Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly
- Author: UN General Assembly (40th sess. : 1985-1986)
- Document source:
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Date:
11 December 1985
Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives
The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General, Emphasizing the important role of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as of missions and representatives to international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, in the maintenance of international peace and the promotion of friendly relations among States and also the need for enhancing global understanding thereof, Convinced that respect for the principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations, in particular those aimed at ensuring the inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, is a basic prerequisite for the normal conduct of relations among States and for the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Deeply concerned about the continued large number of failures to respect the inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, and about the serious threat presented by such violations to the maintenance of normal and peaceful international relations, which are necessary for co-operation among States, Alarmed by the increase of acts of violence against diplomatic and consular representatives, as well as against representatives to international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, which endanger or take innocent lives and seriously impede the normal work of such representatives and officials, Expressing its sympathy for the victims of illegal acts against diplomatic and consular representatives and missions, as well as against representatives and missions to international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, Emphasizing the duty of States to take all appropriate steps, as required by international law:(a) To protect the premises of diplomatic and consular missions, as well as of missions to international intergovernmental organizations,
(b) To prevent any attacks on diplomatic and consular representatives, as well as on representatives to international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations,
(c) To apprehend the offenders and to bring them to justice,
Noting that, in spite of the call by the General Assembly at its previous sessions, not all States have yet become parties to the relevant conventions concerning the inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, Convinced that the reporting procedures established under General Assembly resolution 35/168 of 15 December 1980 and further elaborated in later Assembly resolutions are important steps in the efforts to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, Desiring to maintain and further strengthen those reporting procedures,1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;
2. Strongly condemns acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as against missions and representatives to international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, and emphasizes that such acts cannot be justified;
3. Emphasizes the importance of enhanced awareness throughout the world of the necessity of ensuring the protection, security and safety of such missions, representatives and officials, as well as of the role of the United Nations in this regard;
4. Urges States to observe and to implement the principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations and, in particular, to take all necessary measures in conformity with their international obligations to ensure effectively the protection, security and safety of all diplomatic and consular missions and representatives officially present in territory under their jurisdiction, including practicable measures to prohibit in their territories illegal activities of persons, groups and organizations that encourage, instigate, organize or engage in the perpetration of acts against the security and safety of such missions and representatives;
5. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures at the national and international levels to prevent any acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as against missions and representatives to international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, and, in accordance with national law and international treaties, to prosecute or extradite those who perpetrate such acts;
6. Recommends that States should co-operate closely through, inter alia, contacts between the diplomatic and consular missions and the receiving State, with regard to practical measures designed to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives and with regard to exchange of information on the circumstances of all serious violations thereof;
7. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the instruments relevant to the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives;
8. Calls upon States, in cases where a dispute arises in connection with a violation of the principles and rules of international law concerning the inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, to make use of the means for peaceful settlement of disputes, including the good offices of the Secretary-General;
9. Requests:
(a) All States to report to the Secretary-General as promptly as possible serious violations of the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives;
(b) The State in which the violation took place - and, to the extent applicable, the State where the alleged offender is present - to report as promptly as possible on measures taken to bring the offender to justice and eventually to communicate, in accordance with its laws, the final outcome of the proceedings against the offender, and on measures adopted with a view to preventing a repetition of such violations;
10. Requests the Secretary-General:
(a) To circulate to all States, upon receipt, the reports received by him pursuant to paragraph 9 above, unless the reporting State requests otherwise;
(b) When a serious violation has been reported pursuant to paragraph 9 (a) above, to draw the attention, when appropriate, of the States directly concerned to the reporting procedures provided for in paragraph 9 above;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to invite States to inform him of their views with respect to any measures needed to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives;
12. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-first session a report containing:
(a) Information on the state of ratification of, and accessions to, the instruments referred to in paragraph 7 above;
(b) The reports received and views expressed pursuant to paragraphs 9 and 11 above;
13. Further requests the Secretary-General to prepare and to circulate to all States, by 31 July 1986, a survey of the operation, since their establishment, of the reporting procedures provided for in paragraph 9 above, with a view, in particular, to the strengthening of those procedures;
14. Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-first session any views he may wish to express on the matters referred to in paragraphs 12 and 13 above;
15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-first session the item entitled "Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives: report of the Secretary-General"..
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