Detention, torture and other inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia.
| Publisher | UN Commission on Human Rights |
| Author | UN Commission on Human Rights (45th sess. : 1989 : Geneva) |
| Publication Date | 23 February 1989 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | E/CN.4/RES/1989/4 |
| Reference | 45 |
| Cite as | UN Commission on Human Rights, Detention, torture and other inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia., 23 February 1989, E/CN.4/RES/1989/4, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3b00f0cf30.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
1989/4. Detention, torture and other inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia
The Commission on Human Rights, Recalling its resolutions 1987/14 of 3 March 1987 and 1988/11 of 29 February 1988, Recalling also General Assembly resolutions 42/124 of 7 December 1987 and 43/134 of 8 December 1988, adopted without a vote, in which the Assembly expressed its profound outrage at reports of the detention, torture and inhuman treatment of children in South Africa, Recalling the relevant provisions of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, Having examined the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on southern Africa (E/CN.4/1989/8). Welcoming the convening of the International Conference on Children, Repression and the Law in Apartheid South Africa, held at Harare from 24 to 27 September 1987, and the subsequent conference in London in February 1988, Appalled at the evidence that children in South Africa are subjected to detention, torture and inhuman treatment, Gravely concerned about reports of the continuing repressive measures targeted on children in South Africa and Namibia, Noting with indignation the impotence of the South African judiciary and the degradation of its professional ethics, Reiterating its position that apartheid is repugnant, immoral and an affront to human dignity,1. Reiterates its vigorous condemnation of the detention, torture and inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia;
2. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all children held in detention in those countries;
3. Demands also the immediate dismantlement of the so-called "rehabilitation camps" or "re-education centres", since they only serve the racist régime's strategy of physically and mentally abusing black South African children;
4. Demands further the termination of the state of emergency and the abrogation of all repressive and discriminatory legislation;
5. Requests all relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to launch a world-wide campaign aimed at drawing attention to, monitoring and exposing these inhuman practices;
6. Further demands the immediate total abolition of the apartheid system and its replacement with non-racial representative governments based on the principle of universal suffrage;
7. Appeals to the international community to adopt concrete and effective measures to bring pressure to bear against the Government of South Africa until it dismantles apartheid and abandons all inhuman practices associated with this policy;
8. Requests the Ad hoc Working Group of Experts on southern Africa to pay special attention to the question of detention, torture and other inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia and report to the Commission on Human Rights at its forty-sixth session;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide every assistance to enable the Ad hoc Working Group of Experts to discharge its responsibilities in accordance with the relevant provisions of the present resolution;
10. Further requests the Secretary-General to intervene with the Government of South Africa in order to bring to an end the detention, torture and other forms of inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia and to report on the outcome of his efforts to the Commission on Human Rights at its forty-sixth session;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of the relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations;
12. Decides to discuss at its forty-sixth session, under the agenda item, "Violations of human rights in southern Africa: report of the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts", the question of detention, torture and other inhuman treatment of children in South Africa and Namibia.
35th meeting23 February 1989
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. VI.]
