United Nations General Assembly A/RES/60/159 Distr.: General 28 February 2006 Sixtieth session Agenda item 71 (b) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 16 December 2005 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II))] 60/159. Human rights in the administration of justice The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the principles embodied in articles 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1 and the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols thereto, 2 in particular article 6 of the Covenant, which states, inter alia, that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life and prohibits the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by persons below 18 years of age, and article 10, which provides that all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person, Bearing in mind also the relevant provisions of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 3 the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 4 in particular the right to equal treatment before tribunals and all other organs administering justice, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 5 in particular article 37, according to which every child deprived of liberty shall be treated in a manner that takes into account the needs of persons of his or her age, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 6 in particular the obligation to treat men and women equally in all stages of procedures in courts and tribunals, Calling attention to the numerous international standards in the field of the administration of justice, Convinced that the independence and impartiality of the judiciary are essential prerequisites for the protection of human rights, good governance and democracy as well as for ensuring that there is no discrimination in the administration of justice, and should therefore be respected in all circumstances, _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. 4 Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. 5 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 6 Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. 2 05-49714