Security Council resolution 579 (1985) [on hostage-taking and abduction]
Symbol: S/RES/579(1985)
Date: 1985-12-18
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/40 [64] HOSTAGE-TAKING
Subjects: International Convention against the Taking of Hostages (1979)|Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents (1973)|Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation (1971)|Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft (1970)|HOSTAGES|ABDUCTION|TREATIES|INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: AUSTRALIA
vote: yes
country: BURKINA FASO
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: DENMARK
vote: yes
country: EGYPT
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: INDIA
vote: yes
country: MADAGASCAR
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: THAILAND
vote: yes
country: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
vote: yes
country: UKRAINE
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: USSR
vote: yes

Resolution 579 (1985)
of 18 December 1985

The Security Council,

Deeply disturbed at the prevalence of incidents of
hostage-taking and abduction, several of which are 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 of 9 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 December 1973, 103 the Convention for the Suppression
of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation,
signed on 23 September 1971, 104 the Convention for
the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, signed
on 16 December 1970, 105 and other relevant conventions,

1. Condemns unequivocally all acts of hostagetaking 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, including Diplomatic Agents, the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation, 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.


101 See p. 24, Statement by the President.
102 General Assembly resolution 34/146, annex.
103 General Assembly resolution 3166 (XXVIII), annex.
104 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 974, No. 14118, p. 178.
105 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 860, No. 12325, p. 105.