Monitoring and assisting the transition to democracy in South Africa.

1994/8. Monitoring and assisting the transition to democracy in South Africa

The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities resolution 1992/6 of 21 August 1992, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/45 of 28 July 1993 in which the Council authorized the Sub-Commission to entrust Ms. Judith Sefi Attah with the task of presenting annually a report on the transition to democracy in South Africa, Conscious of General Assembly resolution 48/1 of 8 October 1993 on the lifting of economic sanctions against South Africa and resolution 48/159 of 20 December 1993 on the elimination of apartheid and establishment of a united, democratic and non-racial South Africa, in which the Assembly called upon all Governments to observe fully the mandatory arms embargo imposed by the Security Council, Welcoming the progress made so far by the Government of South Africa towards the holding of the first non-racial elections, Having considered the report of the Special Rapporteur (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1993/11/Add.1) highlighting the progress made so far by the Government of South Africa and the likely impediments to a smooth transition to democracy in South Africa, Concerned about the danger posed by the continuing incidence of violence and political intolerance which might impede the smooth transition to democracy, Mindful of the other impediments to the smooth democratization of South Africa including, inter alia, the legacy of apartheid which denied the majority of Africans equal access to the realization of their economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights,

1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1993/11/Add.1) on the positive developments in South Africa;

2. Stresses the importance of the removal of all obstacles to the transition to democratic rule in South Africa;

3. Also stresses the need for the Government of South Africa to create an environment conducive to the realization by the individual of his/her economic, social and cultural rights and the exercise of his/her civil and political rights;

4. Calls upon all States to comply fully with the arms embargo imposed by the Security Council on South Africa until the Security Council decides otherwise;

5. Endorses all the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur contained in her report and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their speedy implementation;

6. Calls upon the Centre for Human Rights to make available, on request, its programme of advisory services and technical assistance to the democratically elected Government of South Africa;

7. Requests the Special Rapporteur to undertake two missions to South Africa in 1994 to gain further insights into the whole process of transition to democracy in South Africa and to report to the Commission at its fifty-first session;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary assistance to enable her to carry out this mandate;

9. Decides, in view of the changing situation in South Africa, to replace the agenda item entitled "Adverse consequences for the enjoyment of human rights of political, military, economic and other forms of assistance given to the racist and colonialist regime in South Africa" with an item entitled "Monitoring and assisting the transition to democracy in South Africa";

10. Also decides to consider the issues to be raised by the Special Rapporteur in her report to the fifty-first session of the Commission under the new agenda item.

30th meeting
18 February 1994
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. VI.]