United Nations
A/RES/56/143
General Assembly
Distr.: General
1 February 2002
Fifty-sixth session
Agenda item 119 (a)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/56/583/Add.1)]
56/143. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment
The General Assembly,
Recalling article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1 article 7 of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 2 the Declaration on the
Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 3 and its resolution 39/46 of
10 December 1984, by which it adopted and opened for signature, ratification and
accession the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment, and all its subsequent relevant resolutions,
Recalling that freedom from torture is a right that must be protected under all
circumstances, including in times of internal or international disturbance or armed
conflict,
Recalling also that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna
from 14 to 25 June 1993, firmly declared that efforts to eradicate torture should,
first and foremost, be concentrated on prevention and called for the early adoption
of an optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which is intended to establish a preventive
system of regular visits to places of detention,
Urging all Governments to promote the speedy and full implementation of the
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on
Human Rights on 25 June 1993, 4 in particular the section relating to freedom from
torture, in which it is stated that States should abrogate legislation leading to
impunity for those responsible for grave violations of human rights, such as torture,
and prosecute such violations, thereby providing a firm basis for the rule of law,
Recalling its resolution 36/151 of 16 December 1981, in which it noted with
deep concern that acts of torture took place in various countries, recognized the
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1
Resolution 217 A (III).
See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
3
Resolution 3452 (XXX), annex.
4
A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III.
2
01 48500