A/HRC/RES/32/12
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
15 July 2016
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-second session
Agenda item 3
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 1 July 2016
32/12.
Impact of arms transfers on human rights
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights,
Reaffirming that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person and is
entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights can be fully realized,
Recalling the right to self-defence of States and their duty to promote and protect the
human rights of all individuals within their territory,
Recalling also the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Prevention
and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, the
Additional Protocols thereto of 8 June 1977, other international human rights law and
international humanitarian law instruments, and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of
Action,
Recalling further General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, and
Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 and decision 5/101 of 18 June 2007, and
resolution 16/21 of 25 March 2011,
Recalling its resolution 24/35 of 27 September 2013,
Recalling in particular that the Human Rights Council has the mandate to, inter alia,
serve as a forum for dialogue on thematic issues on all human rights,
Acknowledging that millions of people around the world are affected by serious
human rights violations and abuses committed or facilitated by the irresponsible use of
arms,
Acknowledging also that human rights law and international humanitarian law are
complementary and mutually reinforcing,
Recalling the principles and provisions relating to international human rights law
and international humanitarian law, and to the promotion of responsible action by States, as
GE.16-12182(E)