Situation of human rights in Togo.

1993/75. Situation of human rights in Togo

The commission on Human Rights, Guided by the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Recalling that, under Articles 55 and 56 of the Charter of the United Nations, all States Members of the organization have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to cooperate for that purpose, Emphasizing that Togo is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, Deeply deploring the repeated acts of violence that have occurred, most recently in January 1993, for which the Togolese authorities are responsible and which have resulted in many civilians being killed or wounded, Concerned about the situation of human rights in Togo, in particular about the use of force during peaceful gatherings, Noting that hundreds of thousands of Togolese have fled to neighbouring Ghana or Benin, Noting with interest the declaration on the situation in Togo made at the fifty-seventh ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the organization of African Unity, held at Addis Ababa from 15 to 19 February 1993, and the efforts at conciliation between the parties in Togo made at the Colmar meeting held on 8 and 9 February 1993 under the auspices of the French and German Governments, Having examined the report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (E/CN.4/1993/46), which describes serious violations of human rights in Togo,

1. Deplores the serious obstacles standing in the way of the process of democratic transition and encourages additional efforts to ensure the continuation of this process, in full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

2. Also deplores the use of violence by the armed forces against peaceful demonstrators, which has claimed many victims;

3. Calls upon the authorities in Togo to take all necessary measures to create conditions conducive to the return of Togolese refugees in neighbouring countries in complete security and dignity and to guarantee the security of all Togolese, including political opponents;

4. Encourages the efforts made at the regional and international levels to facilitate the resumption of the democratization process in a climate of security and respect for human rights;

5. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To bring the present resolution to the attention of the Togolese authorities and to request them to indicate, as soon as possible, the action taken in pursuance of the present resolution;

(b) To report to the Commission, at its fiftieth session, on the basis of any information which might be gathered on the situation of human rights in Togo, including information supplied by non-governmental organizations;

6. Decides to consider the question at its fiftieth session under the agenda item "Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world, with particular reference to colonial and other dependent countries and territories".

67th meeting
10 March 1993
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XII.]
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