Situation in Afghanistan.

1988/4. Situation in Afghanistan

The Commission on Human Rights, Bearing in mind that one of the fundamental purposes of the United Nations set forth in the Charter of the United Nations is to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, Recalling its resolutions 3 (XXXVI) of 14 February 1980, 13 (XXXVII) of 6 March 1981, 1982/14 of 25 February 1982, 1983/7 of 16 February 1983, 1984/10 of 29 February 1984, 1985/3 of 26 February 1985, 1986/23 of 10 March 1986 and 1987/5 of 19 February 1987, Further recalling resolution ES-6/2 of 14 January 1980, adopted by the General Assembly at its sixth emergency special session, Also recalling General Assembly resolutions 35/37 of 20 November 1980, 36/34 of 18 November 1981, 37/37 of 29 November 1982, 38/29 of 23 November 1983, 39/13 of 15 November 1984, 40/12 of 13 November 1985, 41/33 of 5 November 1986 and 42/15 of 10 November 1981 on the situation in Afghanistan which, inter alia, reaffirmed the right of the Afghan people to determine their own form of government and to choose their economic, political and social system free from outside intervention, subversion, coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever, and which called for the immediate withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan, Recalling further General Assembly resolutions 35/35 B of 14 November 1980, 36/10 of 28 October 1981, 37/42 of 3 December 1982, 38/16 of 22 November 1983, 39/18 of 23 November 1984, 40/24 of 29 November 1985, 41/100 of 4 December 1986 and 42/94 of 7 December 1987, as well as resolutions 26 (XXXIII), 11 (XXXIV) and 1982/21 of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities of 12 September 1980, 9 September 1981 and 8 September 1982, respectively, Recognizing the importance of the initiatives of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the efforts of the Movement of Non-aligned Countries for a political solution of the situation in respect of Afghanistan, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the obligation of all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of any State, Reaffirming further the inalienable right of all people to determine their own form of government and to choose their own economic, political and social system free from outside intervention, subversion, coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever, Gravely concerned at the continued foreign armed intervention in Afghanistan in contravention of the above principles and its serious implications for international peace and security, Noting the increasing concern of the international community over the continued and serious sufferings of the Afghan people and over the magnitude of the social and economic problems posed to Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran by the presence on their soil of millions of Afghan refugees and the continuing increase in their numbers, Deeply conscious of the urgent need for a political solution of the grave situation in respect of Afghanistan,

1. Reaffirms its most profound concern that the people of Afghanistan continue to be denied their right to self-determination and to determine their own form of government and to choose their economic, political and social system free from outside intervention, subversion, coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever;

2. Calls for the immediate withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan;

3. Further calls for a political settlement of the situation in Afghanistan on the basis of the withdrawal of foreign troops and full respect for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-aligned status of Afghanistan and strict observance of the principle of non-intervention and non-interference;

4. Affirms the right of the Afghan refugees to return to their homes in safety and honour;

5. Urges all concerned to work towards a settlement which would ensure that the Afghan people determine their destiny free from outside interference and which would enable the Afghan refugees to return to their homes;

6. Expresses its appreciation and support for the efforts and constructive steps taken by the Secretary-General, especially the diplomatic process initiated by him, in the search for a solution to the problem;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue these efforts with a view to promoting a political solution, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant General Assembly resolutions;

8. Urges all concerned to continue to co-operate with the Secretary-General in his efforts to promote a political solution in respect of the situation in Afghanistan;

9. Appeals to all States and national and international organizations to extend humanitarian relief assistance, with a view to alleviating the hardship of Afghan refugees, in co-ordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;

10. Decides to consider this matter at its forty-fifth session with high priority under the agenda item "The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation".

29th meeting
22 February 1988
[Adopted by a roll-call vote of 31 to 5, with
6 abstentions. See chap. IX.]
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