Violations of human rights in southern Africa : report of the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts.

1982/8. Violations of human rights in southern Africa: report of the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts[1]35

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling its resolution 2 (XXIII), by which it set up the Ad hoc Working Group of Experts on southern Africa, and its resolutions 21 (XXV), 7 (XXVII), 19 (XXIX), 5 (XXXI), 6 (XXXIII), 12 (XXXV) and 5 (XXXVII), Recalling also Economic and Social Council decision 1981/155 of 8 may 1981, Having examined the progress report of the Ad hoc Working Group of Experts submitted in accordance with Commission resolution 5 (XXXVII),[2]36

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Ad hoc Working Group of Experts for the in-depth study and the objective findings contained in the progress report;

2. Expresses its deep indignation at the continuing widespread and inhuman violations of human rights in South Africa and in Namibia;

3. Condemns the impediments which the racist Government of South Africa has placed in the way of negotiations for the independence of Namibia;

4. Condemns once again the so-called "granting of independence" to the Ciskei following the granting of so-called "independence" to Transkei, Bophuthatswana and Venda, and declares that these acts constitute serious denial of the right of peoples to self-determination and independence;

5. Expresses its profound indignation at the fact that:

(a) Child labour is practised in South Africa on a wide scale;

(b) Persons captured at Kassinga and imprisoned at the Hardap Dam Camp near Mariental in the South of Namibia are subjected to various forms of torture and other acts of ill-treatment;

(c) Black women and children are subjected to various forms of oppression and are denied the security, protection and comfort of family life;

(d) International standards concerning trade union rights for black workers are violated in South Africa;

(e) The torture and murder of political prisoners in detention continue unabated in South Africa;

6. Demands that South Africa cease forthwith all acts and inhuman practices, particularly those which violate the enjoyment of human rights by the people, especially black children and black women, in South Africa;

7. Requests the Ad hoc Working Group of Experts to continue to study the policies and practices which violate human rights in South Africa and Namibia and to submit its findings and recommendations to the Commission at its thirty-ninth session;

8. Renews its invitation to all Member States of the United Nations to make observation on the draft statute of the International penal Tribunal[3]37 to enable the Ad hoc Working Group to continue its study;

9. Decides that the Ad hoc Working Group of Experts should continue to bring to the attention of the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, for whatever action he may deem necessary and appropriate, particularly serious violations when it learns of such violations during its inquiries;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit this resolution to the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Special Committee against Apartheid;

11. Requests the Secretary-General further to prepare a summary of the findings of the Ad hoc Working Group of Experts contained in the progress report and to give these findings and the Commission's condemnation of them wide publicity.

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[1]35 Adopted at the 37th meeting on 25 February 1982, by a roll-call vote of 42 to none, with 1 abstention. See chap. IV. [2]36 E/CN.4/1485. [3]37 E/CN.4/1426.