TilE QUESTION OF HOSTAGE-TAKING .\.ND ABDUCTION

Decision
At its 2872nd meeting, on 31 July 1989, the Council discussed the item entitled "The question of hostagetaking and abduction".
At the same meeting, as agreed in the Council's prior consultations, the President made the following statement prior to the adopt ion of rcsol ution 638 ( 1989): 10~
"As we consider the adoption of the draft resolution on hostage-taking and abduction, 10' we meet under the shadow of recent events and the cruel reports that Lieutenant-Colonel Higgins, who served the United Nations on a peace-keeping mission in Lebanon, may have been murdered today. I wish to express the full support of the Security Council for the statement made by the Secretary-General yesterday, 30 July, in this connection.
"The Council will seck further facts on the devel·· opments of today, and urges those involved to act with reason, restraint and a proper respect for human life and dignity. The Council feels that it should proceed without delay to the adoption of the draft resolution that we have been discussing in private on the subject of host age-taking and abduction.
"There is a most tragic irony that our efforts to adopt a text on this matter should have coinndcd with the grave events of recent days.
"This illustrates, with utmost clarity, that we need to underline the necessity for effective international action on the subject of hostage-taking and abduction. Indeed, the expression of the unanimous view of the Security Council will, I am sure, serve to defer such unlawful, criminal and nucl act;., in the future."
Resolution 63S ( l9S9)
oLII July 191<9
The Security Council,
Deeply disturbl'd by the prevalence of incidents of hostage-taking and abduct ion, and the continued protracted incarceration of many of those held hostage,
Considering that the taking of hostages and abductions are offences of ~rave concern to all States and serious violations of international humanitarian law, having severe adverse consequences for the human rights of the victims and their families and for the
102 See Official Re, ords of the \ecurir\" Cu1mci/. Fnrtv-fourth Yea,, 2872nd meeting, paLl Cl
103 S/20757.

promotion of friendly relations and co-operation among States,
Recalling its resolutions 579 (1985) of 18 December I9H5 and 618 ( I9HK) of 29 July 1988 condemning all acts ol hostage taking and abduction,
Bearing in mind the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, adopted on 17 December 1979, 104 the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, adopted on 14 December 1973, 1" 1 the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts aga111st the Safety of Civil Aviation, signed on 23 September 1971, 10~ the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, signed on 16 Decem her I970, 107 and other relevant conventions.
I. Condemns unequivocally all acts of hostage-taking and abduction;
) Demands 1he immediate safe release of all hos1ages and abducted persons, wherever and hy whomever they arc being hc:ld;
3. Calls upon all States to use their political influence in accordance with the Charter of the United :'\Jations and the principles of international law to secure the safe release of all hostages and abducted persons and to prevent the commission of acts of hostage-taking and ahduction;
4. Expresses appreciation for the efforts of the Secretary-General in seeking the release of all hostages and abducted pcr~ons and invites him to continue such efforts whenever so requested by a State;
5. Appeals to all States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to 1he International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, the Convention on ;he Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against I he Safety of Civil Aviation, the Con\Cntion for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft and othn relevant conventions;
6. Urgt'S the further development of international co-operation am,mg States in devising and adopting effective measures which arc in accordance with the rules of international law to facilitate the prevention, prosecution and punishment of all acts of hostage-taking and abductinn a~ manifestations of terrorism.
Adopted rwanimuusly at rhe :!H72nd ltl<'<'ling
!"·1 Cicncral Assembly resolution 34/146, annex. !oS Cicncr.tl Assembly resolution ~ 166 (XXVIII), annex. ·n6 l'nitcd Natinn,. Trcutv Series, vol. '174, No. 1411R. ''7 /hid., \11) HflO, "'>J~1 12.~2:".

