The rights of peoples to self-determination – CHR resolutions

The Commission on Human Rights,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, concerning the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and the importance of its implementation,

Recalling also its resolutions 3 (XXXI) of 11 February 1975 and 9 (XXXII) of 5 March 1976,

Mindful of the different resolutions adopted by the General Assembly on the recruitment and employment of mercenaries against national liberation movements and sovereign States, particularly resolutions 2465 (XXIII) of 20 December 1968, 2708 (XXV) of 14 December 1970 and 3314 (XXIX) of 14 December 1974,

Taking into account General Assembly resolution 32/14 of 7 November 1977,

Noting with interest the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the International Conference in Support of the Peoples of Zimbabwe and Namibia, held at Maputo in 1977, and the declaration adopted by the World Conference for Action against Apartheid, held at Lagos in August 1977,

Welcoming the declaration adopted by the First Afro-Arab Summit Conference, held at Cairo in March 1977, on this question,

Stressing the importance of the effective realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, national sovereignty and territorial integrity and of the speedy granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples as imperatives for the enjoyment of human rights,

Expressing its profound indignation at the continued and serious violations of the human rights of the peoples still under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation, the continuation of the illegal occupation of Namibia and South Africa attempts to dismember its territory, the perpetuation of the racist minority regimes in Zimbabwe and South Africa and the denial to the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights,

1. Calls upon all States to implement the resolutions of the United Nations regarding to self-determination of peoples under colonial domination or foreign occupation;

2. Reaffirms the legitimacy of the peoples' struggle for independence, territorial integrity and liberation from colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation by all available means, including armed struggle;

3. Reaffirms also the inalienable right of the peoples of Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, of the Palestinian people and of all peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation to self-determination, national independence, territorial integrity, national unity and sovereignty without external interference;

4. Condemns the practice of using mercenaries against national liberation movements and sovereign States as a criminal act and the mercenaries themselves as criminals, and calls upon the Governments of all countries to enact legislation declaring the recruitment, financing and training of mercenaries in their territory and their transit through it to be punishable offenses and prohibiting their nationals from serving as mercenaries, and to inform the Commission of the legislation enacted to that effect;

5. Condemns in particular the policy of those countries which, in disregard of the wishes of the major part of the international community as expressed in numerous United Nations resolutions, maintain political, economic, military or sporting relations with the racist regimes in southern Africa and elsewhere, thereby encouraging them to persist in their suppression of the aspirations of peoples to self-determination and independence;

6. Censures all government policies which do not recognize in practice the right to self-determination and independence of all peoples still under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation, notably the peoples of southern Africa and the Palestinian people, and draws attention to the grave responsibility incurred by the authors and promoters of those policies in the eyes of the community of nations and world public opinion;

7. Expresses its appreciation for the material and other forms of assistance which the peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation continue to receive from Governments, United Nations agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and requests the maximization of this assistance;

8. Decides to continue giving the question "The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation" priority consideration at its thirty-fifth session.

—–

*/  Adopted at the 1440th meeting, on 14 February 1978, by a roll-call vote of 24 in favour, 3 against and 5 abstentions. See chap. VII.