Security Council resolution 191 (1964) [Question relating to the policies of apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa]

191 (1964). Resolution of 18 June 1964

[S/5773]

The Security Council,

Having considered the question of race conflict in South Africa resulting from the policies of apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, brought to the attention of the Security Council by fifty-eight States Members of the United Nations in their letter of 27 April 1964,^[1]

Being gravely concerned with the situation in South Africa arising out of the policies of apartheid, which are contrary to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and inconsistent with the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as South Africa's obligations under the Charter,

Taking note with appreciation of the reports^[2] of the Special Committee on the Policies of apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the report^[3] of the Group of Experts appointed by the Secretary-General pursuant to Security Council resolution 182 (1963) of 4 December 1963,

Recalling Security Council resolutions 181 (1963) of 7 August 1963, 182 (1963) of 4 December 1963 and 190 (1964) of 9 June 1964,

Convinced that the situation in South Africa is continuing seriously to disturb international peace and security,

Deploring the refusal of the Government of the Republic of South Africa to comply with pertinent Security Council resolutions,

Taking into account the recommendations and conclusions of the Group of Experts,

1. Condemns the apartheid policies of the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the legislation supporting these policies, such as the General Law Amendment Act, and in particular its ninety-day detention clause;

2. Urgently reiterates its appeal to the Government of the Republic of South Africa to liberate all persons imprisoned, interned or subjected to other restrictions for having opposed the policies of apartheid;

3. Notes the recommendations and the conclusions in the report of the Group of Experts; 7

4. Urgently appeals to the Government of the Republic of South Africa:

(a) To renounce the execution of any persons sentenced to death for their opposition to the policy of apartheid;

(b) To grant immediate amnesty to all persons detained or on trial, as well as clemency to all persons sentenced for their opposition to the Government's racial policies;

(c) To abolish the practice of imprisonment without charges, without access to counsel or without the right of prompt trial;

5. Endorses and subscribes in particular to the main conclusion of the Group of Experts that "all the people of South Africa should be brought into consultation and should thus be enabled to decide the future of their country at the national level";

6. Requests the Secretary-General to consider what assistance the United Nations may offer to facilitate such consultations among representatives of all elements of the population in South Africa;

7. Invites the Government of the Republic of South Africa to accept the main conclusion of the Group of Experts referred to in paragraph 5 above, to co-operate with the Secretary-General and to submit its views to him with respect to such consultations by 30 November 1964;

8. Decides to establish an expert committee, composed of representatives of each present member of the Security Council, to undertake a technical and practical study and report to the Council as to the feasibility, effectiveness and implications of measures which could, as appropriate, be taken by the Council under the Charter of the United Nations;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide to the expert committee the Secretariat's material on the subjects to be studied by the committee, and to co-operate with the committee as requested by it;

10. Authorizes the expert committee to request all States Members of the United Nations to co-operate with it and to submit to it their views on such measures no later than 30 November 1964, and requests the committee to complete its report not later than three months thereafter;

11. Invites the Secretary-General, in consultation with appropriate United Nations specialized agencies, to establish an educational and training programme for the purpose of arranging for education and training abroad for South Africans;

12. Reaffirms its call upon all States to cease forthwith the sale and shipment to South Africa of arms, ammunition of all types, military vehicles, and equipment and materials for the manufacture and maintenance of arms and ammunition in South Africa;

13. Requests all Member States to take such steps as they deem appropriate to persuade the Government of the Republic of South Africa to comply with the present resolution.

Adopted at the 1135th meeting by 8 votes to none, with 3 abstentions (Czechoslovakia, France, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics).

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[1] Official Records of the Security Council, Nineteenth Year, Supplement for April, May and June 1964, document S/5674.

[2] Documents S/5426 and Add.1, S/5621 and S/5717 (mimeographed). Also issued as General Assembly documents: see Official Records of the General Assembly, Eighteenth Session, Annexes, addendum to agenda item 30, documents A/5497 and Add.1; and ibid., Nineteenth Session, Annexes, annex No. 12, documents A/5692 and A/5707.

[3] Official Records of the Security Council, Nineteenth Year, Supplement for April, May and June, 1964, document S/5658, annex.