Human rights in times of armed conflicts.

1990/66. Human rights in times of armed conflicts

The Commission on Human Rights, Taking note of Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities resolution 1989/24 of 31 August 1989, Sharing the view expressed by the Sub-Commission that better respect for humanitarian law and the law of human rights is needed in times of armed conflict, Recognizing the vital role of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the dissemination of international humanitarian law,

1. Notes that the States Parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and to the two Additional Protocols of 1977 have undertaken to disseminate those instruments as widely as possible and, in particular, to include the study thereof in their programmes of military instruction and to encourage the study thereof by the civilian population;

2. Calls upon all Governments to give particular attention to the education of all members of security and other armed forces, and of all law enforcement agencies, in the international law of human rights and international humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts;

3. Recommends that this education also include transmission of knowledge of the relevant instruments in the field of human rights as well as the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, with a view to ensuring respect for the principles and rules contained in these provisions;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to all Governments requesting information on the scope of education provided to members of the police and the armed forces;

5. Also requests upon the Secretary-General to submit to the Sub-Commission, at its forty-second session, an analytical review of the replies received;

6. Calls upon the Sub-Commission to study the matter further at its forty-second session with a view to making proposals to the Commission for further action in this field.

53rd meeting
7 March 1990
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XIX.]