Arbitrary Detention

A/HRC/RES/20/16No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 3Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, published in 2012.

What other versions does this mandate have?

9 versions · 2008–2025

This is an older version — the most recent is A/HRC/RES/60/8

2025A/HRC/RES/60/8Arbitrary detentionLatestCompare with previous version
2022A/HRC/RES/51/8Arbitrary detentionCompare with previous version
2019A/HRC/RES/42/22Arbitrary detentionCompare with previous version
2016A/HRC/RES/33/30Arbitrary detentionCompare with previous version
2013A/HRC/RES/24/7Arbitrary detentionCompare with previous version

Versions are identified automatically by matching titles within the same organ (~97% accuracy on a manual audit).

What subjects does this mandate have?

9 topics

Administration of Justice Arbitrary Detention Consultations Detained Persons Guidelines Principles Report Preparation Rights of the Accused Working Groups

What does this mandate say?

25 operative paragraphs

Stresses the importance of the work of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention;

Takes note with interest of the two latest reports of the Working Group, including the recommendations contained therein;

Requests the States concerned to take account of the Working Group’s views and, where necessary, to take appropriate steps to remedy the situation of persons arbitrarily deprived of their liberty, and to inform the Working Group of the steps they have taken;

Welcomes the commemorative event organized to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention;

Also welcomes the creation of a publicly available database containing the Working Group’s opinions on individual cases adopted since the establishment of the Group;

Encourages all States:

To give due consideration to the recommendations of the Working Group;

To take appropriate measures to ensure that their legislation, regulations and practices remain in conformity with relevant international standards and the applicable international legal instruments;

To respect and promote the right of anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge to be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercise judicial power, and to be entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release;

To respect and promote the right of anyone deprived of his or her liberty by arrest or detention to bring proceedings before court, in order that the court may decide without delay on the lawfulness of his or her detention and order his or her release if the detention is not lawful, in accordance with their international obligations;

To ensure that the right referred to in subparagraph (d) above is equally respected in cases of administrative detention, including administrative detention in relation to public security legislation;

To ensure that anyone who is arrested or detained on a criminal charge has adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his or her defence, including the opportunity to engage and communicate with counsel;

To ensure that the conditions of pretrial detention do not undermine the fairness of the trial;

Also encourages all States to cooperate with the Working Group and to give serious consideration to responding favourably to its requests for visits so that it may carry out its mandate even more effectively;

Expresses its profound thanks to the States that have extended their cooperation to the Working Group and responded to its requests for information, and invites all States concerned to demonstrate the same spirit of cooperation;

Notes with satisfaction that the Working Group has been informed of the release of some of the individuals whose situation has been brought to its attention, while deploring the many cases that have not yet been resolved;

Requests the Working Group to prepare draft basic principles and guidelines on remedies and procedures on the right of anyone deprived of his or her liberty, as stated in paragraph 6 (d) above, with the aim of assisting Member States in fulfilling their obligation to avoid arbitrary deprivation of liberty in compliance with international human rights law;

Also requests the Working Group, in preparing the above-mentioned draft basic principles and guidelines:

To seek the views of States, relevant United nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations treaty bodies and, in particular, the Human Rights Committee, other special procedures, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and other relevant stakeholders;

To submit a specific report to the Human Rights Council on national, regional and international laws, regulations and practices on the right as stated in paragraph 6 (d) above;

To hold subsequently a consultation with stakeholders in relation to the preparation of the first draft basic principles and guidelines;

To present the draft basic principles and guidelines to the Human Rights Council before the end of 2015, in accordance with its annual programme of work;

Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide all assistance and support necessary to the Working Group for the preparation of the above-mentioned draft basic principles and guidelines;

Requests the Secretary-General to provide all assistance necessary to the Working Group, particularly with regard to the staffing and resources needed for the effective fulfilment of its mandate, especially in respect of field missions;

Decides to continue consideration of the question of arbitrary detention in conformity with its programme of work.

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