A/RES/71/198
Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
Noting that enforced disappearances can end up in extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions, recalling the importance in this regard of the International
Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, 6 and
calling upon all States which have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying
or acceding to the Convention,
Acknowledging that international human rights law and international
humanitarian law are complementary and mutually reinforcing,
Noting with deep concern the growing number of civilians and persons hors de
combat killed in situations of armed conflict and internal strife, and that women and
girls are disproportionately affected by conflict, as reco gnized in Security Council
resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security and
subsequent resolutions on the matter,
Noting with deep concern also the continuing instances of the arbitrary
deprivation of life, resulting from, inter alia, the imposition and implementation of
capital punishment when carried out in a manner that violates international law,
Recalling the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and
Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules) 7 and the
adoption of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of
Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), 8
Deeply concerned about acts that can amount to extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions committed against persons exercising their rights of peaceful
assembly and freedom of expression in all regions of the world,
Deeply concerned also about killings committed by non-State actors, including
terrorist groups and criminal organizations, which may amount to abuses of
international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law,
Acknowledging that extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions may
under certain circumstances amount to genocide, crimes against humanity or war
crimes, as defined in international law, including in the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court, 9 and recalling in this regard that each individual
State has the responsibility to protect its populations from such crimes, as set out
by the General Assembly in its resolutions 60/1 of 16 September 2005 and 63/308
of 14 September 2009,
Convinced of the need for effective action to prevent, combat and eliminate the
abhorrent practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, which
represent flagrant violations of international human rights law, particularly the right
to life, as well as of international humanitarian law,
1.
Reiterates its strong condemnation of all the extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions that continue to occur throughout the world;
2.
Demands that all States ensure that the practice of extrajudicial, summary
or arbitrary executions is brought to an end and that they take effective action to
prevent, combat and eliminate the phenomenon in all its forms and manifestations;
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6
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2716, No. 48088.
Resolution 65/229, annex.
8
Resolution 70/175, annex.
9
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2187, No. 38544.
7
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