Status of the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

 

Status of the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid

  The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3068 (XXVIII) of 30 November 1973, by which it adopted and opened for signature and ratification the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, and its subsequent resolutions on the status of the Convention, Reaffirming its conviction that apartheid constitutes a total negation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, a gross violation of human rights and a crime against humanity, seriously threatening international peace and security, Taking note of the finding of the Group of Three of the Commission on Human Rights, established in accordance with article IX of the Convention, that the crime of apartheid is a form of the crime of genocide, Strongly condemning South Africa's continued policy of apartheid and its continued illegal occupation of Namibia, as well as its recent acts of aggression against Angola and other African States, Alarmed by the aggravation of the situation in South Africa, in particular the further escalation of ruthless repression by the Fascist-like apartheid regime, including the use of the armed forces against the opposing people and the imposition of virtual martial-law conditions intended to facilitate the brutal oppression of the black population, Condemning the continued collaboration of certain States and transnational corporations with the racist regime of South Africa in the political, economic, military and other fields as an encouragement to the intensification of its odious policy of apartheid, Firmly convinced that the legitimate struggle of the oppressed peoples in southern Africa against apartheid, racism and colonialism and for the effective exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence demands more than ever all necessary support by the international community and, in particular, further action by the Security Council in accordance with Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, Underlining that ratification of or accession to the Convention on a universal basis and the implementation of its provisions without delay are necessary for its effectiveness, and therefore will contribute to the eradication of the crime of apartheid,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid;

2. Commends those States parties to the Convention that have submitted their reports under article VII thereof;

3. Appeals once again to those States that have not yet done so to ratify or to accede to the Convention without further delay, in particular those States that have jurisdiction over transnational corporations operating in South Africa and Namibia and without whose co-operation such operations cannot be halted;

4. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Group of Three of the Commission on Human Rights, established in accordance with article IX of the Convention, and, in particular, of the conclusions and recommendations contained in that report;

5. Draws the attention of all States to the opinion expressed by the Group of Three in its report that article III of the Convention could apply to the actions of transnational corporations operating in South Africa;

6. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to intensify, in co-operation with the Special Committee against Apartheid, its efforts to compile periodically the progressive list of individuals, organizations, institutions and representatives of States deemed responsible for crimes enumerated in article II of the Convention, as well as those against whom or which legal proceedings have been undertaken;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the above-mentioned list to all States parties to the Convention and all Member States and to bring such facts to the attention of the public by all means of mass communication;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to invite the States parties to the Convention, the specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to provide the Commission on Human Rights with relevant information concerning the forms of the crime of apartheid, as described in article II of the Convention, committed by transnational corporations operating in South Africa;

9. Appeals to all States, United Nations organs, the specialized agencies and international and national non-governmental organizations to step up their activities in enhancing public awareness by denouncing the crimes committed by the racist regime of South Africa;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts, through appropriate channels, to disseminate information on the Convention and its implementation with a view to promoting further ratification of or accession to the Convention;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his next annual report under General Assembly resolution 3380 (XXX) of 10 November 1975 a special section concerning the implementation of the Convention..