A/HRC/RES/46/15
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
1 April 2021
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Forty-sixth session
22 February–24 March 2021
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council
on 23 March 2021
46/15.
Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment: the roles and responsibilities of police and other law
enforcement officials
The Human Rights Council,
Recalling all resolutions on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the
Human Rights Council, in particular Council resolution 31/31 of 24 March 2016,
Recalling also that the prohibition of torture is a jus cogens norm and that freedom
from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a nonderogable right under international law, including international human rights law and
international humanitarian law, which must be respected and protected under all
circumstances, including in times of international and non-international armed conflict or
disturbance and tension or any other public emergency, that the absolute prohibition of torture
and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is affirmed in relevant
international instruments and that legal and procedural safeguards against such acts must not
be subject to measures that would circumvent this right,
Recalling further the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, the Basic
Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, the Body of
Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment,
the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures
for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules), the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment
of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) and the United Nations Rules for the Protection of
Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty (the Havana Rules),
Recognizing that police and other law enforcement officials play a vital role in the
protection of the right to life, liberty and security of person, and in serving the community
and protecting all persons against acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment, and that, in the performance of their duties, law enforcement
officials are obligated to respect and protect the human rights of all persons,
Convinced that public confidence in police and other law enforcement officials is
paramount for their ability to perform their functions effectively and depends on, inter alia,
their respect for the human rights, fundamental freedoms and human dignity of all persons,
GE.21-04341(E)