A/RES/740(VIII) GA

-----··-·-·· ...... Reeolutiom adopted on the reporta of the Third Committee 19 789 (VID). Development of the work of the United Natiom for wider observance of, and reepeet for, human rights and fundamental f reedom1 throughout the world The General Assembly, Considering that, under Articles 55 and ?6 of the Charter the Members of the United Nations have pledgetl' themselves to take joint and separate action to promote universal respect for, and observance _of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for '.'-1! with- out distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Desiring to advance as rapidly as possible respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental free- doms and to stimulate Member States to press forward toward attaining the goals set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Noting that the Commission on Human Rights, at its ninth ses.sion, considered three draft resolutio!ls 9 concerning the development of the work of the United Nations for wider observance of, and respect for, human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the world, Noting that the Economic and Social Council, in resolution 501 C (XVI) of 3 August 1953, requested Member States and specialized agencies to submit their comments on the draft resolutions and the amend- ments thereto to the Secretary-General in so far as possible by 1 October 1953, Requests the Economic and Social Council to ask the Commission on Human Rights: (a) To consider, at its tenth session, the three draft resolutions concerning the development of the work of the United Nations for wider observance of, and re- spect for, human rights and fundamental fr~edoms throughout the world, and to prepare, if possible, to supplement the provisions of the Covenants on Human Rights, recommendations thereon, in order that these recommendations may be considered by the Economic and Social Council at its eighteenth session; ( b) To take account, at its tenth session, of the comments made by Member States and specialized agencies and of the views expressed on this subject at the eighth session of the General Assembly. 460th plenary meeting, 28 November 1953. 740 (VIII). Evidence of existence of forced labour The General Assembly, Recalling the determination of the peoples of the United Nations under the Charter to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the human person, Regretting that the Economic and Social Council at its sixteenth session was unable to consider the con- clusions contained in the report 10 of the Ad H oc Com- mittee on Forced Labour, Considering that systems of forced labour constitute a serious threat to fundamental human rights and jeopardize the freedom and status of workers in con- travention of the obligations and provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, 9 See documents E/CN.4/L.266/Rev.2, E/CN.4/L.267/Rev.l and E/CN.4/L.268. 10 See document E/2431. Observing that the report of the Ad H oc Committee on Forced Labour has now been placed on the agenda of the seventeenth session of the Economic and Social Council and of the 123rd session of the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, Considering that in view of this delay there is still time for certain governments which have not yet done so to provide information in response to the Ad lj oc Committee's request for comments and observations on the allegations concerning them, l. Affirms the importance which it attaches to the abolition of all systems of forced or "corrective" la- bour, whether employed as a means o~ politi~a! coer_cion or punishment for holding or expressmg political views or on such a scale as to constitute an important element in the economy of a country ; 2. Invites the Economic and Social Council and the International Labour Organisation, as a matter of urgency, to give early consideration to the report_ of the Ad H oc Committee on Forced Labour at their next sessions with this aim in view ; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to consult with governments which have not yet found it possible to provide information in response to the Ad Ho~ Com- mittee's request to the effect that they submit such information before the seventeenth session of the Eco- nomic and Social Council so that these replies may be brought to the attention of the Council; 4. Requests the Economic and Social Council to report on forced labour to the General Assembly at its ninth session. 468th plenary meeting, 7 December 1953. 741 (VIIl). Measures for the peaceful solution of the problem of prisoners of war The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 427 (V) of 14 December 1950 on measures for the peaceful solution of the problem of prisoners of war, Reaffirming its belief that all prisoners having orig- inally come within the control of the Allied Powers as a consequence of the Second World War should either have been repatriated long since or have been otherwise accounted for as required both by recog- nized standards of international conduct and the Ge- neva Convention 11 of 1949 relative to the treatment of prisoners of war, and by specific agreements between the Allied Powers, Having examined the progress report 12 to the Sec- retary-General on the work of the Ad Hoe Commis- sion on Prisoners of \Var, l. N ates with satisfaction that some progress has taken place in the repatriation of prisoners of war in the course of the last two years, and expresses the hope that those governments and Red Cross Societies which have contributed to that progress will continue their efforts; 2. Reiterates its grave and continuing concern at the evidence that large numbers of prisoners taken in the course of the Second ·world \Var have not yet been repatriated or otherwise accounted for; 11 See Treaty Series, Treaties and internatio11al agre,·111ents registered or filed and recordrd ,('ifh thr Sc:'rrtariat ,, f the L·nitcd Nations, \'olurnc 75, 19.50, '.\'o. l)72, page 13.i. 12 Sec clocnrncnt A/2-t~2.

UN Project. “A/RES/740(VIII).” UN Project, https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/A-RES-740(VIII)/. Accessed .

Copy citation