A/HRC/RES/32/12
contained in the Arms Trade Treaty adopted by the General Assembly on 2 April 2013, 1
which entered into force on 24 December 2014, as well as in other relevant instruments,
Reaffirming that all efforts should be made to ensure the cessation of all violations
and abuses of, and the full respect for, international human rights law and international
humanitarian law in armed conflicts and in peacetime,
Bearing in mind the adoption by the General Assembly of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development,2 including target 16.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals, to
significantly reduce illicit arms flows,
1.
Expresses its deep concern at the fact that arms transfers, particularly those
that are illicit or unregulated, may seriously undermine the human rights of individuals,
especially women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable
groups;
2.
Notes with alarm that such arms transfers can have a seriously negative
impact on the human rights of women and girls, who may be disproportionately affected by
the widespread availability of arms, as it may increase the risk of sexual and gender-based
violence, and of violence against children;
3.
Urges all States to refrain from transferring arms when they assess, in
accordance with applicable national procedures and international obligations and standards,
that such arms are sufficiently likely to be used to commit or facilitate serious violations or
abuses of international human rights law or international humanitarian law;
4.
Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights to prepare a report, in consultation with States, United Nations agencies and other
relevant stakeholders, on the impact of arms transfers on the enjoyment of human rights,
and to present it to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fifth session, in order to provide
States and other relevant stakeholders with elements to assess the relationship between
arms transfers and human rights law that may guide them to strengthen efforts to effectively
protect human rights;
5.
Invites all relevant special procedures, commissions of inquiry and human
rights treaty bodies to bear the present resolution in mind, within the framework of their
respective mandates;
6.
Decides to remain seized of this issue.
43rd meeting
1 July 2016
[Adopted by a recorded vote of 32 to 5, with 10 abstentions. The voting was as follows:
In favour:
Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Burundi,
China, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana,
India, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Nigeria,
Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation,
South Africa, Switzerland, Togo, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela
(Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam
Against:
1
2
2
General Assembly resolution 67/234 B.
General Assembly resolution 70/1.