Detention, torture and other inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia.
- Author: UN Commission on Human Rights (44th sess. : 1988 : Geneva)
- Document source:
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Date:
29 February 1988
1988/11. Detention, torture and other inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia
The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling its resolution 1987/14 of 3 March 1987, Recalling also General Assembly resolution 42/124 of 7 December 1987, adopted by consensus, in which the Assembly expressed its profound outrage at reports of the detention, torture and inhuman treatment of children in South Africa, Recalling the relevant provisions of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, Having examined the interim report of the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on southern Africa (E/CN.4/1988/8), Welcoming the convening of the International Conference on Children, Repression and the Law in Apartheid South Africa, held at Harare from 24 to 27 September 1987, Appalled at the evidence that children in South Africa are subjected to detention, torture and inhuman treatment, Gravely concerned about reports of the increasing number of repressive measures targeted on children in South Africa and Namibia, Noting with indignation the impotence of the South African judiciary and the degradation of its professional ethics, Reiterating its position that apartheid is repugnant, immoral and an affront to human dignity,1. Vigorously condemns the detention, torture and inhuman treatment of children in South Africa;
2. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all children held in detention in that country;
3. Demands also the immediate dismantlement of the so-called "rehabilitation camps" or "re-education centres", since they only serve the racist régime's strategy of physically and mentally abusing black South African children;
4. Requests all relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to launch a world-wide campaign aimed at drawing attention to, monitoring and exposing these inhuman practices;
5. Further demands the immediate total abolition of the apartheid system and its replacement with a non-racial representative government based on the principle of universal suffrage;
6. Appeals to the international community to adopt concrete and effective measures to bring pressure to bear against the Government of South Africa until it dismantles apartheid and abandons all inhuman practices associated with this policy;
7. Requests the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on southern Africa to pay special attention to the question of detention, torture and other inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia and report to The Commission on Human Rights at its forty-fifth session;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to provide every assistance to enable the Ad Hoc Working Group of Expects to discharge its responsibilities in accordance with the relevant provisions of the present resolution;
9. Further requests the Secretary-General to intervene with the Government of South Africa in order to bring to an end the detention, torture and other forms of inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia and to report on the outcome of his efforts to The Commission on Human Rights at its forty-fifth session;
10. Decides to discuss at its forty-fifth session, under the agenda item "Violations of human rights in southern Africa: report of the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts", the question of detention, torture and other inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia.
40th meeting29 February 1988
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. VI.]
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