that they agreed to work more closely with major groups and other stakeholders and encouraged their active participation, as appropriate, in processes that contribute to decision-making, planning and implementation of policies and programmes for sustainable development at all levels, Recalling also the outcome document of the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, held from 25 to 27 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, as adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, and in this regard reaffirming the commitment to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, as reflected in Goal 14 of the outcome document, Recognizing the important contribution of the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources to the achievement of the sustainable development goals contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Recalling its resolution 71/312 of 6 July 2017 in which it endorsed the declaration entitled “Our ocean, our future: call for action” adopted by the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, held from 5 to 9 June 2017, coinciding with __________________ 6 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3−14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. 7 Resolution 66/288, annex. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 3/58 18-21627 World Oceans Day on 8 June, and in this regard affirming the important role of the declaration in demonstrating the collective will to take action to conserve and sustainably use our oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, Recognizing the important contributions of the partnership dialogues and voluntary commitments made in the context of the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 to the effective and timely implementation of Goal 14, Recognizing also paragraphs 64 and 65 of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, adopted by the Conference, which was held from 13 to 16 July 2015,8 Welcoming the ocean-related outcomes of the third session of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme, especially the resolutions on marine litter and microplastics9 and on addressing water pollution to protect and restore water-related ecosystems, 10 and the resolution on the role, functions and modalities for United Nations Environment Programme implementation of the Samoa Pathway as a means of facilitating achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,11 Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, and reaffirming the need to improve cooperation and coordination at the national, regional and global levels, in accordance with the Convention, to support and supplement the efforts of each State in promoting the implementation and observance of the Convention and the integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Reiterating the essential need for cooperation, including through capacity- building and transfer of marine technology, to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, while recognizing the need to also address the particular challenges faced by developing middle-income countries, Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels, through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of the oceans and their resources, Recalling that marine science is important for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world’s marine environment and resources, helping to understand, predict and respond to natural events and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, by improving knowledge, through sustained research efforts and the evaluation of monitoring results, and applying such knowledge to management and decision-making, __________________ 8 Resolution 69/313, annex. 9 UNEP/EA.3/Res.7. 10 UNEP/EA.3/Res.10. 11 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/71/25), annex, resolution 2/4. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 4/58 Reiterating its deep concern at the serious adverse impacts on the marine environment and biodiversity, in particular on vulnerable marine ecosystems and their physical and biogenic structure, including coral reefs, cold water habitats, hydrothermal vents and seamounts, of certain human activities, Emphasizing the need for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships, Expressing deep concern at the adverse economic, social and environmental impacts of the physical alteration and destruction of marine habitats that may result from land-based and coastal development activities, in particular those land reclamation activities that are carried out in a manner that has a detrimental impact on the marine environment, Reiterating its serious concern at the current and projected adverse effects of climate change and ocean acidification on the marine environment and marine biodiversity, and emphasizing the urgency of addressing these issues, Noting with concern, in this regard, the findings by the World Meteorological Organization, in its annual Greenhouse gas bulletin, that, in 2016, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere surpassed 400 parts per million, and that changes in its concentration have never been recorded as happening, as based on measurements of carbon dioxide from ice core records, as fast as in the past 150 years, and the findings in its Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2017 that global mean temperatures in 2017 were about 1.1°C above the 1850 to 1900 average, Noting with concern also that the World Meteorological Organization, in its Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2017, highlighted that the world also continued to see rising sea levels, with some acceleration, and increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, while the cryosphere continued its contraction, with global sea ice shrinking, Expressing concern that climate change continues to increase the severity and incidence of coral bleaching throughout tropical seas and weakens the ability of reefs to withstand ocean acidification, which could have serious and irreversible negative effects on marine organisms, particularly corals, as well as to withstand other pressures, including overfishing and pollution, Reiterating its deep concern at the vulnerability of the environment and the fragile ecosystems of the polar regions, including the Arctic Ocean and the Arctic ice cap, particularly affected by the projected adverse effects of climate change and ocean acidification, Recognizing the need for a more integrated and ecosystem-based approach to, further study of and the promotion of measures for enhanced cooperation, coordination and collaboration relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, Recognizing also that the realization of the benefits of the Convention could be enhanced by international cooperation, technical assistance and advanced scientific knowledge, as well as by funding and capacity-building, Recognizing further that hydrographic surveys and nautical charting are critical to the safety of navigation and life at sea, environmental protection, including the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems, and the economics of the global shipping industry, and encouraging further efforts towards electronic charting, which not only provides significantly increased benefits for safe navigation and management of ship movement, but also provides data and information that can be used for sustainable fisheries activities and other sectoral uses of the marine environment, the delimitation of maritime boundaries and environmental protection, and noting that, under the Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 5/58 18-21627 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, 12 ships on international voyages are required to carry an electronic chart display and information system, in accordance with the implementation schedule as set out in that Convention, Recognizing that ocean data buoys deployed and operated in accordance with international law are critical for improving understanding of weather, climate and ecosystems, and that certain types of ocean data buoys contribute to saving lives by detecting tsunamis, and reiterating its serious concern at intentional and unintentional damage to such buoys, Emphasizing that underwater archaeological, cultural and historical heritage, including shipwrecks and watercraft, holds essential information on the history of humankind and that such heritage is a resource that needs to be protected and preserved, Recognizing the duty of States under article 303, paragraph 1, of the Convention to protect objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea and to cooperate for this purpose, Expressing concern, in this regard, at various threats posed to such objects, including their destruction as well as the illicit trafficking in such objects, Recognizing that illicit trafficking in wildlife is, in some cases, committed by transnational organized criminal groups using maritime routes, contributes to damage to ecosystems and livelihoods and requires enhanced regional and global cooperation and coordination in response, in accordance with international law, Noting with concern the continuing problem of transnational organized crime committed at sea, including illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and illicit trafficking in firearms, and threats to maritime safety and security, including piracy, armed robbery at sea, smuggling and terrorist acts against shipping, offshore installations and other maritime interests, and noting the deplorable loss of life and adverse impact on international trade, energy security and the global economy resulting from such activities, Reiterating the importance of the fair treatment of crew members and its influence on maritime safety, Recognizing that fibre-optic submarine cables transmit most of the world’s data and communications and hence are vitally important to the global economy and the national security of all States, conscious that these cables are susceptible to intentional and accidental damage from shipping and other activities and that the maintenance, including the repair, of these cables is important, noting that these matters have been brought to the attention of States at various workshops and seminars, and conscious of the need for States to adopt national laws and regulations to protect submarine cables and render their wilful damage or damage by culpable negligence punishable offences, Noting the importance of the delineation of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and that it is in the broader interest of the international community that coastal States with a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles submit information on the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (the Commission), and welcoming the submissions to the Commission by a considerable number of States Parties to the Convention on the outer limits of their continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, that the Commission has continued to __________________ 12 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1184, No. 18961. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 6/58 fulfil its role, including of making recommendations to coastal States, and that the summaries of recommendations are being made publicly available,13 Noting also that some coastal States may continue to face particular challenges in relation to preparing and presenting submissions to the Commission, Noting further that financial and technical assistance may be sought by developing countries for activities in relation to preparing and presenting submissions to the Commission, including additional information with respect to submissions and revised or new submissions, including through the voluntary trust fund established by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/7 of 30 October 2000 for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission for developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, and compliance with article 76 of the Convention, as well as other accessible international assistance, Reaffirming the importance of the work of the Commission for coastal States and for the international community, Recognizing that practical difficulties can arise when there is a considerable delay between the preparation of submissions and their consideration by the Commission, including in retaining expertise up to and during the consideration of the submissions by the Commission, Recognizing also the significant workload of the Commission in view of the large number of submissions already received and a number of submissions yet to be received, which places significant demands and challenges on its members and the secretariat as provided by the Secretary-General of the United Nations through the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat (the Division), Noting with concern the projected timetable of the work of the Commission on the submissions already received by it and those yet to be received, and in this regard noting the decisions of the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention to request the Commission to consider, in coordination with the secretariat, within the existing resources made available to the Secretariat, that the Commission, and its subcommissions meeting simultaneously as far as possible, meet at United Nations Headquarters for up to 26 weeks but not less than an intended minimum of 21 weeks a year, distributed in such a way that the Commission determines to be the most effective, and that no two sessions be sequential,14 Recognizing the need to ensure that the Commission can perform its functions under the Convention expeditiously, efficiently and effectively and maintain its high level of quality and expertise, Expressing concern about the implications of the workload of the Commission for the conditions of service of its members, Recalling, in this regard, the decisions of the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth Meetings of States Parties to the Convention regarding the conditions of service of the members of the Commission,15 Recalling also its decision, in resolutions 57/141 of 12 December 2002 and 58/240 of 23 December 2003, to establish a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including __________________ 13 Available from the web page of the Commission maintained by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea. 14 See SPLOS/229 and SPLOS/303. 15 SPLOS/286 and SPLOS/303. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 7/58 18-21627 socioeconomic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments, as recommended by the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 16 and noting the need for cooperation among all States to this end, Recalling further its decisions, in resolution 65/37 A of 7 December 2010, resolution 66/231 of 24 December 2011, resolution 70/235 of 23 December 2015, resolution 71/257 of 23 December 2016 and resolution 72/73, regarding the Regular Process, as established under the United Nations and accountable to the General Assembly, Recalling that the Division was designated to provide secretariat support to the Regular Process, including its established institutions, Reaffirming the cross-cutting role of ocean science in Sustainable Development Goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Reaffirming also its decision, in resolution 72/73, to proclaim the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development for the 10-year period beginning on 1 January 2021, within existing structures and available resources, Recognizing the importance and the contribution of the work of the Informal Consultative Process established by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/33 of 24 November 1999 to facilitate the annual review of developments in ocean affairs by the Assembly, Noting the continuously growing responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular resolutions 49/28 of 6 December 1994, 52/26 of 26 November 1997, 54/33, 65/37 A, 65/37 B of 4 April 2011, 66/231, 67/78 of 11 December 2012, 68/70 of 9 December 2013, 69/245 of 29 December 2014, 70/235, 71/257, 72/73 and 72/249 and in this context the unprecedented substantial increase in activities of the Division, in particular in view of the growing number of requests to the Division for additional outputs and servicing of meetings, the provision of technical assistance and capacity- building, the need for enhanced support and assistance to the Commission and the role of the Division in carrying out the functions in resolution 72/249, as the secretariat of the Regular Process, in relation to the functions as focal point for UN-Oceans and in relation to support for the implementation by Member States of the oceans-related Sustainable Development Goals in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Reaffirming the importance of the work of the International Seabed Authority (the Authority) in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (the Part XI Agreement),17 Reaffirming also the importance of the work of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (the Tribunal) in accordance with the Convention, I Implementation of the Convention and related agreements and instruments 1. Reaffirms the unified character of the Convention and the vital importance of preserving its integrity; __________________ 16 See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 17 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1836, No. 31364. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 8/58 2. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to fully achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention and the Part XI Agreement;17 3. Calls upon States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (the Fish Stocks Agreement);18 4. Calls upon States to harmonize their national legislation with the provisions of the Convention and, where applicable, relevant agreements and instruments, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention do not purport to exclude or to modify the legal effect of the provisions of the Convention in their application to the State concerned and to withdraw any such declarations or statements; 5. Calls upon States Parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to deposit with the Secretary-General charts or lists of geographical coordinates, as provided for in the Convention, preferably using the generally accepted and most recent geodetic datums; 6. Notes, in this regard, the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General to improve the existing geographic information system for the deposit by States of charts and geographical coordinates concerning maritime zones, including lines of delimitation, submitted pursuant to the Convention, and to give due publicity thereto, also notes the ongoing cooperation and progress achieved in the development by the International Hydrographic Organization, in cooperation with the Division, of the technical standards for the collection, storage and dissemination of the information deposited, in order to ensure compatibility among geographic information systems, electronic nautical charts and other systems, and re-emphasizes the importance of the prompt completion of these efforts; 7. Urges all States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in taking measures to protect and preserve objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea, in conformity with the Convention, and calls upon States to work together on such diverse challenges and opportunities as the appropriate relationship between salvage law and scientific management and conservation of underwater cultural heritage, increasing technological abilities to discover and reach underwater sites, looting and growing underwater tourism; 8. Acknowledges the recent deposit of instruments of ratification and acceptance of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage,19 calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to that Convention, and notes in particular the rules annexed to that Convention, which address the relationship between salvage law and scientific principles of management, conservation and protection of underwater cultural heritage among Parties, their nationals and vessels flying their flag; II Capacity-building 9. Emphasizes that capacity-building is essential to ensure that States, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, __________________ 18 Ibid., vol. 2167, No. 37924. 19 Ibid., vol. 2562, No. 45694. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 9/58 18-21627 landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able to fully implement the Convention, benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas and participate fully in global and regional forums on ocean affairs and the law of the sea; 10. Also emphasizes the need to address the particular challenges faced by developing middle-income countries through capacity-building; 11. Recalls, in this regard, that, in “The future we want”,7 States recognized the importance of building the capacity of developing countries to be able to benefit from the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and seas and their resources, and in this regard emphasized the need for cooperation in marine scientific research to implement the provisions of the Convention and the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, as well as for the transfer of technology, taking into account the Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology adopted by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its twenty-second session, in 2003; 12. Emphasizes the need for international cooperation for capacity-building, including cross-sectoral cooperation, at national, regional and global levels, to address, in particular, gaps in capacity-building in ocean affairs and the law of the sea, including marine science; 13. Calls for capacity-building initiatives to take into account the needs of developing countries, and calls upon States, international organizations and donor agencies to make efforts to ensure the sustainability of such initiatives; 14. Calls upon donor agencies and international financial institutions to keep their programmes systematically under review to ensure the availability in all States, particularly in developing States, of the economic, legal, navigational, scientific and technical skills necessary for the full implementation of the Convention and the objectives of the present resolution, as well as the sustainable development of the oceans and seas nationally, regionally and globally, and in so doing to bear in mind the interests and needs of landlocked developing States; 15. Encourages intensified efforts to build capacity for developing countries, in particular for the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, to improve aids to navigation and search and rescue services, hydrographic services and the production of nautical charts, including electronic charts, as well as the mobilization of resources and building of capacity with support from international financial institutions and the donor community; 16. Calls upon States and international institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes, technical partnerships and fellowships, to continue to support and strengthen capacity-building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research by, inter alia, training personnel to develop and enhance relevant expertise, providing the necessary equipment, facilities and vessels and transferring environmentally sound technologies; 17. Also calls upon States and international institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes, technical partnerships and fellowships, to support and strengthen capacity-building activities in developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, to develop their maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement capabilities to promote effective compliance with and implementation and enforcement of their responsibilities under international law; A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 10/58 18. Further calls upon States and international institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes, technical partnerships and fellowships, to develop and strengthen capacity-building activities in and to transfer to developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, on mutually agreed terms, and taking into account the Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, environmentally sound technologies to study and minimize the impacts of ocean acidification; 19. Notes the international scientific cooperation within the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network and its efforts in building scientific capacity for ocean acidification monitoring, research and experimentation, including through the Pier2Peer scientific mentorship programme; 20. Emphasizes the need to focus on strengthening South-South cooperation as an additional way to build capacity and as a cooperative mechanism to further enable countries to set their own priorities and needs and to foster actions to implement such cooperation; 21. Recognizes with appreciation the important contribution to capacity- building in the field of the law of the sea by the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy, a cooperative undertaking by the Center for Oceans Law and Policy of the University of Virginia School of Law, the Aegean Institute of the Law of the Sea and Maritime Law, the Law of the Sea Institute of Iceland, the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, the Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea of Utrecht University and the Centre for International Law of the National University of Singapore, which enjoys associate sponsorship of the Korea Maritime Institute and the Ankara University Research Center of the Sea and Maritime Law and offers a prominent three-week summer course annually in Rhodes, Greece, and has graduated 947 students from 123 countries; 22. Also recognizes with appreciation the important contribution to capacity- building in the field of the law of the sea by the Summer Academy of the International Foundation for the Law of the Sea at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; 23. Further recognizes with appreciation the important contribution of the Korea Maritime Institute to the trust fund to support the internship programmes at the Tribunal since 2011 and its continued efforts, in cooperation with the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea Foundation, to provide education and training for capacity-building of developing countries through the Yeosu Academy of the Law of the Sea programme; 24. Recognizes the holding of the regional course on the continental shelf in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, jointly organized in 2018 by the African Institute of International Law and the University of the Faroe Islands, and its important contribution to capacity-building, particularly in developing countries; 25. Also recognizes the importance of the work of the Malta-based International Maritime Law Institute of the International Maritime Organization, as a centre of education and training of specialists in maritime law, including government legal advisers and other high-level officials, mainly from developing States, confirms its effective capacity-building role in the field of international maritime law, shipping law and marine environmental law, and urges States, intergovernmental organizations and financial institutions to make voluntary financial contributions to the budget of the Institute which runs annually; 26. Further recognizes the importance of the World Maritime University of the International Maritime Organization, which celebrated its thirty-fifth anniversary in 2018, as a centre of excellence for maritime education and research, confirms its effective capacity-building role in the field of maritime transportation, policy, administration, management, safety, security and environmental protection, as well Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 11/58 18-21627 as its role in the international exchange and transfer of knowledge, welcomes the inauguration in 2018 of the World Maritime University-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, and urges States, intergovernmental organizations and other bodies to make voluntary financial contributions to the University’s Endowment Fund; 27. Welcomes ongoing activities for capacity-building so as to address maritime security and protection of the marine environment of developing States, and encourages States and international financial institutions to provide additional funding for capacity-building programmes, including for transfer of technology, including through the International Maritime Organization and other competent international organizations; 28. Recognizes the ongoing activities of the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in coordinating capacity-building efforts to support developing States in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in marine and coastal areas;20 29. Also recognizes the considerable need to provide sustained capacity- building assistance, including on financial and technical aspects, by relevant international organizations and donors to developing States, with a view to further strengthening their capacity to take effective measures against the multiple facets of international criminal activities at sea, in line with the relevant international instruments, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto;21 30. Further recognizes the need to build the capacity of developing States to raise awareness of and support the implementation of improved waste management practices, noting the particular vulnerability of small island developing States to the impact of marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities and marine debris and nutrient pollution;22 31. Recognizes the importance of assisting developing States, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, in implementing the Convention, urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial or other contributions to the trust funds, as referred to in resolutions 55/7, 57/141, and 64/71 of 4 December 2009, established for this purpose, and expresses its appreciation to those that have contributed; 23 32. Acknowledges the importance of capacity-building for developing States, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, for the protection of the marine environment and the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources; 33. Recognizes that promoting the voluntary transfer of technology is an essential aspect of building capacity in marine science; 34. Encourages States to use the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, and recalls the important role of the secretariat of that Commission in the implementation and promotion of the Criteria and Guidelines; __________________ 20 See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/12/29, sect. I, and Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity decision XII/23, paras. 19−22. 21 United Nations, Treaty Series, vols. 2225, 2237, 2241 and 2326, No. 39574. 22 See 2012 Guidelines for the Development of a Regional Reception Facilities Plan, International Maritime Organization, resolution MEPC.221(63). 23 See A/70/74/Add.1, para. 137. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 12/58 35. Also encourages States to consider additional opportunities for capacity- building at the regional level; 36. Welcomes the efforts of the Tribunal in holding regional workshops; 37. Notes with satisfaction the publication of the first edition of the Global Ocean Science Report by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; 38. Notes with appreciation the adoption by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the new Capacity Development Strategy (2015–2021), which takes into account that capacity development is a fundamental tenet of the mission of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; 39. Expresses its appreciation for the contribution of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to capacity-building through its Ocean Teacher Academy training system, which has provided training in ocean data and information management, and notes the setting up of the Ocean Teacher Global Academy, operating through a network of regional training centres, which builds capacity and promotes expertise available in developing countries; 40. Welcomes the establishment by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at its twenty-ninth session of the Group of Experts on Capacity Development; 41. Notes with satisfaction the efforts of the Division to compile information on capacity-building initiatives, requests the Secretary-General to continue to regularly update such information provided by States, international organizations and donor agencies and include it in his annual report to the General Assembly, invites States, international organizations and donor agencies to submit such information to the Secretary-General for this purpose, and requests the Division to post the information on capacity-building initiatives from the annual report of the Secretary- General on the website of the Division in an easily accessible manner so as to facilitate the matching of capacity-building needs with opportunities; 42. Calls upon States to continue to assist developing States, and especially the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, at the bilateral and, where appropriate, multilateral levels, in the preparation of submissions to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, including the assessment of the nature and extent of the continental shelf of a coastal State, and recalls that coastal States can make requests to the Commission for scientific and technical advice in the preparation of data for their submissions, in accordance with article 3 of annex II to the Convention; 43. Recognizes the importance of the trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission for developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, and compliance with article 76 of the Convention, and for the purpose of providing assistance to developing States to meet the travel and daily subsistence allowance costs associated with meeting with the Commission when their submissions are being examined and upon the invitation of the Commission, 24 in accordance with paragraph 31 of the terms of reference, guidelines and rules of the trust fund, recognizes also the need for assistance in the preparation of additional information with respect to submissions and revised or new submissions and in maintaining critical capacity during the period from the submission by a coastal developing State of the particulars of the outer limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles to the Commission up to the final stages of its examination by the __________________ 24 See resolution 70/235, para. 37. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 13/58 18-21627 Commission, and amends, as set out in the annex to the present resolution, sections 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the terms of reference, guidelines and rules of the trust fund;25 44. Calls upon the Division to continue to disseminate information on relevant procedures related to the trust fund established for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission and to continue its dialogue with potential beneficiaries with a view to providing financial support to developing countries for activities to facilitate their submissions in accordance with the requirements of article 76 of the Convention and with the Rules of Procedure26 and the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission; 27 45. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with States and relevant international organizations and institutions, to continue to support training and other activities to assist developing States in the preparation and presentation of their submissions to the Commission; 46. Recognizes with appreciation the contribution of the Division to capacity- building activities at the national and regional levels, in particular the work of the Division in promoting wider appreciation of the Convention and in assisting with its implementation, through the provision of information, advice and assistance to States and intergovernmental organizations, as well as the support of the Division for Member State implementation of the relevant parts of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;28 47. Notes the partnership between the Division and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on a training programme on marine scientific research under the Convention, and encourages States, relevant international organizations and other donors to consider supporting the initiative; 48. Invites States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to support the capacity-building activities of the Division, including by making earmarked voluntary contributions to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General for the Office of Legal Affairs to support the promotion of international law, and expresses its appreciation to those that have contributed; 49. Recognizes with appreciation the important contribution to the capacity- building of developing countries and the promotion of the law of the sea made by the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, which was established by the General Assembly in 1981 in honour of the first President of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, and recalls in this regard the provisions of its resolutions on the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law; 29 50. Expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the voluntary trust fund for the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, notes that there are insufficient funds available to grant a regular award for the next fellowship session, expresses its commitment to further promote the importance of the Fellowship, and urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make voluntary financial contributions in support of the Fellowship; __________________ 25 Resolution 55/7, annex II, resolution 58/240, annex, and resolution 70/235, annex. 26 CLCS/40/Rev.1. 27 CLCS/11, CLCS/11/Corr.1, CLCS/11/Add.1 and CLCS/11/Add.1/Corr.1. 28 Resolution 70/1. 29 Resolutions 69/117, para. 8, 70/116, para. 4, 71/139, para. 7, and 72/115, paras. 7 and 8. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 14/58 51. Recognizes with appreciation the important contribution of the United Nations-Nippon Foundation of Japan Fellowship Programme to human resources development for developing Member States in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea and related disciplines, as well as the fostering of global interlinkages and continuing capacity development through the alumni programme, and also recognizes with appreciation additional fellowship awards, as well as the new United Nations- Nippon Foundation Sustainable Ocean Programme, which provides for additional Critical Needs Fellowship awards, Thematic Fellowship awards and a training programme to reinforce capacity in the context of the intergovernmental conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction; 52. Encourages competent international organizations, the United Nations Development Programme and international financial institutions and funds to consider expanding their programmes within their respective fields of competence for assistance to developing countries and to coordinate their efforts, and recognizes the funding available from the Global Environment Facility, as well as other funds allocated for projects relating to oceans; III Meeting of States Parties 53. Welcomes the report of the twenty-eighth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;5 54. Notes that the twenty-eighth Meeting of States Parties, convened by the Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 72/73, is to be resumed on 15 January 2019, and requests the Secretary-General to provide full conference services, including documentation, as required; 55. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the twenty-ninth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention from 17 to 19 June 2019, with full conference services, including documentation, as required; IV Peaceful settlement of disputes 56. Notes with satisfaction the continued and significant contribution of the Tribunal to the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with Part XV of the Convention, and underlines the important role and authority of the Tribunal concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Part XI Agreement; 57. Pays tribute to the important and long-standing role of the International Court of Justice with regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea; 58. Notes that States parties to an international agreement relating to the purposes of the Convention may submit to, inter alia, the Tribunal or the International Court of Justice any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of that agreement submitted in accordance with that agreement, and also notes the possibility, provided for in the Statutes of the Tribunal and the Court, to submit disputes to a chamber; 59. Encourages States Parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider making a written declaration, choosing from the means set out in article 287 of the Convention for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Part XI Agreement, bearing in mind the Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 15/58 18-21627 comprehensive character of the dispute settlement mechanism provided for in Part XV of the Convention; 60. Notes the successful completion of the first compulsory conciliation under annex V to the Convention, pursuant to section 3 of Part XV, which assisted the parties in reaching agreement on a treaty establishing their maritime boundaries, 30 and encourages States to consider all means to peacefully settle disputes in accordance with international law; V The Area 61. Reiterates the importance of the ongoing elaboration and standardization by the Authority, pursuant to article 145 of the Convention, of rules, regulations and procedures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment, for, inter alia, the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the Area and for the prevention of damage to the flora and fauna of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from activities in the Area; 62. Notes that, as at 31 July 2018, the Authority had approved 29 plans of work for exploration for marine mineral resources in the Area and had entered into 15-year contracts with 17 contractors for exploration for polymetallic nodules, 7 contractors for exploration for polymetallic sulphides and 5 contractors for exploration for cobalt- rich ferromanganese crusts;31 63. Welcomes the progress of the work of the Authority on draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, takes note of the development of a road map for the adoption and approval of such regulations, and encourages the Authority to continue its work on the draft regulations as a matter of priority and to provide sufficient opportunities and time for substantive consideration and discussion of successive drafts, and emphasizes the ongoing need for openness and transparency; 64. Recalls the relevance of the advisory opinion on the responsibilities and obligations of States sponsoring persons and entities with respect to activities in the Area, issued by the Seabed Disputes Chamber of the Tribunal on 1 February 2011;32 65. Takes note of the public consultations organized in 2018 by two sponsoring States with regard to the environmental impact assessments submitted to the International Seabed Authority, ahead of technical tests to be held in 2019 in the respective contract areas of their sponsored contractors in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone; 66. Recognizes the importance of the responsibilities entrusted to the Authority by articles 143 and 145 of the Convention, which refer to marine scientific research and protection of the marine environment in the Area, respectively; 67. Welcomes the decision of the Assembly, at the twenty-fourth session of the Authority, to adopt the strategic plan of the Authority for the period 2019–2023, which provides a uniform basis for the strengthening of existing working practices of the Authority;33 68. Encourages the Authority to continue its work towards the standardization of marine bathymetric information collected in the Area, in cooperation with relevant international organizations, including the Intergovernmental Oceanographic __________________ 30 See A/73/368, para. 19. 31 See ISBA/24/A/2, para. 80. 32 See ISBA/17/A/9. 33 See ISBA/24/A/10. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 16/58 Commission and the International Hydrographic Organization, particularly under the Seabed 2030 project;34 69. Welcomes the efforts of the Authority to make progress on the development of regional environmental management plans in other specific areas in the Area, in particular where there are currently exploration contracts, notes in this regard the workshops held in Qingdao, China, in May 2018, and in Szczecin, Poland, in June 2018, respectively, on the development of regional environmental management plans for cobalt-rich crusts in the north-west Pacific and for polymetallic sulphides in mid-ocean ridges, also notes that a further workshop, dedicated to the review of the status of implementation of the environmental management plan for the Clarion- Clipperton Zone, was scheduled for the second half of 2018, and encourages the Authority to make further progress on the development of regional environmental plans;35 VI Effective functioning of the Authority and the Tribunal 70. Commends the progress in the work of the Authority; 71. Also commends the work of the Tribunal since its establishment; 72. Appeals to all States Parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Tribunal in full and on time, and also appeals to States Parties in arrears with their contributions to fulfil their obligations without delay; 73. Expresses serious concern about the number of States Parties to the Convention in arrears with their assessed contributions to the Authority, appeals to all States Parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Authority in full and on time, and urges them to fulfil their obligations without delay, in particular those States whose exercise of voting rights has been suspended by virtue of article 184 of the Convention, and invites the Secretary-General of the Authority to continue his efforts to recover arrears, including bilateral efforts; 74. Notes that the Assembly of the Authority has endorsed the revised schedule of meetings for 2018 and 2019, including two meetings of the Council of the Authority to be held in February–March and July 2019, respectively, and that Assembly meetings are now held following the Council meetings in July, for the convenience of States Parties; 75. Welcomes the improvement in the level of attendance at the Assembly in 2018, compared to 2017, and urges all members of the Authority to participate in the meetings of the Assembly; 76. Also welcomes the adoption by the Assembly of the terms of reference for the voluntary trust fund to support the participation of members of the Council from developing States in meetings of the Council, expresses its appreciation to the contractors and observers that have made contributions to the voluntary trust fund, and encourages Member States, observers, contractors and other stakeholders to contribute financially to the voluntary trust fund;36 77. Expresses its serious concern over the negative balance of the voluntary trust fund established pursuant to the decision of the Authority at its eighth session 37 for the purpose of defraying the cost of participation of the members of the Legal and Technical Commission from developing countries and the members of the Finance __________________ 34 See ISBA/23/A/2. 35 See ISBA/24/C/3, ISBA/24/C/8, ISBA/24/C/22 and ISBA/24/C/9/Add.1. 36 See ISBA/23/A/13, ISBA/24/A/2 and ISBA/24/A/11. 37 See ISBA/8/A/11. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 17/58 18-21627 Committee from developing countries in the meetings of the Commission and of the Committee, expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the voluntary trust fund, and strongly encourages States, observers, contractors and other stakeholders to make contributions to this voluntary trust fund in order to ensure the full participation of all members of the Legal and Technical Commission and the Finance Committee; 78. Expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the endowment fund for marine scientific research in the Area established by the Authority at its twelfth session,38 for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the conduct of collaborative marine scientific research in the Area, and encourages States, observers, contractors and other stakeholders to make additional contributions to this fund; 79. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the Tribunal 39 and to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Authority; 40 80. Emphasizes the importance of the rules and staff regulations of the Tribunal in promoting the recruitment of a geographically representative staff in the Professional and higher categories, and welcomes the actions taken by the Tribunal in observance of those rules and regulations; 81. Calls upon coastal States that have not yet done so to deposit a copy of charts or lists of geographical coordinates showing the outer limit lines of the continental shelf with the Secretary-General of the Authority, as provided for in article 84, paragraph 2, of the Convention; VII The continental shelf and the work of the Commission 82. Recalls that, in accordance with article 76, paragraph 8, of the Convention, information on the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured shall be submitted by the coastal State to the Commission set up under annex II to the Convention on the basis of equitable geographical representation, that the Commission shall make recommendations to coastal States on matters related to the establishment of the outer limits of their continental shelf, and that the limits of the shelf established by a coastal State on the basis of these recommendations shall be final and binding; 83. Also recalls that, in accordance with article 77, paragraph 3, of the Convention, the rights of the coastal State over the continental shelf do not depend on occupation, effective or notional, or on any express proclamation; 84. Notes with satisfaction that a considerable number of States Parties to the Convention have submitted information to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, in conformity with article 76 of the Convention and article 4 of annex II to the Convention, taking into account the decision of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention contained in SPLOS/72, paragraph (a); 85. Also notes with satisfaction that a considerable number of States Parties to the Convention have submitted to the Secretary-General, pursuant to the decision of the eighteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, 41 preliminary information indicative of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and a __________________ 38 ISBA/12/A/11. 39 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2167, No. 37925. 40 Ibid., vol. 2214, No. 39357. 41 See SPLOS/183. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 18/58 description of the status of preparation and intended date of submission in accordance with the requirements of article 76 of the Convention and with the Rules of Procedure and the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission, and notes with satisfaction that additional submissions referred to in preliminary information have been filed with the Commission; 86. Further notes with satisfaction the progress in the work of the Commission42 and that it is giving current consideration to a number of submissions that have been made regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles; 87. Takes note of the 30 recommendations made by the Commission on the submissions of a number of coastal States, and welcomes the fact that summaries of recommendations are being made publicly available in accordance with paragraph 11.3 of annex III to the Rules of Procedure of the Commission; 88. Notes that the consideration by the Commission of submissions by coastal States in accordance with article 76 of and annex II to the Convention is without prejudice to the application of other parts of the Convention by States Parties; 89. Also notes the considerable number of submissions yet to be considered by the Commission and the demands that this places on its members and the secretariat as provided by the Division, and emphasizes the need to ensure that the Commission can perform its functions expeditiously, efficiently and effectively and maintain its high level of quality and expertise; 90. Takes note with appreciation of the decision of the Commission at its forty-fourth session to continue, during its five-year term of office, to meet for a total of 21 weeks per year by holding three sessions of seven weeks each, and that no two sessions would be sequential,43 and further notes that more than nine subcommissions are actively considering submissions;44 91. Notes that the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, in its decisions regarding the conditions of service of the members of the Commission, 45 reaffirmed the obligation of States under the Convention whose experts were serving on the Commission to defray the expenses of the experts they had nominated while the experts are in performance of Commission duties, including the provision of medical coverage, and urged those States to do their utmost to ensure the full participation of those experts in the work of the Commission, including the meetings of subcommissions, in accordance with the Convention; 92. Also notes the decision of the twenty-eighth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention to continue the consideration of the conditions of service of the members of the Commission within the open-ended working group established by the twenty-third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;5 93. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take appropriate measures, within overall existing resource levels, to further strengthen the capacity of the Division, serving as the secretariat of the Commission, in order to ensure enhanced support and assistance to the Commission and its subcommissions in their consideration of submissions, as required by paragraph 9 of annex III to the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, in particular its human resources, taking into account the need for simultaneous work on several submissions; __________________ 42 See CLCS/103, CLCS/103/Corr.1 and CLCS/105. 43 See CLCS/100. 44 See CLCS/80, CLCS/80/Corr.1, CLCS/83 and CLCS/83/Corr.1. 45 SPLOS/276 and SPLOS/286. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 19/58 18-21627 94. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to provide all necessary secretariat services to the Commission in accordance with article 2, paragraph 5, of annex II to the Convention; 95. Requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate and timely measures to ensure secretariat services for the Commission and its subcommissions for the extended duration of time requested in the decisions of the twenty-first and twenty- sixth Meetings of States Parties to the Convention;14 96. Also requests the Secretary-General, consequently, to continue to allocate appropriate and sufficient resources to the Division to provide adequate services and assistance to the Commission in view of the number of its working weeks; 97. Expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the voluntary trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission, 25 and encourages States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make additional contributions to this fund; 98. Recognizes the importance of the voluntary trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 in facilitating the participation of members of the Commission from developing States in the meetings of the Commission, expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to this trust fund, expresses its serious concern at the critical lack of funds in this trust fund, which may prevent the Commission from further implementing the decision of the twenty-sixth Meeting of States Parties that requested the Commission to meet for up to 26 weeks, and may preclude it from advancing its work as a result of the potential lack of a quorum at future sessions, and urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make additional contributions to this fund; 99. Authorizes the use, as appropriate, of the trust fund referred to in paragraph 98 above, and in accordance with the purpose of its terms of reference, to defray the cost of the participation of the Chair of the Commission, when nominated by a developing country, in the Meetings of States Parties to the Convention, and authorizes the Secretary-General, as an interim measure and subject to the availability of funds following the allocation of the required funds to cover the costs of travel and daily subsistence allowance of the members of the Commission from developing States for the sessions of the Commission in 2019, to reimburse those members for the costs of medical travel insurance and short-term medical insurance from that trust fund on a session-by-session basis and subject to a reasonable limit that the Secretary- General shall determine, based on the information regarding medical travel insurance available to him; 100. Takes note of the written information, provided by the Secretary-General in response to the request in paragraph 81 of resolution 69/245, on options for mechanisms to provide medical insurance coverage to members of the Commission, including costs, and the information provided by the Secretariat during the twenty- seventh and twenty-eighth Meetings of States Parties to the Convention, and expresses its intention to continue to consider these and other options and, if necessary, to further review the terms of reference for the trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of facilitating the participation of members of the Commission from developing States in the meetings of the Commission; 101. Decides that, on an exceptional basis and without setting a precedent for other agenda items, the members of the Commission have the option to join the A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 20/58 Headquarters medical insurance scheme upon payment of the full cost of the premium; 102. Emphasizes the continued need for members of the Commission to have suitable working space for their work at the sessions of the Commission and its subcommissions, recognizes, with regard to the long-term accommodation discussions, that, owing to its exceptional character, the Commission has special requirements for its working space, including the need for fit-for-purpose working space, adequate technical equipment and climate control, and needs to remain located within the same premises as the Division, and emphasizes that, in the context of any relocation of the Division or any change in its working space, full regard will be paid to these special requirements of the Commission; 103. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the forty-ninth, fiftieth and fifty-first sessions of the Commission, in New York, from 28 January to 15 March 2019, from 1 July to 16 August 2019 and from 14 October to 29 November 2019, respectively, with full conference services, including documentation, for the plenary parts of these sessions,46 as well as any resumed sessions as may be required by the Commission, and requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to meet these requirements within overall existing resources; 104. Expresses its firm conviction about the importance of the work of the Commission, carried out in accordance with the Convention as well as in accordance with its Rules of Procedure, including with respect to the participation of coastal States in relevant proceedings concerning their submissions, and recognizes the continued need for active interaction between coastal States and the Commission; 105. Expresses its appreciation to States that have exchanged views in order to increase understanding of issues, including expenditures involved, arising from the application of article 76 of the Convention, thus facilitating the preparation of submissions by States, in particular developing States, to the Commission, and encourages States to continue to exchange views; 106. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with Member States, to continue to support workshops or symposiums on scientific and technical aspects of the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, taking into account the need to strengthen capacity-building for developing countries in preparing their submissions; VIII Maritime safety and security and flag State implementation 107. Encourages States to ratify or accede to international agreements addressing the safety and security of navigation, as well as maritime labour, and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with the Convention and other relevant international instruments aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements, and emphasizes the need for capacity-building for and assistance to developing States; 108. Recognizes that the legal regimes governing maritime safety and maritime security may have common and mutually reinforcing objectives that may be interrelated and could benefit from synergies, and encourages States to take this into account in their implementation; 109. Emphasizes the need for further efforts to promote a culture of safety and security in the shipping industry and to address the shortage of adequately trained __________________ 46 From 4 to 8 February and from 4 to 8 March 2019 during the forty-ninth session, and from 29 July to 2 August and from 13 to 16 August 2019 during the fiftieth session. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 21/58 18-21627 personnel, and urges the establishment of more centres to provide the required education and training; 110. Also emphasizes that safety and security measures should be implemented in support of and with minimal negative effects on seafarers and fishers, especially in relation to their working conditions, and welcomes the ongoing cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Labour Organization in relation to decent work and employment in fisheries and aquaculture and on child labour in fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the work that has been conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Labour Organization on the issue of trafficking in persons and forced labour on fishing vessels; 111. Welcomes the consideration by the International Maritime Organization of the fair treatment of seafarers, recalls the adoption by the Organization on 4 December 2013 of resolution A.1090(28) on the fair treatment of crew members in respect of shore leave and access to shore-side facilities, and welcomes the new provision on shore leave in the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic,47 which entered into force on 1 January 2018; 112. Notes the themes for the 2018 and 2019 World Maritime Day, “IMO 70: Our Heritage – Better Shipping for a Better Future”, and “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”, respectively; 113. Invites States that have not yet done so to become parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978,48 as amended, and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995; 114. Encourages States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185)49 and the Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) of the International Labour Organization, as well as to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended, calls upon States to effectively implement their obligations under those instruments, and emphasizes the need to provide to States, at their request, technical cooperation and assistance in this regard; 115. Invites States to ratify or accede to the Cape Town Agreement of 2012 on the Implementation of the Provisions of the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977; 116. Welcomes ongoing cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization relating to the safety of fishers and fishing vessels, and underlines the urgent need for continued work in that area; 117. Notes that in its resolution A.1078(28) of 4 December 2013 the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization revised the International Maritime Organization ship identification number scheme to allow its voluntary application to seagoing ships of 100 gross tonnage and above, including fishing vessels; 118. Recalls that all actions taken to combat threats to maritime security must be in accordance with international law, including the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention; __________________ 47 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 591, No. 8564. 48 Ibid., vol. 1361, No. 23001. 49 Ibid., vol. 2304, No. 41069. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 22/58 119. Recognizes the crucial role of international cooperation at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels in combating, in accordance with international law, threats to maritime security, including piracy, armed robbery against ships at sea and terrorist acts against shipping, offshore installations and other maritime interests, through bilateral and multilateral instruments and mechanisms aimed at monitoring, preventing and responding to such threats, the enhanced sharing of information among States relevant to the detection, prevention and suppression of such threats, and the prosecution of offenders with due regard to national legislation, and the need for sustained capacity-building to support such objectives, and in this regard welcomes the Work Plan for Maritime Security 2018–2020, which was reaffirmed at the twenty-fifth Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, held in Singapore on 4 August 2018; 120. Welcomes the adoption, in Lomé on 15 October 2016, by the African Union Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa of the Charter on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa; 121. Notes with satisfaction the organization in Mauritius in April 2018 of the Ministerial Conference on Maritime Security in the Western Indian Ocean, at which participants adopted the Mauritius Declaration on Maritime Security, and Comoros, Djibouti, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles signed an agreement setting up the Regional Maritime Information Exchange and Sharing Mechanism in the Western Indian Ocean Region and an agreement on coordination of operations at sea in the Western Indian Ocean, and invites States to consider signing these agreements; 122. Acknowledges the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in promoting international cooperation and strengthening capacity to combat the problem of transnational organized crime committed at sea; 123. Notes with concern that piracy and armed robbery at sea affect a wide range of vessels engaged in maritime activities, and expresses grave concern at the threats posed by piracy and armed robbery at sea to the safety and welfare of seafarers and other persons; 124. Emphasizes the importance of promptly reporting incidents to enable accurate information on the scope of the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships at sea and, in the case of armed robbery against ships at sea, by affected vessels to the coastal State, underlines the importance of effective information-sharing with States potentially affected by incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships at sea, notes with appreciation the important role of the International Maritime Organization and the important contribution of the Information Sharing Centre of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, based in Singapore, which aspires to be recognized as a centre of excellence within its purpose and mandate, and notes the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea mechanism, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations covering the high-risk area, the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre, based in Madagascar, and the Regional Maritime Centre for Operational Coordination in Seychelles; 125. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, to actively combat piracy and armed robbery at sea by adopting measures, including those relating to assistance with capacity-building through training of seafarers, port staff and enforcement personnel in the prevention, reporting and investigation of incidents, by bringing the alleged perpetrators to justice, in accordance with international law, and by adopting national legislation, as well as by providing enforcement vessels and equipment and guarding against fraudulent ship registration; Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 23/58 18-21627 126. Encourages States to ensure effective implementation of international law applicable to combating piracy, as reflected in the Convention, calls upon States to take appropriate steps under their national law to facilitate, in accordance with international law, the apprehension and prosecution of those who are alleged to have committed acts of piracy, including the financing or facilitation of such acts, also taking into account other relevant instruments that are consistent with the Convention, and encourages States to cooperate, as appropriate, with a view to developing their national legislation in this regard; 127. Invites all States, the International Maritime Organization, the International Labour Organization and other relevant international organizations and agencies to adopt or recommend, as appropriate, measures to protect the interest and welfare of seafarers and fishers who are victims of pirates, after their release from captivity, including their post-incident care and reintegration into society; 128. Notes the compilation of national legislation on piracy on the website of the Division, and encourages the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Division to continue to cooperate with the International Maritime Organization with a view to assisting Member States, upon request, in developing their national laws on piracy; 129. Recognizes continued national, bilateral and trilateral initiatives, as well as regional cooperative mechanisms, in accordance with international law, to address piracy, including the financing or facilitation of acts of piracy, and armed robbery at sea, and calls upon States to give immediate attention to adopting, concluding and implementing cooperation agreements at the regional level on combating piracy and armed robbery against ships; 130. Expresses serious concern at the inhuman conditions hostages taken at sea face in captivity and also the adverse impact on their families, calls for the immediate release of all hostages taken at sea, and stresses the importance of cooperation among Member States on the issue of hostage-taking at sea; 131. Welcomes, in this regard, the ongoing work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Hostage Support Programme, funded by the Board of the trust fund to support initiatives of States countering piracy off the coast of Somalia, in securing the release of seafarers held hostage off the coast of Somalia; 50 132. Also welcomes the recent achievements against piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia resulting from efforts at the global and regional levels, which have resulted in a steady decline in pirate attacks as well as hijackings since 2011, in that regard continues to be gravely concerned by the ongoing threat that piracy and armed robbery at sea continue to pose in the region off the coast of Somalia, notes the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 2442 (2018) of 6 November 2018, as well as the statements by the President of the Council of 25 August 201051 and of 19 November 2012,52 also notes that the authorization in resolution 2442 (2018) and relevant resolutions 53 apply only with respect to the situation in Somalia and shall not affect the rights, obligations or responsibilities of Member States under international law, including any rights or obligations under the Convention, with respect to any other situation, and underscores, in particular, that they shall not be considered as establishing customary international law; __________________ 50 See S/2013/623, paras. 11–13, and S/2014/740, para. 10. 51 S/PRST/2010/16; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2010–31 July 2011 (S/INF/66). 52 S/PRST/2012/24; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2012–31 July 2013 (S/INF/68). 53 See Security Council resolution 2316 (2016), first preambular paragraph. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 24/58 133. Notes the continued efforts within the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia following the adoption of Security Council resolution 1851 (2008) of 16 December 2008, including at its twenty-first plenary session, chaired by Mauritius in Nairobi in July 2018, and commends the contributions of all States in the efforts to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia; 134. Recognizes the primary responsibility of the Federal Government of Somalia in combating piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, acknowledges the importance of a comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the situation in Somalia, and emphasizes the need to address the underlying causes of piracy and to assist Somalia and States in the region, at their request, in strengthening institutional capacity to fight piracy and tackle its underlying causes, including the financing or facilitation of acts of piracy, and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia and to bring to justice those involved in such acts; 135. Notes the International Maritime Organization guidelines to assist in the investigation of the crimes of piracy and armed robbery against ships, revised interim guidance to shipowners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, revised interim recommendations for flag States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, revised interim recommendations for port and coastal States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, interim guidance to private maritime security companies providing privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, and interim guidance for flag States on measures to prevent and mitigate Somalia-based piracy; 136. Welcomes the successful cooperation between China and Somalia in transferring suspected pirates in May 2017, as well as the successful prosecution of piracy cases in Belgium, India, Mauritius and Seychelles, as reflected in Security Council resolution 2383 (2017) of 7 November 2017; 137. Notes with concern that the continuing limited capacity and domestic legislation to facilitate the custody and prosecution of suspected pirates after their capture has hindered more robust international action against pirates off the coast of Somalia; 138. Encourages States to ensure that ships flying their flag apply ship security measures approved in accordance with national and international law; 139. Notes the efforts made by the shipping industry to cooperate with the efforts by States regarding piracy off the coast of Somalia, in particular in assisting ships that navigate in that area, and recalls the adoption on 30 November 2011 by the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization of resolution A.1044(27) on piracy and armed robbery against ships in waters off the coast of Somalia; 140. Also notes the continued implementation of the Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden (Djibouti Code of Conduct), adopted on 29 January 2009 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization, in the four thematic areas of information-sharing, training, national legislation and capacity- building, and notes the adoption in January 2017 of the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct; 141. Expresses its deep concern at the continuing incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, in particular violence against innocent crew members of vessels, notes the adoption by the Security Council of resolutions 2018 (2011) of 31 October 2011 and 2039 (2012) of 29 February 2012 and the Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 25/58 18-21627 statement by the President of the Council of 25 April 2016,54 supports the recent efforts to address this problem at the global and regional levels, recalls the primary role of States in the region to counter the threat and address the underlying causes of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, welcomes the adoption in Yaoundé on 25 June 2013 of the Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy, Armed Robbery against Ships, and Illegal Maritime Activity in West and Central Africa, and calls upon States in the region to implement the Code of Conduct as soon as possible and consistent with international law, in particular the Convention; 142. Urges States to ensure the full implementation of resolution A.1069(28) of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization on prevention and suppression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in the Gulf of Guinea; 143. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation55 and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf,55 invites States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the 2005 Protocol to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation56 and the 2005 Protocol to the 1988 Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf, 57 and urges States parties to take appropriate measures to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments through the adoption of legislation, where appropriate; 144. Calls upon States to effectively implement the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code and the amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,58 and to work with the International Maritime Organization to promote safe and secure shipping while ensuring freedom of navigation; 145. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, to improve the protection of offshore installations by adopting measures related to the prevention, reporting and investigation of acts of violence against installations, in accordance with international law, and by implementing such measures through national legislation to ensure proper and adequate enforcement; 146. Emphasizes the progress in regional cooperation, including the efforts of littoral States, on the enhancement of safety, security and environmental protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and the effective functioning of the Cooperative Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (the Cooperative Mechanism) to promote dialogue and facilitate close cooperation between the littoral States, user States, shipping industries and other stakeholders in line with article 43 of the Convention, notes with appreciation the convening of the eleventh Cooperation Forum, in Singapore on 24 and 25 September 2018, the eleventh Project Coordination Committee Meeting, in Singapore on 28 September 2018, the forty-third Tripartite Technical Experts Group Meeting, in Singapore on 26 and 27 September 2018, and the twentieth and twenty- first Aids to Navigation Fund Committee Meetings, in Penang, Malaysia, on 3 and 4 May 2018 and in Malacca, Malaysia, on 20 and 21 September 2018, respectively, __________________ 54 S/PRST/2016/4; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2015–31 December 2016 (S/INF/71). 55 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1678, No. 29004. 56 International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.15/21. 57 International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.15/22. 58 International Maritime Organization, documents SOLAS/CONF.5/32 and SOLAS/CONF.5/34, and document MSC 81/25/Add.1, annex 2, resolution MSC.202(81), introducing the long-range identification and tracking of ships system. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 26/58 the events being key pillars of the Cooperative Mechanism, also notes with appreciation the important role of the Information Sharing Centre of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, based in Singapore, and calls upon States to give immediate attention to adopting, concluding and implementing cooperation agreements at the regional level; 147. Recognizes that some transnational organized criminal activities threaten legitimate uses of the oceans and endanger the lives of people at sea, as well as the livelihoods and security of coastal communities; 148. Notes that transnational organized criminal activities are diverse and may be interrelated in some cases and that criminal organizations are adaptive and take advantage of the vulnerabilities of States, in particular coastal and small island developing States in transit areas, and calls upon States and relevant intergovernmental organizations to increase cooperation and coordination at all levels to detect and suppress the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and illicit trafficking in firearms, in accordance with international law; 149. Recognizes the importance of enhancing international cooperation at all levels to fight transnational organized criminal activities, including illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, within the scope of the United Nations instruments against illicit drug trafficking, as well as the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and illicit trafficking in firearms and criminal activities at sea falling within the scope of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto;21 150. Encourages States to cooperate at the bilateral, regional and global levels to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora where such trafficking occurs via maritime routes, through, inter alia, the use of applicable international legal instruments as appropriate, such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the United Nations Convention against Corruption 59 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,60 and reiterates its call upon Member States expressed in its resolution 71/326 of 11 September 2017 to make illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora a serious crime, in accordance with their national legislation and as defined in article 2 (b) and article 3, paragraph 1 (b), of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, in order to ensure that, where the offence is transnational in nature and involves an organized criminal group, effective international cooperation can be afforded under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to prevent and combat transnational organized crime; 151. Notes with grave concern the recent proliferation of, and endangerment of lives through, the smuggling of migrants by sea, underscores the necessity to address such situations in accordance with applicable international law, and encourages States, acting nationally or through relevant global or regional organizations, as appropriate, to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to flag, port and coastal States, upon request, to enhance their capabilities to prevent smuggling of migrants and human trafficking by sea; 152. Calls upon States, in that context, to take measures in accordance with relevant international obligations to prevent and combat all forms of trafficking in persons, to identify victims of human trafficking, including among migrant flows, and __________________ 59 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2349, No. 42146. 60 Ibid., vol. 993, No. 14537. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 27/58 18-21627 to provide trafficking victims with appropriate protection and assistance, according to their national law and policy; 153. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,61 the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, 62 and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,63 and to take appropriate measures to ensure their effective implementation; 154. Calls upon States to ensure freedom of navigation, the safety of navigation and the rights of transit passage, archipelagic sea lanes passage and innocent passage in accordance with international law, in particular the Convention; 155. Welcomes the work of the International Maritime Organization relating to the protection of shipping lanes of strategic importance and significance, and in particular in enhancing safety, security and environmental protection in straits used for international navigation, and calls upon that Organization, States bordering straits and user States to continue their cooperation to keep such straits safe, secure and environmentally protected and open to international navigation at all times, consistent with international law, in particular the Convention; 156. Calls upon user States and States bordering straits used for international navigation to continue to cooperate by agreement on matters relating to navigational safety, including safety aids for navigation, and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution from ships, and welcomes developments in this regard; 157. Calls upon States that have accepted the amendments to regulation XI-1/6 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, 64 to implement the Code of International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident, 65 which took effect on 1 January 2010, and, in particular, to comply with the mandatory conduct of a marine safety investigation into very serious marine casualties and submission of a marine safety investigation report to the International Maritime Organization to identify trends and develop knowledge and risk-based recommendations; 158. Takes note of International Maritime Organization resolution A.1091 (28) of 4 December 2013 on guidelines on the preservation and collection of evidence following an allegation of a serious crime having taken place on board a ship or following a report of a missing person from a ship, and pastoral and medical care of persons affected; 159. Recognizes the important work of the International Hydrographic Organization, calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming members of that Organization, encourages all its members to actively consider, in accordance with applicable rules and procedures, applications of States that wish to become members of that Organization, and urges all States to work with that Organization to increase the coverage of hydrographic information on a global basis __________________ 61 Ibid., vol. 2241, No. 39574. 62 Ibid., vol. 2326, No. 39574. 63 Ibid., vol. 2237, No. 39574. 64 International Maritime Organization, document MSC 84/24/Add.1, annex 3, resolution MSC.257(84). 65 International Maritime Organization, document MSC 84/24/Add.1, annex 1, resolution MSC.255(84). A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 28/58 to enhance capacity-building and technical assistance and to promote safe navigation, particularly through the production and use of accurate electronic navigational charts, especially in areas used for international navigation, in ports and where there are vulnerable or protected marine areas; 160. Also recognizes the importance of navigational warning services based on marine meteorological data for the safety of ships and lives at sea and the optimization of navigation routes, and notes the collaboration between the World Meteorological Organization and the International Maritime Organization for the enhancement of these services and their extension to the Arctic region; 161. Encourages States to continue their efforts in the implementation of all areas of the Action Plan for the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material, approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in March 2004; 162. Notes that cessation of the transport of radioactive materials through the regions of small island developing States is an ultimate desired goal of small island developing States and some other countries, and recognizes the right of freedom of navigation in accordance with international law; that States should maintain dialogue and consultation, in particular under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Maritime Organization, with the aim of improved mutual understanding, confidence-building and enhanced communication in relation to the safe maritime transport of radioactive materials; that States involved in the transport of such materials are urged to continue to engage in dialogue with small island developing States and other States to address their concerns; and that these concerns include the further development and strengthening, within the appropriate forums, of international regulatory regimes to enhance safety, disclosure, liability, security and compensation in relation to such transport; 163. Acknowledges, in the context of paragraph 162 above, the potential environmental and economic impacts of maritime incidents and accidents on coastal States, in particular those related to the transport of radioactive materials, and emphasizes the importance of effective liability regimes in that regard; 164. Invites States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007; 66 165. Requests States to take appropriate measures with regard to ships flying their flag or of their registry to address hazards that may be caused by wrecks and drifting or sunken cargo to navigation or the marine environment; 166. Calls upon States to ensure that masters on ships flying their flag take the steps required by relevant instruments67 to provide assistance to persons in distress at sea, and urges States to cooperate and to take all measures necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the amendments to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue68 and to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea69 relating to the delivery of persons rescued at sea to a place of safety, as well as of the associated Guidelines on the Treatment of Persons Rescued at Sea;70 __________________ 66 International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.16/19. 67 Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944, annex 12, International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, as amended, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, and International Convention on Salvage, 1989. 68 International Maritime Organization, document MSC 78/26/Add.1, annex 5, resolution MSC.155(78). 69 International Maritime Organization, document MSC 78/26/Add.1, annex 3, resolution MSC.153(78). 70 International Maritime Organization, document MSC 78/26/Add.2, annex 34, resolution MSC.167(78). Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 29/58 18-21627 167. Recognizes that all States must fulfil their search and rescue responsibilities in accordance with international law, including the Convention, reaffirms the ongoing need for the International Maritime Organization and other relevant organizations to assist, in particular, developing States both to increase and improve their search and rescue capabilities, including, as appropriate, through the establishment of additional rescue coordination centres and regional sub-centres, and to take effective action to address, to the extent feasible, the issue of unseaworthy ships and small craft within their national jurisdiction, and emphasizes in this regard the importance of cooperation for these purposes, including within the framework of the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979; 71 168. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant actors in relation to disembarkation of persons rescued at sea, notes in this regard the need to implement all relevant and applicable international instruments and the importance of cooperation among States as provided for in those instruments, and underlines in particular the importance of full respect for the principle of non-refoulement in accordance with applicable international law; 169. Invites States to implement the Revised Guidelines on the Prevention of Access by Stowaways and the Allocation of Responsibilities to Seek the Successful Resolution of Stowaway Cases, adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization in its resolution MSC.448(99) of 24 May 2018 and by the Facilitation Committee of that Organization in its resolution FAL.13(42) of 8 June 2018; 170. Calls upon States to continue to cooperate in developing comprehensive approaches to international migration and development, including through dialogue on all their aspects; 171. Also calls upon States to take measures to protect fibre-optic submarine cables and to fully address issues relating to these cables, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the Convention; 172. Encourages greater dialogue and cooperation among States and the relevant regional and global organizations through workshops and seminars on the protection and maintenance of fibre-optic submarine cables to promote the security of such critical communications infrastructure; 173. Also encourages the adoption by States of laws and regulations addressing the breaking or injury of submarine cables or pipelines beneath the high seas done wilfully or through culpable negligence by a ship flying its flag or by a person subject to its jurisdiction, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the Convention; 174. Affirms the importance of maintenance, including the repair, of submarine cables, undertaken in conformity with international law, as reflected in the Convention; 175. Reaffirms that flag, port and coastal States all bear responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation and enforcement of international instruments relating to maritime security and safety, in accordance with international law, in particular the Convention, and that flag States have primary responsibility that requires further strengthening, including through increased transparency of ownership of vessels and the monitoring of organizations authorized to carry out surveys and issue certificates on their behalf, taking into account the entry into force of the Code for Recognized Organizations on 1 January 2015;72 __________________ 71 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1405, No. 23489. 72 International Maritime Organization, resolutions MSC.349(92) and MEPC.237(65). A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 30/58 176. Urges flag States without an effective maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement capabilities to ensure effective compliance with and implementation and enforcement of their responsibilities under international law, in particular the Convention, and, until such action is taken, to consider declining the granting of the right to fly their flag to new vessels, suspending their registry or not opening a registry, and calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of substandard vessels; 177. Recognizes that international shipping rules and standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization in respect of maritime safety, efficiency of navigation and the prevention and control of marine pollution, complemented by best practices of the shipping industry, have led to a significant reduction in maritime accidents and pollution incidents; 178. Notes that audits of Member States under the International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme became mandatory in January 2016 under nine mandatory International Maritime Organization instruments and are to be carried out in accordance with the Framework and the Procedures for the International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme and using the International Maritime Organization Instruments Implementation Code (III Code);73 179. Encourages States and competent international organizations and bodies to support the effective implementation of the requirements of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), adopted by the International Maritime Organization under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended, 74 including relevant requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended; 75 180. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization on matters related to passenger ship safety in light of recent accidents, and encourages States and competent international organizations and bodies to support continued efforts, including technical cooperation activities, to improve passenger ship safety; 181. Recognizes that maritime safety can also be improved through effective port State control, the strengthening of regional arrangements and increased coordination and cooperation among them and increased transparency and information-sharing, making ample use of information systems, such as the International Maritime Organization Global Integrated Shipping Information System,76 including among safety and security sectors; 182. Encourages flag States to take appropriate measures sufficient to achieve or maintain recognition by intergovernmental arrangements that recognize satisfactory flag State performance, including, as appropriate, satisfactory port State control examination results on a sustained basis, with a view to improving quality shipping and furthering flag State implementation of relevant instruments under the __________________ 73 See International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolutions A.1018(26), A.1067(28), A.1068(28) and A.1070(28). 74 International Maritime Organization, document MEPC 62/24/Add.1, annex 19, resolution MEPC.203(62). 75 International Maritime Organization, resolutions MSC.385(94) and MEPC.264(68) and related amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (resolution MSC.386(94)) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (resolution MEPC.265(68)). 76 International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolutions A.1029(26) and A.1074(28). Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 31/58 18-21627 International Maritime Organization as well as relevant goals and objectives of the present resolution; 183. Takes note with appreciation of the important contribution of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities to the improvement and harmonization of marine aids to navigation for the reduction of marine accidents, increased safety of life and property at sea and the protection of the marine environment; IX Marine environment and marine resources 184. Emphasizes once again the importance of the implementation of Part XII of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, and calls upon all States to cooperate and take measures consistent with the Convention, directly or through competent international organizations, for the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 185. Calls upon States to implement the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the outcome document of the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” as adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 70/1, including Goal 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, and recalls that the Goals and targets are integrated and indivisible; 186. Reiterates, in this regard, the call made in the declaration entitled “Our ocean, our future: call for action” for action to be taken on an urgent basis to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development;77 187. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States committed themselves to protect and restore the health, productivity and resilience of oceans and marine ecosystems, to maintain their biodiversity, enabling their conservation and sustainable use for present and future generations, and to effectively apply an ecosystem approach and the precautionary approach in the management, in accordance with international law, of activities having an impact on the marine environment, to deliver on all three dimensions of sustainable development; 188. Reaffirms paragraph 119 of resolution 61/222 of 20 December 2006 regarding ecosystem approaches and oceans, including the proposed elements of an ecosystem approach, means to achieve implementation of an ecosystem approach and requirements for improved application of an ecosystem approach, and in this regard: (a) Notes that continued environmental degradation in many parts of the world and increasing competing demands require an urgent response and the setting of priorities for management actions aimed at conserving ecosystem integrity; (b) Also notes that ecosystem approaches to ocean management should be focused on managing human activities in order to maintain and, where needed, restore ecosystem health to sustain goods and environmental services, provide social and economic benefits for food security, sustain livelihoods in support of international development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,78 and conserve marine biodiversity; __________________ 77 Resolution 71/312, annex. 78 Resolution 55/2. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 32/58 (c) Recalls that States should be guided in the application of ecosystem approaches by a number of existing instruments, in particular the Convention, which sets out the legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas, and its implementing Agreements, as well as other commitments, such as those contained in the Convention on Biological Diversity 79 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development call for the application of an ecosystem approach by 2010, 16 and in this context encourages States to enhance their efforts towards applying such an approach; (d) Encourages States to cooperate and coordinate their efforts and take, individually or jointly, as appropriate, all measures, in conformity with international law, including the Convention and other applicable instruments, to address impacts on marine ecosystems within and beyond areas of national jurisdiction, taking into account the integrity of the ecosystems concerned; 189. Encourages competent organizations and bodies that have not yet done so to incorporate an ecosystem approach into their mandates, as appropriate, in order to address impacts on marine ecosystems; 190. Acknowledges the request by the United Nations Environment Assembly at its second session, in paragraph 6 of its resolution 2/10, to the United Nations Environment Programme to step up its work, including through its Regional Seas Programme, on assisting countries and regions in the application of the ecosystem approach to managing the marine and coastal environment, including through enabling intersectoral cooperation in integrated coastal zone management and marine spatial planning;80 191. Encourages States, directly or through competent international organizations, to consider the further development and application, as appropriate and consistent with international law, including the Convention, of environmental impact assessment processes covering planned activities under their jurisdiction or control that may cause substantial pollution of or significant and harmful changes to the marine environment, and also encourages the communication of the reports of the results of such assessments to the competent international organizations in accordance with the Convention; 192. Recognizes the importance of improving understanding of the impact of climate change on oceans and seas, and recalls that, in “The future we want”, States noted that sea level rise and coastal erosion are serious threats for many coastal regions and islands, particularly in developing countries and in this regard called upon the international community to enhance its efforts to address these challenges; 193. Takes note of the findings of reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, including its Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5˚C, that increasing warming amplifies the exposure of small islands, low-lying coastal areas and deltas to the risks associated with sea level rise; 194. Also takes note of the decision by the International Law Commission at its seventieth session to include the topic “Sea-level rise in relation to international law” in its long-term programme of work;81 195. Notes the eighteenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, which focused on the theme “The effects of climate change on oceans”, during which delegations discussed, inter alia, the environmental, social and economic impacts on all States, in particular developing States, of the effects of climate change on the __________________ 79 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. 80 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/71/25), annex. 81 Ibid., Seventy-third Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/73/10). Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 33/58 18-21627 oceans, as well as the urgent need to address such effects and impacts, the need for international cooperation and coordination, including concerted and immediate action to combat the effects of climate change on the oceans, as well as the need for continued coordinated international focus in recognition that, owing to the interconnected nature of the oceans, ensuing impacts cannot be overcome by any single State and, in particular, in view of the grave implications for countries with low-lying coasts, some of whose very existence is under threat;82 196. Notes with appreciation that, at its forty-third session, held in Nairobi from 11 to 13 April 2016, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change decided to prepare a special report on climate change and oceans and the cryosphere;83 197. Welcomes the Paris Agreement 84 and its early entry into force on 4 November 2016, encourages all its parties to fully implement the Agreement and parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 85 that have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, as appropriate, as soon as possible, and recognizes the importance of raising awareness of the adverse impact of climate change on the marine environment, marine biodiversity and sea level; 198. Also welcomes, in this regard, the convening of the twenty-fourth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the fourteenth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the third part of the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement in Katowice, Poland, from 3 to 14 December 2018; 199. Notes with concern the severe impacts on coastal communities of extreme weather events, such as tropical cyclones and associated storm surges, and encourages cooperative actions by relevant United Nations bodies and organizations, including the World Meteorological Organization and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission through the Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology, to assist States in improving forecasting of such events and its application in multi-hazard early warning systems and risk management; 200. Also notes with concern the approximately 30 per cent increase in the acidity of ocean surface waters since the beginning of the industrial era 86 and the wide range of impacts associated with the continuing and alarming acidification of the world’s oceans, and urges States to make significant efforts to tackle the causes of ocean acidification, recognizing countries’ national circumstances and respective capabilities, and to further study and minimize its impacts, to enhance local, national, regional and global cooperation in this regard, including the sharing of relevant information and the development of worldwide capacity, including in developing countries, to measure ocean acidification, and to take steps to make marine ecosystems healthier and, as a result, more resilient, to the extent possible, to the impacts of ocean acidification; 201. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States called for support for initiatives that address ocean acidification and the impacts of climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems and resources and in this regard reiterated the need to work collectively to prevent further ocean acidification, as well as to enhance the __________________ 82 A/72/95. 83 See Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, decision IPCC/XLIII-6. 84 See FCCC/CP/2015/10/Add.1, decision 1/CP.21, annex. 85 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. 86 As stated in the 2013 report of Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on the physical science basis of climate change. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 34/58 resilience of marine ecosystems and of the communities whose livelihoods depend on them, and to support marine scientific research, monitoring and observation of ocean acidification and particularly vulnerable ecosystems, including through enhanced international cooperation in this regard; 202. Recognizes the attention paid to ocean acidification at the fourteenth and eighteenth meetings of the Informal Consultative Process, and commits itself to continue to pay attention to this important issue, including by taking into account the First Global Integrated Marine Assessment (the first World Ocean Assessment), the ongoing work of the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre and the scientific cooperation fostered by the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network; 203. Notes the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, notes with concern its findings on the acidification of the oceans and the substantial risks to marine ecosystems, especially polar ecosystems, coral reefs, plankton and other organisms which have a calcareous exoskeleton, or a shell, like crustaceans, and the potentially detrimental consequences for fisheries and livelihoods, as well as the findings of the World Meteorological Organization contained in its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, and notes its decision to foster collaboration with organizations and institutions that address the carbon budget of the ocean, 87 and in this regard encourages States and competent international organizations and other relevant institutions, individually and in cooperation, to urgently pursue further research on ocean acidification, especially programmes of observation and measurement, noting in particular the continued work under the Convention on Biological Diversity and to increase national, regional and global efforts to address levels of ocean acidity and the negative impact of such acidity on vulnerable marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs; 204. Also notes, in this regard, the holding in Monaco, from 15 to 17 October 2017, of the fourth International Workshop on the Socioeconomic Impacts of Ocean Acidification, organized by the Scientific Centre of Monaco and the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which focused on the impacts on coral reefs, which are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification and to bleaching induced or exacerbated by global warming, and proposed ecological and socioeconomic solutions, in particular the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, the control of land-based pollution, the enhancement of coral reef resilience, as well as the promotion of sustainable economies, the monitoring of coral reef health, and restoration programmes; 205. Encourages States, individually or in collaboration with relevant international organizations and bodies, to enhance their scientific activity to better understand the effects of climate change on the marine environment and marine biodiversity, support continued coordination of scientific work to study and minimize the impacts of ocean acidification and develop ways and means of adaptation, taking into account, as appropriate, the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches; 206. Notes the vital role that coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses, play in climate adaptation and mitigation through carbon sequestration, and in increasing the resilience of coastal ecosystems to ocean acidification, and the range of other benefits that these ecosystems provide, including sustainable livelihoods, food security and biodiversity conservation, and coastal protection, and encourages States and relevant international institutions and __________________ 87 World Meteorological Organization, Seventeenth World Meteorological Congress, Geneva, 25 May–12 June 2015, resolution 46 (Cg-17). Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 35/58 18-21627 organizations to work collaboratively to protect and restore coastal blue carbon ecosystems; 207. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States noted with concern that the health of oceans and marine biodiversity are negatively affected by marine pollution, including marine debris, especially plastic, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals and nitrogen-based compounds, from a number of marine and land-based sources, including shipping and land run-off, and that States committed to take action to reduce the incidence and impacts of such pollution on marine ecosystems, including through the effective implementation of relevant conventions adopted in the framework of the International Maritime Organization, and the follow-up of relevant initiatives such as the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities,88 as well as the adoption of coordinated strategies to this end, and that they further committed to take action, by 2025, based on collected scientific data, to achieve significant reductions in marine debris to prevent harm to the coastal and marine environment; 208. Encourages States, in accordance with the commitment expressed in “The future we want” and based on collected scientific data, to take action by 2025 to achieve significant reductions in marine debris to prevent harm to the coastal and marine environment; 209. Notes the discussions at the seventeenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, which focused on the theme “Marine debris, plastics and microplastics” and which, inter alia, highlighted that the size of the problem had increased exponentially since the topic of marine debris was addressed at the sixth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, in 2005, noted that marine debris in general, and plastics in particular, were some of the greatest environmental concerns of our time, along with climate change, ocean acidification and loss of biodiversity, discussed prevention and emphasized the need to address the issue, both downstream, through improved mechanisms for waste management, disposal and recycling, and upstream, by addressing consumption and production patterns, including through awareness-raising campaigns;89 210. Recognizes the need for better understanding of the sources, amounts, pathways, distribution, trends, nature and impacts of marine debris, especially plastics and microplastics, and to examine possible measures and best available techniques and environmental practices to prevent its accumulation and minimize its levels in the marine environment, and welcomes in this regard the work conducted under the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection, led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and its report entitled “Sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the marine environment – a global assessment”, and the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme on marine plastic debris and microplastics, which reviews best-available knowledge and experiences in this regard and gives recommendations for further steps to reduce plastic litter and microplastic in the oceans; 90 211. Notes that the UNEP Frontiers 2016 Report identifies microplastics as one of six key emerging environmental issues, and calls upon States to implement resolution 3/7 on marine litter and microplastics, adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme at its third session, held in Nairobi from 4 to 6 December 2017;9 __________________ 88 A/51/116, annex II. 89 See A/71/204. 90 UNEP/EA.2/5. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 36/58 212. Acknowledges the decision of the United Nations Environment Assembly in paragraph 10 of its resolution 3/7 to convene, subject to the availability of resources, meetings of an open-ended ad hoc expert group to further examine the barriers to and options for combating marine plastic litter and microplastics from all sources, especially land-based sources, and its request to the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to provide a progress update to the United Nations Environment Assembly at its fourth session on the programme of work, including on the result of the meetings; 213. Welcomes the activities of relevant United Nations bodies and organizations, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization and other intergovernmental organizations, to address the sources and impacts of marine debris, including through the Global Partnership on Marine Litter, as well as actions relating to marine debris taken under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, 91 in particular the adoption by the Conference of the Parties to that Convention at its twelfth meeting of resolution 12.20 on the management of marine debris, and notes the work of the International Whaling Commission on assessing the impacts of marine debris on cetaceans; 214. Encourages States to further develop partnerships with industry and civil society to raise awareness of the extent of the impact of marine debris on the biological diversity, health and productivity of the marine environment and consequent economic loss and to cooperate with other States, industry and civil society, as appropriate, on environmentally sound and cost-effective measures to prevent and reduce, as appropriate, marine debris and microplastics in the marine environment, including through strengthened cooperation under the Global Partnership on Marine Litter; 215. Urges States to integrate the issue of marine debris into national and, as appropriate, regional strategies dealing with waste management, especially in the coastal zone, ports and maritime industries, including recycling, reuse, reduction and disposal, to consider developing an integrated waste management infrastructure and to encourage the development of appropriate economic incentives with the aim of reducing marine debris to address this issue, including the development of cost- recovery systems that provide an incentive to use port reception facilities and discourage ships from discharging marine debris at sea, and support for measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution from any source, including land-based sources, such as community-based coastal and waterway clean-up and monitoring activities, and encourages States to cooperate regionally and subregionally to identify potential sources and coastal and oceanic locations where marine debris aggregates and to develop and implement joint prevention programmes for marine debris and to develop and implement environmentally sound options for recovery programmes, as well as to raise awareness of the issue of marine debris and the need to consider environmentally sound options for its removal; 216. Notes the activities carried out by organizations at the regional level to develop and implement regional action plans and other joint prevention and recovery programmes for marine debris, and further notes in this regard the second Extraordinary Intergovernmental Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia, held in Bangkok on 25 and 26 April 2018, which adopted new five-year Strategic Directions focusing on land-based pollution, including marine litter, nutrients and waste water, as well as ecosystem-based coastal and marine planning and management, the first Executive Board meeting of the secretariat of the Pacific __________________ 91 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1651, No. 28395. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 37/58 18-21627 Regional Environment Programme, held in Apia on 10 and 11 September 2018, which endorsed and approved the Pacific marine litter action plan, which sets out the policy context and key actions to minimize marine litter across the Pacific islands countries and territories, and the twenty-second Intergovernmental Meeting of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan, in Toyama, Japan, from 19 to 21 December 2017; 217. Also notes the work done under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation framework to share best practices, enable innovative waste management financing and encourage public-private partnerships in order to prevent and reduce marine debris, including the workshops on “Capacity Building for Marine Debris Prevention and Management in the APEC Region” in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 19 to 22 June 2018 and on “Innovative Marine Debris Solutions” in Beijing on 26 July 2018, and the APEC Marine Debris Stakeholder Meeting on “Improving Data and Coordination and Developing New Partnerships” in Bali, Indonesia, on 2 and 3 November 2018; 218. Encourages States that have not yet done so to become parties to international agreements addressing the protection and preservation of the marine environment and its living marine resources against the introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens and marine pollution from all sources, including the dumping of wastes and other matter, and other forms of physical degradation, as well as agreements that provide for preparedness for, response to and cooperation on pollution incidents and that include provisions on liability and compensation for damage resulting from marine pollution, and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with international law, including the Convention, aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements; 219. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States noted the significant threat that alien invasive species pose to marine ecosystems and resources and committed to implement measures to prevent the introduction and manage the adverse environmental impacts of alien invasive species, including, as appropriate, those adopted in the framework of the International Maritime Organization; 220. Encourages States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004, 92 and also encourages States to consider implementing the Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species, adopted by the International Maritime Organization in resolution MEPC.207(62) of 15 July 2011; 221. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization to prevent pollution from ships, including through the designation of Special Areas under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended, 93 welcomes the adoption by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of an action plan to address marine plastic litter from ships,94 and encourages the International Maritime Organization to continue working on the prevention of pollution from ships; 222. Encourages States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Protocol of 1997 (annex VI – Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from __________________ 92 International Maritime Organization, document BWM/CONF/36, annex. 93 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, annex IV (Regulations for the prevention of pollution by sewage from ships) and annex V (Regulations for the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships). 94 International Maritime Organization, resolution MEPC.310(73). A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 38/58 Ships) to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended; 95 223. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization and the resolution on International Maritime Organization policies and practices related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, 96 and in this regard also notes its adoption of an initial strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships;97 224. Urges States to cooperate in correcting the shortfall in port waste reception facilities in accordance with the action plan to address the inadequacy of port waste reception facilities developed by the International Maritime Organization; 225. Encourages States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 98 to facilitate its entry into force; 226. Encourages continued cooperation between the parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal99 and the International Maritime Organization on regulations on the prevention of pollution from ships; 227. Notes the role of the Basel Convention in protecting the marine environment against the adverse effects which may result from such wastes; 228. Notes with concern the potential for serious environmental consequences resulting from oil spill incidents or pollution incidents involving hazardous or noxious substances, urges States, consistent with international law, to cooperate, directly or through competent international organizations, and share best practices, in the fields of protection of the marine environment, human health and safety, prevention, emergency response and mitigation, and in this regard encourages the undertaking of and collaboration on scientific research, including marine scientific research, to better understand the consequences of marine oil spills or marine spills involving hazardous or noxious substances; 229. Encourages States, in accordance with international law, including the Convention and other relevant instruments, either bilaterally or regionally, to jointly develop and promote contingency plans for responding to pollution incidents, as well as other incidents that are likely to have significant adverse effects on the marine environment and biodiversity; 230. Encourages States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation, 1990, 100 and the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Cooperation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000, of the International Maritime Organization, and in this regard to consider developing and joining regional arrangements to enhance international cooperation for combating major oil and hazardous substances pollution incidents; __________________ 95 International Maritime Organization, document MEPC 62/24/Add.1, annex 19, resolution MEPC.203(62). 96 International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.963(23). 97 International Maritime Organization, document MEPC 72/17/Add.1, annex 11, resolution MEPC.304(72). 98 International Maritime Organization, document SR/CONF/45. 99 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1673, No. 28911. 100 Ibid., vol. 1891, No. 32194. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 39/58 18-21627 231. Encourages States to consider becoming parties to the 2010 Protocol to the 1996 International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea; 101 232. Recognizes that most of the pollution load of the oceans emanates from land-based activities and affects the most productive areas of the marine environment, and calls upon States, as a matter of priority, to implement the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities and to take all appropriate measures to fulfil the commitments of the international community embodied in the Bali Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, adopted at the Fourth Intergovernmental Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, held in Bali, Indonesia, on 31 October and 1 November 2018; 233. Welcomes the continued work of States, the United Nations Environment Programme and regional organizations in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action, and encourages increased emphasis on the link between fresh water, the coastal zone and marine resources in the implementation of international development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and of the time-bound targets in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation), 16 in particular the target on sanitation, and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development;102 234. Expresses its concern regarding the spreading of hypoxic dead zones and harmful algal blooms in oceans as a result of eutrophication fuelled by riverine run- off of fertilizers, sewage outfall and reactive nitrogen resulting from the burning of fossil fuels and resulting in serious consequences for ecosystem functioning, and calls upon States to enhance their efforts to reduce eutrophication, particularly by reducing total nutrient pollution from land-based sources and, to this effect, to continue to cooperate within the framework of relevant international organizations, in particular the Global Programme of Action and the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management and Global Wastewater Initiative, including through capacity-building initiatives and efforts to monitor, via the Global Ocean Observing System, stressors such as harmful algal blooms, areas of hypoxia, sargassum seaweed invasions and jellyfish blooms, to assess their possible linkage to eutrophication and their potential adverse impacts on the marine environment as well as on human health; 235. Encourages States that have not yet done so to take, as soon as possible, the domestic measures necessary to enable them to meet their obligations upon ratification and, thereafter, to ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Minamata Convention on Mercury;103 236. Calls upon all States to ensure that urban and coastal development projects and related land-reclamation activities are carried out in a responsible manner that protects the marine habitat and environment and mitigates the negative consequences of such activities; 237. Encourages States that have not yet done so to become parties to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (the London Protocol); __________________ 101 International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.17/10. 102 Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18–22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 103 United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/CONF/4, annex II. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 40/58 238. Recalls the resolution of the thirtieth Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (the London Convention) and the third Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, held from 27 to 31 October 2008, on the regulation of ocean fertilization,104 in which the Contracting Parties agreed, inter alia, that the scope of the London Convention and Protocol includes ocean fertilization activities and that, given the present state of knowledge, ocean fertilization activities other than for legitimate scientific research should not be allowed, and that scientific research proposals should be assessed on a case-by-case basis using an assessment framework that was subsequently developed and adopted in 2010 by the Contracting Parties to the London Convention and Protocol, namely, the Assessment Framework for Scientific Research Involving Ocean Fertilization, 105 and also agreed that, to this end, such other activities should be considered as contrary to the aims of the London Convention and Protocol and should not currently qualify for any exemption from the definition of dumping in article III, paragraph 1 (b), of the London Convention and article 1, paragraph 4.2, of the London Protocol;105 239. Notes the continued work of the Contracting Parties to the London Convention and Protocol towards a global, transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanism for ocean fertilization activities and other activities that fall within the scope of the London Convention and Protocol and have the potential to cause harm to the marine environment, and notes the resolution adopted by the eighth Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, held from 14 to 18 October 2013, on the amendment to the London Protocol to regulate the placement of matter for ocean fertilization and other marine geoengineering activities; 106 240. Recalls decision IX/16 C, adopted at the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Bonn, from 19 to 30 May 2008,107 in which the Conference of the Parties, inter alia, bearing in mind the ongoing scientific and legal analysis occurring under the auspices of the London Convention and Protocol, requested parties and urged other Governments, in accordance with the precautionary approach, to ensure that ocean fertilization activities were not carried out until there was an adequate scientific basis on which to justify such activities, including an assessment of associated risks, and that a global, transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanism was in place for those activities, with the exception of small-scale scientific research studies within coastal waters, and stated that such studies should be authorized only if justified by the need to gather specific scientific data, should be subject to a thorough prior assessment of the potential impacts of the research studies on the marine environment, should be strictly controlled and should not be used for generating and selling carbon offsets or for any other commercial purposes, and takes note of decision X/29, adopted at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Nagoya, Japan, from 18 to 29 October 2010, 108 in which the Conference of the Parties requested parties to implement decision IX/16 C; 241. Also recalls that, in “The future we want”, States stressed their concern about the potential environmental impacts of ocean fertilization, recalled in this regard the decisions related to ocean fertilization adopted by the relevant intergovernmental bodies, and resolved to continue addressing ocean fertilization with utmost caution, consistent with the precautionary approach; __________________ 104 International Maritime Organization, document LC 30/16, annex 6, resolution LC-LP.1 (2008). 105 International Maritime Organization, document LC 32/15 and Corr.1, annex 5, resolution LC-LP.2 (2010). 106 International Maritime Organization, document LC 35/15, annex 4, resolution LP.4(8). 107 See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/9/29, annex I. 108 See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/10/27, annex. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 41/58 18-21627 242. Encourages States that have not done so to become parties to regional seas conventions and the protocols thereto addressing the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 243. Invites States, in particular those States with advanced technology and marine capabilities, to explore prospects for improving cooperation with and assistance to developing States, in particular least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, with a view to better integrating into national policies and programmes sustainable and effective development in the marine sector; 244. Notes the information compiled by the Secretariat 109 in relation to the assistance available to and measures that may be taken by developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, to realize the benefits of sustainable and effective development of marine resources and uses of the oceans, as provided by States and competent international organizations and global and regional funding agencies, and urges them to provide information for the annual report of the Secretary-General and for incorporation on the website of the Division; X Marine biodiversity 245. Reaffirms its central role relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction; 246. Notes the work and contributions of States and relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies in the context of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction, and the extensive and complex discussions and exchange of views at the four sessions of the Preparatory Committee established by resolution 69/292: Development of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, which concluded on 21 July 2017, as well as the report of the Preparatory Committee and the recommendations contained therein; 110 247. Recalls, in this regard, its resolution 72/249, and welcomes the holding of the organizational meeting from 16 to 18 April 2018 to discuss organizational matters, including the process for the preparation of the zero draft of the instrument; 248. Welcomes the holding of the first session of the intergovernmental conference convened under resolution 72/249, from 4 to 17 September 2018, and takes note of the substantive discussions that addressed the topics identified in the package agreed in 2011, namely, the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, in particular, together and as a whole, marine genetic resources, including questions on the sharing of benefits, measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology, and further takes note that the President of the conference will prepare, as part of the preparations for the second session of the conference, a document with the aim of facilitating focused discussions and text-based negotiations, containing treaty language and reflecting options concerning the four elements of the package; __________________ 109 A/63/342. 110 A/AC.287/2017/PC.4/2. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 42/58 249. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the second and third sessions of the intergovernmental conference from 25 March to 5 April 2019 and from 19 to 30 August 2019; 250. Recognizes the abundance and diversity of marine genetic resources and their value in terms of the benefits, goods and services they can provide; 251. Also recognizes the importance of research on marine genetic resources for the purpose of enhancing the scientific understanding, potential use and application, and enhanced management of marine ecosystems; 252. Encourages States and international organizations, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes and partnerships, to continue in a sustainable and comprehensive way to support, promote and strengthen capacity- building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research, taking into account, in particular, the need to improve capacities in the field of taxonomy; 253. Notes the work under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity 111 and the Convention on Biological Diversity elaborated programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity, 112 and, while reiterating the central role of the General Assembly relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, notes with appreciation the complementary technical and scientific work done by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity; 254. Reaffirms the need for States, individually or through competent international organizations, to urgently consider ways to integrate and improve, based on the best available scientific information and the precautionary approach and in accordance with the Convention and related agreements and instruments, the management of risks to the marine biodiversity of seamounts, cold water corals, hydrothermal vents and certain other underwater features; 255. Invites Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to implement the voluntary specific workplan on biodiversity in cold water areas within the jurisdictional scope of that Convention, adopted in 2016 by the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to that Convention;113 256. Calls upon States and international organizations to urgently take further action to address, in accordance with international law, destructive practices that have adverse impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals; 257. Calls upon States to strengthen, in a manner consistent with international law, in particular the Convention, the conservation and management of marine biodiversity and ecosystems, and national policies in relation to area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; 258. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States reaffirmed the importance of area-based conservation measures, including marine protected areas, consistent with international law and based on best available scientific information, as a tool for conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components, and noted decision X/2 of the tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, that by 2020, 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, __________________ 111 See A/51/312, annex II, decision II/10. 112 United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex, decision VII/5, annex I. 113 United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/13/25, sect. I, decision XIII/11, annex II. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 43/58 18-21627 especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are to be conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area- based conservation measures;108 259. Encourages States, in this regard, to further progress towards the establishment of marine protected areas, including representative networks, and calls upon States to further consider options to identify and protect ecologically or biologically significant areas, consistent with international law and on the basis of the best available scientific information; 260. Invites States to identify measures to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, enshrined in decision X/2 of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and takes note of the announcements made by some States in this regard; 261. Reaffirms the need for States to continue and intensify their efforts, directly and through competent international organizations, to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools for conserving and managing vulnerable marine ecosystems, including the possible establishment of marine protected areas, consistent with international law, as reflected in the Convention, and based on the best scientific information available; 262. Notes the work of States, relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, in the assessment of scientific information on and compilation of ecological criteria for the identification of marine areas that may require protection, in the light of the objective of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools, such as ecosystem approaches and the establishment of marine protected areas consistent with international law, as reflected in the Convention, and based on scientific information, including representative networks; 16 263. Recalls that the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, at its ninth meeting, adopted scientific criteria for identifying ecologically or biologically significant marine areas in need of protection in open-ocean waters and deep-sea habitats and scientific guidance for selecting areas to establish a representative network of marine protected areas, including in open-ocean waters and deep-sea habitats,114 and notes the ongoing work under the Convention on Biological Diversity on the application of the scientific criteria for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas through the organization of a series of regional workshops; 264. Also recalls that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has developed guidance for the identification of vulnerable marine ecosystems through the International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas, and notes its ongoing work to support application of the Guidelines by States and to maintain a database of vulnerable marine ecosystems; 265. Notes with appreciation the work of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative under the Convention on Biological Diversity, and notes in this regard the second meeting of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fisheries Bodies on Accelerating Progress Towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Sustainable Development Goals, held in Seoul from 10 to 13 April 2018; 266. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization to identify and designate as Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas marine areas which are __________________ 114 United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/9/29, annex I, decision IX/20, annexes I and II. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 44/58 recognized for their significance in terms of ecological, socioeconomic or scientific criteria and are vulnerable to damage by international shipping activities; 115 267. Acknowledges the Micronesia Challenge, the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape project, the Caribbean Challenge and the Coral Triangle Initiative, which seek to create and link domestic marine protected areas to better facilitate ecosystem approaches, notes the Phoenix Islands Protected Area as a multinational partnership, and reaffirms the need for further international cooperation, coordination and collaboration in support of such initiatives; 268. Reiterates its support for the International Coral Reef Initiative, notes that the thirty-third International Coral Reef Initiative General Meeting was held in Monaco from 5 to 7 December 2018, and supports the elaborated programme of work of the Convention on Biological Diversity on marine and coastal biological diversity related to coral reefs under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity; 269. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States recognized the significant economic, social and environmental contributions of coral reefs, in particular to islands and other coastal States, as well as the significant vulnerability of coral reefs and mangroves to impacts, including from climate change, ocean acidification, overfishing, destructive fishing practices and pollution, and supported international cooperation with a view to conserving coral reef and mangrove ecosystems and realizing their social, economic and environmental benefits, as well as facilitating technical collaboration and voluntary information-sharing; 270. Encourages States and relevant international institutions to improve efforts to address coral bleaching by, inter alia, improving monitoring to predict and identify bleaching events, supporting and strengthening action taken during such events and improving strategies to manage reefs to support their natural resilience and enhance their ability to withstand other pressures, including ocean acidification, and in this regard also encourages States to implement the priority actions to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 10 for coral reefs and closely associated ecosystems, adopted by the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity;116 271. Encourages States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in exchanging information in the event of accidents involving vessels on coral reefs and in promoting the development of economic assessment techniques for both restoration and non-use values of coral reef systems; 272. Emphasizes the need to mainstream sustainable coral reef management and integrated watershed management into national development strategies, as well as into the activities of relevant United Nations agencies and programmes, international financial institutions and the donor community; 273. Notes that ocean noise has potential significant adverse impacts on living marine resources, affirms the importance of sound scientific studies in addressing this matter, encourages further research, studies and consideration of the impacts of ocean noise on living marine resources, notes the work of States and competent international organizations in that regard, and requests the Division to continue to compile the peer- reviewed scientific studies it receives from Member States and intergovernmental organizations pursuant to paragraph 107 of resolution 61/222 and, as appropriate, to make them, or references and links to them, available on its website; __________________ 115 International Maritime Organization, Revised Guidelines for the Identification and Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas, Assembly resolution A.982(24). 116 See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/12/29, sect. I. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 45/58 18-21627 274. Also notes the discussions at the nineteenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, from 18 to 22 June 2018, on the theme of anthropogenic underwater noise, during which delegations, inter alia, expressed concern over the potential social, economic and environmental impacts of anthropogenic underwater noise due to the growth of ocean-related human activities, which has resulted in increased sound in many parts of the ocean, as well as the potential impacts of anthropogenic underwater noise on different marine species and, in view of the continuing gaps in knowledge and lack of data, stressed the urgent need for further research and international cooperation to assess and address the potential effects of anthropogenic underwater noise in all ocean areas;117 275. Calls upon States to consider appropriate cost-effective measures and approaches to assess and address the potential socioeconomic and environmental impacts of anthropogenic underwater noise, taking into account the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches and the best available scientific information, as appropriate; 276. Notes the approval by the International Maritime Organization of Guidelines for the Reduction of Underwater Noise from Commercial Shipping to Address Adverse Impacts on Marine Life, and invites the International Maritime Organization to promote and encourage their implementation for existing ships and new vessels, when appropriate, including by promoting measures that may reduce cavitation, 118 and encourages States to continue their work at the International Maritime Organization to enhance understanding of the extent to which improved ship technology, including efficient propeller design, could lead to reduced introduction of underwater noise in the oceans; 277. Also notes the convening of a workshop on ship noise mitigation technologies, in Halifax, Canada, on 28 and 29 November 2018, and hosted by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Network for Innovative Shipbuilding, Marine Research and Training, and the Ship Noise Mitigation Technologies Workshop, in London from 30 January to 1 February 2019, hosted by the Government of Canada and the International Maritime Organization, focusing on, inter alia, the linkages between the energy efficiency of ships and underwater noise, and propeller and ship designs to reduce underwater noise; 278. Encourages further research into technologies to reduce the impact of underwater noise on marine life; XI Marine science 279. Calls upon States, individually or in collaboration with each other or with competent international organizations and bodies, to continue to strive to improve understanding and knowledge of the oceans and the deep sea, including, in particular, the extent and vulnerability of deep sea biodiversity and ecosystems, by increasing their marine scientific research activities in accordance with the Convention; 280. Encourages, in that regard, relevant international organizations and other donors to consider supporting the Endowment Fund of the International Seabed Authority in order to promote the conduct of collaborative marine scientific research in the international seabed area by supporting the participation of qualified scientists and technical personnel from developing countries in relevant programmes, initiatives and activities; __________________ 117 See A/73/124. 118 International Maritime Organization, document MEPC.1/Circ.833, annex. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 46/58 281. Notes with concern that human-related threats, such as marine debris, ship strikes, underwater noise, persistent contaminants, coastal development activities, oil spills and discarded fishing gear, together may severely impact marine life, including its higher trophic levels, and calls upon States and competent international organizations to cooperate and coordinate their research efforts in this regard so as to reduce these impacts and preserve the integrity of the whole marine ecosystem, while fully respecting the mandates of relevant international organizations; 282. Welcomes the programme entitled “Promote and facilitate the conduct of marine scientific research under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea” of the Division and the Korea Maritime Institute, carried out in cooperation with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission with the aim of assisting developing countries, especially small island developing States, to build their capacities in the field of marine scientific research; 283. Invites all relevant organizations, funds, programmes and bodies within the United Nations system, in consultation with interested States, to coordinate relevant activities with regional and national marine scientific and technological centres in small island developing States, as appropriate, to ensure the more effective achievement of their objectives in accordance with relevant United Nations small island developing States development programmes and strategies; 284. Welcomes the resolution adopted by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at its twenty-eighth session, held in Paris from 18 to 25 June 2015, regarding the adoption of the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition as an important catalyst project linking Indian Ocean processes to the global ocean and atmosphere, officially launched in Goa, India, on 4 December 2015 for an initial period of five years, invites States to participate in this initiative, and notes that two nodes of the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition Joint Project Office have been established to coordinate operations of the expedition in Perth, Australia, and Hyderabad, India; 285. Notes with appreciation the work of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, with the advice of the Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea, on the development of procedures for the implementation of Parts XIII and XIV of the Convention; 286. Notes that the depth of a significant percentage of the world’s oceans, seas and waterways has yet to be measured directly and that bathymetric knowledge underpins the safe, sustainable and cost-effective execution of almost every human activity in, on or under the sea; 287. Welcomes the work of the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans project under the International Hydrographic Organization and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and, in particular, the outcome of the Forum for Future Ocean Floor Mapping, held in June 2016 in Monaco, and the subsequent development by the Guiding Committee of the Seabed 2030 project for improving bathymetry globally; 288. Encourages Member States to consider contributing to mechanisms that encourage the widest possible availability of all bathymetric data, so as to support the sustainable development, management and governance of the marine environment; 289. Notes with appreciation the contribution to marine biodiversity research of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System, a free and open-access data holding and sharing facility, hosted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 47/58 18-21627 290. Welcomes the increasing attention being focused on oceans as a potential source of renewable energy, and notes in this regard the summary of discussions of the Informal Consultative Process at its thirteenth meeting; 119 291. Stresses the importance of increasing the scientific understanding of the oceans-atmosphere interface, including through participation in ocean observing programmes and geographic information systems, such as the Global Ocean Observing System, sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Meteorological Organization and the International Council for Science, particularly considering their role in monitoring and forecasting climate change and variability and in the establishment and operation of tsunami warning systems; 292. Welcomes the progress made by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Member States towards the establishment and operation of regional and national tsunami warning and mitigation systems, also welcomes the continued collaboration of the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations in this effort, further welcomes the development and recent dissemination of the new Enhanced Tsunami Products for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System and the development of Enhanced Tsunami Products for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, which will assist countries in the Pacific and the Caribbean to assess tsunami threats and issue warnings, and encourages Member States to establish and sustain their national warning and mitigation systems, within a global, ocean-related multi-hazard approach, as necessary, to reduce loss of life and damage to national economies and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities to natural disasters; 293. Stresses the need for continued efforts in developing mitigation and preparedness measures for natural disasters, particularly following tsunami events caused by earthquakes, such as the 11 March 2011 event in Japan; 294. Urges States to take necessary action and to cooperate in relevant organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the World Meteorological Organization, to address damage to ocean data buoys deployed and operated in accordance with international law, including through education and outreach about the importance and purpose of these buoys and by strengthening these buoys against such damage and increasing reporting of such damage; 295. Welcomes the steps taken by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to initiate preparation of the implementation plan for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) in consultation with Member States, specialized agencies, funds, programmes and bodies of the United Nations, as well as other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and relevant stakeholders; 296. Requests that the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission continue to provide information on the development of the implementation plan and regularly consult with, and report to, Member States on the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science and its implementation; 297. Invites the Secretary-General to inform the General Assembly on the implementation of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science through his report on oceans and the law of the sea, on the basis of information to be provided by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; __________________ 119 A/67/120. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 48/58 298. Invites UN-Oceans and its participants to collaborate with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science; XII Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects 299. Reiterates the need to strengthen the regular scientific assessment of the state of the marine environment in order to enhance the scientific basis for policymaking; 300. Reaffirms the principles guiding the Regular Process and its objective and scope as agreed upon at the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole in 2009; 301. Recalls that the Regular Process, as established under the United Nations, is accountable to the General Assembly and is an intergovernmental process guided by international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other applicable international instruments, and takes into account relevant Assembly resolutions; 302. Reaffirms the importance of the first World Ocean Assessment as the outcome of the first cycle of the Regular Process; 303. Reiterates its concern at the findings of the first World Ocean Assessment that the world’s ocean is facing major pressures simultaneously with such great impacts that the limits of its carrying capacity are being, or, in some cases, have been reached, and that delays in implementing solutions to the problems that have already been identified as threatening to degrade the world’s ocean will lead, unnecessarily, to incurring greater environmental, social and economic cost; 304. Recalls the importance of making Governments, United Nations system organizations, bodies, funds and programmes, intergovernmental organizations, the scientific community and the general public aware of the first World Ocean Assessment and the Regular Process, and recognizes with appreciation the activities undertaken in this regard during various intergovernmental meetings; 305. Also recalls the technical abstracts of the first World Ocean Assessment on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, the ocean and the Sustainable Development Goals under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the impacts of climate change and related changes in the atmosphere on the oceans, prepared in accordance with the programme of work for the period 2017–2020 for the second cycle of the Regular Process; 306. Further recalls that advance unedited copies of the technical abstracts were made available to the Preparatory Committee established by resolution 69/292, the eighteenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process and the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14; 307. Recalls the decision that, in the first cycle, the scope of the Regular Process focused on establishing a baseline, and that the scope of the second cycle would extend to evaluating trends and identifying gaps; 308. Also recalls the decision that the Regular Process shall be overseen and guided by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole, and that the Ad Hoc Working Group shall facilitate the delivery of the outputs of the second cycle as outlined in the programme of work for the period 2017–2020 for the second cycle of the Regular Process; Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 49/58 18-21627 309. Recognizes with appreciation the important role of the Co-Chairs and the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole in providing guidance during the intersessional periods, including in operationalizing the second cycle of the Regular Process; 310. Welcomes the holding of the tenth and eleventh meetings of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole, on 28 February and 1 March 2018 and on 23 and 24 August 2018, respectively, in accordance with paragraph 330 of resolution 72/73; 311. Takes note of the recommendations and guidance adopted by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole at its tenth meeting, 120 and endorses the recommendations adopted by the Ad Hoc Working Group at its eleventh meeting; 121 312. Reaffirms its decision that in the elaboration of an outline, the Group of Experts of the Regular Process should proceed on the basis of the preparation of a single comprehensive assessment, and notes the approval by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole of the outline for the second world ocean assessment in accordance with paragraph 330 of resolution 72/73;122 313. Takes note of the preliminary timetable and implementation plan for the second world ocean assessment, prepared by the Group of Experts in consultation with the secretariat of the Regular Process; 314. Recalls the endorsement by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole of the terms of reference and working methods of the Group of Experts for the second cycle of the Regular Process, prepared in accordance with paragraph 310 of resolution 71/257,123 and takes note of the guidance for contributors, part II, prepared by the Group of Experts pursuant to paragraph 310 of resolution 71/257;124 315. Notes the appointment of an additional expert to the Group of Experts in accordance with paragraph 287 of resolution 70/235, and urges regional groups that have not yet done so to appoint experts to the Group of Experts, taking into account the need to ensure geographical distribution and adequate expertise in socioeconomic disciplines; 316. Welcomes the expressions of interest of individuals who served in the Pool of Experts during the first cycle of the Regular Process to serve in the Pool of Experts for the second cycle; 317. Also welcomes the appointment of additional experts to the Pool of Experts for the second cycle of the Regular Process by States and through recommendations from relevant intergovernmental organizations, in accordance with the mechanism for the establishment of the Pool of Experts for the second cycle of the Regular Process, 125 and encourages the further appointment of experts to the Pool of Experts; 318. Recognizes with appreciation the continued work of the members of the Group of Experts and that of the Pool of Experts of the Regular Process in the implementation of the second cycle of the Regular Process; 319. Welcomes the designation by States of national focal points pursuant to paragraph 315 of resolution 72/73, and urges States that have not yet done so to designate their national focal points as soon as possible; __________________ 120 See A/73/74. 121 A/73/373, sect. III. 122 A/73/74, annex I. 123 A/72/89, annex. 124 See A/73/74, annex II. For part I of the guidance for contributors, see A/72/494, annex IV. 125 A/72/494, annex I. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 50/58 320. Notes the finalization and adoption by the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole of guidelines to assist the second round of workshops of the second cycle of the Regular Process, 126 prepared by the Group of Experts in consultation with the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working Group and the secretariat of the Regular Process; 321. Takes note of the summaries of the first round of regional workshops in support of the second cycle of the Regular Process, held in Lisbon in September 2017, in Auckland, New Zealand, in October 2017, in Camboriú, Brazil, in November 2017, in Bangkok in November 2017 and in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, in December 2017, which informed the preparation of the outline for the second world ocean assessment and will assist in the identification of additional experts for the Pool of Experts and in the identification of issues for consideration at the multi-stakeholder dialogue and capacity-building partnership event; 322. Also takes note of the offers to host regional workshops for the second round of regional workshops, in 2018, in support of the second cycle of the Regular Process; 323. Recalls the crucial importance of the Regular Process for ongoing ocean- related intergovernmental processes and its possible inputs, including for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the development of an international legally binding instrument, under the Convention, on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Informal Consultative Process, as outlined in the programme of work for the period 2017–2020 for the second cycle of the Regular Process; 324. Also recalls the importance of ensuring that assessments, such as those included in the Global Sustainable Development Report and those prepared under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and the Regular Process, support one another and avoid unnecessary duplication, and also recalls the importance of compatibility and synergies between such assessments and assessments at the regional level; 325. Requests intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide information on recent and ongoing assessments and other processes at the regional and global levels relevant to the Regular Process in order for the secretariat to update the inventory of recent and ongoing assessments and other processes at the regional and global levels relevant to the Regular Process; 326. Takes note with appreciation of the work undertaken thus far by the secretariat in compiling a capacity-building inventory of needs and opportunities relevant for the Regular Process, in accordance with the programme of work, based on information contributed by relevant United Nations system organizations, bodies, funds and programmes and by relevant intergovernmental organizations; 327. Invites States and non-governmental organizations, as well as intergovernmental organizations that have not already done so, to provide relevant information for inclusion in the capacity-building inventory of needs and opportunities relevant for the Regular Process being compiled and maintained by the secretariat; 328. Takes note of the endorsement by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole of the agenda for the multi-stakeholder dialogue and capacity-building partnership __________________ 126 Available from the web page of the Regular Process maintained by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 51/58 18-21627 event to be held in 2019, and notes that the Ad Hoc Working Group will consider the outcome of the dialogue and event at its twelfth meeting; 329. Recalls its invitation, in paragraph 326 of resolution 72/73, to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Maritime Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Meteorological Organization and relevant United Nations system organizations, bodies, funds and programmes, as appropriate, to assist in the implementation of the second cycle of the Regular Process with regard to the following activities: awareness-raising, the identification of experts for the Pool of Experts, technical and scientific support for the Bureau and the Group of Experts, hosting meetings of the writing teams and capacity-building; 330. Also recalls the adoption by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at its twenty-ninth session, from 21 to 29 June 2017, of decision IOC-XXIX/8.2, in particular regarding the provision of technical and scientific support to the second cycle of the Regular Process in accordance with the guidance of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole; 331. Further recalls its invitation, in paragraph 328 of resolution 72/73, to relevant intergovernmental organizations to contribute, as appropriate, to the activities of the second cycle; 332. Urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make financial contributions to the voluntary trust fund 127 and to make other contributions to the Regular Process; 333. Requests the Bureau to continue to implement the decisions and guidance of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole during the intersessional period, including by providing oversight of the delivery of the programme of work for the period 2017–2020 for the second cycle of the Regular Process; 334. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the twelfth meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole on 29 and 30 July 2019, with a view to providing recommendations to the General Assembly on progress in the implementation of the second cycle, and encourages the widest possible attendance of participants in the Ad Hoc Working Group; XIII Regional cooperation 335. Notes with appreciation efforts and initiatives at the regional level, in various regions, to further the implementation of the Convention and to respond, including through capacity-building, to issues related to maritime safety and security, the conservation and sustainable use of living marine resources, the protection and preservation of the marine environment and the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity; 336. Invites States and international organizations to enhance their cooperation to better protect the marine environment; 337. Notes the Caribbean-focused Assistance Fund, which is intended to facilitate, mainly through technical assistance, the voluntary undertaking of maritime delimitation negotiations between Caribbean States, notes once again the Fund for Peace: Peaceful Settlement of Territorial Disputes, established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in 2000 as a primary mechanism, __________________ 127 See resolution 69/245, para. 278. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 52/58 given its broader regional scope, for the prevention and resolution of pending territorial, land border and maritime boundary disputes, and calls upon States and others in a position to do so to contribute to these funds; 338. Recalls the outcome document of the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway128 and the modalities set forth for strengthened action on a range of small island developing States challenges and priorities, including challenges related to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, and the preservation of the marine environment, reaffirms its commitment to work with small island developing States towards full implementation of the Samoa Pathway to ensure its success, also recalls the decision to convene, in September 2019, a one-day high- level review of the progress made in addressing the priorities of small island developing States through the implementation of the Samoa Pathway,129 and notes with appreciation the holding, in 2018, of regional preparatory meetings as well as an interregional meeting for small island developing States to review the progress and implementation of the Samoa Pathway at the national and regional levels;130 339. Recognizes the results of the International Polar Year, 2007–2008 with particular emphasis on new knowledge about the linkages between environmental change in the polar regions and global climate systems, and encourages States and scientific communities to strengthen their cooperation in this respect; 340. Acknowledges the important contributions to scientific understanding of the marine environment and its resources, as well as the scientific advice for their sustainable use, provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in its wide-ranging cooperation with organizations at the regional level under the Convention for the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, 1964; 131 341. Welcomes regional cooperation, and in this regard notes the Pacific Oceanscape Framework as an initiative to enhance cooperation among coastal States in the Pacific island region to foster marine conservation and sustainable development; 342. Notes with appreciation the various cooperative efforts displayed by States at the regional and subregional levels, and in this regard welcomes initiatives, such as the Integrated Assessment and Management of the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem; 343. Acknowledges relevant cooperation among the members of the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic; 344. Recalls the decision of the Assembly of the African Union in January 2015 to adopt Agenda 2063, also recalls that the African Union launched the Decade of African Seas and Oceans (2015–2025), and notes that the African Day of the Seas and Oceans is to be celebrated annually on 25 July; 345. Notes the adoption of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–2024 by the second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Vienna from 3 to 5 November 2014, 132 following the comprehensive 10-year review of the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit __________________ 128 Resolution 69/15, annex. 129 Resolution 71/225, para. 19. 130 See resolution 72/217, para. 28. 131 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 652, No. 9344. 132 Resolution 69/137, annex II. Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 53/58 18-21627 Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries, 133 and also notes the need for cooperation to address the development needs and challenges faced by landlocked developing countries associated with, inter alia, their lack of direct territorial access to the sea, remoteness and isolation from world markets, in line with the objectives of the Vienna Programme of Action; 346. Also notes the efforts of the Sargasso Sea Commission, led by the Government of Bermuda, to raise awareness of the ecological significance of the Sargasso Sea; 347. Further notes the entry into force, on 23 May 2018, of the Arctic Council Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation; 348. Notes the cooperation between the OSPAR Commission established by the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic and the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission; XIV Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea 349. Welcomes the report of the Co-Chairs on the work of the Informal Consultative Process at its nineteenth meeting, which focused on the theme of anthropogenic underwater noise;4 350. Recognizes the role of the Informal Consultative Process as a unique forum for comprehensive discussions on issues related to oceans and the law of the sea, consistent with the framework provided by the Convention and chapter 17 of Agenda 21,6 and that the perspective of the three pillars of sustainable development should be further enhanced in the examination of the selected topics; 351. Welcomes the work of the Informal Consultative Process and its contribution to improving coordination and cooperation between States and strengthening the annual debate of the General Assembly on oceans and the law of the sea by effectively drawing attention to key issues and current trends; 352. Also welcomes efforts to improve and focus the work of the Informal Consultative Process, and in that respect recognizes the primary role of the Informal Consultative Process in integrating knowledge, the exchange of opinions among multiple stakeholders and coordination among competent agencies, and enhancing awareness of topics, including emerging issues, while promoting the three pillars of sustainable development, and recommends that the Informal Consultative Process devise a transparent, objective and inclusive process for the selection of topics and panellists so as to facilitate the work of the General Assembly during informal consultations concerning the annual resolution on oceans and the law of the sea; 353. Recalls the need to strengthen and improve the efficiency of the Informal Consultative Process, and encourages States, intergovernmental organizations and programmes to provide guidance to the Co-Chairs to this effect, particularly before and during the preparatory meeting for the Informal Consultative Process; 354. Decides to continue the Informal Consultative Process for the next two years, in accordance with resolution 54/33, with a further review of its effectiveness and utility by the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session; __________________ 133 Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 54/58 355. Requests the Secretary-General to convene, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 54/33, the twentieth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, in New York from 10 to 14 June 2019, to provide it with the facilities necessary for the performance of its work, including documentation, and to arrange for support to be provided by the Division, in cooperation with other relevant parts of the Secretariat, as appropriate; 356. Expresses its continued serious concern regarding the lack of resources available in the voluntary trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of assisting developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing States, in attending the meetings of the Informal Consultative Process, and urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non- governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make additional contributions to the trust fund; 357. Decides that those representatives from developing countries who are invited by the Co-Chairs, in consultation with Governments, to make presentations during the meetings of the Informal Consultative Process shall receive priority consideration in the disbursement of funds from the voluntary trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 in order to cover the costs of their travel, and shall also be eligible to receive daily subsistence allowance subject to the availability of funds after the travel costs of all other eligible representatives from those countries mentioned in paragraph 356 above have been covered; 358. Also decides that, in its deliberations on the report of the Secretary- General on oceans and the law of the sea, the Informal Consultative Process shall focus its discussions at its twentieth meeting, in 2019, on the theme “Ocean Science and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development”; XV Coordination and cooperation 359. Encourages States to work closely with and through international organizations, funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies of the United Nations system and relevant international conventions, to identify emerging areas of focus for improved coordination and cooperation and how best to address these issues; 360. Expresses its concern at the desecration of graves at sea and the looting of wrecks of ships constituting such graves, and calls upon States to cooperate, as appropriate, to prevent the looting and desecration of wrecks of ships constituting graves in order to ensure that proper respect is given to all human remains located in maritime waters, consistent with international law, including, as appropriate, the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, among parties thereto; 361. Encourages bodies established by the Convention to strengthen coordination and cooperation, as appropriate, in fulfilling their respective mandates; 362. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of heads of intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations engaged in activities relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, as well as funding institutions, and underlines the importance of their constructive and timely input for the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and of their participation in relevant meetings and processes; Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 55/58 18-21627 363. Welcomes the work done by the secretariats of relevant United Nations specialized agencies, programmes, funds and bodies and the secretariats of related organizations and conventions to enhance inter-agency coordination and cooperation on ocean issues, including, where appropriate, through UN-Oceans, the inter-agency coordination mechanism on ocean and coastal issues within the United Nations system; 364. Recognizes the work undertaken by UN-Oceans, in particular the inventory of mandates, under the revised terms of reference for the work of UN-Oceans, and with the United Nations Legal Counsel/Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea as the focal point of UN-Oceans, and, as an interim measure, in this regard invites States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make financial earmarked contributions to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General for the Office of Legal Affairs to support the promotion of international law, and authorizes the Secretary-General to disburse funds from such contributions to that trust fund for the purposes of the maintenance of an online searchable database for an inventory of the mandates of UN-Oceans members and priorities approved by the respective governing bodies of the participating organizations of UN-Oceans, with a view to identifying possible areas of collaboration and synergy, as well as for travel associated with the performance of the functions of the focal point; 365. Decides to defer the review of the terms of reference for the work of UN-Oceans until its seventy-fifth session; XVI Activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 366. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual reports on oceans and the law of the sea, prepared by the Division, as well as for the other activities of the Division, which reflect the high standard of assistance provided to Member States by the Division; 367. Notes with satisfaction the tenth observance by the United Nations of World Oceans Day in 2018,134 recognizes with appreciation the efforts deployed by the Division in this regard, and invites the Division to continue to promote and facilitate international cooperation on the law of the sea and ocean affairs in the context of the future observance of World Oceans Day, as well as through its participation in other events; 368. Recalls the responsibilities and functions entrusted to the Secretary- General in the Convention and in the related resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, notes the increased number of requests to the Division for additional outputs and servicing of meetings and in relation to the support to be provided by the Division as secretariat of the Regular Process during the second cycle of the Regular Process, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the allocation of appropriate resources to the Division for the performance of its activities under the approved budget for the Organization; 369. Requests the Secretary-General to continue the publication activities of the Division, in particular through the publication of The Law of the Sea: A Select Bibliography and the Law of the Sea Bulletin; __________________ 134 By its resolution 63/111, the General Assembly designated 8 June as World Oceans Day. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 56/58 XVII Seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly 370. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare reports for consideration by the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session, namely, a report on developments and issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, including the implementation of the present resolution, in accordance with resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and a report on the topic that is the focus of the twentieth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process; 371. Emphasizes the critical role of the annual reports of the Secretary-General, which integrate information on developments relating to the implementation of the Convention and the work of the Organization, its specialized agencies and other institutions in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea at the global and regional levels, and as a result constitute the basis for the annual consideration and review of developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review; 372. Notes that the reports referred to in paragraph 370 above will also be submitted to States Parties pursuant to article 319 of the Convention regarding issues of a general nature that have arisen with respect to the Convention; 373. Also notes the desire to further improve the efficiency of and effective participation of delegations in the informal consultations concerning the annual General Assembly resolution on oceans and the law of the sea, decides that the period of the informal consultations on that resolution should not exceed a maximum of two weeks in total and that the consultations should be scheduled in such a way that the Division has sufficient time to produce the report on developments and issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea referred to in paragraph 370 above, requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide support to the consultations through the Division, and encourages States to submit proposals for the resolution to the Coordinator of the informal consultations no later than one week before the first day of the first round of the informal consultations; 374. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fourth session the item entitled “Oceans and the law of the sea”. 50th plenary meeting 11 December 2018 Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/73/124 57/58 18-21627 Annex Amendments to the terms of reference, guidelines and rules of the Trust Fund for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, and compliance with article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea135 Terms of reference, guidelines and rules 1. Reasons for establishing the Trust Fund In paragraph 2, amend the last sentence to read: “In accordance with article 4 of annex II to the Convention, the particulars of such limits should be submitted to the Commission within ten years of the entry into force of the Convention for that State. The earliest deadline for submission for States was 13 May 2009.” In paragraph 7, amend the last sentence to read: “The final preparation of a submission, including additional information with respect to submissions and revised or new submissions, to the Commission also requires high-level expertise in geosciences and hydrography.” 2. Objects and purpose of the Trust Fund In paragraph 9, amend the last sentence to read: “The object of the Fund is to enable developing States, in particular, the least developed coastal countries and small island developing States, to make an initial assessment of their particular case, make appropriate plans for further investigations and data acquisition, to prepare the final submission documents, as well as subsequent amended and/or revised submission documents, to maintain the capacity of developing States while waiting for their submission to be assigned to a subcommission for examination, and to meet with the Commission when it is considering their submission upon the Commission’s invitation.” In paragraph 13, amend the first sentence to read: “The preparation of the final submission documents, as well as subsequent amended and/or revised submission documents, will have to meet the requirements of article 76 and annex II to the Convention (and for some States, annex II to the Final Act) and the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission.” 4. Application for financial assistance Amend paragraph 15 to read: “An application for financial assistance from the Fund may be submitted by developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, who are parties to the Convention.” Amend subparagraph (d) in paragraph 16 to read: “Preparation of final, amended and/or revised submission documents;” __________________ 135 As set out in annex II to General Assembly resolution 55/7, the annex to resolution 58/240 and the annex to resolution 70/235. A/RES/73/124 Oceans and the law of the sea 18-21627 58/58 Move paragraph subparagraph (e) in paragraph 16, below subparagraph (f). Amend subparagraph (d) in paragraph 17 to read: “Preparation of final, amended and/or revised submission documents” Move paragraph subparagraph (e) in paragraph 17, below subparagraph (f). 5. Consideration of applications Amend paragraph 20 to read: “The Division may engage an independent panel to assist in the examination of applications on the basis of section 4 above and to recommend the amount of financial assistance to be given. The panel shall be composed of the Chairs of the United Nations Regional Groups; each Chair may designate one representative from their Regional Group to attend on their behalf. However, no person from a State with an application before the panel and no sitting Commission member should serve on this independent panel.” Amend paragraph 21 to read: “In considering the application, the Division shall be guided by the following, in order of priority: (a) the need to assist States requesting assistance with their initial submission to the Commission; (b) the need to assist least developed countries and small island developing States; (c) the need to assist developing States to prepare additional data requested by the subcommission analysing their submission; (d) the need to assist developing States to participate in meetings with the Commission or one of its subcommissions upon an invitation by the Commission; (e) the need to assist developing States to maintain their capacity while waiting for their submission to be assigned to a subcommission for examination; and (f) the need to assist developing States to prepare revised and/or amended submissions. The order in which applications are received, the availability of funds and the overall level of assistance provided so far to a State requesting assistance shall also be taken into consideration. Assistance with revised or amended submissions will be limited to one approved application per developing State; in the case of joint submissions each State involved in the joint submission may seek such assistance.” Delete paragraph 22. Renumber subsequent paragraphs. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/73/169 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2018 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/73/589/Add.2)] 73/169. Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, including resolution 72/172 of 19 December 2017, and Human Rights Council resolutions 18/6 of 29 September 2011,1 33/3 of 29 September 2016,2 36/4 of 28 September 20173 and 39/4 of 27 September 2018,4 Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other instruments relating to human rights and international law, Affirming that the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of all human rights should continue to be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law, as set forth in Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter, and with full respect for, inter alia, sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, the non-use of force or the threat of force in international relations and non-intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, Recalling the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, __________________ 1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 53A and corrigendum (A/66/53/Add.1 and A/66/53/Add.1/Corr.1), chap. II. 2 Ibid., Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 53A and corrigendum (A/71/53/Add.1 and A/71/53/Add.1/Corr.1), chap. II. 3 Ibid., Seventy-second Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/72/53/Add.1), chap. III. 4 Ibid., Seventy-third Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/73/53/Add.1), chap. III. A/RES/73/169 Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order 18-22265 2/6 Reaffirming that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 5 can be fully realized, Reaffirming also the determination expressed in the Preamble to the Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, to practise tolerance and good-neighbourliness and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Stressing that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social issues, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally, and that in this regard the central role must be played by the United Nations, as the most universal and representative organization in the world, Concerned about the continued abuse by Member States of the extraterritorial application of their national legislation in a manner that affects the sovereignty of other States, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the full enjoyment of human rights, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples for an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self- determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, including the effective promotion and protection of all human rights, Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Reaffirming that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Recognizing that the promotion and protection of human rights should be based on the principle of cooperation and genuine dialogue and aimed at strengthening the capacity of Member States to comply with their human rights obligations for the benefit of all human beings, Emphasizing that democracy is not only a political concept, but that it also has economic and social dimensions, Recognizing that democracy, respect for all human rights, including the right to development, transparent and accountable governance and administration in all sectors of society and effective participation by civil society are an essential part of __________________ 5 Resolution 217 A (III). Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order A/RES/73/169 3/6 18-22265 the necessary foundations for the realization of social and people-centred sustainable development, Noting with concern that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may be aggravated by, inter alia, inequitable distribution of wealth, marginalization and social exclusion, Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation at all levels, Underlining the fact that it is imperative for the international community to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world’s people and that only through broad and sustained efforts, based on our common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable, Deeply concerned that the current global economic, financial, energy and food crises, resulting from a combination of several major factors, including macroeconomic and other factors, such as environmental degradation, desertification and global climate change, natural disasters and the lack of financial resources and the technology necessary to confront their negative impact in developing countries, particularly in the least developed countries and small island developing States, represent a global scenario that is threatening the adequate enjoyment of all human rights and widening the gap between developed and developing countries, Recognizing that a democratic and equitable order requires the reform of international financial institutions, in order to widen and strengthen the level of participation of developing countries in the international decision-making process, and a more transparent and open financial system, as well as adequate measures against illicit financial flows, such as tax fraud, tax evasion, illegal capital flight, money-laundering and the proceeds of corruption, and for improving tax transparency worldwide, Stressing that efforts to make globalization fully inclusive and equitable must include policies and measures at the global level that correspond to the needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition and are formulated and implemented with their effective participation, Stressing also the need for adequate financing of, technology transfer to and capacity-building in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, including to support their efforts to adapt to climate change, Having listened to the peoples of the world, and recognizing their aspirations to justice, to equality of opportunity for all, to the enjoyment of their human rights, including the right to development, to live in peace and freedom and to equal participation without discrimination in economic, social, cultural, civil and political life, Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1 on institution-building of the Council and 5/2 on the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate Holders of the Council of 18 June 2007,6 and stressing that all mandate holders shall discharge their duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto, Emphasizing the importance of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 7 for the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, __________________ 6 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. IV, sect. A. 7 Resolution 70/1. A/RES/73/169 Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order 18-22265 4/6 Resolved to take all measures within its power to secure a democratic and equitable international order, 1. Affirms that everyone is entitled to a democratic and equitable international order; 2. Also affirms that a democratic and equitable international order fosters the full realization of all human rights for all; 3. Takes note of the report of the Independent Expert of the Human Rights Council on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; 8 4. Calls upon all Member States to fulfil their commitment expressed in Durban, South Africa, during the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to maximize the benefits of globalization through, inter alia, the strengthening and enhancement of international cooperation to increase equality of opportunities for trade, economic growth and sustainable development, global communications through the use of new technologies and increased intercultural exchange through the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity, 9 and reiterates that only through broad and sustained efforts to create a shared future based upon our common humanity and all its diversity can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable; 5. Declares that democracy includes respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms and is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, and reaffirms the need for universal adherence to and implementation of the rule of law at both the national and international levels; 6. Affirms that a democratic and equitable international order requires, inter alia, the realization of the following: (a) The right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; (b) The right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources; (c) The right of every human person and all peoples to development; (d) The right of all peoples to peace; (e) The right to an international economic order based on equal participation in the decision-making process, interdependence, mutual interest, solidarity and cooperation among all States; (f) International solidarity, as a right of peoples and individuals; (g) The promotion and consolidation of transparent, democratic, just and accountable international institutions in all areas of cooperation, in particular through the implementation of the principle of full and equal participation in their respective decision-making mechanisms; (h) The right to equitable participation of all, without any discrimination, in domestic and global decision-making; (i) The principle of equitable regional and gender-balanced representation in the composition of the staff of the United Nations system; __________________ 8 See A/73/158. 9 See A/CONF.189/12 and A/CONF.189/12/Corr.1, chap. I. Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order A/RES/73/169 5/6 18-22265 (j) The promotion of a free, just, effective and balanced international information and communications order based on international cooperation for the establishment of a new equilibrium and greater reciprocity in the international flow of information, in particular correcting the inequalities in the flow of information to and from developing countries; (k) Respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all, since this enhances cultural pluralism, contributes to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural backgrounds, advances the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights across the world and fosters stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; (l) The right of every person and all peoples to a healthy environment and to enhanced international cooperation that responds effectively to the needs for assistance of national efforts to adapt to climate change, particularly in developing countries, and that promotes the fulfilment of international agreements in the field of mitigation; (m) The promotion of equitable access to benefits from the international distribution of wealth through enhanced international cooperation, in particular in international economic, commercial and financial relations; (n) The enjoyment by everyone of ownership of the common heritage of humankind in connection to the public right of access to culture; (o) The shared responsibility of the nations of the world for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security, which should be exercised multilaterally; 7. Stresses the importance of preserving the rich and diverse nature of the international community of nations and peoples, as well as respect for national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds, in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights; 8. Also stresses that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and reaffirms that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all; 9. Reaffirms, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in internal affairs; 10. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, social justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 11. Reaffirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and, to that end, should do their utmost to achieve general and complete disarmament under effective international control, as well as to ensure that the resources released by effective disarmament measures are used for comprehensive development, in particular that of the developing countries; 12. Underlines that attempts to overthrow legitimate Governments by force disrupt the democratic and constitutional order, the legitimate exercise of power and the full enjoyment of human rights, and reaffirms that every State has an inalienable A/RES/73/169 Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order 18-22265 6/6 right to choose its political, economic, social and cultural system, without interference in any form by other States; 13. Reaffirms the need to continue working urgently for the establishment of a new international economic order based on equity, sovereign equality, interdependence, common interest and cooperation among all States, irrespective of their economic and social systems, which shall correct inequalities and redress existing injustices, make it possible to eliminate the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries and ensure steadily accelerating economic and social development and peace and justice for present and future generations, in accordance with relevant previous General Assembly resolutions, programmes of action and major conferences and summits in the economic, social and related areas; 14. Also reaffirms that the international community should devise ways and means to remove the current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world; 15. Urges States to continue their efforts, through enhanced international cooperation, towards the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; 16. Affirms that a democratic and equitable international order, as prescribed in the Charter of the United Nations, cannot be achieved only through the deregulation of trade, markets and financial services; 17. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide all the human and financial resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Independent Expert; 18. Calls upon all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Independent Expert in his task, to supply all necessary information requested by him and to consider responding favourably to the requests of the Independent Expert to visit their countries to enable him to fulfil his mandate more effectively; 19. Requests the Human Rights Council, the human rights treaty bodies, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the special mechanisms extended by the Council and the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee to pay due attention, within their respective mandates, to the present resolution and to make contributions towards its implementation; 20. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to build upon the issue of the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs, bodies and components, intergovernmental organizations, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations and to disseminate it on the widest possible basis; 22. Requests the Independent Expert to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, and invites him to undertake research into the impact of financial and economic policies pursued by international organizations and other institutions on a democratic and equitable international order; 23. Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its seventy-fourth session under the item entitled “Promotion and protection of human rights”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/73/18 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2018 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/73/L.31 and A/73/L.31/Add.1)] 73/18. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special sessions and its resolution 72/13 of 30 November 2017, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1 Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Affirming its support for a comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session2 and the Quartet road map to a permanent two- State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,3 endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, Recalling the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016, and underscoring in this regard, inter alia, the call __________________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/73/35). 2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. 3 S/2003/529, annex. A/RES/73/18 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People 18-20703 2/4 upon all parties to continue, in the interest of the promotion of peace and security, to exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East peace process and within the time frame specified by the Quartet in its statement of 21 September 2010, Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling further its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,5 Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6 Taking note of the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and the core humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties, Noting with deep regret the passage of 51 years since the onset of the Israeli occupation and over 70 years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) on 29 November 1947 and the Nakba without tangible progress towards a peaceful solution, and stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative trends on the ground and to restore a political horizon for advancing and accelerating meaningful negotiations aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a complete end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all core final status issues, without exception, leading to a peaceful, just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine, Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report, 1 including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof, inter alia, the recommendations for the redoubling of international efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, for an expanded multilateral framework for the revitalization of peace efforts and for efforts to ensure fullest accountability and implementation of the long-standing parameters for peace in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions; 2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, to support the achievement without delay of an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and of the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of all final status issues and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and in this regard authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session and thereafter; __________________ 4 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1. 5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I. 6 A/67/738. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People A/RES/73/18 3/4 18-20703 3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate; 4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative2 and the Quartet road map;3 5. Commends the Committee on its efforts and activities in upholding its mandate, including through cooperative initiatives with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations; 6. Commends the Working Group of the Committee on its efforts in coordinating the efforts of international and regional civil society organizations regarding the question of Palestine; 7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and documentation that they have at their disposal; 8. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation and support to the Committee in the performance of its tasks, recalling its repeated call for all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine; 9. Requests the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to continue to report to the General Assembly on the economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people, and, while drawing attention to the alarming findings, as reflected in the recent reports7 in this regard, calls for the exertion of all efforts for the provision of the resources necessary to expedite the completion and publication of the report, including the facilitation and coordination of pertinent inputs from the relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate; 11. Requests the Committee, bearing in mind the regrettable absence of tangible progress towards a peaceful solution, to continue to focus its activities throughout 2019 on efforts and initiatives to end the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and to organize activities in this regard, within existing resources and in cooperation with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations, aimed at raising international awareness and mobilizing diplomatic efforts to launch credible __________________ 7 A/71/174 and A/73/201. A/RES/73/18 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People 18-20703 4/4 negotiations aimed at achieving without delay a just, lasting, comprehensive and peaceful solution to the question of Palestine in all its aspects; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the facilities necessary for the performance of its tasks. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/73/181 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2018 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/73/589/Add.3)] 73/181. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1 the International Covenants on Human Rights2 and other international human rights instruments, Recalling its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the most recent of which is resolution 72/189 of 19 December 2017, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 72/1893 and the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 4 submitted pursuant to Council resolution 37/30 of 23 March 2018;5 2. Recalls the pledges made by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran with regard to improving the human rights situation in the country; 3. Welcomes the amendments made to the Anti-Narcotics Law, passed in October 2017, which eliminated the mandatory imposition of the death penalty for certain drug-related offences and which have so far led to a significant drop in drug- related executions, while noting that many cases still have yet to be reviewed in accordance with those amendments, and encourages those within the judiciary who are responsible for applying the law to continue to convert drug-related death sentences to prison terms; __________________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 A/73/299. 4 A/73/398. 5 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/73/53), chap. IV, sect. A. A/RES/73/181 Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran 18-22277 2/5 4. Notes the approval by the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran of the Bill for Protection of the Rights of Children and Youth, in July 2018, which, if adopted and implemented, would mark an important step forward in protecting individuals from violence and abuse; 5. Recalls the commitments made by the Iranian authorities with regard to improving the situation of women, and notes in this regard the introduction of the Comprehensive Bill on Ensuring the Protection of Women against Violence; 6. Welcomes the engagement of the Islamic Republic of Iran with human rights treaty bodies, including through the submission of periodic reports, and notes in particular the engagement of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its participation in the universal periodic review; 7. Also welcomes the continuing efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran to host large numbers of Afghan refugees and to grant them access to basic services, in particular access to health care and education for children; 8. Further welcomes the ongoing contact with and dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the invitations extended to other special procedures mandate holders; 9. Welcomes the expressed readiness of the Iranian High Council for Human Rights and other Iranian officials to engage in bilateral dialogues on human rights; 10. Expresses serious concern, notwithstanding the previously noted reduction so far in the number of executions for drug-related crimes, at the alarmingly high frequency of the imposition and carrying-out of the death penalty by the Islamic Republic of Iran, in violation of its international obligations, including the imposition of the death penalty against minors and persons who at the time of their offence were under the age of 18, in violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 6 and executions undertaken against persons on the basis of forced confessions or for crimes that do not qualify as the most serious crimes, including crimes that are overly broad or vaguely defined, in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,2 expresses concern at the continuing disregard for internationally recognized safeguards, including executions undertaken without notification of the prisoner’s family members or legal counsel, and calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to abolish, in law and in practice, public executions, which are contrary to the 2008 directive seeking to end this practice issued by the former head of the judiciary; 11. Calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to ensure, in law and in practice, that no one is subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, which may include sexual violence, and punishments that are grossly disproportionate to the nature of the offence, in conformity with amendments to the Penal Code, the constitutional guarantees of the Islamic Republic of Iran and international obligations; 12. Urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to cease the widespread and systematic use of arbitrary detention, including the use of this practice to target dual and foreign nationals, to release those who have been arbitrarily detained and to uphold, in law and in practice, procedural guarantees to ensure fair trial standards, including timely access to legal representation of one’s choice from the time of arrest through all stages of trial and all appeals, the right not to be subjected to torture, cruel and inhuman or __________________ 6 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran A/RES/73/181 3/5 18-22277 degrading treatment or punishment and consideration of bail and other reasonable terms for release from custody pending trial; 13. Calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to release persons detained for the exercise of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including those who have been detained solely for taking part in peaceful protests, to consider rescinding unduly harsh sentences, including those involving the death penalty and long-term internal exile, and to end reprisals against individuals, including for cooperating or attempting to cooperate with the United Nations human rights mechanisms; 14. Also calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to address the poor conditions of prisons, to end the practice of deliberately denying prisoners access to adequate medical treatment, which creates a consequent risk of death, and to put an end to the continued and sustained house arrest of leading opposition figures from the 2009 presidential elections despite serious concerns about their health, as well as the pressure exerted upon their relatives and dependants, including through arrest, and calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to establish credible and independent prison oversight authorities to investigate complaints of abuse; 15. Further calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the judicial and security branches, to create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe and enabling environment in which an independent, diverse and pluralistic civil society can operate free from hindrance and insecurity, and urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to end widespread and serious restrictions, in law and in practice, on the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including in digital contexts, and the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly, and to end its harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents, human rights defenders, women’s and minority rights defenders, labour leaders, students’ rights defenders, environmentalists, academics, film-makers, journalists, bloggers, social media users and social media page administrators, media workers, religious leaders, artists, lawyers and their families and persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities and their families, wherever it may occur; 16. Strongly urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination and other human rights violations against women and girls, including with respect to the right to freedom of movement, the right to enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the right to freedom of religion or belief and the right to work, to take measures to ensure protection for women and girls against violence and their equal protection and access to justice, to address the concerning incidence of child, early and forced marriage, as recommended by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, to promote, support and enable women’s participation in political and other decision-making processes, and, while recognizing the high enrolment of women in all levels of education in the Islamic Republic of Iran, to lift restrictions on women’s equal access to all aspects of education and women’s equal participation in the labour market and in all aspects of economic, cultural, social and political life; 17. Calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to ethnic, linguistic, recognized or unrecognized religious minorities or other minorities, including but not limited to Arabs, including Ahwazi Arabs, Azeris, Balochis, Kurds and Turkmen, and their defenders; 18. Expresses serious concern about ongoing severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, restrictions on the establishment of places of worship, attacks against places of worship and burial and other human rights violations, including but not limited to harassment, intimidation, persecution, arbitrary arrests and detention, denial of access A/RES/73/181 Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran 18-22277 4/5 to education and incitement to hatred that leads to violence against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities, including Christians, Gonabadi Dervishes, Jews, Sufi Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Yarsanis, Zoroastrians and members of the Baha’i faith and their defenders in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to release all religious practitioners imprisoned for their membership in or activities on behalf of a recognized or unrecognized minority religious group, including the remaining imprisoned member of the Baha’i leadership, whom the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the Human Rights Council has declared to have been arbitrarily detained since 2008; 19. Calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination on the basis of thought, conscience, religion or belief, including economic restrictions, such as the closure or confiscation of businesses and properties, the cancellation of licences and the denial of employment in certain public and private sectors, including government or military positions and elected office, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities, and to end impunity for those who commit crimes against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities; 20. Also calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to launch a comprehensive accountability process in response to all cases of serious human rights violations, including allegations of excessive use of force against peaceful protesters and cases of suspicious deaths in custody, as well as violations involving the Iranian judiciary and security agencies, and calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to end impunity for such violations; 21. Further calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to implement its obligations under those human rights treaties to which it is already a party, to withdraw any reservations that are imprecise or could be considered incompatible with the object and purpose of the treaty, to consider acting upon the concluding observations concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran adopted by the bodies of the international human rights treaties to which it is a party and to consider ratifying or acceding to the international human rights treaties to which it is not already a party; 22. Calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to deepen its engagement with international human rights mechanisms by: (a) Cooperating fully with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including by accepting the repeated requests made by the Special Rapporteur to visit the country in order to carry out the mandate; (b) Increasing cooperation with other special mechanisms, including by facilitating long-standing requests for access to the country from thematic special procedures mandate holders, whose access to its territory has been restricted or denied, despite the standing invitation issued by the Islamic Republic of Iran, without imposing undue conditions upon those visits; (c) Continuing to enhance its cooperation with the treaty bodies, including by submitting overdue reports under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination7 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;2 (d) Implementing all accepted universal periodic review recommendations from its first cycle, in 2010, and its second cycle, in 2014, with the full and genuine __________________ 7 Ibid., vol. 660, No. 9464. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran A/RES/73/181 5/5 18-22277 participation of independent civil society and other stakeholders in the implementation process, and by engaging constructively in its upcoming third cycle in 2019; (e) Building upon the engagement of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the universal periodic review process by continuing to explore cooperation on human rights and justice reform with the United Nations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; (f) Following through on its commitment to establish an independent national human rights institution, made in the context of both its first and its second universal periodic reviews by the Human Rights Council, with due regard for the recommendation of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 23. Also calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue to translate the pledges made by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran with respect to human rights concerns into concrete action that results in demonstrable improvements as soon as possible and to ensure that its national laws are consistent with its obligations under international human rights law and that they are implemented in accordance with its international obligations; 24. Further calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to address the substantive concerns highlighted in the reports of the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the specific calls to action found in previous resolutions of the General Assembly, and to respect fully its human rights obligations in law and in practice; 25. Strongly encourages the relevant thematic special procedures mandate holders to pay particular attention to, with a view to investigating and reporting on, the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution, including options and recommendations to improve its implementation, and to submit an interim report to the Human Rights Council at its fortieth session; 27. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran at its seventy-fourth session under the item entitled “Promotion and protection of human rights”. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/73/187 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2018 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/73/590)] 73/187. Countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes The General Assembly, Noting that information and communications technologies, while having enormous potential for the development of States, create new opportunities for criminals and lead to a rise in crime, Noting also the potential of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, in preventing and combating the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes, Concerned by the increase in the rate and diversity of crimes committed in the digital world and their impact on the stability of critical infrastructure of States and enterprises and on the well-being of individuals, Recognizing that diverse criminals, including traffickers in persons, are taking advantage of information and communications technologies to carry out criminal activities, Stressing the need to enhance coordination and cooperation among States in combating the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes, including by providing technical assistance to developing countries, upon their request, to improve national legislation and build the capacity of national authorities to deal with such use in all its forms, including its prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution, and emphasizing in this context the role that the United Nations, in particular the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, plays, Recalling Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice resolution 22/8 of 26 April 2013,1 in which the Commission welcomed the efforts of the United __________________ 1 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2013, Supplement No. 10 (E/2013/30), chap. I, sect. D. A/RES/73/187 Countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes 18-22283 2/3 Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in fulfilling its mandate to provide technical assistance and capacity-building on cybercrime, Noting the work, carried out by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, under the auspices of which an open-ended intergovernmental expert group was established to counter the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes, Recalling its resolution 65/230 of 21 December 2010, in which the General Assembly endorsed the Salvador Declaration on Comprehensive Strategies for Global Challenges: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Systems and Their Development in a Changing World, Considering the discussions held during the first to fourth meetings of the open- ended intergovernmental expert group, held in Vienna from 17 to 21 January 2011, 25 to 28 February 2013, 10 to 13 April 2017 and 3 to 5 April 2018, about the need to further enhance international discussion on and cooperation against cybercrime, Noting the importance of the international and regional instruments in the fight against cybercrime and the ongoing efforts to examine options to strengthen existing and propose new national and international legal or other responses to the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes, Recalling its resolutions 53/70 of 4 December 1998, 54/49 of 1 December 1999, 55/28 of 20 November 2000, 56/19 of 29 November 2001, 57/53 of 22 November 2002, 58/32 of 8 December 2003, 59/61 of 3 December 2004, 60/45 of 8 December 2005, 61/54 of 6 December 2006, 62/17 of 5 December 2007, 63/37 of 2 December 2008, 64/25 of 2 December 2009, 65/41 of 8 December 2010, 66/24 of 2 December 2011, 66/181 of 19 December 2011, 67/27 of 3 December 2012, 68/193 of 18 December 2013, 68/243 of 27 December 2013, 69/28 of 2 December 2014, 70/237 of 23 December 2015, 71/28 of 5 December 2016 and 72/196 of 19 December 2017, Taking note of the reports of the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security,2 Taking note also of Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice resolution 26/4 of 26 May 2017,3 in which the Commission expressed appreciation for the work done by the Expert Group to Conduct a Comprehensive Study on Cybercrime and requested the Expert Group to continue its work, with a view to examining options to strengthen existing responses and propose new national and international legal or other responses to cybercrime, Reaffirming the importance of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the use of information and communications technologies, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the challenges that they face in countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes and to present a report based on those views for consideration by the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session; 2. Decides that the additional costs that may arise from the implementation of paragraph 1 of the present resolution should be met from voluntary contributions; __________________ 2 A/65/201, A/68/98 and A/70/174. 3 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2017, Supplement No. 10 (E/2017/30), chap. I, sect. D. Countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes A/RES/73/187 3/3 18-22283 3. Also decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fourth session an item entitled “Countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes”. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/73/255 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 20 December 2018 [on the report of the Second Committee (A/73/546)] 73/255. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 72/240 of 20 December 2017, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2018/20 of 24 July 2018, Recalling also its resolutions 58/292 of 6 May 2004 and 59/251 of 22 December 2004, Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981 and 2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016, Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Bearing in mind its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,1 to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, __________________ * Reissued for technical reasons on 7 March 2019. 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. A/RES/73/255 Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources 18-22636 2/5 Recalling, in this regard, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 2 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,2 and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied Syrian Golan, Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 3 and recalling further its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Recalling further its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, Taking note of the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and the core humanitarian law treaties, as well as to other international treaties, Expressing its concern about the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Expressing its grave concern about the extensive destruction by Israel, the occupying Power, of agricultural land and orchards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the uprooting of a vast number of fruit-bearing trees and the destruction of farms and greenhouses, and the grave environmental and economic impact in this regard, Expressing its grave concern also about the widespread destruction caused by Israel, the occupying Power, to vital infrastructure, including water pipelines, sewage networks and electricity networks, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular in the Gaza Strip during the military operations of July and August 2014, which, inter alia, has polluted the environment and which negatively affects the functioning of water and sanitation systems and the water supply and other natural resources of the Palestinian people, and stressing the urgency of the reconstruction and development of water and other vital civilian infrastructure, including the project for the desalination facility for the Gaza Strip, Expressing its grave concern further about the negative impact on the environment and on reconstruction and development efforts of unexploded ordnance that remains in the Gaza Strip as a result of the conflict in July and August 2014, and commending the efforts of the Mine Action Service of the United Nations for the safe removal of such ordnance, Expressing its grave concern about the chronic energy shortage in the Gaza Strip and its detrimental impact on the operation of water and sanitation facilities, which threaten to further erode groundwater resources, of which only 5 per cent remains potable, Recalling the 2009 report by the United Nations Environment Programme regarding the grave environmental situation in the Gaza Strip, and relevant reports by the United Nations country team, including “Gaza in 2020: a liveable place?”, “Gaza: two years after” and “Gaza ten years later”, and stressing the need for follow-up to the recommendations contained therein, Deploring the detrimental impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially as a result of the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources, including the destruction of orchards and crops and the seizure of water wells by Israeli settlers, and of the dire socioeconomic consequences in this regard, __________________ 2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources A/RES/73/255 3/5 18-22636 Recalling the report of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,4 Aware of the detrimental impact on Palestinian natural resources being caused by the unlawful construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and of its grave effect as well on the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people, Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement on all tracks, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002 and 2334 (2016), the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative 5 and the Quartet performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, 6 as endorsed by the Council in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and supported by the Council in its resolution 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008, Stressing also, in this regard, the need for respect for the obligation upon Israel under the road map to freeze settlement activity, including so-called “natural growth”, and to dismantle all settlement outposts erected since March 2001, Stressing further the need for respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Recalling that the Security Council, in its resolution 2334 (2016), underlined that it would not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations, Recalling also the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Taking note of the report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan, as transmitted by the Secretary-General,7 1. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and of the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land, water and energy resources; 2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease the exploitation, damage, cause of loss or depletion and endangerment of the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 3. Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, damage, loss or depletion or endangerment of their natural resources resulting from illegal measures taken by Israel, the occupying Power, and Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with within the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides; __________________ 4 A/HRC/22/63. 5 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. 6 S/2003/529, annex. 7 A/73/87-E/2018/69. A/RES/73/255 Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources 18-22636 4/5 4. Stresses that the wall and settlements being constructed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, are contrary to international law and are seriously depriving the Palestinian people of their natural resources, and calls in this regard for full compliance with the legal obligations affirmed in the 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice3 and in relevant United Nations resolutions, including General Assembly resolution ES-10/15; 5. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to cease immediately and completely all policies and measures aimed at the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 6. Also calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to bring a halt to all actions, including those perpetrated by Israeli settlers, harming the environment, including the dumping of all kinds of waste materials, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, which gravely threaten their natural resources, namely water and land resources, and which pose an environmental, sanitation and health threat to the civilian populations; 7. Further calls upon Israel to cease its destruction of vital infrastructure, including water pipelines, sewage networks and electricity networks, and to cease its demolition and confiscation of Palestinian homes and civilian infrastructure, agricultural lands and water wells, which, inter alia, have a negative impact on the natural resources of the Palestinian people, stresses the urgent need to advance reconstruction and development projects in this regard, including in the Gaza Strip, and calls for support for the necessary efforts in this regard, in line with the commitments made at, inter alia, the Cairo International Conference on Palestine: Reconstructing Gaza, held on 12 October 2014; 8. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to remove all obstacles to the implementation of critical environmental projects, including sewage treatment plants in the Gaza Strip and the reconstruction and development of water infrastructure, including the project for the desalination facility for the Gaza Strip; 9. Also calls upon Israel not to impede Palestinian development and export of discovered oil and natural gas reserves; 10. Calls for the immediate and safe removal of all unexploded ordnance in the Gaza Strip and for support for the efforts of the Mine Action Service of the United Nations in this regard, and welcomes the extensive efforts exerted by the Mine Action Service to date; 11. Encourages all States and international organizations to continue to actively pursue policies to ensure respect for their obligations under international law with regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlement activities and the exploitation of natural resources; 12. Underscores, in this regard, the call by the Security Council, in its resolution 2334 (2016), upon all States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including with regard to the cumulative impact of the exploitation, damage and depletion by Israel of natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and with regard to the impact of such practices on Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources A/RES/73/255 5/5 18-22636 the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals, 8 and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fourth session the item entitled “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources”. 62nd plenary meeting 20 December 2018 __________________ 8 See resolution 70/1. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/73/30 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2018 [on the report of the First Committee (A/73/508)] 73/30. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Recognizing the common interest of all humankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Reaffirming the will of all States that the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be for peaceful purposes and shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, Reaffirming also the provisions of articles III and IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,1 Recalling the obligation of all States to observe the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the use or threat of use of force in their international relations, including in their space activities, Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,2 in which it is stated that, in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty, Recalling its previous resolutions on this issue, the most recent of which is resolution 72/26 of 4 December 2017, and taking note of the proposals submitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session and at its regular sessions and of the recommendations made to the competent organs of the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, __________________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843. 2 Resolution S-10/2. A/RES/73/30 Prevention of an arms race in outer space 18-21223 2/3 Recognizing that the prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space, Considering that wide participation in the legal regime applicable to outer space could contribute to enhancing its effectiveness, Noting that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its establishment in 1985 and seeking to enhance its functioning in qualitative terms, continued the examination and identification of various issues, existing agreements and existing proposals, as well as future initiatives relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space, and that this contributed to a better understanding of a number of problems and to a clearer perception of the various positions, Noting also that there were no objections in principle in the Conference on Disarmament to the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, subject to re-examination of the mandate contained in the decision of the Conference on Disarmament of 13 February 1992,3 Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bilateral and multilateral efforts for the prevention of an arms race in outer space, and hoping that concrete results will emerge from those efforts as soon as possible, Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Stressing that the growing use of outer space increases the need for greater transparency and better information on the part of the international community, Recalling, in this context, its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990, 47/51 of 9 December 1992 and 48/74 A of 16 December 1993, in which, inter alia, it reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures as a means conducive to ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Conscious of the benefits of confidence- and security-building measures in the military field, Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Conference on Disarmament and that the concrete proposals on confidence-building measures could form an integral part of such agreements, Noting with satisfaction the constructive, structured and focused debate on the prevention of an arms race in outer space at the Conference on Disarmament each year from 2009 to 2018, Noting the introduction by China and the Russian Federation at the Conference on Disarmament of the draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and of the threat or use of force against outer space objects in 2008 and the submission of its updated version in 2014,4 __________________ 3 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), para. 76. 4 See CD/1839 and CD/1985. A/RES/73/30 3/3 18-21223 Taking note of the decision of the Conference on Disarmament to establish for its 2009 session a working group to discuss, substantially, without limitation, all issues related to the prevention of an arms race in outer space, and the decision to establish for its 2018 session a subsidiary body on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, 1. Reaffirms the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common objective, in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;1 2. Reaffirms its recognition, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, that the legal regime applicable to outer space by itself does not guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that the regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race in that environment, that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce that regime and enhance its effectiveness and that it is important to comply strictly with existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space; 4. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation; 5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to establish a working group under its agenda item entitled “Prevention of an arms race in outer space” as early as possible; 7. Recognizes, in this respect, the growing convergence of views on the elaboration of measures designed to strengthen transparency, confidence and security in the peaceful uses of outer space; 8. Urges States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on the matter, if any, so as to facilitate its work; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fourth session the item entitled “Prevention of an arms race in outer space”. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/73/330 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 July 2019 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/73/L.74 and A/73/L.74/Add.1)] 73/330. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 48/2 of 13 October 1993, by which it granted observer status to the Economic Cooperation Organization, Recalling also its previous resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization, in which it invited various specialized agencies, as well as other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and relevant financial institutions, to join in the efforts towards realizing its goals and the objectives of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Appreciating the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization to strengthen its relations with the United Nations system and with relevant international and regional organizations for the development and implementation of projects and programmes in areas of common interest, Noting the efforts made by the United Nations system and the relevant international and regional organizations in extending technical and financial assistance to the Economic Cooperation Organization for the development and implementation of programmes and projects pertaining to socioeconomic progress, and encouraging them to continue their support, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 71/16 of 21 November 2016,1 and acknowledges the growing cooperation between the two organizations; 2. Takes note of the Economic Cooperation Organization Vision 2025 and the Islamabad Declaration, issued at the thirteenth summit meeting of Heads of State and/or Government of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, held in Islamabad on 1 March 2017; __________________ 1 See A/73/328-S/2018/592, sect. II. A/RES/73/330 Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization 19-12816 2/7 3. Also takes note of the Baku Declaration, issued at the twelfth summit meeting of Heads of State and/or Government of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, held in Baku on 16 October 2012; 2 4. Further takes note of the Dushanbe Communiqué, issued at the twenty- third meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization, held in Dushanbe on 17 April 2018; 5. Appreciates the continuing efforts to strengthen the existing cooperation between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Economic Cooperation Organization, especially in the field of trade capacity-building of member States, notes with satisfaction the completion of the implementation of the third phase of their joint programme in 2017, aimed at enhancing the capacity of member States to strengthen their standards, metrology, testing and quality infrastructure, and invites the relevant United Nations institutions and agencies to consider supporting the implementation of the fourth phase of the project; 6. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Trade Organization and the International Trade Centre to develop strategies for the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization for trade liberalization and the promotion of foreign direct investment to facilitate the global and regional integration of their economies; 7. Notes the progress made on the trade facilitation programme of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and invites the World Trade Organization and relevant United Nations institutions and agencies, especially the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Network of Experts for Paperless Trade and Transport in Asia and the Pacific, to support the Economic Cooperation Organization in developing a trade facilitation strategy and agreement, single windows in the member States, the TradeNet web portal and a unified visa system for facilitating the work of the region’s businesspeople and enhancing regional trade; 8. Appreciates the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization to implement the Economic Cooperation Organization Trade Agreement 3 for the enhancement of intraregional trade, and invites the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the International Trade Centre to consider extending technical assistance to the Economic Cooperation Organization for the implementation of the Trade Agreement and the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies to assist the States members of the Organization in the trade facilitation process, leading to the regional and global integration of their economies; 9. Welcomes the outcomes of the ninth meeting of Ministers of Transport of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, held in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, on 3 May 2018, which noted the improved performance of Economic Cooperation Organization regional transit transport and prioritized key projects for the near future while effectively implementing the Sustainable Development Goals on transport, including Goals 9 and 17, 4 and General Assembly resolution 72/212 of 20 December 2017, entitled “Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” in the region; 10. Notes the basic development needs of landlocked countries, including their need to overcome the limitations arising from their geographical positions, the lack of access to open seas and seaport facilities and other challenges hindering their __________________ 2 A/67/581, annex. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2562, No. 45696. 4 See resolution 70/1. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization A/RES/73/330 3/7 19-12816 promotion of transit transport cooperation, and invites the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States and other relevant international and regional bodies to assist and cooperate with the Economic Cooperation Organization on the proposed study project of the Office and the Organization on the possibility of providing concessional services for landlocked countries in selected ports of transit countries of the region, including the establishment of effective logistics-based networking between the Organization’s major seaports and dry ports in landlocked countries; 11. Encourages all the relevant international financial and specialized institutions, taking into account the key role played by the railway and road networks of the region as land bridges between Asia and Europe, to consider participating in the implementation of the decision of the Ministers of Transport of the Economic Cooperation Organization at their ninth meeting to address investment gaps in the transport infrastructure networks and the need for mobilization of concessional financial resources for supporting regional transport corridors and connectivity in the Organization region, and invites the Economic Cooperation Organization Trade and Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the Economic Commission for Europe to coordinate the establishment of a partnership/coordination platform of financial institutions; 12. Notes with satisfaction the conduct of the feasibility study on the customs provisions of the Transit Transport Framework Agreement and the modernization of border crossing points in the Economic Cooperation Organization region, and encourages the States members of the Organization to continue to take action at the national level on the implementation of a five-year plan of action for the modernization of customs border crossings of member States aimed at the upgrading/modernization of existing border crossing points services, improvement of customs-related infrastructure and institutional and legal strengthening in order to meet international standards; 13. Welcomes the reactivation of the membership of Afghanistan in the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention) 5 and the finalization of formalities for accession by Pakistan to the TIR Convention, encourages the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization that have not done so to accede to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road 6 and those that have done so to accede also to the Additional Protocol thereto 7 and other relevant international instruments facilitating the movement of goods, and invites the relevant United Nations institutions and agencies and other international bodies to provide the necessary support to the States members of the Organization, in particular for capacity-building activities; 14. Encourages the finalization of the intergovernmental framework agreement on operationalizing and commercializing the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan- Islamic Republic of Iran railway route by developing a common corridor management mechanism to raise operational efficiency through greater interoperability of infrastructure and railway operations among en-route countries, and notes that, once operationalized, the common corridor management mechanism of the Economic and __________________ 5 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1079, No. 16510. 6 Ibid., vol. 399, No. 5742. 7 Ibid., vol. 2762, No. 5742. A/RES/73/330 Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization 19-12816 4/7 Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Islamic Development Bank and the Economic Cooperation Organization will apply for all other rail routes of the Organization; 15. Expresses satisfaction at the fulfilment of the mandate given by the Ministers of Information and Communications Technologies of the Economic Cooperation Organization at their first meeting, which has culminated in the conduct of two regional studies, a joint Economic Cooperation Organization-International Telecommunication Union study on information and communications technology needs of the States members of the Organization and a study on information society services in the Organization region, with technical assistance from the International Telecommunication Union, resulting in the draft 2025 Economic Cooperation Organization Regional Strategy for Information Society Development and its Action Plan, serving as a road map to promote integration and cooperation among member States in information and communications technologies, and invites the International Telecommunication Union to continue to extend its institutional guidance and assistance to the activities of the Organization in the action-oriented phase in implementation of the Action Plan; 16. Invites the Economic Commission for Europe and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to cooperate with the Economic Cooperation Organization for the facilitation of transit trade among the States members of the Organization and the modernization of their border crossing points; 17. Notes the initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization to prepare a technical assistance project proposal on the implementation of the regional programmes for food security of the Economic Cooperation Organization under the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme administered by the World Bank, and invites the relevant United Nations institutions and agencies, especially the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, to consider providing technical and financial assistance to the Economic Cooperation Organization for preparing and implementing detailed project proposals under the programme components suitable to the needs of the member States; 18. Recognizes the growing importance of tourism in the sustainable development of the region and its potential in the promotion of a sustainable economy, and invites the relevant United Nations institutions and agencies and other organizations, especially the World Tourism Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank, to consider extending financial and technical support to the Economic Cooperation Organization for the development of regional projects related to tourism promotion and to support its programmes; 19. Notes the ongoing endeavours of the Economic Cooperation Organization towards achieving more diverse and resilient energy architecture in the Organization region, supported by the mainstreaming of cleaner and sustainable energy sources, which are also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and Sustainable Energy for All, and thus calls upon the United Nations agencies concerned to consider rendering financial and technical support for Economic Cooperation Organization regional projects in the fields of clean energy, renewables, energy efficiency and conservation and the energy-environment nexus; 20. Welcomes the recent cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization towards the launching of the preparatory phase of the establishment of the Economic Cooperation Organization Clean Energy Centre, and calls upon the relevant United Nations agencies and international financial institutions and instruments, in particular Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization A/RES/73/330 5/7 19-12816 global environmental funds, the Islamic Development Bank and European Union- related sources, to extend their financial and technical support for the different stages of implementation of the project; 21. Highlights the importance of harmonization and alignment towards a regional power/electricity market within the Economic Cooperation Organization region, encourages the States members of the Organization to harness benefits from increasing regional electricity trade and integrating power systems through the implementation of the initiative on the establishment of the Economic Cooperation Organization Regional Electricity Market, and invites the relevant United Nations agencies and international organizations, in particular the Energy Charter secretariat, to extend their support to these efforts; 22. Recognizes the significance of mutual cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization in addressing the global challenges referred to in its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, and emphasizes the necessity of regular cooperation between the two organizations for achieving the goals envisaged in that resolution; 23. Welcomes the enhancement of cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the environment-related agencies, conventions and forums of the United Nations, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Forum on Forests, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa and the Convention on Biological Diversity; 24. Notes the finalization of the project development phase of the project on combating desertification with a special emphasis on dust haze and sand storms in the Economic Cooperation Organization region, and invites the relevant United Nations agencies, in particular the secretariats of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Forum on Forests, to extend the support necessary to mobilize financial resources for the project; 25. Notes with satisfaction the outcome of the Economic Cooperation Organization-United Nations Forum on Forests expert meeting on enhancing regional and subregional involvement in the work of the international arrangement on forests, held in Tehran from 26 to 28 September 2016, and the Economic Cooperation Organization side event held on 12 December 2016 in Cancun, Mexico, on the margins of the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and urges the secretariat of the Convention and the Forum to consider rendering their support to fundraising for the relevant projects of the Organization in the fields of sustainable forest management and biodiversity; 26. Highlights the importance of enhanced cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system concerning the health-related Sustainable Development Goals, and encourages the relevant United Nations entities, especially the United Nations Development Programme, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, to consider extending technical and financial support to the Economic Cooperation Organization in this regard, as appropriate; A/RES/73/330 Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization 19-12816 6/7 27. Appreciates the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization to enhance cooperation in the field of health in the region in collaboration with international organizations and the specialized agencies, especially the World Health Organization, the International Society of Blood Transfusion, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the United Nations Population Fund, and encourages their continued support for the activities of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the field of health; 28. Notes the vulnerability of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization to natural disasters, and urges the relevant United Nations institutions and agencies, including the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Development Programme, to consider expanding their cooperation with the Economic Cooperation Organization in the area of natural and human-made disaster risk reduction and also to consider extending their technical and financial support for the activities of the Organization in the field of natural disaster risk reduction in the region, including the recent Economic Cooperation Organization Regional Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction fostering the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–20308 in the region, and invites relevant international organizations and financial institutions to assist the implementation of the Regional Framework; 29. Highlights the importance of high-quality statistics as a tool for the implementation of development goals and the importance of future cooperation and partnership between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat in this regard, and encourages the Division to consider extending technical and financial support to the Organization in the field of statistics, as appropriate; 30. Appreciates the joint cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in conducting a training workshop on the CountrySTAT system, in Tehran from 24 to 28 July 2016, as part of the second phase of the project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on support for the implementation and development of the CountrySTAT framework in the Economic Cooperation Organization region; 31. Also appreciates the efforts and activities of the Economic Cooperation Organization in compiling and disseminating drug-related data, and organizing workshops and training programmes aimed at enhancing the technical and professional expertise of the officials working in the relevant anti-narcotics forces and agencies of its member States, and encourages the United Nations agencies and the donor community, such as the European Commission and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to continue to provide technical and financial assistance to the Organization in its efforts against drug-related and other related crimes; 32. Acknowledges the ongoing efforts of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization to strengthen regional cooperation to combat drugs and organized crime, including the establishment of a police mechanism, a regional judicial and legal cooperation mechanism and the Economic Cooperation Organization regional centre for the cooperation of anti-corruption agencies and ombudsmen, and invites the relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, including the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to assist and support those efforts; __________________ 8 Resolution 69/283, annex II. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization A/RES/73/330 7/7 19-12816 33. Appreciates the contributions made by the Economic Cooperation Organization towards reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, commends its active participation in and constructive contributions to various regional and international initiatives on Afghanistan, especially appreciates its support for the high-level Core Group of Regional Forum Secretaries-General, established at the meeting of the regional bodies on 19 July 2010, the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan and the Istanbul Process on Regional Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan, 9 and invites relevant United Nations agencies and other international organizations to assist the Economic Cooperation Organization in implementing its Advocacy Programme for Afghanistan adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization at its twenty-third meeting, held in Dushanbe, with the aim of assisting Afghanistan in its efforts for stability, reconstruction, economic growth and sustainable development; 34. Notes with appreciation the activities of the Cultural Institute, the Science Foundation and the Educational Institute of the Economic Cooperation Organization as specialized agencies of the Organization to foster regional cooperation among its member States in the fields of culture, science and education, respectively, and encourages the relevant specialized agencies of the United Nations system, especially the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to cooperate with these bodies, within the scope of their mandate and existing resources, in order to develop and implement appropriate projects for the promotion of science and education in the region; 35. Recognizes the importance of the role of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Economic Cooperation Organization in strengthening multifaceted regional cooperation in the region; 36. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 37. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fifth session, under the item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations”, the sub-item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization”. 101st plenary meeting 25 July 2019 __________________ 9 A/66/601-S/2011/767, annex. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/73/344 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 16 September 2019 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/73/L.107 and A/73/L.107/Add.1)] 73/344. Academy for Human Encounters and Dialogue The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling all relevant General Assembly resolutions, in particular resolutions 56/6 of 9 November 2001 on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, 57/6 of 4 November 2002 on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001–2010, 58/128 of 19 December 2003 on the promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation, 59/23 of 11 November 2004 on the promotion of interreligious dialogue, 59/199 of 20 December 2004 on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance, 61/161 of 19 December 2006 on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief, 73/90 of 7 December 2018, in the context of the principles and purposes of the University for Peace, and 73/129 of 12 December 2018 on the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace, Recognizing the ongoing efforts of relevant entities of the United Nations system aimed at developing values and skills conducive to a culture of peace, including education and training in promoting dialogue and consensus-building, Considering the importance of promoting education for peace that fosters respect for the values inherent in peace and universal coexistence among people, including respect for the life, dignity and integrity of human beings, as well as friendship and solidarity among people irrespective of their nationality, race, sex, religion or culture, Recalling the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 1 and the need to coordinate efforts for its implementation, __________________ 1 Resolution 70/1. A/RES/73/344 Academy for Human Encounters and Dialogue 19-15933 2/2 Recognizing the importance of the Declaration2 and Programme of Action3 on a Culture of Peace, adopted by the General Assembly on 13 September 1999, which serve as the universal mandate for the international community, particularly the United Nations system, for the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits humanity, in particular future generations, Recognizing also the relevance of the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 4, to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, Goal 5, to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, and Goal 16, to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, Recognizing further that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are sources of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, Convinced that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance towards and dialogue among various cultures and civilizations would contribute to the efforts of all peoples and nations to enrich their cultures and traditions through engagement in a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and intellectual, moral and material achievements, Bearing in mind the positive potential of dialogue initiatives at the national, regional and international levels to make a valuable contribution to improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Expressing its appreciation to the President of Lebanon for his efforts to strengthen the role of Lebanon as a centre of dialogue and diversity, in particular through his initiative to establish the Academy for Human Encounters and Dialogue, 1. Welcomes the initiative by the President of Lebanon to establish the Academy for Human Encounters and Dialogue in Beirut; 2. Encourages the Secretary-General, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other relevant specialized agencies to support, within existing resources and in accordance with their respective mandates, the efforts to establish the Academy; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly informed of the implementation of the present resolution. 107th plenary meeting 16 September 2019 __________________ 2 Resolution 53/243 A. 3 Resolution 53/243 B. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/73/48 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2018 [on the report of the First Committee (A/73/510 and A/73/510/Corr.1)] 73/48. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 72/31 of 4 December 2017, 1. Welcomes the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons1 on 7 July 2017; 2. Notes that the Treaty has been open for signature at United Nations Headquarters in New York since 20 September 2017; 3. Welcomes that already 69 States had signed the Treaty and 19 States had ratified or acceded to it as at 17 October 2018; 4. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date; 5. Calls upon those States in a position to do so to promote adherence to the Treaty through bilateral, subregional, regional and multilateral contacts, outreach and other means; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, as depositary of the Treaty, to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session on the status of signature and ratification, acceptance, approval or accession of the Treaty; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fourth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons”. 45th plenary meeting 5 December 2018 __________________ 1 A/CONF.229/2017/8. | AFGHANISTAN | 0 |
A/RES/73/92 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 7 December 2018 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/523)] 73/92. Assistance to Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 72/80 of 7 December 2017, Recalling also its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which, inter alia, it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Recalling further the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Aware of the fact that, for more than six decades, the Palestine refugees have suffered from the loss of their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Affirming the imperative of resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees for the achievement of justice and for the achievement of lasting peace in the region, Acknowledging the essential role that the Agency has played for over 65 years since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees through the provision of education, health, relief and social services and ongoing work in the areas of camp infrastructure, microfinance, protection and emergency assistance, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the Agency covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2017,1 Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of 31 May 2018, submitted pursuant to paragraph 57 of the report of the Secretary-General, 2 and expressing concern regarding the severe financial crisis of the Agency and the negative implications for the continued delivery of core programmes to the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation, __________________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-third Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/73/13). 2 A/71/849. A/RES/73/92 Assistance to Palestine refugees 18-21408 2/2 Aware of the growing needs of the Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely, Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Expressing grave concern at the especially difficult situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and socioeconomic living conditions, Expressing grave concern in particular at the grave humanitarian situation and socioeconomic conditions of the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip, and underlining the importance of emergency and humanitarian assistance and urgent reconstruction efforts, Noting the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization3 and the subsequent implementation agreements, 1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected, and that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of grave concern and the Palestine refugees continue to require assistance to meet basic health, education and living needs; 2. Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and reaffirms its request to the Conciliation Commission to continue exerting efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly on the efforts being exerted in this regard as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2019; 3. Affirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its unimpeded operation and its provision of services, including emergency assistance, for the well-being, protection and human development of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the just resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees; 4. Calls upon all donors to continue to strengthen their efforts to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including with regard to increased expenditures and needs arising from conflicts and instability in the region and the serious socioeconomic and humanitarian situation, particularly in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and those needs mentioned in recent emergency, recovery and reconstruction appeals and plans for the Gaza Strip and in the regional crisis response plans to address the situation of Palestine refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic and those Palestine refugees who have fled to countries in the region; 5. Commends the Agency for its provision of vital assistance to the Palestine refugees and its role as a stabilizing factor in the region and the tireless efforts of the staff of the Agency in carrying out its mandate; 6. Decides to admit, upon its request, Qatar, in accordance with the criterion set forth in General Assembly decision 60/522 of 8 December 2005, as a member of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. 48th plenary meeting 7 December 2018 __________________ 3 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/73/95 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 7 December 2018 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/523)] 73/95. Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to its resolution 72/83 of 7 December 2017, 1 as well as that of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2018,2 Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights3 and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property, Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine refugees, Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,4 and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and a file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property, __________________ 1 A/73/323. 2 A/73/296. 3 Resolution 217 A (III). 4 Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700. A/RES/73/95 Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues 18-21414 2/2 Expressing its appreciation for the preservation and modernization of the existing records, including the land records, of the Conciliation Commission, and stressing the importance of such records for a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in conformity with resolution 194 (III), Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993, 5 to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees, 1. Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel; 3. Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues within the framework of the final status peace negotiations; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution. 48th plenary meeting 7 December 2018 __________________ 5 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
A/RES/74/130 | Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2019 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/74/393)] 74/130. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his Office1 and the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its seventieth session2 and the decisions contained therein, Recalling its previous annual resolutions on the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since its establishment by the General Assembly, Expressing deep concern that the number of people who are forcibly displaced owing to, inter alia, conflict, persecution and violence, including terrorism, has reached the highest level since the Second World War, Noting with grave concern that, despite the tremendous generosity of host countries and donors, including unprecedented levels of humanitarian funding, the gap between needs and humanitarian funding continues to grow, Recognizing that forced displacement has, inter alia, humanitarian and development implications, Expressing its appreciation for the leadership shown by the High Commissioner, and commending the staff of his Office and its partners for the competent, courageous and dedicated manner in which they discharge their responsibilities, __________________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-fourth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/74/12). 2 Ibid., Supplement No. 12A (A/74/12/Add.1). A/RES/74/130 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 19-22225 2/9 Underlining its strong condemnation of all forms of violence to which humanitarian personnel are increasingly exposed, Reaffirming the need for consistency with international law and relevant General Assembly resolutions, and taking into account national policies, priorities and realities, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations and all subsequent General Assembly resolutions on the subject, including resolution 73/139 of 14 December 2018, 1. Welcomes the important work undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and its Executive Committee in the course of the year, which is aimed at strengthening the international protection regime and assisting Governments in meeting their protection responsibilities, and underlines the importance of durable solutions, the securing of which is one of the principal goals of international protection, and the significance of the Office’s efforts to promote addressing root causes, within its mandate; 2. Endorses the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its seventieth session;2 3. Recognizes the relevance of the Executive Committee’s practice of adopting conclusions, and encourages the Executive Committee to continue this process; 4. Reaffirms the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees3 and the 1967 Protocol thereto 4 as the foundation of the international refugee protection regime, recognizes the importance of their full and effective application by States parties and the values they embody, notes with satisfaction that 149 States are now parties to one or both instruments, encourages States not parties to consider acceding to those instruments and States parties with reservations to give consideration to withdrawing them, underlines, in particular, the importance of full respect for the principle of non-refoulement, and recognizes that a number of States not parties to the international refugee instruments have shown a generous approach to hosting refugees; 5. Urges States that are parties to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol thereto to respect their obligations in letter and spirit; 6. Re-emphasizes that the protection of refugees is primarily the responsibility of States, whose full and effective cooperation, action and political resolve are required to enable the Office of the High Commissioner to fulfil its mandated functions, and strongly emphasizes the importance of active international solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing; 7. Welcomes recent accessions to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons5 and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, 6 notes that 94 States are now parties to the 1954 Convention and 74 States are parties to the 1961 Convention, encourages States that have not done so to give consideration to acceding to those instruments, notes the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with regard to identifying stateless persons, preventing and reducing statelessness and protecting stateless persons, and urges the Office of __________________ 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. 4 Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. 5 Ibid., vol. 360, No. 5158. 6 Ibid., vol. 989, No. 14458. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees A/RES/74/130 3/9 19-22225 the High Commissioner to continue to work in this area in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions and Executive Committee conclusions; 8. Re-emphasizes that prevention and reduction of statelessness are primarily the responsibility of States, in appropriate cooperation with the international community, in this regard welcomes the results achieved in the first five years of the global campaign to end statelessness within a decade, and notes the high-level segment that took place at the start of the seventieth plenary session of the Executive Committee, which discussed the issue of statelessness, encourages all States to consider actions they may take to further the prevention and reduction of statelessness, and welcomes efforts that have been made by States in this regard; 9. Also re-emphasizes that protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons are primarily the responsibility of States, in appropriate cooperation with the international community, aimed at, inter alia, facilitating voluntary, safe and dignified return, integration or relocation in their own country; 10. Notes the current activities of the Office of the High Commissioner related to protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, including in the context of inter-agency arrangements in this field, emphasizes that such activities should be carried out with the full consent of the affected States, consistent with relevant General Assembly resolutions, and should not undermine the refugee mandate of the Office and the institution of asylum, and encourages the High Commissioner to continue his dialogue with States on the role of his Office in this regard; 11. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to respond adequately to emergencies, in accordance with its mandate and in cooperation with States, notes the ongoing measures to strengthen its capacity to respond to emergencies, and encourages the Office to pursue efforts to further strengthen its emergency response capacity to ensure a more predictable, effective and timely response; 12. Also encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to work in partnership and full cooperation with relevant national authorities, United Nations offices and agencies, international and intergovernmental organizations, regional organizations, the private sector and non-governmental organizations to continue to contribute to the development of humanitarian response capacities at all levels; 13. Welcomes the efforts by the Office of the High Commissioner to ensure a more inclusive, transparent, predictable and well-coordinated response to refugees as well as internally displaced persons and other persons of concern, consistent with its mandate, and in this regard takes note of the implementation of the refugee coordination model; 14. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to work with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to enhance the coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian response and to contribute, in consultation with States, as appropriate, to making further progress towards common humanitarian needs assessments, as stated, among other important issues, in General Assembly resolution 73/139 on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, and recalls the role of the Office of the High Commissioner as the leading entity of the clusters for protection, camp coordination and management and emergency shelter in complex emergencies; 15. Underlines the centrality of international cooperation to the refugee protection regime, recognizes the burden that large movements of refugees place on major and long-standing refugee-hosting countries and communities, as well as their national resources, especially in the case of developing countries, and calls for a more equitable sharing of the burden and responsibility for hosting and supporting the world’s refugees, addressing the needs of refugees and hosting States, while taking A/RES/74/130 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 19-22225 4/9 account of existing contributions and the differing capacities and resources among States; 16. Notes the significant global and regional initiatives, conferences and summits undertaken in 2019 to strengthen international solidarity with and cooperation for refugees and other persons of concern, and encourages those who participated to implement their commitments made therein; 17. Recalls the adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants7 at the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants, on 19 September 2016, and encourages States to implement relevant commitments made therein; 18. Recalls the global compact on refugees as set out in the High Commissioner’s annual report (part II) of 2018,8 affirmed on 17 December 2018,9 and calls upon the international community as a whole, including States and other relevant stakeholders, to implement the compact in order to achieve its four objectives on an equal footing based on the principle of burden- and responsibility-sharing, and in accordance with the guiding principles and paragraph 4 of the global compact on refugees, through concrete actions, pledges and contributions, including at the first Global Refugee Forum in December 2019, and requests the High Commissioner to report regularly on the progress being made; 19. Emphasizes the need for robust, well-functioning, concrete arrangements and potential, complementary mechanisms for ensuring predictable, equitable, efficient and effective burden- and responsibility-sharing in the context of the global compact on refugees; 20. Notes with appreciation the efforts made by the increased number of countries applying the comprehensive refugee response framework that is part of the global compact on refugees, including through regional approaches, where applicable, such as the comprehensive regional protection and solutions framework (MIRPS) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development regional approach; 21. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant stakeholders to provide the necessary support for the implementation of the global compact on refugees and its comprehensive refugee response framework with a view to sharing the burden and responsibilities for hosting and supporting refugees, while recognizing contributions already made, and underscores the critical importance of additional development support over and above regular development assistance for host countries and countries of origin; 22. Invites the High Commissioner to continue coordinating the effort to measure the impact arising from hosting, protecting and assisting refugees, with a view to assessing gaps in international cooperation and promoting burden- and responsibility-sharing that is more equitable, predictable and sustainable, and to report on the results to Member States in 2020; 23. Calls upon States and other stakeholders that have not yet contributed to burden- and responsibility-sharing to do so, with a view to broadening the support base, in a spirit of international solidarity and cooperation; 24. Welcomes the active engagement of the Office of the High Commissioner in the United Nations development system reform, including as part of broader efforts towards generating system-wide efficiencies; __________________ 7 Resolution 71/1. 8 See A/73/12 (part II). 9 See resolution 73/151. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees A/RES/74/130 5/9 19-22225 25. Notes the transformation process that the High Commissioner has started to establish clearer authorities and lines of accountability, including through regionalization and decentralization, in order to enable a more timely, relevant and efficient response to the needs of persons of concern and to ensure the effective and transparent use of the Office’s resources; 26. Recognizes the value of a geographically diverse and representative workforce, with a view to reflecting the international character of the Office of the High Commissioner, and calls upon the Office to take effective measures to ensure balanced geographical representation and gender parity across the regions, in particular from underrepresented States, among its workforce both at headquarters and in the field, particularly at the senior level, which will also promote a better understanding of the working environment; 27. Welcomes the commitment and efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner to prevent, mitigate and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, fraud, corruption and other forms of misconduct, and encourages the Office to sustain action with a view to strengthening and enforcing the zero- tolerance approach within the Office; 28. Expresses deep concern about the increasing threats to the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers and convoys and, in particular, the loss of life of humanitarian personnel working in the most difficult and challenging conditions in order to assist those in need; 29. Emphasizes the need for States to ensure that perpetrators of attacks committed on their territory against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel do not operate with impunity and that the perpetrators of such acts are promptly brought to justice as provided for by national laws and obligations under international law; 30. Strongly condemns attacks on refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and internally displaced persons and acts that pose a threat to their personal security and well-being, calls upon all States concerned and, where applicable, parties involved in an armed conflict to take all measures necessary to respect and ensure respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, and urges all States to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, related intolerance and hate speech; 31. Deplores the refoulement and unlawful expulsion of refugees and asylum seekers, and calls upon all States concerned to respect the relevant principles of refugee protection and human rights; 32. Urges States to uphold the civilian and humanitarian character of refugee camps and settlements, inter alia, through effective measures to prevent the infiltration of armed elements, to identify and separate any such armed elements from refugee populations, to settle refugees in secure locations and to afford to the Office of the High Commissioner and, where appropriate, other humanitarian organizations prompt, unhindered and safe access to asylum seekers, refugees and other persons of concern; 33. Notes with increasing concern that asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons are subject to arbitrary detention in numerous situations and encourages working towards the ending of this practice, welcomes the increasing use of alternatives to detention, especially in the case of children, and emphasizes the need for States to limit detention of asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons to that which is necessary, giving full consideration to possible alternatives; 34. Notes with grave concern the significant risks to which many refugees and asylum seekers are exposed as they attempt to reach safety, and encourages international cooperation to ensure adequate response mechanisms, including life-saving measures, A/RES/74/130 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 19-22225 6/9 reception, registration and assistance, as well as to ensure that safe and regular access to asylum for persons in need of international protection remains open and accessible; 35. Expresses grave concern at the large number of asylum seekers who have lost their lives at sea trying to reach safety, encourages international cooperation to further strengthen search and rescue mechanisms in accordance with international law, and commends the great life-saving efforts and actions taken by a number of States in this regard; 36. Emphasizes that the international protection of refugees is a dynamic and action-oriented function that is at the core of the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner and that it includes, in cooperation with States and other partners, the promotion and facilitation of the admission, reception and treatment of refugees in accordance with internationally agreed standards and the ensuring of durable, protection-oriented solutions, bearing in mind the particular needs of vulnerable groups and paying special attention to those with specific needs, and notes in this context that the delivery of international protection is a staff-intensive service that requires adequate staff with the appropriate expertise, especially at the field level; 37. Expresses grave concern about the long-term impact of continued cuts in food rations on the health and well-being of refugees globally, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, and especially its impact on children, owing to insufficient funding and increased costs, and calls upon States to ensure sustained support for the Office of the High Commissioner and the World Food Programme, while looking to provide refugees with alternatives to food assistance, pending a durable solution; 38. Welcomes the positive steps taken by individual States to open their labour markets to refugees; 39. Affirms the importance of age, gender and diversity mainstreaming in analysing protection needs and ensuring the participation of refugees and other persons of concern to the Office of the High Commissioner, as appropriate, in the planning and implementation of programmes of the Office and of State policies, also affirms the importance of according priority to addressing discrimination, gender inequality and the problem of sexual and gender-based violence, recognizing the importance of addressing the protection needs of women, children and persons with disabilities in particular, and underlines the importance of continuing to work on those issues; 40. Encourages States to put in place, if they have not yet done so, appropriate systems and procedures to ensure that the best interests of the child are a primary consideration with regard to all actions concerning refugee children; 41. Notes with concern that a large proportion of the world’s out-of-school population lives in conflict-affected areas, and calls upon States, in their implementation of the global compact on refugees, to lend support to host countries in providing quality primary and secondary education in safe learning environments for all refugee children, and to do so within a few months of the initial displacement, as well as the commitments in the Incheon Declaration: Education 2030 – towards inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all to develop more inclusive, responsive and resilient education systems to meet the needs of children, youth and adults in these contexts, including internally displaced persons and refugees; 42. Notes the efforts by the Office of the High Commissioner to improve its humanitarian assistance response, and stresses the importance of tailored, innovative approaches, including cash-based interventions; 43. Also notes that the lack of civil registration and related documentation makes persons vulnerable to statelessness and associated protection risks, recognizes that birth registration provides an official record of a child’s legal identity and is Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees A/RES/74/130 7/9 19-22225 crucial to preventing and reducing statelessness, and welcomes efforts by States to ensure the birth registration of children; 44. Strongly reaffirms the fundamental importance and the purely humanitarian and non-political character of the function of the Office of the High Commissioner of providing international protection to refugees and seeking durable solutions to refugee situations, and recalls that those solutions include voluntary repatriation and, where appropriate and feasible, local integration and resettlement in a third country, while reaffirming that voluntary repatriation, supported, as necessary, by rehabilitation and development assistance to facilitate sustainable reintegration, remains the preferred solution; 45. Expresses concern about the particular difficulties faced by the millions of refugees in protracted situations, recognizes with deep concern that the average length of stay has continued to grow, and emphasizes the need to redouble international efforts and cooperation to find practical and comprehensive approaches to resolving their plight and to realize durable solutions for them, consistent with international law and relevant General Assembly resolutions; 46. Recognizes the importance of achieving durable solutions to refugee situations and, in particular, the need to address in this process the root causes of refugee movements; 47. Encourages further efforts by the Office of the High Commissioner, in cooperation with countries hosting refugees and countries of origin, including their respective local communities, relevant United Nations agencies, international and intergovernmental organizations, regional organizations, as appropriate, non-governmental organizations and development actors, to actively promote durable solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations, with a focus on sustainable, timely, voluntary, safe and dignified return, which encompasses repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities, and encourages States and other relevant actors to continue to support these efforts through, inter alia, the allocation of funds; 48. Recalls the purely humanitarian and non-political character of the Office of the High Commissioner, calls upon the international community and the Office to exert further efforts to promote and facilitate, whenever the prevailing circumstances are deemed appropriate, the safe, dignified and voluntary repatriation of refugees, through their free and informed choice, in a sustainable manner, to their countries of origin, and encourages the Office and, where appropriate, other United Nations agencies, to mobilize further resources in this regard; 49. Expresses concern about the current low level of voluntary repatriation, encourages the solution-oriented approach pursued by the Office of the High Commissioner to support the sustainability of voluntary repatriation and reintegration, including from the onset of displacement, and in this regard urges the Office to further strengthen partnerships with national Governments and development actors, as well as international financial institutions; 50. Recognizes, in the context of voluntary repatriation, the importance of resolute efforts in the country of origin, including rehabilitation and development assistance, to foster the voluntary, safe and dignified return and sustainable reintegration of refugees and to ensure the restoration of national protection; 51. Acknowledges with appreciation voluntary action taken by several host countries to enable permanent residence and naturalization for refugees and former refugees; A/RES/74/130 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 19-22225 8/9 52. Calls upon States, with the assistance of relevant stakeholders, to create expanded opportunities for resettlement as a durable solution, broaden the base of countries and actors engaged, and expand the scope and size and maximize the protection and quality of resettlement as an invaluable tool for burden- and responsibility-sharing, and acknowledges with appreciation the many countries that continue to offer enhanced resettlement opportunities and recognizes the need to improve the integration of resettled refugees, calls upon States to ensure inclusive and non-discriminatory policies in their resettlement programmes, and notes that resettlement is a strategic protection tool and solution for refugees, recalling in this regard the annual resettlement needs identified by the Office of the High Commissioner; 53. Also calls upon States to consider creating, expanding or facilitating access to complementary and sustainable pathways to protection and solutions for refugees, in cooperation with relevant partners, including the private sector, where appropriate, including through humanitarian admission or transfer, family reunification, skilled migration, labour mobility schemes, scholarships and education mobility schemes; 54. Notes with appreciation the activities undertaken by States to strengthen the regional initiatives that facilitate cooperative policies and approaches on refugees, and encourages States to continue their efforts to address, in a comprehensive manner, the needs of the people who require international protection in their respective regions, including the support provided for host communities that receive large numbers of persons who require international protection; 55. Notes the importance of States and the Office of the High Commissioner discussing and clarifying the role of the Office in mixed movements in order to better address protection needs of people in the context of mixed movements, bearing in mind the particular needs of vulnerable groups, especially women, children and persons with disabilities, including by safeguarding access to asylum for those in need of international protection, and also notes the readiness of the High Commissioner, consistent with his mandate, to assist States in fulfilling their protection responsibilities in this regard; 56. Emphasizes the obligation of all States to accept the return of their nationals, calls upon States to facilitate the return of their nationals who have been determined not to be in need of international protection, and affirms the need for the return of persons to be undertaken in a safe and humane manner and with full respect for their human rights and dignity, irrespective of the status of the persons concerned; 57. Calls upon States to process asylum applications by duly identifying those in need of international protection, in accordance with their applicable international and regional obligations, so as to strengthen the refugee protection regime; 58. Expresses concern about the challenges associated with climate change and environmental degradation to the operations of the Office of the High Commissioner and the assistance it provides to vulnerable populations of concern across the globe, particularly in the least developed countries, and urges the Office to continue to address such challenges in its work, within its mandate, and in consultation with national authorities and in cooperation with competent agencies in its operations; 59. Urges all States and relevant non-governmental and other organizations, in conjunction with the Office of the High Commissioner, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to cooperate and to mobilize resources, including through financial and in-kind assistance, as well as direct aid to host countries, refugee populations and the communities hosting them, with a view to enhancing their capacity and reducing the heavy burden borne by countries and communities hosting refugees, in particular those that have received large numbers of refugees and asylum seekers, and whose generosity is appreciated; Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees A/RES/74/130 9/9 19-22225 60. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to play its catalytic role in mobilizing assistance from the international community to address the root causes as well as the economic, environmental, development, security and social impact of large-scale refugee populations in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition, and notes with appreciation those host countries, donor States, organizations and individuals that contribute to improving the condition of refugees through building the resilience of refugees and their host communities, while working towards a durable solution; 61. Acknowledges with appreciation the cooperation of the Office of the High Commissioner with development partners, noting the advantages of complementarity of funding sources to support refugees and host communities as requested by host Governments, and the importance of doing so in a manner that does not negatively impact or reduce support for broader development objectives in host countries and, where appropriate, countries of origin; 62. Expresses concern that the needs required to protect and assist persons of concern to the Office of the High Commissioner continue to increase and that the gap between global needs and available resources continues to grow, appreciates the continued and increasing hospitality of host countries and generosity of donors, and therefore calls upon the Office to continue and enhance efforts to broaden its donor base so as to achieve greater burden- and responsibility-sharing by reinforcing cooperation with governmental donors, non-governmental donors and the private sector; 63. Recognizes that adequate and timely resources are essential for the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to fulfil the mandate conferred upon it through its statute10 and by subsequent General Assembly resolutions on refugees and other persons of concern, recalls its resolution 58/153 of 22 December 2003 and subsequent resolutions on the Office of the High Commissioner concerning, inter alia, the implementation of paragraph 20 of the statute of the Office, and urges Governments and other donors to respond promptly to annual and supplementary appeals issued by the Office for requirements under its programmes; 64. Requests the High Commissioner to report on his annual activities to the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session. 50th plenary meeting 18 December 2019 __________________ 10 Resolution 428 (V), annex. | AFGHANISTAN | 1 |
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