The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation The sit uation in Afghanistan

Publisher	UN Commission on Human Rights
Publication Date	6 March 1981
Citation / Document Symbol	E/CN.4/RES/13(XXXVII)
Reference	THIRTY-SEVENTH SESSION, 1981
Cite as	UN Commission on Human Rights, The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation The sit uation in Afghanistan, 6 March 1981, E/CN.4/RES/13(XXXVII), available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3b00f0af1c.html [accessed 28 May 2023]

13 (XXXVII). The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation
The sit uation in Afghanistan[1]36

The Commission on Human Rights,

Bearing in mind that one of the fundamental purposes of the United Nations set forth in the Charter of the United Nations is to develop friendly relations among the nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples,

Recalling its resolution 3 (XXXVI) of 14 February 1980,

Further Recalling resolution ES-6/2 of 14 January 1980, adopted by the General Assembly at its sixth emergency special session,

Also Recalling General Assembly resolution 35/37 of 20 November 1980 on the situation in Afghanistan which, inter alia, reaffirmed the right of the Afghan people to determine their own form of Government and to choose their economic, political and social system free from outside intervention, subversion, coercion, or constraints of any kind whatsoever, and which called for the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan,

Recalling further General Assembly resolution 35/35 B of 14 November 1980 and resolution 26 (XXXIII) of the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities of 12 September 1980,

Taking note of the resolution on the situation in Afghanistan adopted at two successive sessions of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held at Islamabad in January and May 1980 and at the Third Islamic Summit Conference held at Taif (Saudi Arabia) in January 1981,

Also noting the relevant part of the Declaration adopted by the Ministerial Conference of Non-aligned countries held in New Delhi from 9 to 13 February 1981, which, while noting with grave concern the situation in South West Asia and agreeing that it carried dangerous consequences for the peace and stability of the region and agreeing further that the continuation of the situation poses serious implications for international peace and security, called, inter alia, for a political settlement on the basis of the withdrawal of foreign troops and full respect for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-aligned status of Afghanistan, and strict observance of the principle of non-intervention and non-interference,

Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the obligation of all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of any State,

Reaffirming further the inalienable rights of all people to determine their own form of government and to choose their own economic political and social system' free from outside intervention, subversion, coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever,

Gravely concerned at the continued foreign armed intervention in Afghanistan in contravention of the above principles and its serious implications for international peace and security,

Deeply concerned at the increasing outflow of refugees from Afghanistan,

Deeply conscious of the urgent need for a political solution of the grave situation in respect of Afghanistan,

1. Reaffirms its most profound concern that the people of Afghanistan continue to be denied their right to self-determination and to determine their own form of Government and to choose their economic, political and social system free from outside intervention, subversion, coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever;

2. Calls for the immediate withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan;

3. Further calls for a political settlement of the situation in Afghanistan on the basis of the withdrawal of foreign troops and full respect for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-aligned status of Afghanistan and strict observance of the principle of non-intervention and non-interference;

4. Affirms the right of the Afghan refugees to return to their homes in safety and honour;

5. Urges all concerned to work towards a settlement which would ensure that the Afghan people would determine their destiny free from outside interference and which would enable the Afghan refugees to return to their homes;

6. Further Urges all concerned to co-operate with the Secretary-General and his Special Representative in their efforts to resolve the situation in Afghanistan;

7. Appeals to all States and national and international organizations to extend humanitarian relief assistance, with a view to alleviating the hardship of Afghan refugees, in co-ordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for 9 Refugees;

8. Decides to consider this matter at its thirty-eighth session with high priority under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation".

[1]36 Adopted at the 1630th meeting, on 6 March 1981, by a roll-call vote of 31 to 8, with 3 abstentions. See chap. VII.

The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation The sit uation in Afghanistan

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