Torture and inhuman treatment of children in detention in South Africa and Namibia : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 43/134 of 8 December 1988 and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1989/4 of 23 February 1989,

Recalling also 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 on the Rights of the Child,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General and in particular the conclusion that torture and other forms of inhuman and degrading treatment of children and young people have continued unabated during the period under review,

1.         Expresses its profound outrage at evidence of detention, torture and inhuman treatment of children in South Africa;

2.         Vigorously condemns the apartheid racist regime for the increasing detention, torture and inhuman treatment of children in South Africa;

3.         Reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of children held in detention by the apartheid regime in South Africa;

4.         Demands the immediate dismantlement of the so-called "rehabilitation camps" and "re-education centres" in South Africa, since they only serve the racist regime's strategy of physically and mentally abusing black South African children;

5.         Reiterates its request to all relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to intensify the world-wide campaign aimed at drawing attention to, monitoring and exposing these inhuman practices;

6.         Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue to pay special attention to the question of detention, torture and other inhuman treatment of children in South Africa;

7.         Also requests the Commission on Human Rights to pay special attention to the children of Namibia who have been victims of torture, detention and other inhuman treatment by the apartheid regime, with a view to rehabilitating them;

8.         Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its forty-fifth session on the implementation of the present resolution;

9.         Decides to consider this question at its forty-fifth session under the item entitled "Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment".