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 42/124 of 7 December 1987 and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1988/11 of 29 February 1988,

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,

Recalling with satisfaction the holding of the International Conference on Children, Repression and the Law in Apartheid South Africa at Harare, from 24 to 27 September 1987,

Appalled at evidence that children in South Africa and Namibia continue to be subjected to detention, torture and inhuman treatment,

Gravely concerned about reports of the increasing number of repressive measures targeted against children in South Africa and Namibia,

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

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

3.         Demands the immediate and unconditional release of children held in detention in those countries;

4.         Demands also 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.         Strongly condemns the racist regime of South Africa for its forced recruitment, torture and inhuman treatment of Namibian children with the objective of turning them into their agents against the Namibian people;

6.         Requests 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;

7.         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 and Namibia;

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

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