United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution 377 A, the "Uniting for Peace" resolution, states that in any cases where the Security Council, because of a lack of unanimity among its five permanent members (P5), fails to act as required to maintain international security and peace, the General Assembly shall consider the matter immediately and may issue appropriate recommendations to UN members for collective measures, including the use of armed force when necessary, in order to maintain or restore international security and peace. It was adopted 3 November 1950, after fourteen days of Assembly discussions, by a vote of 52 to 5, with 2 abstentions. The resolution was designed to provide the UN with an alternative avenue for action when at least one P5 member uses its veto to obstruct the Security Council from carrying out its functions mandated by the UN Charter.
The three-line United Nations Security Council Resolution 338, adopted on October 22, 1973, called for a ceasefire in the Yom Kippur War in accordance with a joint proposal by the United States and the Soviet Union. The resolution stipulated a cease fire to take effect within 12 hours of the adoption of the resolution. The "appropriate auspices" was interpreted to mean American or Soviet rather than UN auspices. This third clause helped to establish the framework for the Geneva Conference (1973) held in December 1973.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 435, adopted on September 29, 1978, put forward proposals for a cease-fire and UN-supervised elections in South African-controlled South West Africa which ultimately led to the independence of Namibia. Importantly, it established the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) which oversaw the election and the South African withdrawal.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 276, adopted on January 30, 1970, after reaffirming previous resolutions and statements, the Council condemned South Africa's continued occupation of Namibia as illegal and decided to establish an ad hoc sub-committee to study the ways and means by which the Council's resolutions could be implemented. The Council requested all states and organizations give the sub-committee all the information and other assistance it may require and further requested the Secretary-General to give every assistance to the sub-committee.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 302, adopted on November 24, 1971, after reaffirming previous resolutions on the topic, the Council expressed its appreciation for the work accomplished by the Special Mission established in resolution 294. The Council deplored the lack of co-operation with the Special Mission by the Portuguese and called upon its government to take effective measures so that the territorial integrity of Senegal would be respected and to prevent acts of violence and destruction against the territory and its people.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 309, adopted on February 4, 1972, after reaffirming previous resolutions on the topic, the Council invited the Secretary-General, in close co-operation in a group of the Council composed of representatives of Argentina, Somalia and Yugoslavia, to initiate as soon as possible contacts with all parties concerned to enable the people of Namibia to exercise their right to self-determination and independence. The Council called upon South Africa to co-operate and requested the Secretary-General to report back no later that July 31, 1972.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 310, adopted on February 4, 1972, after reaffirming previous resolutions on the topic, the Council strongly condemned repressive measures against the African laborers in Namibia and called upon all nations and corporations operating in Namibia to use whatever means available to ensure that operations there conform to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 319, adopted on August 1, 1972, after reaffirming previous resolutions on the topic, the Council invited the Secretary-General, in consultation with the group established in resolution 309, to continue to contact all concerned parties and establish the necessary conditions to allow the people to exercise their right to self-determination in accordance with the Charter. The Council then requested the Secretary-General keep them informed on the implementation of resolution 309.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 323, adopted on December 6, 1972, after recalling previous resolutions and reaffirming the United Naition's responsibility for Namibia, the Council observed with satisfaction that Namibians had an opportunity of expressing their aspirations to representatives of the UN and noted that the overwhelming majority of the opinions of those consulted were in favor of the abolition of the "homelands policy" and accession to national independence. The Council expressed regret for South Africa's opaqueness regarding self-determination for Namibia and invited the Secretary-General to continue his valuable efforts to ensure that the people of Namibia exercise their right to self-determination and independence.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 333, adopted on May 22, 1973, after reiterating previous statements and admitting that previous measures had yet failed to bring about the end of the "illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia" the Council condemned South Africa and Portugal for failing to co-operate with the implementation of sanctions and requested that urgent action be taken to implement them. The Council then requested that states with legislation permitting importation from Rhodesia repeal it immediately and called upon states to enact and enforce legislation against any person who tries to evade of commit a breach of sanctions by:
United Nations Security Council Resolution 341, adopted on October 27, 1973, after the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Resolution 340, the Council decided that the Peacekeeping Force would be established for a six-month period and would be continued thereafter if the Council wished it to do so.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 366 was adopted unanimously on December 17, 1974, after its previous resolutions and General Assembly Resolution 2145 which terminated South Africa's Mandate over Namibia. The Security Council was concerned with South Africa's continued occupation of the territory and its brutal repression of its people.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 385, adopted unanimously on January 30, 1976, recalled previous resolutions on the topic as well as an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice that South Africa was under obligation to withdraw its presence from the Territory of Namibia. The Resolution reaffirmed the United Nations' legal responsibility over Namibia, expressed its concern over the continued illegal actions of South Africa and deplored the militarization of Namibia.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 387, adopted on March 31, 1976, reaffirmed the principle of a state's right to territorial integrity in the face of South African incursions into Angolan territory. The Council recognized the international disturbance at South Africa's actions and expressed its concern over them. The Resolution condemned South Africa's actions and demanded that it respect the territorial integrity of Angola. The Council further demanded that South Africa desist from using the "international Territory of Namibia" to mount provocative or aggressive acts against other states and called upon the South African government to meet Angola's just claims for compensation.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 393, adopted on July 30, 1976, after a letter from a representative from Zambia, the Council condemned a recent attack by South Africa in Zambian territory, resulting in the destruction of property and loss of life. The resolution went on to express concern at South Africa's occupation and use of South West Africa as a base for attacking neighbouring African countries, and that the continuation of this would constitute a threat to international peace and security.
United Nations Security Council resolution 447, adopted on 28 March 1979, after hearing representations from the People's Republic of Angola and the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), the Council recalled resolutions 387 (1976) and 428 (1978) and condemned South Africa for its continuing raids in direct violation of prior resolutions.
United Nations Security Council resolution 532, adopted almost unanimously on 31 May 1983, after hearing a report from the Secretary-General and reaffirming resolutions 301 (1971), 385 (1976), 431 (1978), 432 (1978), 435 (1978) and 439 (1978), the Council condemned South Africa's continued occupation of Namibia, then known as South West Africa. All voted in favour other than France, who abstained.
United Nations Security Council resolution 539, adopted on 28 October 1983, after hearing a report from the Secretary-General and reaffirming resolutions 301 (1971), 385 (1976), 431 (1978), 432 (1978), 435 (1978), 439 (1978) and 532 (1983), the council condemned South Africa's continued occupation of Namibia, then known as South West Africa, and the tension and instability prevailing in southern Africa as a result.
United Nations Security Council resolution 566, adopted on 19 June 1985, after recalling resolutions 269 (1969), 276 (1970), 301 (1971), 385 (1976), 431 (1978), 432 (1978), 435 (1978), 439 (1978), 532 (1983) and 539 (1983), the Council expressed concern at the tension and instability caused the continued occupation of Namibia by South Africa, noting the apartheid policies implemented in the territory and that the territory was used as a springboard for attacks on other southern African countries.
United Nations Security Council resolution 601, adopted on 30 October 1987, after recalling resolutions 269 (1969), 276 (1970), 301 (1971), 385 (1976), 431 (1978), 432 (1978), 435 (1978), 439 (1978), 532 (1983), 539 (1983) and 566 (1985), the council again condemned South Africa for its continued "illegal" occupation of Namibia and its refusal to comply with previous resolutions.
