A/RES/73/304 GA

United Nations A/RES/73/304 General Assembly Distr.: General 2 July 2019 19-11082 (E) 050719 *1911082* Seventy-third session Agenda item 74 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 28 June 2019 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/73/L.94 and A/73/L.94/Add.1)] 73/304. Towards torture-free trade: examining the feasibility, scope and parameters for possible common international standards The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming its respect for and commitment to international law, including international human rights law, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1 the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights2 and the Second Optional Protocol thereto 3 and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment4 and the Optional Protocol thereto,5 Reaffirming its resolution 72/163 of 19 December 2017, in which it called upon all States to take appropriate effective legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures to prevent and prohibit the production, trade, export, import and use of equipment that has no practical use other than for the purpose of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Noting and encouraging relevant initiatives, undertaken at the international, regional and subregional levels between States, including those of the United Nations, and the role played by non-governmental organizations and civil society, to enhance cooperation and improve information exchange and transparency in the field of trade in goods used for (a) capital punishment, (b) torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, __________________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1642, No. 14668. 4 Ibid., vol. 1465, No. 24841. 5 Ibid., vol. 2375, No. 24841. A/RES/73/304 Towards torture-free trade: examining the feasibility, scope and parameters for possible common international standards 19-11082 2/2 Recognizing that the absence of common international standards on the import, export and transfer of goods used for (a) capital punishment, (b) torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a contributory factor to facilitate the availability of these goods and enable such practices, Acknowledging the growing support across all regions for concluding an international instrument, negotiated on a non-discriminatory, transparent and multilateral basis, to establish common international standards for the import, export and transfer of goods used for (a) capital punishment, (b) torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Acknowledging also the importance of international trade and the need to ensure that the establishment of non-discriminatory, transparent, multilaterally agreed common international standards for the import, export and transfer of goods used for (a) capital punishment, (b) torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment does not create barriers to international trade in other goods, Taking note of the launching of the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade, 1. Requests the Secretary-General, with the provisions of resolution 72/163 in mind, to seek the views of Member States on the feasibility and possible scope of a range of options to establish common international standards for the import, export and transfer of goods used for (a) capital punishment, (b) torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and to submit a report on the subject to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session; 2. Also requests the Secretary-General, on the basis of his report to be submitted to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session, to establish a group of governmental experts, to be chosen on the basis of equitable geographical distribution and guided by the need to appoint individuals reflecting the highest standards of efficiency, competence in the fields of human rights and/or international trade, and integrity, to examine, commencing in 2020, the feasibility, scope of the goods to be included and draft parameters for a range of options to establish common international standards on the matter and to transmit the report of the group of experts to the Assembly for consideration at its seventy-fifth session; 3. Further requests the Secretary-General to provide the group of experts with any assistance and services that may be required for the discharge of its task; 4. Decides that the cost of all activities that may arise from the implementation of the present resolution should be met from voluntary contributions. 95th plenary meeting 28 June 2019

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