A/RES/67/168 Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Noting also with deep concern the continuing instances of the arbitrary deprivation of life, as a result of the imposition and implementation of capital punishment in a manner that violates international law, Deeply concerned about acts that can amount to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions committed against persons exercising their rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in all regions of the world, Acknowledging that extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions may under certain circumstances amount to genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, as defined in international law, including in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 5 and recalling in this regard that each individual State has the responsibility to protect its populations from such crimes as set out in General Assembly resolutions 60/1 of 16 September 2005 and 63/308 of 14 September 2009, Convinced of the need for effective action to prevent, combat and eliminate the abhorrent practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, which represent flagrant violations of international human rights law, particularly the right to life, as well as of international humanitarian law, Strongly condemns once again all the extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary 1. executions that continue to occur throughout the world; 2. Demands that all States ensure that the practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions is brought to an end and that they take effective action to prevent, combat and eliminate the phenomenon in all its forms and manifestations; Reiterates the obligation of all States under international law to conduct 3. thorough, prompt and impartial investigations into all suspected cases of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, to identify and bring to justice those responsible, while ensuring the right of every person to a fair hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law, to grant adequate compensation within a reasonable time to the victims or their families and to adopt all necessary measures, including legal and judicial measures, to put an end to impunity and to prevent the further occurrence of such executions, as recommended in the Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extralegal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions; 6 4. Calls upon Governments, and invites intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to pay greater attention to the work of national-level commissions of inquiry into extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions with a view to ensuring the effective contribution of these commissions to accountability and to combating impunity; Calls upon all States, in order to prevent extrajudicial, summary or 5. arbitrary executions, to comply with their obligations under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, and further calls upon States which retain the death penalty to pay particular regard to the provisions contained in articles 6, 14 and 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights2 and articles 37 and 40 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 7 bearing in mind the safeguards and guarantees set out in Economic and Social Council resolutions _______________ 5 Ibid., vol. 2187, No. 38544. Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/65, annex. 7 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 6 2/5