Chapter III. Selected decisions, recommendations and reports of a legal character by the United Nations and related inter-governmental organizations

Chapter HI

SELECTED DECISIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS OF A LEGAL CHARACTER BY THE UNITED NATIONS AND RELATED INTER-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

1. Decisions, recommendations and reports of a legal character by the United Nations

   United Nations General Assembly—twenty-fourth session

   1. REPORTS OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (AGENDA ITEM 12)

      Resolution [2583 (XXIV)] adopted by the General Assembly

      2583 (XXIV). Question of the punishment of war criminals and of persons who have committed crimes against humanity

      The General Assembly,

      Recalling its resolutions 3 (I) of 13 February 1946 and 170 (II) of 31 October 1947 on the extradition and punishment of war criminals, its resolution 95 (I) of 11 December 1946 affirming the principles of international law recognized by the Charter of the International Military Tribunal, Nuremberg, and the judgement of the Tribunal, and its resolutions 2338 (XXII) of 18 December 1967 and 2391 (XXIII) of 26 November 1968 on the punishment of war criminals and of persons who have committed crimes against humanity,

      Recalling also the Declarations of 13 January 1942x and 30 October 1943, ~ and the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, providing for the extradition and punishment of war criminals and of persons who have committed crimes against humanity,

      Convinced that the thorough investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the detection, arrest, extradition and punishment of persons responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, constitute an important element in the prevention of such crimes, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the encouragement of confidence, the furtherance of co-operation among peoples and the promotion of international peace and security,

      Noting that a number of States have already signed the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity, 3

      1. Calls upon all the States concerned to take the necessary measures for the thorough

      investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity, as defined in article I of the

      1 British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 144 (1952), p. 1072 (Declaration of St. James's).

      2 U.S. Department of State Bulletin (Washington, D.C.), vol. IX, No. 228, p. 310 (Moscow Declaration on German Atrocities).

      3 See Juridical Yearbook, 1968, p. 160.

      Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity, and for the detection, arrest, extradition and punishment of all war criminals and persons guilty of crimes against humanity who have not yet been brought to trial or punished;

   2. Invites States concerned which have not yet signed or ratified the Convention to do so as soon as possible;

   3. Expresses the hope that States which were unable to vote for the adoption of the Convention will refrain from action running counter to its main purposes;

   4. Again calls upon States which have not yet become parties to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to do so as soon as possible;

   5. Draws attention to the special need for international action in order to ensure the prosecution and punishment of persons guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity;

   6. Requests all States Members of the United Nations or members of specialized agencies to submit to the Secretary-General information on the measures taken by them in implementation of the present resolution;

   7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its twentyfifth session a progress report on the implementation of the present resolution;

   8. Decides to give priority at its twenty-fifth session to the question of further measures to ensure the extradition and punishment of war criminals and of persons who have committed crimes against humanity.

      1834th plenary meeting, 15 December 1969.

   2. CELEBRATION OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS: REPORT OF THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS (AGENDA ITEM 25)

      Resolution [2499 (XXIV)] adopted by the General Assembly

      2499 (XXIV). Celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations

      The General Assembly,

      Recalling the decision adopted at its twenty-third session that the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations should be commemorated in an appropriate manner,4

      Convinced that the twenty-fifth anniversary should be an occasion to strengthen the

      United Nations and make it more effective by reaffirming the faith of Governments and peoples in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and renewing their endeavours to give them full effect, in particular the maintenance of international peace and security, the development of friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principles of equal rights, non-intervention, non-use of force and self-determination of peoples, and achieving international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character,

      4 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-third Session, Plenary Meetings, 1749th meeting, para. 3.

      Noting further that, in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter, all Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations,

      Considering that involvement of world youth in the commemoration is most desirable in relation to the present and future tasks of the Organization,

      Having considered the report of the Preparatory Committee for the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the United Nations,5

   1. Takes note of the programmes and activities recommended by the Preparatory

      Committee for the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the United Nations concerning the United Nations and related organizations as well as the programmes and activities suggested for the consideration of Governments of Member States and non-governmental organizations;

   2. Decides that the theme of the anniversary should be "Peace, justice and progress" and expresses the desire that the year 1970 will mark the beginning of an era of peace;

   3. Decides also that a commemorative session of the General Assembly should be held during a short period, culminating on 24 October 1970 with the signing and/or adoption of a final document or documents;

   4. Expresses the hope that as many Heads of State or Government as possible will be able to participate in the commemorative session;

   5. Decides to establish a Committee for the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the United Nations, composed of twenty-five members to be designated by the President of the General Assembly on the basis of equitable geographical distribution and bearing in mind the present composition of the Preparatory Committee, for the purpose of:

      (

      1. Drawing up and co-ordinating plans for the anniversary;

      (b) Organizing suitable activities for the anniversary, to be undertaken by the United Nations, in the light of the report of the Preparatory Committee;

      (c) Considering proposals and suggestions, in relation to the anniversary, for increasing the effectiveness of the United Nations;

   6. Requests the Committee to prepare, with the assistance of the Secretary-General, a suitable text for a final document or documents to be signed and/or adopted during the commemorative session, for consideration by the General Assembly during the early part of its twenty-fifth session;

   7. Decides that the same period of the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations should provide an opportunity for the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, which should conclude with the adoption of an appropriate document by the General Assembly during the commemorative session;

   8. Decides also to consider during the early part of its twenty-fifth session the draft of the international development strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade with a view to having it adopted during the commemorative session;

   9. Endorses the call of the Secretary-General for the proclamation of a Disarmament Decade,6 which will coincide with the Second United Nations Development Decade, and,

      5 Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-fourth Session, Annexes, agenda item 25, document A/7690.

      fi Ibid., Twenty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 1A (A/7601/Add.l), para. 42.

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      in this respect, entrusts the competent bodies of the Organization with the task of presenting concrete proposals to the General Assembly at its twenty-fifth session;

   10. Invites the Special Committee on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States to expedite its work with a view to facilitating the adoption of an appropriate document by the General Assembly during the commemorative session;

   11. Calls upon all relevant organs and committees of the United Nations to speed up their work and to transmit to the Committee for the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the United Nations material which may be useful in the preparation of a text or texts for a final document or documents;

   12. Decides to convene a world youth assembly within the general framework described in the report of the Preparatory Committee;

   13. Invites Governments of Member States to consider the inclusion of representatives of youth in their delegations to the twenty-fifth session of the General Assembly;

   14. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary facilities for implementing the recommendations contained in the report of the Preparatory Committee;

   15. Urges Governments of Member States to implement General Assembly resolution 2445 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968 entitled "Teaching in schools of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the...