A/RES/2674(XXV) GA

Resolutions adopted on the reports of the Third Comnuttee 75 2673 (XXV). Protection of journalists engaged in dangerous missions in areas of armed conflict The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2444 (XXIII) of 19 Decem- ber 1968, in which it invited the Secretary-General, in consultation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and other appropriate international organiza- tions, to study: (a) Steps which could be taken to secure the better application of existing humanitarian international con- ventions and rules in all armed conflicts, (b) The need for additional humanitarian interna- tional conventions or for other appropriate legal in- struments to ensure the better protection of civilians, prisoners and combatants in all armed conflicts, Recalling also the fundamental principle that a dis- tinction must be made at all times between combatants and persons not taking part in the hostilities, Considering that it is essential for the United Na- tions to obtain complete information concerninf armed conflicts and that journalists, whatever their nationality, have an important role to play in that regard, Noting with regret that journalists engaged in mis- sions in areas where an armed conflict is taking place sometimes suffer as a result of their professional duty, which is to inform world public opinion objectively, Bearing in mind the appeal made by the Secretary- General on 30 September 1970 on behalf of missing journalists, Recognizing that certain types of protection can be granted to journalists under: (a) Article 4 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, of 12 August 1949,18 ( b) Article 13 of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, of 12 August 1949,14 (c) Article 13 of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, of 12 August 1949,111 (d) Article 4 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,16 Being aware, however, that these provisions do not cover some categories of journalists engaged in danger- ous missions and do not correspond to their present needs, Convinced of the need for an additional humanitarian international instrument to ensure the better protec- tion of journalists engaged in dangerous missions, par- ticularly in areas where an armed conflict is taking place, 1. Expresses its grave concern about the fate of press correspondents carrying out dangerous missions; 2. Expresses its deepest regret that some of those correspondents have paid with their lives for their con- scientious approach to their missions; 3. Invites all States and all authorities parties to an armed conflict to respect and apply in all circumstances 18 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75 (1950), No. 972. H United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75 (1950), No. 970. 11 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75 (1950), No. 971. 1t United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75 (1950), No. 973. the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 in so far as they are applicable, in particular, to war correspondents who accompany armed forces but are not actually a part of them; 4. Invites the Economic and Social Council to re- quest the Commission on Human Rights to consider at its twenty-seventh session the possibility of preparing a draft international agreement ensuring the protection of journalists engaged in dangerous missions and pro- viding, inter alia, for the creation of a universally recognized and guaranteed identification document; S. Invites the Commission on Human Rights to consider this question as a matter of priority at its twenty-seventh session in order that a draft interna- tional agreeme:it may be adopted as soon as possible by the General Assembly or by some other appropriate international body; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and other appropriate international organizations, to sub- mit a report on this question to the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth session; 7. Decides to give the highest priority to the con- sideration of this question at its twenty-sixth session. 1922nd plenary meeting, 9 December 1970. 2674 (XXV). Respect for human rights in armed conflicts The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2444 (XXIII) of 19 I)e.. cember 1968 and 2597 (XXIV) of 16 December 1969 and noting resolution XXIII adopted by the Interna- tional Conference on Human Rights held at Teheran in 1968,17 Referring to resolution XIII and to the other per- tinent resolutions on human rights in armed conflicts adopted by the twenty-first International Conference of the Red Cross held at Istanbul in 1969,18 Expressing its deep concern in connexion with the fact that wars unleashed in violation of the Charter of the United Nations in several parts of the world lead to incalculable disasters and suffering among civilians, Having considered with appreciation the Secretary- General's report on respect for human rights in armed conflicts, 19 1. Solemnly reaffirms that, in order effectively to guarantee human rights, all States should devote their efforts to averting the unleashing of aggressive wars and armed conflicts that violate the Charter of the United Nation: and the provisions of the Declaration on Prin- ciples of International Law concerning Friendly Re- lations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations;20 2. Condemns the actions of countries which, in flagrant violation of the Charter, continue to conduct aggressive wars and defy the generally accepted prin- 17 Final Act of the International Conference on Human Rights (United Nations publication, Sales No.: E.68.XIV.2), p. 18. 1s See A/7720, annex I, section D. 19 A/8052. 20 Resolution 2625 (XXV). 76 General Aasembly-Twenty-fifth Ses~ion ciples of the Geneva Protocol of 192521 and the Geneva Conventions of 1949 ;22 3. Considers that the principles of the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and the Geneva Conventions of 1949 should be strictly observed by all States and that States violating these international instruments should be con- demned and held responsible to the world community; 4. Affirms that the participants in resistance move- ments and the freedom fighters in southern Africa and territories under colonial and alien domination and foreign occupation, struggling for their liberation and self-determination, should be treated, in case of their arrest, as prisoners of war in accordance with the prin- ciples of the Hague Convention of 190723 and the Geneva Conventions of 1949; S. Considers that air bombardments of civilian populations and the use of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases and of all analogous liquids, materials and devices, as well as bacteriological (biological) weapons, constitute a flagrant violation of the Hague Conven- tion of 1907, the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and the Geneva Conventions of 1949; 6. Recognizes the necessity of developing additional international instruments providing for the protection of civilian populations and freedom fighters against colonial and foreign domination as well as against racist regimes. 1922nd plenary meeting, 9 December 1970. 2675 (XXV). Basic principles for the protection of civilian popnlations in armed conflicts The General Assembly, Noting that in the present century the international community has accepted an increased role and new responsibilities for the alleviation of human suffering in any form and in particular during armed conflicts, RecalUng that to this end a series of international instruments has been adopted, including the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, 2' Recalling further its resolution 2444 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968 on respect for human rights in armed conflicts, Bearing in mind the need for measures to ensure the better protection of human rights in armed conflicts of all types, Noting with appreciation the work that is being under- taken in this respect by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Noting with appreciation the reports of the Secretary- General on respect for human rights in armed con- fl.icts,211 Convinced that civilian populations are in special need of increased protection in time of armed conflicts, Recognizing the importance of the strict application of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection 21 League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV (1929), No. 2138. · 22 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75 (1950), Nos. 970-973. 11a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Preas, 1915). 24 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75 (1950), Noa. 970-973. 2G A/7720 and A/8052. of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,26 Affirms the following basic principles for the protec- tion of civilian populations in armed conflicts, without prejudice to their future elaboration within the frame- work of progressive development of the international law of armed conflict: 1. Fundamental human rights, as accepted in international law and laid down in international in- struments, continue to apply fully in situations of armed conflict. 2. In the conduct of military operations during armed conflicts, a distinction must be made at all times between persons actively taking part in the hostilities and civilian populations. 3. In the conduct of military operations, every effort should be made to spare civilian populations from the ravages of war, and all necessary precau- tions should be taken to avoid injury, loss or damage to civilian populations. 4. Civilian populations as such should not be the object of military operations. 5. Dwellings and other installations that are used only by civilian populations should not be the object of military operations. 6. Places or areas designated for the sole protec- tion of civilians, such as hospital zones or similar refuges, should not be the ob1ect of military opera- tions. 7. Civilian populations, or individual members thereof, should not be the object of reprisals, forcible transfers or other assaults on their integrity. 8. The provision of international relief to civilian populations is in conformity with the humanitarian principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments in the field of human rights. The Declaration of Principles for International Humanitarian Relief to the Civilian Population in Disaster Situations, as laid down in resolution XXVI adopted by the twenty-first International Con- ference of the Red Cross, 27 shall apply in situations of armed conflict, and all parties to a conflict should make every effort to facilitate this application. 1922nd plenary meeting, 9 December 1970. 2676 (XXV). Respect for human rights in armed conflicts The General Assembly, Recalling that the Preamble of the Charter of the United Nations affirms faith in the dignity and worth of the human person, Recalling that the United Nations has as one of its purposes the achievement of international co-opera- tion in solving international problems of a humanitarian character and the promotion of respect for human rights, Reiterating the obligation of Member States for the urgent termination of all armed aggression, as en- visaged in Articles I and 2 of the Charter and in other relevant documents of the United Nations, 26 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75 (1950), No. 973. 27 International Review of the Red Cross, No. 104 (Novem- ber 1969), p. 632.

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