A/RES/57/214
Acknowledging the entry into force on 1 July 2002 of the Rome Statute
establishing the International Criminal Court, 5 thereby contributing to ensuring
prosecution and the prevention of impunity concerning extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions,
Convinced of the need for effective action to combat and to eliminate the
abhorrent practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, which
represent a flagrant violation of the right to life,
1.
Strongly condemns once again all the extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary
executions that continue to take place throughout the world;
2.
Demands that all Governments ensure that the practice of extrajudicial,
summary or arbitrary executions is brought to an end and that they take effective
action to combat and eliminate the phenomenon in all its forms;
3.
Acknowledges the historic significance of the establishment of the
International Criminal Court on 1 July 2002, and the fact that a significant number
of States have already signed, ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute, 5 and calls
upon all other States to consider becoming parties to the Statute;
4.
Notes with deep concern that impunity continues to be a major cause of
the perpetuation of violations of human rights, including extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions;
5.
Reiterates the obligation of all Governments to conduct exhaustive and
impartial investigations into all suspected cases of extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions, to identify and bring to justice those responsible, while
ensuring the right of every person to a fair and public hearing by a competent,
independent and impartial tribunal established by law, to grant adequate
compensation within a reasonable time to the victims or their families and to adopt
all necessary measures, including legal and judicial measures, in order to bring an
end to impunity and to prevent the further occurrence of such executions;
6.
Reaffirms the obligation of Governments to ensure the protection of the
right to life of all persons under their jurisdiction, and calls upon Governments
concerned to investigate promptly and thoroughly all cases of killings committed in
the name of passion or in the name of honour, all killings committed for any
discriminatory reason, including sexual orientation, racially motivated violence
leading to the death of the victim, killings of persons for reasons related to their
peaceful activities as human rights defenders or as journalists, as well as other cases
where a person’s right to life has been violated, and to bring those responsible to
justice before a competent, independent and impartial judiciary and ensure that such
killings, including killings committed by security forces, paramilitary groups or
private forces, are neither condoned nor sanctioned by government officials or
personnel;
7.
Urges Governments to undertake all necessary and possible measures to
prevent loss of life, in particular that of children, during public demonstrations,
internal and communal violence, civil unrest and public emergencies or armed
conflicts, and to ensure that the police and security forces receive thorough training
in human rights matters, in particular with regard to restrictions on the use of force
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5
Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment
of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June–17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A.
2