Status of the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, G.A. res. 47/81, 47 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 161, U.N. Doc. A/47/49 (1992).


The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 41/103 of 4 December 1986, 42/56 of 30 November 1987, 43/97 of 8 December 1988, 44/69 of 8 December 1989, 45/90 of 14 December 1990 and 46/84 of 16 December 1991,

Mindful that the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid constitutes an important international treaty in the field of human rights and serves to implement the ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

Reaffirming its conviction that apartheid is a crime against humanity and constitutes a total negation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and a gross violation of human rights, seriously threatening international peace and security,

Condemning the abhorrent policy and system of apartheid and the repression it engenders, which continue to aggravate the situation in South Africa,

Emphasizing that the root cause of the conflict in southern Africa is apartheid,

Deeply concerned at the continued collaboration of certain States and transnational corporations with the Government of South Africa, particularly in the military field, as an encouragement of its odious policy of apartheid,

Convinced that universal ratification of or accession to the Convention and the immediate implementation of its provisions will contribute to the eradication of the crime of apartheid,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid;

2. Commends those States parties to the Convention which have submitted their reports under article VII thereof;

3. Appeals once again to all States, United Nations organs, the specialized agencies and international and national non-governmental organizations to step up their activities to enhance public awareness by denouncing the crimes committed by the Government of South Africa with a view to promoting further ratification of or accession to the Convention;

4. Underlines the importance of the universal ratification of the Convention, which would be an effective contribution to the fulfilment of the ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights instruments;

5. Appeals once again to those States which have not yet done so to ratify or to accede to the Convention without further delay;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts, through appropriate channels, to disseminate information on the Convention and its implementation with a view to promoting further ratification of or accession to the Convention;

7. Also requests the Secretary-General to include in his next annual report under General Assembly resolution 3380 (XXX) of 10 November 1975 a special section concerning the implementation of the Convention.

89th plenary meeting
16 December 1992


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