United Nations
General Assembly
A/RES/56/161
Distr.: General
20 February 2002
Fifty-sixth session
Agenda item 119 (b)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/56/583/Add.2)]
56/161. Human rights in the administration of justice
The General Assembly,
Bearing in mind the principles embodied in articles 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1 and the relevant provisions of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols
thereto, 2 in particular article 6 of the Covenant, which states, inter alia, that no one
shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life and prohibits the imposition of the death
penalty for crimes committed by persons below 18 years of age, and article 10,
which provides that all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with
humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person,
Bearing in mind also the relevant provisions of the Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 3 the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 4 in particular
the right to equal treatment before the tribunals and all other organs administering
justice, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 5 in particular article 37,
according to which every child deprived of liberty shall be treated in a manner
which takes into account the needs of persons of his or her age, and the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 6 in particular the
obligation to treat men and women equally in all stages of procedures in courts and
tribunals,
Calling attention to the numerous international standards in the field of the
administration of justice,
Emphasizing that the right to access to justice as contained in applicable
international human rights instruments forms an important basis for strengthening
the rule of law through the administration of justice,
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1
Resolution 217 A (III).
See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex.
3
Resolution 39/46, annex.
4
Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex.
5
Resolution 44/25, annex.
6
Resolution 34/180, annex.
2
01 48780