United Nations Security Council Resolution 579 – Hostage-taking
Resolution 579 (1985) of 18 December 1915
The Security Council,
Deeply disturbed at the prevalence of incidents of hostage-taking and abduction, several of which arc of protracted duration and have included loss of life,
Considering that the taking of hostages and abductions are offences of grave concern to the international community, having severe adverse consequences for the rights of the victims and for the promotion of friendly relations and co-operation among States,
Recalling the statement of 9 October 1985 by the President of the Security Council, resolutely condemning all acts of terrorism, including hostage-taking, 101
Recalling also resolution 40/61 of9 December 1985 of the General Assembly,
Bearing in mind the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, adopted on 17 December 1979, 102 the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, adopted on 14 De-cember 1973, 103 the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation, signed on 23 September 1971, 10 the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, signed on 16 December 1970, 10 ‘ and other relevant conventions,
- Condemns unequivocally all acts of hostage-taking and abduction;
2. Calls for the immediate safe release of all hostages and abducted persons wherever and by whomever they are being held;
3. Affirms the obligation of all States in whose territory hostages or abducted persons are held urgently to take all appropriate measures to secure their safe release and to prevent the commission of acts of hostage-taking and abduction in the future;
4. Appeals to all States that have not yet done so to consider the possibility of becoming parties to the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Interntionally Protected Persons, includ-ing Diplomatic Agents, the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Avia-tion, the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft and other relevant conventions;
5. Urges the further development of international co-operation among States in devising and adopting effective measures which are in accordance with the rules of international law to facilitate the prevention, prosecution and punishment of all acts of hostage-taking and abduction as manifestations of international terrorism.
Adopted unanimously at the 2637th meeting.
