Review and implemantation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly.
- Author: UN General Assembly (38th sess. : 1983-1984)
- Document source:
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Date:
15 December 1983
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Review and implementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly
1. Urges all States to encourage and assist all efforts designed to explore further the ways in which confidence-building measures can strengthen international peace and security;
2. Invites all States to consider the possible introduction unilaterally, bilaterally or multilaterally of confidence-building measures in their particular regions and, where possible, to negotiate on them in keeping with the conditions and requirements prevailing in their respective regions;
3. Requests the Disarmament Commission to continue and conclude at its 1984 session the consideration of the item entitled "Elaboration of guidelines for appropriate types of confidence-building measures and for the implementation of such measures on a global or regional level";
4. Further requests the Disarmament Commission to submit a report on its deliberations on this item, containing such guidelines, to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session;
5. Recommends that all States consider the inclusion of a reference to, or an agreement on, confidence-building measures, as appropriate, in any joint statements or declarations of a political nature;
6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-ninth session the item entitled "Consideration of guidelines for confidence-building measures".
B Freeze on Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 37/100 A of 13 December 1982, entitled "Freeze on nuclear weapons", Convinced that in this nuclear age lasting world peace can be based only on the attainment of the goal of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Further convinced that the highest priority objectives in the field of disarmament have to be nuclear disarmament and the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction, Recognizing the urgent need to halt the arms race, particularly in nuclear weapons, Recognizing further the urgent need for a negotiated reduction of nuclear-weapon stockpiles leading to their complete elimination, Noting with deep concern that nuclear-weapon States have not so far taken any action in response to the call made in resolution 37/100 A,1. Once again calls upon all nuclear-weapon States to agree to a freeze on nuclear weapons, which would, inter alia, provide for a simultaneous total stoppage of any further production of nuclear weapons and a complete cut-off in the production of fissionable material for weapons purposes;
2. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-ninth session the item entitled "Freeze on nuclear weapons".
C United Nations Programme of Fellowships on Disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its decision, contained in paragraph 108 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, to establish a programme of fellowships on disarmament, as well as its decisions contained in annex IV of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly, in which it, inter alia, decided to continue the programme and to increase the number of fellowships from twenty to twenty-five as from 1983, Noting with satisfaction that the programme has already trained one hundred and four public officials from sixty-seven countries, most of whom are now in positions of responsibility in the field of disarmament affairs within their Governments or Permanent Missions to the United Nations, or representing their Governments at international disarmament meetings, Bearing in mind the growing interest which continues to be manifested in the programme by an ever-increasing number of States, Recognizing the fact that the programme of studies and activities as outlined in the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations programme of fellowships on disarmament has continued to expand, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,1. Decides to continue the United Nations programme of fellowships on disarmament;
2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to apply the same criteria of objectivity and balance in drawing up the future programme of activities as he has done so far, in accordance with the guidelines established by the General Assembly at its thirty-third session;
3. Expresses its appreciation to the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, Sweden, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America for inviting the fellows to their countries in 1983 to study selected activities in the field of disarmament, thereby contributing to the fulfilment of the overall objectives of the programme, as well as providing additional information sources and practical knowledge for the fellows, and, in this connection, expresses the hope that other Member States will extend similar support for the programme;
4. Takes note of the decision of the Secretary-General to relocate the fellowship programme and its staff at Geneva as from 1 May 1983;
5. Also takes note of the fact that the expansion of the programme has led to an increase in the level of activities for the programme;
6. Commends the Secretary-General for the diligence with which the programme has continued to be carried out;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary arrangements for the implementation of the programme for 1984, in accordance with the guidelines established for it;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution.
D World Disarmament Campaign The General Assembly, Recalling that, in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disarmament, it declared that it was essential that not only Governments but also the peoples of the world recognize and understand the dangers in the present situation and stressed the importance of mobilizing world public opinion on behalf of disarmament, Recalling also its resolutions 35/152 I of 12 December 1980, 36/92 C of 9 December 1981 and 37/100 I of 13 December 1982, as well as the reports of the Secretary-General of 17 September 1981, 11 June 1982 and 3 November 1982, Having examined the report submitted by the Secretary-General on 30 August 1983 on the implementation of the programme of activities of the World Disarmament Campaign, Having also examined the section of the report of the Secretary-General of 20 October 1983 dealing with the activities of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Studies relating to the World Disarmament Campaign, as well as the final act of the first United Nations Pledging Conference for the Campaign held on 27 October 1983,1. Takes note with satisfaction of the implementation of the programme of activities for 1983 of the World Disarmament Campaign as described in the report of the Secretary-General;
2. Notes also with satisfaction the voluntary contributions made by Member States to the World Disarmament Campaign Voluntary Trust Fund, prior to and during the first United Nations Pledging Conference for the Campaign held on 27 October 1983;
3. Decides that at the thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly there should be a second United Nations pledging conference for the World Disarmament Campaign, in order that all those Member States that have not yet announced their voluntary contributions may have an opportunity to do so;
4. Recommends that the voluntary contributions made by Member States to the World Disarmament Campaign Voluntary Trust Fund should not be earmarked for specific activities inasmuch as it is most desirable that the Secretary-General may enjoy full freedom to take the decisions he deems fit within the framework of the Campaign previously approved by the General Assembly and in exercise of the powers vested on him in connection with the Campaign;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to instruct the United Nations information centres and regional commissions to give wide publicity to the World Disarmament Campaign and, whenever necessary, to adapt, in so far as possible, United Nations information materials into local languages;
6. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session a report covering both the implementation of the programme of activities of the World Disarmament Campaign by the United Nations system during 1984 and the programme of activities contemplated by the system for 1985;
7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-ninth session the item entitled "World Disarmament Campaign".
E Nuclear-arms Freeze The General Assembly, Recalling that in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disarmament, adopted in 1978 and unanimously and categorically reaffirmed in 1982 during the twelfth special session of the General Assembly, its second special session devoted to disarmament, the Assembly expressed deep concern over the threat to the very survival of mankind posed by the existence of nuclear weapons and the continuing arms race, Recalling also that, on those occasions, it pointed out that existing arsenals of nuclear weapons are more than sufficient to destroy all life on earth and stressed that mankind is therefore confronted with a choice: halt the arms race and proceed to disarmament, or face annihilation, Noting that the conditions prevailing today are a source of even more serious concern than those existing in 1978 because of several factors such as the deterioration of the international situation, the increase in the accuracy, speed and destructive power of nuclear weapons, the promotion of illusory doctrines of "limited" or "winnable" nuclear war and the many false alarms which have occurred owing to the malfunctioning of computers, Noting also that the Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi in March 1983, declared that the renewed escalation in the nuclear arms race, both in its quantitative and qualitative dimensions, as well as reliance on doctrines of nuclear deterrence, has heightened the risk of the outbreak of nuclear war and led to greater insecurity and instability in international relations, Believing that it is a matter of the utmost urgency to stop any further increase in the awesome arsenals of the two major nuclear-weapon States, which already have ample retaliatory power and a frightening overkill capacity, Believing also that it is equally urgent to activate negotiations for the substantial reduction and qualitative limitation of nuclear arms, Considering that a nuclear arms freeze, while not an end in itself, would constitute the most effective first step for the achievement of the above-mentioned two objectives, since it would provide a favourable environment for the conduct of the reduction negotiations while, at the same time, preventing the continued increase and qualitative improvement of existing nuclear weaponry during the period when the negotiations would take place, Firmly convinced that at present the conditions are most propitious for such a freeze, since the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America are now equivalent in nuclear military power and it seems evident that there exists between them an overall rough parity, Conscious that the mere application of the systems of surveillance, verification and control already agreed upon in some previous cases would be sufficient to provide a reasonable guarantee of faithful compliance with the undertakings derived from the freeze, Convinced that it would be to the benefit of all other States possessing nuclear weapons to follow the example of the two major nuclear-weapon States as soon as positive results derived from the freeze agreed by them have taken place,1. Urges once more the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America, as the two major nuclear-weapon States, to proclaim, either through simultaneous unilateral declarations or through a joint declaration, an immediate nuclear-arms freeze, which would be a first step towards the comprehensive programme of disarmament and whose structure and scope would be the following:
(a) It would embrace:
(i) A comprehensive test ban of nuclear weapons and of their delivery vehicles;
(ii) The complete cessation of the manufacture of nuclear weapons and of their delivery vehicles;
(iii) A ban on all further deployment of nuclear weapons and of their delivery vehicles;
(iv) The complete cessation of the production of fissionable material for weapons purposes;
(b) It would be subject to all relevant measures and procedures of verification which have already been agreed by the parties in the case of the SALT I and SALT II treaties, as well as those agreed upon in principle by them during the preparatory trilateral negotiations on the comprehensive test ban held at Geneva;
(c) It would be of an initial five-year duration, subject to prolongation in the event of other nuclear-weapon States joining in such a freeze, as the General Assembly expects them to do;
2. Requests the above-mentioned two major nuclear-weapon States to submit a joint report or two separate reports to the General Assembly, prior to the opening of its thirty-ninth session, on the implementation of the present resolution;
3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-ninth session an item entitled "Implementation of General Assembly resolution 38/73 E on a nuclear-arms freeze".
F World Disarmament Campaign: Actions and Activities The General Assembly, Aware of the growing public concern at the dangers of the arms race, particularly the nuclear-arms race, and its negative social and economic consequences, Noting with satisfaction the successful beginning of the implementation of the World Disarmament Campaign, and its positive impact on the mobilization on a large scale of world public opinion on behalf of peace and disarmament, Recalling its resolutions 36/92 J of 9 December 1981 and 37/100 H of 13 December 1982, as well as the report of the Secretary-General on world-wide action for collecting signatures in support of measures to prevent nuclear war, to curb the arms race and for disarmament, Welcoming the voluntary contributions made to the World Disarmament Campaign Voluntary Trust Fund to carry out the objectives of the Campaign, Taking into account the report of the Secretary-General on the progress in the implementation of the programme of activities of the World Disarmament Campaign, Convinced that the United Nations system, Member States, with respect for their sovereign rights, and other bodies, in particular non-governmental organizations, all have their role to play in achieving the objectives of the World Disarmament Campaign, Taking into account the great number of various activities carried out within the framework of the World Disarmament Campaign, including action for collecting signatures in support of measures to prevent nuclear war, to curb the arms race and for disarmament,1. Reaffirms the usefulness of further carrying out actions and activities which are an important manifestation of the will of world public opinion and which contribute effectively to the achievement of the objectives of the World Disarmament Campaign and thus to the creation of a favourable climate for making progress in the field of disarmament with a view to achieving the goal of general and complete disarmament under effective international control;
2. Invites once again Member States to co-operate with the United Nations to ensure a better flow of accurate information with regard to the various aspects of disarmament as well as actions and activities of the world public in support of peace and disarmament, and to avoid dissemination of false and tendentious information;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to report annually to the General Assembly on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution.
G Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Alarmed by the threat to the survival of mankind and to the life-sustaining system posed by nuclear weapons and by their use, inherent in concepts of deterrence, Conscious of an increased danger of nuclear war as a result of the intensification of the nuclear-arms race and the serious deterioration of the international situation, Convinced that nuclear disarmament is essential for the prevention of nuclear war and for the strengthening of international peace and security, Further convinced that a prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would be a step towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons leading to general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, Recalling its declaration, contained in paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and which would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming the declaration that the use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, contained in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, Noting with regret that the Committee on Disarmament, during its session in 1983, was not able to undertake negotiations with a view to achieving agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances, taking as a basis the text contained in General Assembly resolution 37/100 C of 13 December 1982,1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations, as a matter of priority, in order to achieve agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances, taking as a basis the annexed draft Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons;
2. Further requests the Conference on Disarmament to report on the results of those negotiations to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session.
ANNEX Draft Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The States Parties to this Convention, Alarmed by the threat to the very survival of mankind posed by the existence of nuclear weapons, Convinced that any use of nuclear weapons constitutes a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, Convinced that this Convention would be a step towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons leading to general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, Determined to continue negotiations for the achievement of this goal, Have agreed as follows: Article 1 The States Parties to this Convention solemnly undertake not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons under any circumstances. Article 2 This Convention shall be of unlimited duration. Article 31. This Convention shall be open to all States for signature. Any State which does not sign the Convention before its entry into force in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may accede to it at any time.
2. This Convention shall be subject to ratification by signatory States. Instruments of ratification or accession shall be deposited with the Secretary- General of the United Nations.
3. This Convention shall enter into force on the deposit of instruments of ratification by twenty-five Governments, including the Governments of the five nuclear-weapon States, in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article.
4. For States whose instruments of ratification or accession are deposited after the entry into force of this Convention, it shall enter into force on the date of the deposit of their instruments of ratification or accession.
5. The depositary shall promptly inform all signatory and acceding States of the date of each signature, the date of deposit of each instrument of ratification or accession and the date of the entry into force of this Convention, as well as of the receipt of other notices.
6. This Convention shall be registered by the depositary in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.
Article 4 This Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall send duly certified copies thereof to the Governments of the signatory and acceding States. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention, opened for signature at , on the day of one thousand nine hundred and . H Disarmament and International Security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 34/83 A of 11 December 1979, 35/156 J of 12 December 1980, 36/97 K of 9 December 1981 and 37/100 E of 13 December 1982, Deeply concerned over the continuing stagnation in the disarmament negotiating efforts and the ever-escalating armaments race, particularly nuclear, which make the survival of mankind extremely precarious, Gravely concerned over the present state of international affairs characterized by the continued resort to violence and the use of force in violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Firmly convinced that a closely interdependent world composed of many sovereign nations cannot possibly function towards peace, security and survival in a nuclear and space age without an effectively functioning organization, Noting that the fundamental function of the United Nations in its primary purpose is the security system provided for in the Charter and that the principles of disarmament embodied in the Charter and flowing from it(Article 11) are an integral part of the system of security, Convinced that restoring to the United Nations its essential function in accordance with the provisions of the Charter would be a significant factor in creating the conditions conducive to the cessation of the arms race, particularly the nuclear-arms race, and for productive negotiations on disarmament measures, Bearing in mind that recent events have brought into sharp focus the reality that consecutive decisions of the Security Council, adopted unanimously, were ignored and bypassed by those required to comply with them and in consequence the chain of events that followed further aggravated the situation, Determined to avert the danger of an approaching nuclear war in a world of insecurity and anarchy in which the continuing lack of collective security through the United Nations is an essential factor, Having regard to the warning in the report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session that "it was the lack of an effective system of collective security through the League of Nations that ...led to the Second World War",1. Requests the Security Council to expedite the conclusion of the agreements making armed forces available to the Security Council, as required by the Charter of the United Nations, to render operative the collective security system provided for in the Charter and thereby facilitate productive negotiations for the cessation of the arms race, particularly the nuclear-arms race, and for progress on disarmament;
2. Further requests the Security Council to submit a report, through the Secretary-General, to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session.
I Convening of the Third Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the decision adopted at its twelfth special session to set, during its thirty-eighth session, the date of the third special session devoted to disarmament, Desiring to contribute to the furthering and broadening of positive processes initiated through the laying down of the foundations of an international disarmament strategy at its tenth special session,1. Decides that the third special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament should be held not later than 1988;
2. Decides also to set, not later than at its fortieth session, the date of the third special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament and to make appropriate arrangements concerning the establishment of a preparatory committee for that third special session.
J Regional Disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 37/100 F of 13 December 1982 on regional disarmament,1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of this question;
2. Takes note also of the fact that, at the request of the States having participated in the Madrid meeting in 1980, held on the basis of the provisions of the Final Act relating to the follow-up to the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Government of Spain has transmitted the Concluding Document of this meeting to the Secretary-General of the United Nations;
3. Expresses its satisfaction, in this connection, at the convening at Stockholm of the Conference on Confidence- and Security-building Measures and Disarmament in Europe, commencing on 17 January 1984, as a substantial and integral part of the multilateral process initiated by the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe;
4. Takes note also of the proposals made in the context of regional disarmament since the adoption of its resolution 37/100 F;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly regularly informed of the implementation of resolution 37/100 F, as well as of the activities carried out by the Secretariat, in particular the Department for Disarmament Affairs, and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, in the field of the regional approach to disarmament;
6. Decides to include in the agenda of its thirty-ninth session the item entitled "Regional disarmament: report of the Secretary-General".
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