The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,
Conscious of the need to develop and strengthen friendly
relations and cooperation among States,
Convinced that respect for the principles and rules of
international law governing diplomatic and consular relations
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,
Alarmed by the repeated acts of violence against diplomatic
and consular representatives, as well as against representatives
of 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,
Concerned at the failure to respect the inviolability of
diplomatic and consular missions and representatives,
Recalling that, without prejudice to their privileges and
immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges
and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving
State,
Recalling also that diplomatic and consular premises must
not be used in any manner incompatible with diplomatic or consular
functions,
Emphasizing the duty of States to take all appropriate
measures as required by international law, including measures
of a preventive nature, and to bring offenders to justice,
Welcoming measures already taken by States to this end
in conformity with their international obligations,
Convinced that the role of the United Nations, which includes
the reporting procedures established under General Assembly resolution
35/168 of 15 December 1980 and further elaborated in later Assembly
resolutions, is important in promoting efforts to enhance the
protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions
and representatives,
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 of international intergovernmental
organizations and officials of such organizations, and emphasizes
that such acts can never be justified;
3. Urges States to observe, implement and enforce the principles
and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular
relations and, in particular, to ensure, in conformity with their
international obligations, the protection, security and safety
of the missions, representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph
2 above officially present in territories under their jurisdiction,
including practical 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, representatives and
officials;
4. Also urges States to take all necessary measures at
the national and international levels to prevent any acts of violence
against the missions, representatives and officials mentioned
in paragraph 2 above and to bring offenders to justice;
5. Recommends that States should cooperate 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 the exchange
of information on the circumstances of all serious violations
thereof;
6. Further urges States to take all appropriate measures,
in accordance with international law, at the national and international
levels to prevent any abuse of diplomatic or consular privileges
and immunities, in particular serious abuses, including those
involving acts of violence;
7. Recommends that States should cooperate closely with
the State in whose territory abuses of diplomatic and consular
privileges and immunities may have occurred, including by exchanging
information and providing assistance to its judicial authorities
in order to bring offenders to justice;
8. 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;
9. Also calls upon States, in cases where a dispute arises
in connection with a violation of their international obligations
concerning the protection of the missions or the security of the
representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above,
to make use of the means for peaceful settlement of disputes,
including the good offices of the Secretary- General, and requests
the Secretary-General, when he deems it appropriate, to offer
his good offices to the States directly concerned;
10. Requests all States to report to the Secretary-General
in accordance with paragraph 9 of resolution 42/154 of 7 December
1987;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to issue a report on
the item, in accordance with paragraph 12 of resolution 42/154,
containing also an analytical summary of the reports received
under paragraph 10 above, on an annual basis, as well as to proceed
with his other tasks pursuant to the same resolution;
12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fifty-first session the item entitled "Consideration of effective
measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic
and consular missions and representatives".
84th plenary meeting
9 December 1994