Hostage-taking.

1990/36. Hostage taking

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling its resolution 27 (XXXVII) of 11 March 1981, in which it affirmed that the taking of hostages constituted a grave violation of human rights, exposing the hostages to privation, hardship, anguish and danger to life and health, Recalling its resolutions 1986/49 of 12 March 1986, 1987/28 of 10 March 1987, 1988/38 of 8 March 1988 and 1989/26 of 6 March 1989, in which it condemned the taking of any person hostage, Bearing in mind, inter alia, Security Council resolutions 579 (1985) of 18 December 1985, 618 (1988) of 29 July 1988 and 638 (1989) of 31 July 1989 on hostage taking, as well as the statement made by the President of the Security Council on 28 January 1987 (S/18641), again condemning all cases of hostage taking, Bearing in mind also the international instruments relating to human rights and other relevant international instruments, Considering that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security, and that hostage taking is a serious violation of fundamental rights and of the dignity of the human being, Considering that arbitrary detention of persons is an unquestionable violation of human rights, Alarmed by the number of cases of hostage taking throughout the world, some of which have been going on for a long time, and by the odious practice they constitute, Expressing its distress at these unacceptable displays of violence towards innocent victims and at the anxiety and suffering of the families concerned,

1. Strongly condemns the taking of any person hostage, whoever is responsible and whatever the circumstances, whether or not the hostage is chosen at random and whatever his nationality;

2. Censures the actions of all persons responsible for taking hostages, whatever their motives, and demands that they should immediately release those they are holding;

3. Appeals for the humanitarian action of the International Committee of the Red Cross and its delegates to be respected in all circumstances;

4. Calls upon States to take any measures necessary to prevent and punish the taking of hostages and to put an immediate end to cases of abduction and unlawful restraint on their territory;

5. Requests the Secretary General, whenever so requested by a State, to employ all means at his disposal in order to secure the immediate release of persons held hostage;

6. Decides to remain seized of the question at its forty-seventh session.

52nd meeting
6 March 1990
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. X.]