A/RES/67/166
Human rights in the administration of justice
Welcoming the entry into force of the International Convention for the
Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, 7 and encouraging all States
that have not done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention,
Welcoming also the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women
Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules), 8
Welcoming further the United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to
Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems, 9
Taking note of general comments No. 21 on the humane treatment of persons
deprived of their liberty 10 and No. 32 on the right to equality before courts and
tribunals and to a fair trial, 11 adopted by the Human Rights Committee, and general
comments No. 10 on children’s rights in juvenile justice 12 and No. 13 on the right of
the child to freedom from all forms of violence, 13 adopted by the Committee on the
Rights of the Child,
Noting with appreciation the important work in the field of the administration
of justice of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development
Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Department of Peacekeeping
Operations of the Secretariat and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and
the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) as well as the work of the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children and the
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict,
Noting with satisfaction the work of the Interagency Panel on Juvenile Justice
and of its members, in particular their coordination in providing technical advice
and assistance in juvenile justice, and the active participation of civil society in their
respective work,
Convinced that the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and the
integrity of the judicial system as well as an independent legal profession are
essential prerequisites for the protection of human rights, the rule of law, good
governance and democracy and for ensuring that there is no discrimination in the
administration of justice and should therefore be respected in all circumstances,
Recalling that every State should provide an effective framework of remedies
to redress human rights grievances or violations,
Emphasizing that the right to access to justice for all forms an important basis
for strengthening the rule of law through the administration of justice,
Mindful of the importance of ensuring respect for the rule of law and human
rights in the administration of justice as a crucial contribution to building peace and
justice and ending impunity,
_______________
7
Resolution 61/177, annex.
Resolution 65/229, annex.
9
Resolution 67/187, annex.
10
Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/47/40),
annex VI.B.
11
Ibid., Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/62/40), vol. I, annex VI.
12
Ibid., Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 41 (A/63/41), annex IV.
13
Ibid., Sixty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 41 (A/67/41), annex V.
8
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