A/HRC/RES/44/5
Convinced of the need for effective action to combat and eliminate the abhorrent
practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, which represent a flagrant
violation of the inherent right to life,
Dismayed that, in a number of countries, impunity, the negation of justice, continues
to prevail and often remains the main cause of the continued occurrence of extrajudicial,
summary or arbitrary executions,
1.
Strongly condemns once again all extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary
executions, in all their forms, that continue to take place throughout the world;
2.
Acknowledges the importance of relevant special procedures of the Human
Rights Council, in particular the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary
executions, in their key role as early warning mechanisms in preventing the crime of
genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and encourages the relevant special
procedures, within their mandates, to cooperate towards this end;
3.
Demands that all States 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;
4.
Reiterates the obligation of all States to conduct exhaustive and impartial
investigations into all suspected cases of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, to
identify and to 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 recurrence of such executions, as stated in the Principles
on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extralegal, Arbitrary and Summary
Executions;
5.
Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions, and notes the thematic reports presented to the Human Rights Council
during the mandate on armed non-State actors and the protection of the right to life, on
investigation of, accountability for and prevention of intentional State killings of human
rights defenders, journalists and prominent dissidents,1 and on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions, and invites States to give due consideration to the conclusions and
recommendations given therein;
6.
Commends the important role that the Special Rapporteur plays towards
eliminating extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and encourages the Special
Rapporteur to continue, within the framework of the mandate, to collect information from all
concerned, to respond effectively to information that comes before him or her, to follow up
on communications and country visits and to seek the views and comments of Governments
and to reflect them, as appropriate, in the elaboration of his or her reports;
7.
Requests the Special Rapporteur, in carrying out the mandate:
(a)
To continue to examine situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary
executions in all circumstances and for whatever reason, and to submit his or her findings on
an annual basis, together with conclusions and recommendations, to the Human Rights
Council and the General Assembly, and to draw the attention of the Council to serious
situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that warrant immediate attention
or where early action might prevent further deterioration;
(b)
To continue to draw the attention of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights to serious situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that
warrant immediate attention or where early action might prevent further deterioration;
(c)
To respond effectively to information that comes before him or her, in
particular when an extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution is imminent or threatened
or when such an execution has occurred;
1
2
A/HRC/41/36.
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