United Nations
A/RES/63/138
General Assembly
Distr.: General
5 March 2009
Sixty-third session
Agenda item 65
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 11 December 2008
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/63/L.48 and Add.1)]
63/138. Safety and security of humanitarian personnel
and protection of United Nations personnel
The General Assembly,
Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on strengthening of the
coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations,
Recalling all relevant resolutions on safety and security of humanitarian
personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, including its resolution 62/95
of 17 December 2007, as well as Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of
26 August 2003 and relevant statements by the President of the Council,
Recalling also all Security Council resolutions and presidential statements and
reports of the Secretary-General to the Council on the protection of civilians in
armed conflict,
Recalling further all relevant provisions of international law, including
international humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as all relevant
treaties, 1
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Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules
of international law, including international humanitarian law,
Reaffirming also the principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and
independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance,
Recalling that primary responsibility under international law for the security
and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated
personnel lies with the Government hosting a United Nations operation conducted
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They include, notably, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of
13 February 1946, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of
21 November 1947, the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel of
9 December 1994, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated
Personnel of 8 December 2005 (not yet in force), the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols to the Geneva
Conventions of 8 June 1977, and Amended Protocol II of 3 May 1996 to the Convention on Prohibitions or
Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively
Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects of 10 October 1980.
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