United Nations Security Council Resolution 310

by the United Nations

Adopted by 13 votes to none, with 2 abstentions (France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) by the Security Council at its 1638th meeting, on 4 February 1972

The Security Council,

Taking note of the statement of the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, in his capacity as current Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity,

Taking note of the statement of the President of the United Nations Council for Namibia,

Gravely concerned over the present situation in Namibia and the repressive measures of the South African Government, following the strike of the African contract labourers in the country and the widespread and increasing manifestations of African resistance to the illegal occupation of the Territory by the South African Government,

Convinced that the Security Council, as a matter of urgency, should find ways and means to enable the people of the Territory to achieve self-determination and independence,

Conscious of the need for full co-operation of all Member States, in particular the permanent members of the Security Council and the main trading partners of South Africa, for this purpose,

Recalling its previous resolutions and those of the General Assembly pertaining to Namibia,

Conscious of the special responsibilities of the United Nations towards the people and Territory of Namibia,

Mindful of its responsibility to take necessary action to secure strict compliance with the obligations entered into by Member States under the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming the inalienable right of the people of Namibia to self-determination and independence, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960,

Reaffirming also the national unity and territorial integrity of Namibia,

1. Strongly condemns the refusal of South Africa to comply with the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council pertaining to Namibia;

2. Reaffirms that the continued occupation of Namibia by the South African authorities is illegal and detrimental to the interests of the people of Namibia;

3. Declares that the defiant attitude of South Africa towards the decisions of the Security Council undermines the authority of the United Nations;

4. Strongly condemns the recent repressive measures against the African labourers in Namibia, and calls upon the Government of South Africa to end immediately these repressive measures and to abolish any labour system which may be in conflict with the basic provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

5. Calls upon all States whose nationals and corporations are operating in Namibia notwithstanding the relevant provisions of Security Council resolution 283 (1970) to use all available means to ensure that such national and corporations conform, in their policies of hiring Namibian workers, to the basic provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

6. Considers that the continued occupation of Namibia by the Government of South Africa in defiance of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and of the Charter creates conditions detrimental to the maintenance of peace and security in the region;

7. Calls upon South Africa to withdraw immediately its police and military forces as well as its civilian personnel from the Territory of Namibia;

8. Decides that, in the event of failure on the part of the Government of South Africa to comply with the present resolution, the Security Council shall meet immediately to decide upon effective steps of measures, in accordance with the relevant Chapters of the Charter, in accordance with the relevant Chapters of the Charter, to secure the full and speedy implementation of the present resolution;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the implementation of the present resolution not later than 31 July 1972.