Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in relation to detention and imprisonment

XXX. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
3453. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in relation to detention and imprisonment

The General Assembly, Reaffirming the rejection, in its resolutions 3059 (XXVIII) of 2 November 1973 and 3218 (XXIX) of 6 November 1974, Assembly Thirtieth of any form of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Reiterating its conviction expressed in resolution 3218 (XXIX) that, because of the increase in the number of alarming reports on torture, further and sustained efforts are necessary to protect under all circumstances the basic human right to be free from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Welcoming resolution 4 (XXVIII) adopted by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on 10 September 1975,[1] Having considered the report of the Secretary-General[2] containing an analytical summary of the information received under paragraph 1 of resolution 3218 (XXIX), Recalling its request to the Fifth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders that it consider steps to be taken for the protection of all persons subjected to any form of detention or imprisonment against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirtieth session, Noting the working paper entitled "Health aspects of avoidable maltreatment of prisoners and detainees"[3] submitted by the World Health Organization to the Fifth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Noting with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General prepared under paragraph 4 of resolution 3218 (XXIX),[4] Taking into account that the Fifth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders expressed the opinion that, on the matter of elaborating an international code of police ethics, there should be further expert consideration, Having adopted the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, annexed to resolution 3452 (XXX) of 9 December 1975, Believing that further international efforts are needed to ensure adequate protection for all against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Fifth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for the elaboration of the Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;

2. Requests the Commission on Human Rights at its thirty-second session to study the question of torture and any necessary steps for:

(a) Ensuring the effective observance of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;

(b) The formulation of a body of principles for the protection of all persons under any form of detention or imprisonment on the basis of the Study of the Right of Everyone to be Free from Arbitrary Arrest, Detention and Exile[5] and the draft principles on freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention contained therein;

3. Requests the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control to elaborate, on the basis of, inter alia, the proposals submitted to and conclusions arrived at by the Fifth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, a draft code of conduct for law enforcement officials and to submit this draft code to the General Assembly at its thirty-second session, through the Commission for Social Development and the Economic and Social Council;

4. Invites the World Health Organization to give further attention to the study and elaboration of principles of medical ethics relevant to the protection of persons subjected to any form of detention or imprisonment against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;

5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-first session an item entitled "Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" for the purpose of reviewing the progress achieved in accordance with the present resolution.

2433rd plenary meeting
9 December 1975


[1] See E/CN.4/1180, chap. XXI, sect. A. [2] A/10158 and Corr.1 and Add.1. [3] A/CONF.56/9. [4] A/10260. [5] United Nations publication, Sales No. 65.XIV.2.
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