Drafting of an international convention against the taking of hostages.

  • Author: UN General Assembly (31st sess. : 1976)
  • Document source:
  • Date:
    15 December 1976

31. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SIXTH COMMITTEE*
103. Drafting of an international convention against the taking of hostages

The General Assembly, Considering that the progressive development of international law and its codification contribute to the implementation of the purposes and principles set forth in Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter of the United Nations, Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter, freedom, justice and peace in the world are inseparable from the recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, Having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[1] and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,[2] which provide that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security, Recognizing that the taking of hostages is an act which endangers innocent human lives and violates human dignity, Gravely concerned at the increase of such acts, Recalling the prohibition of the taking of hostages in articles 3 and 34 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,[3] the Hague Convention of 1970 for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft,[4] the Montreal Convention of 1971 for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation,[5] the Convention of 1973 on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents,[6] as well as General Assembly resolution 2645 (XXV) of 25 November 1970 condemning aerial hijacking or interference with civil air travel, Recognizing the urgent need for further effective measures to put an end to the taking of hostages, Mindful of the need to conclude, under the auspices of the United Nations, an international convention against the taking of hostages,

1. Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Committee on the Drafting of an International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, composed of thirty-five Member States;

2. Requests the President of the General Assembly, after consultations with the chairmen of the regional groups, to appoint the members of the Ad Hoc Committee on the basis of equitable geographical distribution and of representation of the principal legal systems of the world;

3. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to draft at the earliest possible date an international convention against the taking of hostages and authorizes the Committee, in the fulfilment of its mandate, to consider suggestions and proposals from any State, bearing in mind the views expressed during the debate on this item at the thirty-first session of the General Assembly;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to afford the Ad Hoc Committee any assistance and provide it with all facilities it may require for the performance of its work, to provide the Committee with pertinent information on the taking of hostages and to ensure that summary records of the meetings of the Committee will be drawn up and submitted;

5. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to submit its report and to make every effort to submit a draft convention to the General Assembly in good time for consideration at its thirty-second session and requests the Secretary-General to communicate the report to Member States;

6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-second session the item entitled "Drafting of an international convention against the taking of hostages".

99th plenary meeting
15 December 1976

The President of the General Assembly subsequently informed the Secretary-General[7] that he had appointed as members of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Drafting of an International Convention against the Taking of Hostages thirty-three of the thirty-five States to be appointed by him in accordance with paragraph 2 of the above resolution. As a result, the Ad Hoc Committee is composed of the following Member States: ALGERIA, BARBADOS, CANADA, CHILE, DEMOCRATIC YEMEN, BENCHMARK, EGYPT, FRANCE, GERMANY, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF, GUINEA, IRAN, ITALY, JAPAN, JORDAN, KENYA, LESOTHO, LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA, MEXICO, NETHERLANDS, NICARAGUA, NIGERIA, PHILIPPINES, POLAND, SOMALIA, SURINAM, SWEDEN, SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC, UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, VENEZUELA and YUGOSLAVIA.

[1] Resolution 217 A (III). [2] Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. [3] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973, p. 287. [4] United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, vol. 22, part 2 (1971), p. 1644. [5] Ibid., vol. 24, part 1 (1973), p. 568. [6] Resolution 3166 (XXVIII), annex. [7] A/31/479.
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