Hostage-taking.

1991/40. Hostage-taking

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which guarantees the right to life, liberty and security of person, freedom from torture or degrading treatment, freedom of movement, and protection from arbitrary detention, Taking account of the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 34/146 of 17 December 1979, which also recognizes that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person, and that the taking of hostages is an offence of grave concern to the international community, Recalling its resolutions 27 (XXXVII) of 11 March 1981, 1986/49 of 12 March 1986, 1987/28 of 10 March 1987, 1988/38 of 8 March 1988, 1989/26 of 6 March 1989 and 1990/36 of 6 March 1990, 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, 638 (1989) of 31 July 1989 and 674 (1990) of 29 October 1990, 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, Considering that the 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. Affirms that the taking of hostages constitutes a grave violation of human rights, exposing the hostages to privation, hardship, anguish and danger to life and health;

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

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

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

5. 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;

6. 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;

7. Decides to remain seized of the question at its forty-eighth session.

52nd meeting
5 March 1991
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. X.]