A/RES/51/94
Page 2
reports concerning harassment, ill-treatment and intimidation of witnesses of
disappearances or relatives of persons who have disappeared,
Convinced that further efforts are needed to promote wider awareness of
and respect for the Declaration, and taking note in this regard of the report
of the Secretary-General,3
Bearing in mind Commission on Human Rights resolution 1996/30 of
19 April 1996,4
1.
Reaffirms that any act of enforced disappearance is an offence to
human dignity and a grave and flagrant violation of the human rights and
fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights1
and reaffirmed and developed in other international instruments in this field,
as well as a violation of the rules of international law;
2.
Reiterates its invitation to all Governments to take appropriate
legislative or other steps to prevent and suppress the practice of enforced
disappearances, in keeping with the Declaration on the Protection of All
Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and to take action to that end at the
national and regional levels and in cooperation with the United Nations,
including through technical assistance;
3.
Calls upon Governments to take steps to ensure that, when a state
of emergency is introduced, the protection of human rights is ensured, in
particular as regards the prevention of enforced disappearances;
4.
Reminds Governments of the need to ensure that their competent
authorities conduct prompt and impartial inquiries in all circumstances,
whenever there is reason to believe that an enforced disappearance has
occurred in territory under their jurisdiction, and that, if allegations are
confirmed, perpetrators should be prosecuted;
5.
Once again urges the Governments concerned to take steps to
protect the families of disappeared persons against any intimidation or illtreatment to which they might be subjected;
6.
Encourages States, as some have already done, to provide concrete
information on measures taken to give effect to the Declaration, as well as
obstacles encountered;
7.
Requests all States to consider the possibility of disseminating
the text of the Declaration in their respective national languages and to
facilitate its dissemination in the national and local languages;
8.
Notes the action taken by non-governmental organizations to
encourage implementation of the Declaration, and invites them to continue to
facilitate its dissemination and to contribute to the work of the
Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities;
3
A/51/561.
4
See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1996, Supplement
No. 3 (E/1996/23), chap. II, sect. A.
/...