The policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa1

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE SPECIAL POLITICAL COMMITTEE
2671. The policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa

A

The General Assembly, Taking note of the work of the Special Committee on Apartheid,[1] Considering it essential to intensify United Nations efforts to promote concerted international action for the elimination of apartheid in South Africa, Recognizing the need for greater co-ordination of efforts by the United Nations towards this end and for the elimination of duplication, in order to utilize the resources for a more effective international campaign against apartheid,

1. Requests the Special Committee on Apartheid constantly to review all aspects of the policies of apartheid in South Africa and its international repercussions, including:

(a) Legislative, administrative and other racially discriminatory measures in South Africa and their effects;

(b) Repression of opponents of apartheid,

(c) Efforts by the Government of South Africa to extend its inhuman policies of apartheid beyond the borders of South Africa;

(d) Ways and means of promoting concerted international action to secure the elimination of apartheid, and to report from time to time, as appropriate, to the General Assembly or the Security Council, or both;

2. Draws the attention of all United Nations organs concerned to this decision, so that any undue duplication of efforts may be avoided;

3. Decides to expand the membership of the Special Committee by not more than seven additional members;

4. Requests the President of the General Assembly to appoint the additional members of the Special Committee, taking into account the principle of equitable geographical distribution;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary assistance to the Special Committee in the discharge of its mandate.

1921st plenary meeting,
8 December 1970.

B

The General Assembly, Recalling its appeals for moral, political and material assistance to the national movement of the oppressed people of South Africa in their legitimate struggle against apartheid, Considering the need to take steps to increase such assistance in view of the intensification of racial oppression by the Government of South Africa in defiance of the Charter of the United Nations and the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly,

1. Requests the Secretary-General, in co-operation with the Organization of African Unity, to take all appropriate steps to promote assistance in the economic, social and humanitarian fields by Governments, organizations and individuals to the oppressed people of South Africa in their legitimate struggle against apartheid;

2. Appeals to Governments, organizations and individuals to contribute generously, in consultation with the Organization of African Unity, towards such assistance;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly, from time to time as appropriate, on the implementation of the present resolution.

1921st plenary meeting,
8 December 1970.

C

The General Assembly, Convinced of the importance of keeping world public opinion fully informed of the evils and dangers of apartheid in South Africa, and of United Nations efforts to secure the elimination of this policy, Considering the contribution that specialized agencies, regional organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations can make in this respect, Taking note of the relevant recommendations contained in the report of the Special Committee on Apartheid,[2] Taking note, in particular, of the recommendation of the Special Committee that the United Nations should co-operate with the Organization of African Unity in undertaking regular broadcasts on apartheid to South Africa and to southern Africa as a whole,[3] and the statement by the Assistant Secretary-General for Public Information on the consultations with the Organization of African Unity on this matter,[4] Recognizing the need for special studies on apartheid to be made available to the international community, Expressing its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the dissemination of information on apartheid through the Office of Public Information and the Unit on Apartheid of the Secretariat, Considering that these efforts should be intensified during 1971, the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination,

1. Requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate steps to ensure the widest dissemination of information on the evils and dangers of apartheid, taking into account the recommendations of the Special Committee on Apartheid;

2. Invites Member States to lend their co-operation to the Secretary-General in the dissemination of such information in their countries and in Territories under their administration;

3. Invites specialized agencies, regional organizations, anti-apartheid movements and other non-governmental organizations to help the United Nations information campaign against apartheid;

4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Special Committee, to arrange for the preparation of special studies and papers on the evils of apartheid and, through the Office of Public Information and the Unit on Apartheid of the Secretariat, to increase the dissemination of such information in various languages;

5. Welcomes the readiness of the Organization of African Unity to undertake, in co-operation with the United Nations, weekly broadcasts of United Nations material to southern Africa;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate steps to continue to make available an adequate number of radio programmes and material to Member States willing to provide facilities on their national radio stations for broadcasts to southern Africa of programmes on international concern over apartheid and on the objectives of the United Nations;

7. Requests the Secretary-General, in the light of General Assembly resolution 2505 (XXIV) of 20 November 1969, to continue consultations with the Organization of African Unity on the means of collaboration between that organization and the United Nations in order to intensify the international information campaign against apartheid, and to submit a report, including proposals, to the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth session on all aspects of the matter, including any required technical co-operation and financial arrangements;

8. Authorizes the Secretary-General to encourage and assist anti-apartheid movements, United Nations associations and other non-governmental organizations to publish and disseminate widely information provided by the United Nations on the evils and dangers of apartheid and on international efforts against apartheid;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution.

1921st plenary meeting,
8 December 1970.

D

The General Assembly, Noting with grave concern that the racist Government of South Africa has intensified its inhuman and aggressive policies of apartheid, Recognizing the need for the implementation of more effective measures to secure the speedy elimination of apartheid in South Africa, Noting that the year 1971 has been proclaimed the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, Recognizing further the valuable role which non-governmental organizations can play in the international campaign against apartheid, Believing that it would be desirable to hold an international conference of trade unions to promote concerted action by trade unions against apartheid,

1. Requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate steps, in consultation with the Special Committee on Apartheid, to promote the widest possible campaign against apartheid during the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination;

2. Requests and authorizes the Special Committee, within the budgetary provision to be made for this purpose at the present session:

(a) To hold consultations with experts and representatives of the oppressed people of South Africa, as well as anti-apartheid movements;

(b) To send a mission from United Nations Headquarters to consult with the specialized agencies, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations on means to promote further concerted international action against apartheid;

(c) To send representatives to the United Nations seminar at Yaoundé, as well as to international conferences on apartheid, during the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination;

3. Invites all national and regional trade-union organizations to observe the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination by organizing seminars, symposia, conferences and other activities against apartheid and to report to the Special Committee on ways and means by which the international campaign against apartheid can best be promoted through the trade-union movement;

4. Requests the Special Committee, in consultation with the Organization of African Unity and the International Labour Organisation, to report to the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth session on the possibility of holding an international conference of trade unions in 1972, and on any alternative proposals which it may receive from the principal trade-union federations, for promoting concerted action against apartheid by the trade-union movement at the national and international levels;

5. Urges all States and organizations to observe the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination in solidarity with the legitimate struggle of the oppressed people of South Africa.

1921st plenary meeting,
8 December 1970.

E

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2054 B (XX) of 15 December 1965, 2202 B (XXI) of 16 December 1966 and 2397 (XXIII) of 2 December 1968 concerning the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,[5] to which is annexed the report of the Committee of Trustees of the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa, Considering it appropriate and essential to continue and increase humanitarian assistance to the victims of the policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa, Having considered also the report of the Secretary-General on the question of enlarging the scope of the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa,[6]

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Governments, organizations and individuals that have contributed to the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa;

2. Authorizes the Committee of Trustees of the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa to decide on grants from the Fund to voluntary organizations engaged in providing relief and assistance to persons persecuted under repressive and discriminatory legislation in Namibia and Southern Rhodesia and to their families, to the extent that additional voluntary contributions are received for this purpose;

3. Appeals for generous direct contributions to voluntary organizations engaged in providing relief and assistance to persons persecuted under repressive and discriminatory legislation in South Africa, Namibia and Southern Rhodesia;

4. Again appeals to all States, organizations and individuals for generous contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa in order to enable it to meet the increasing needs.

1921st plenary meeting,
8 December 1970.

F

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions and those of the Security council on the question of apartheid, Having considered the report of the Special Committee on Apartheid,[7] Taking note of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its seventh ordinary session [8] and by the Third Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries[9] on the question of apartheid, Gravely concerned over the aggravation of the situation in South Africa and in southern Africa as a whole, because of the inhuman and aggressive policies of apartheid pursued by the Government of South Africa in defiance of United Nations resolutions, in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in contravention of its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations, Expressing deep concern over the increasing military build-up of South Africa, which constitutes a grave danger to the cause of peace and security on the African continent, Noting with indignation the continued persecution and torture of African patriots and other opponents of apartheid by the Government of South Africa under the Terrorism Act of 1967 and other ruthless repressive legislation, Convinced that the establishment of "Bantustans" in South Africa is designed to deprive the majority of the people of their inalienable rights and to destroy the unity of the South African people, Noting that, as reported by the Special Committee,[10] a number of States continue to maintain diplomatic, consular and other official relations with the South African régime despite United Nations resolutions, Recognizing that the adoption by the Security Council of appropriate measures under Chapter VII of the Charter and their full implementation are essential,

1. Declares that the policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa are a negation of the Charter of the United Nations and constitute a crime against humanity;

2. Reaffirms its recognition of the legitimacy of the struggle of the people of South Africa to eliminate, by all means at their disposal, apartheid and racial discrimination and to attain majority rule in the country as a whole, based on universal suffrage;

3. Condemns the establishment by the racist minority Government of South Africa of "Bantustans" in so-called African reserves as fraudulent, a violation of the principle of self-determination and prejudicial to the territorial integrity of the State and the unity of its people;

4. Again calls upon the Government of South Africa to end all repressive measures against African patriots and other opponents of apartheid and to liberate all persons imprisoned, interned or subjected to other restrictions for their opposition to apartheid;

5. Strongly deplores the continued co-operation by certain States and foreign economic interests with South Africa in the military, economic, political and other fields, as such co-operation encourages the Government of South Africa in the pursuit of its inhuman policies;

6. Again draws the attention of the Security Council to the grave situation in South Africa and in southern Africa as a whole and recommends that the Council resume urgently the consideration of effective measures, in the light of relevant General Assembly resolutions, including those under Chapter VII of the Charter;

7. Urges all States:

(a) To terminate diplomatic, consular and other official relations with the Government of South Africa;

(b) To terminate all military, economic, technical and other co-operation with South Africa;

(c) To end tariff and other preferences to South African exports and facilities for investment in South Africa;

(d) To ensure that companies registered in their countries and their nationals comply with the United Nations resolutions on this question;

8. Requests all States and organizations to suspend cultural, educational, sporting and other exchanges with the racist régime and with organizations or institutions in South Africa which practise apartheid;

9. Commends the international and national sporting organizations for their contribution to the international campaign against apartheid by their boycott of South African teams selected under apartheid policies;

10. Requests the Special Committee on Apartheid to prepare reports for the General Assembly, at its twenty-sixth session, on continued collaboration by States with the Government of South Africa, with particular reference to the requests contained in paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 2506 B (XXIV) of 21 November 1969, namely:

(a) To desist from collaborating with the Government of South Africa, by taking steps to prohibit financial and economic interests under their national jurisdiction from co-operating with the Government of South Africa and companies registered in South Africa;

(b) To prohibit airlines and shipping lines registered in their countries from providing services to and from South Africa and to deny all facilities to air flights and shipping services to and from South Africa;

(c) To refrain from extending loans, investments and technical assistance to the Government of South Africa and companies registered in South Africa;

(d) To take appropriate measures to dissuade the main trading partners of South Africa and economic and financial interests from collaborating with the Government of South Africa and companies registered in South Africa;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to convene, early in 1971, a joint meeting of the Special Committee on Apartheid, the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the United Nations Council for Namibia, in order to consider the interrelationships of the problems of southern Africa and to propose measures for greater co-ordination and more effective action, so that the three organs can take the results of the meeting into account in their programmes of work;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth session on the implementation of paragraphs 6, 7, 8 and 11 above.

1921st plenary meeting,
8 December 1970. At the 1933rd plenary meeting, on 17 December 1970, the President of the General Assembly, in pursuance of paragraph 4 of resolution A above, appointed four of the seven additional members of the Special Committee on Apartheid, namely: INDIA, the SUDAN, SYRIA and the UKRAINIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC. At the same meeting, the President appointed TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO as a member of the Special Committee to fill the vacancy caused by the withdrawal of COSTA RICA. Subsequently, the President informed the Secretary-General[11] that, in pursuance of paragraph 4 of resolution A above, he had also appointed GUATEMALA as an additional member of the Special Committee. As a result of the above appointments, the Special Committee is composed of the following Member States: ALGERIA, GHANA, GUATEMALA, GUINEA, HAITI, HUNGARY, INDIA, MALAYSIA, NEPAL, NIGERIA, PHILIPPINES, SOMALIA, SUDAN, SYRIA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO and UKRAINIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC.

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[1] See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 22 (A/8022/Rev.1). [2] Ibid. [3] Ibid., para. 133. [4] Ibid., Twenty-fifth Session, Special Political Committee, 714th meeting. [5] Ibid., Twenty-fifth Session, Annexes, agenda item 34, document A/8109. [6] Ibid., document A/8117. [7] Ibid., Twenty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 22 (A/8022/ Rev.1). [8] Held at Addis Ababa from 1 to 3 September 1970. [9] Held at Lusaka from 8 to 10 September 1970. [10] Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 22 (A/8022/Rev.1), annex III. [11] See A/8274.