Question of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan.

1985/38. Question of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan[1]108

The Commission on Human Rights, Aware of its responsibility to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and resolved to remain vigilant with regard to violations of human rights wherever they occur, Emphasizing the obligation of all Governments to respect and protect human rights and to fulfil the responsibilities they have assumed under various international instruments, Recalling its resolution 1984/55 of 15 March 1984, in which it expressed its concern and anxiety at the continuing presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan and the reports of extensive human rights violations, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/37 of 24 May 1984, in which the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights was requested to appoint a special Rapporteur to examine the human rights situation in Afghanistan, Recalling further resolution 1984/6 of 28 August 1984 of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, in which the Commission was requested urgently to call on the authorities in Afghanistan to put an end to the bombardment of the civilian population, and to ask its Special Rapporteur to investigate the human and material losses resulting from such bombardments, Having carefully examined the report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan,[2]109 which reveals grave and massive violations of fundamental human rights in that country, Deploring the refusal of the Afghan authorities to co-operate with the Special Rapporteur,

1. Commends the Special Rapporteur for his report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan;

2. Expresses its profound concern at the grave and massive human rights violations in Afghanistan as reflected in the Special Rapporteurts report;

3. Expresses its distress, in particular, at the widespread violations of the right to life, liberty and security of person, including the commonplace practice of torture against the régime's opponents, indiscriminate bombardments of the civilian population and the deliberate destruction of crops;

4. Calls on the parties to the conflict to apply fully the principles and rules of international humanitarian law and to admit international humanitarian organizations, in particular the International Committee of the Red Cross, and to facilitate their operations for the alleviation of the suffering of the people in Afghanistan;

5. Urges the authorities in Afghanistan to put a stop to the grave and massive violations of human rights and in particular the military repression being conducted against the civilian population of Afghanistan;

6. Decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a year and to request him to report to the General Assembly at its fortieth session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its forty-second session on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, including the human and material losses resulting from bombardments of the civilian population;

7. Urges the Afghanistan authorities to co-operate with the Special Rapporteur;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to give all necessary assistance to the Special Rapporteur;

9. Decides to continue its consideration of the human rights situation in Afghanistan as a matter of high priority at its forty-second session.

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[1]108 Adopted at the 55th meeting, on 13 March 1985, by a roll-call vote of 26 to 8, with 8 abstentions. See chap. XII. [2]109 E/CN.4/1985/21.