Importance of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination and of the speedy granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights, G.A. res. 48/94, 48 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 199, U.N. Doc. A/48/49 (1993).


The General Assembly,

Reaffirming its faith in the importance of the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960,

Reaffirming also the importance of the universal 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 full enjoyment of all human rights,

Reaffirming further the obligation of all Member States to comply with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the resolutions of the United Nations regarding the exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial and foreign domination,

Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights,

Considering the urgent need of Namibia for assistance in its efforts to reconstruct and strengthen its fledgling economic and social structures,

Recalling the Abuja Declaration on South Africa, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its twenty-seventh ordinary session, held at Abuja from 3 to 5 June 1991, and the statement on developments in South Africa, adopted by the Ad Hoc Committee of the Organization of African Unity on Southern Africa at its extraordinary session of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, held on 29 September 1993,

Affirming the need to exercise vigilance with respect to developments in South Africa to ensure that the common objective of the international community and the peoples of South Africa is achieved by the establishment of a united, democratic and non-racial South Africa without deviation or obstruction,

Recalling the signing of the General Peace Agreement for Mozambique at Rome on 4 October 1992, which provides for the termination of the armed conflict in that country,

Reaffirming the national unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros,

Deeply concerned by Israel's continuing occupation of parts of southern Lebanon and its frequent attacks against Lebanese territory and people, as well as its refusal to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978,

Bearing in mind United Nations resolutions related to the question of Palestine,

Taking note of the recent positive evolution in the Middle East peace process, in particular the signing on 13 September 1993 of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization,

1. Calls upon all States to implement fully and faithfully all the relevant resolutions of the United Nations regarding the exercise of the right to self-determination and independence by peoples under colonial and foreign domination;

2. Reaffirms the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial domination, apartheid and foreign occupation, in all its forms and by all available means;

3. Reaffirms also the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and all peoples under foreign occupation and colonial domination to self- determination, independence and sovereignty;

4. Calls upon those Governments which do not recognize the right to self-determination and independence of all peoples still under colonial domination, alien subjugation and foreign occupation to do so;

5. Calls upon Israel to refrain from violation of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people and from denial of its right to self- determination;

6. Urges all States, the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as other international organizations, to extend their support to the Palestinian people through its sole and legitimate representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization, in its struggle to regain its right to self-determination and independence in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations;

7. Urgently appeals to all States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations to render assistance to Namibia in order to enhance its efforts to promote democracy and economic development;

8. Strongly urges the Government of South Africa to take additional steps to implement fully the provisions of the statement on developments in South Africa, adopted on 29 September 1993 by the Ad Hoc Committee of the Organization of African Unity on Southern Africa, in order to achieve the objectives of the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa;

9. Calls upon all parties to refrain immediately from acts of violence and calls upon the Government of South Africa to exercise its responsibility to end the ongoing violence through, inter alia, strict adherence to the National Peace Accord signed on 14 September 1991;

10. Calls upon all signatories to the National Peace Accord to manifest their commitment to peace by fully implementing its provisions, and calls upon other parties to contribute to the attainment of its objectives;

11. Strongly condemns the establishment and use of armed groups with a view to pitting them against the national liberation movements;

12. Demands that the Government of South Africa repeal the security legislation that remains in force, which inhibits free and peaceful political activity;

13. Requests the Secretary-General to act speedily to implement Security Council resolution 772 (1992) of 17 August 1992 in its entirety, including those parts pertaining to the investigation of criminal conduct and the monitoring of all armed formations in the country;

14. Demands the full application of the mandatory arms embargo against South Africa, imposed under Security Council resolution 418 (1977) of 4 November 1977, by all countries and more particularly by those countries which maintain military and nuclear cooperation with the Government of South Africa and continue to supply it with related materiel;

15. Appeals to the international community, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/82 of 16 December 1992, to continue to extend assistance to Lesotho to enable it to fulfil its international humanitarian obligations towards refugees;

16. Pays tribute to the Government and people of Angola for their noble contribution to the evolving climate of peace in southern Angola, and addresses its strongest appeal to the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola to undertake to commit itself to the peace process that will lead to a comprehensive settlement in Angola on the basis of the Peace Accords;

17. Demands that the Government of South Africa pay compensation to Angola for damages caused, in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions of the Security Council;

18. Demands also that the Government of South Africa pay full and adequate compensation to Botswana for the loss of life and damage to property resulting from the unprovoked and unwarranted military attacks of 14 June 1985, 19 May 1986 and 20 June 1988 on the capital of Botswana;

19. Calls upon the international community to continue to extend its generous support to the ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring respect for and the successful implementation of the General Peace Agreement for Mozambique and at assisting the Government of Mozambique in the establishment of lasting peace and democracy and in the promotion of an effective programme of national reconstruction in that country;

20. Fully supports the Secretary-General in his efforts to implement the plan for the settlement of the question of Western Sahara by organizing, in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, a referendum for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara;

21. Notes the contacts between the Government of the Comoros and the Government of France in the search for a just solution to the problem of the integration of the Comorian island of Mayotte into the Comoros, in accordance with the resolutions of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations on the question;

22. Strongly condemns the continued violation of the human rights of the peoples still under colonial domination and alien subjugation;

23. Calls for a substantial increase in all forms of assistance given by all States, United Nations organs, the specialized agencies and non- governmental organizations to the victims of racism, racial discrimination and apartheid through anti-apartheid organizations and national liberation movements recognized by the Organization of African Unity;

24. Reaffirms that the practice of using mercenaries against sovereign States and national liberation movements constitutes a criminal act, and calls upon the Governments of all countries to enact legislation declaring the recruitment, financing and training of mercenaries in their territories and the transit of mercenaries through their territories to be punishable offences and prohibiting their nationals from serving as mercenaries, and to report on such legislation to the Secretary-General;

25. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all persons detained or imprisoned as a result of their struggle for self-determination and independence, full respect for their fundamental individual rights and compliance with article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, under which no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment;

26. Expresses its appreciation for the material and other forms of assistance that peoples under colonial rule continue to receive from Governments, organizations of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, and calls for a substantial increase in that assistance;

27. Urges all States, the specialized agencies and other competent organizations of the United Nations system to do their utmost to ensure the full implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and to intensify their efforts to support peoples under colonial, foreign and racist domination in their just struggle for self-determination and independence;

28. Decides to consider this question at its forty-ninth session under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination".

85th plenary meeting
20 December 1993


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