Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials
Adopted by General Assembly resolution 34/169 of 17 December 1979
Article 1
Law enforcement officials shall at all times fulfil the duty imposed upon them by law, by serving the
community and by protecting all persons against illegal acts, consistent with the high degree of
responsibility required by their profession.
Commentary :
( a ) The term "law enforcement officials", includes all officers of the law, whether appointed or
elected, who exercise police powers, especially the powers of arrest or detention.
( b ) In countries where police powers are exercised by military authorities, whether uniformed or not,
or by State security forces, the definition of law enforcement officials shall be regarded as including
officers of such services.
( c ) Service to the community is intended to include particularly the rendition of services of assistance
to those members of the community who by reason of personal, economic, social or other emergencies
are in need of immediate aid.
( d ) This provision is intended to cover not only all violent, predatory and harmful acts, but extends to
the full range of prohibitions under penal statutes. It extends to conduct by persons not capable of
incurring criminal liability.
Article 2
In the performance of their duty, law enforcement officials shall respect and protect human dignity and
maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons.
Commentary :
( a ) The human rights in question are identified and protected by national and international law.
Among the relevant international instruments are the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons
from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International
Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid , the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment
of Prisoners and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
( b ) National commentaries to this provision should indicate regional or national provisions identifying
and protecting these rights.
Article 3
Law enforcement officials may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the
performance of their duty.
Commentary :
( a ) This provision emphasizes that the use of force by law enforcement officials should be
exceptional; while it implies that law enforcement officials may be authorized to use force as is
reasonably necessary under the circumstances for the prevention of crime or in effecting or assisting in
the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders, no force going beyond that may be used.