Respect for human rights in armed conflicts

UN General Assembly, Respect for human rights in armed conflicts, A/RES/2853, UN General Assembly, 20 December 1971, https://www.refworld.org/legal/resolution/unga/1971/en/6783 [accessed 22 May 2025]
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XXVI. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
2853. Respect for human rights in armed conflicts

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2674 (XXV), 2675 (XXV), 2676 (XXV) and 2677 (XXV) of 9 December 1970, Noting also that the twenty-first International Conference of the Red Cross, held at Istanbul in 1969, adopted resolution XIII concerning the reaffirmation and development of the laws and customs applicable in armed conflicts,[1] Noting with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on respect for human rights in armed conflicts,[2] concerning in particular the results of the first session of the Conference of Government Experts on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts, which was held at Geneva from 24 May to 12 June 1971 at the invitation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as the report of the International Committee on the work of the Conference,[3] Emphasizing that effective protection for human rights in situations of armed conflict depends primarily on universal respect for humanitarian rules, Recognizing that existing humanitarian rules relating to armed conflicts do not in all respects meet the need of contemporary situations and that it is therefore necessary to strengthen the procedure for implementing these rules and to develop their substance, Welcoming the decision of the International Committee of the Red Cross to convene a second session of the Conference of Government Experts with the task of reaching agreement on the wording of various texts to facilitate discussion at a future diplomatic conference, and noting that all States parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949[4] have been invited to participate, Affirming that the successful development of humanitarian rules applicable in armed conflicts requires the negotiation of instruments which can be effectively implemented and which command the widest possible support, Emphasizing the importance of continued close collaboration between the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross,

1. Reiterates its call upon all parties to any armed conflict to observe the rules laid down in the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907,[5] the Geneva Protocol of 1925,[6] the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and other humanitarian rules applicable in armed conflicts, and invites those States which have not yet done so to adhere to those instruments;

2. Welcomes the progress made by the Conference of Government Experts on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts, as shown in its report, with regard to the following questions:

(a) Protection of the wounded and the sick;

(b) Protection of victims of non-international. armed conflicts;

(c) Rules applicable in guerrilla warfare;

(d) Protection of civilian population against dangers of hostilities;

(e) Strengthening of the guarantees afforded by international humanitarian law for non-military civil defence organizations;

(f) Rules relative to the behaviour of combatants;

(g) Measures intended to reinforce the implementation, in armed conflicts, of existing international humanitarian law;

3. Expresses the hope that the second session of the Conference of Government Experts will make recommendations for the further development of international humanitarian law in this field, including, as appropriate, draft protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, for subsequent consideration at one or more plenipotentiary diplomatic conferences;

4. Calls upon States parties to the existing international instruments to review, as a matter of priority, any reservations they may have made to those instruments;

5. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To transmit his latest report,[7] together with any further observations received from Governments as well as the records of relevant discussions and resolutions of the General Assembly, to the International Committee of the Red Cross for consideration, as appropriate, by the Conference of Government Experts at its second session;

(b) To report to the General Assembly at its twenty-seventh session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution;

6. Decides to consider this question again, in all its aspects, at its twenty-seventh session.

2027th plenary meeting,
20 December 1971.
[1] See A/7720, annex I, sect. D. [2] A/8370 and Add.1. [3] Report on the Work of the Conference of Government Experts on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts (Geneva, August 1971). [4] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75 (1950), Nos. 970973. [5] Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). [6] League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV, 1929, No. 2138. [7] A/8370 and Add.1.
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