A/HRC/2/2 A/HRC/Sub.1/58/36 page 68 Noting the need to promote the human rights, safety and well-being of all persons by preventing foreseeable small arms violence through appropriate measures to regulate small arms possession and use by private actors, including those suggested in paragraph 5 of Economic and Social Council resolution 1997/28 of 21 July 1997 and in resolution 9 of the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Emphasizing the need for States to promote and assist with the pursuit of negotiated solutions to conflicts, including by addressing their root causes as noted in the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, section III, paragraph 4, Emphasizing also the responsibility of States to promote public education and awareness about the root causes of violence and to promote alternative forms of dispute resolution, as recognized by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1997/28 and the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, section II, paragraph 20, Solemnly proclaims the human rights principles set forth below, formulated to assist Member States in their task of ensuring and promoting the proper action by State agents, especially law enforcement officials, with respect to their unequivocal role to protect the right to life, liberty and security of the person, as guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reaffirmed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and urges that every effort be made so that the principles become generally known and respected. A. Obligations with regard to State agents 1. Governments and State agents, especially law enforcement officials, shall not use small arms and light weapons to violate human rights. All State agents have the obligation to uphold and affirm human rights including the right to life, liberty and security of person, as guaranteed in the International Bill of Human Rights. A State agent includes any person or persons acting at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official. 2. Governments and State agencies shall adopt and implement rules and regulations on the use of force and small arms and light weapons against persons by State agents, especially law enforcement officials. 3. In order to prevent the violation of human rights committed with small arms and light weapons, Governments and State agents shall ensure strict enforcement of the rules and regulations they adopt, including a clear chain of command over all officials authorized by law to use force and, in particular, small arms and light weapons. Governments shall ensure that arbitrary or abusive use of force carried out with small arms and light weapons, including but not limited to force used by any State agent, is punished as a criminal offence.