Respect for human rights in armed conflicts

XXIX. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SIXTH COMMITTEE
3319. Respect for human rights in armed conflicts

The General Assembly, Conscious that a better application of existing humanitarian rules relating to armed conflicts and the development of further rules remains an urgent task in order to reduce the suffering brought about by all such conflicts, Recalling the successive resolutions adopted in the preceding years by the United Nations relating to human rights in armed conflicts and the debates on this subject, Noting the report of the Secretary-General[1] on the first session of the Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts, held at Geneva from 20 February to 29 March 104, and on the Conference of Government Experts on Weapons That May Cause Unnecessary Suffering or Have Indiscriminate Effects, convoked by the International Committee of the Red Cross at Lucerne from 24 September to 18 October 1974, Welcoming the decision by the Diplomatic Conference to invite national liberation movements recognized by the regional intergovernmental organizations concerned to participate in its work, Welcoming the work of the first session of the Diplomatic Conference and the work of the Conference of Government Experts,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Swiss Federal Council for convoking the second session of the Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts in 1975 and to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its readiness to convoke in 1975 another Conference of Government Experts on Weapons That May Cause Unnecessary Suffering or Have Indiscriminate Effects;

2. Urges all participants in the Diplomatic Conference to do their utmost to reach agreement on additional rules which may help to alleviate the suffering brought about by armed conflicts and to respect and to protect non-combatants and civilian objects in such conflicts;

3. Calls upon all parties to armed conflicts to acknowledge and to comply with their obligations under the humanitarian instruments and to observe the international humanitarian rules which are applicable, in particular the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907,[2] the Geneva Protocol of 1925[3] and the Geneva Conventions of 1949;[4]

4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its thirtieth session on relevant developments concerning human rights in armed conflicts, in particular on the proceedings and results of the 1975 session of the Diplomatic Conference;

5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirtieth session the item entitled "Respect for human rights in armed conflicts" and emphasizes the need to allocate adequate time during that session to consider the results of both sessions of the Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts.

2319th plenary meeting
14 December 1974

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[1] A/9669 and Add.1. [2] Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). [3] League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV, No. 2138, p. 65. [4] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973.