E/CN.A/1990/17 page 81 V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 259. Though the fight against torture has considerably intensified during the last decade, torture still remains a common phenomenon in today's world. Over the past few years there have been hopeful developments in a considerable number of countries; in other countries, however, there has been a clear deterioration. The number of countries where torture is systematically applied may have decreased during that period, but at the same time it has become apparent that torture is far from exceptional in situations where it does not form part of a system. The sad conclusion must be drawn that respect for the inherent dignity of all human beingB, irrespective of their race, creed and, most of all, their political conviction is still painfully underdeveloped. ThiB should inspire the international community with renewed energy to continue the fight for the eradication of the horrendous crime of torture. All hopes for a stable, just and peaceful world - hopes which have been greatly nourished over the paBt year - will turn out to be idle if we do not succeed in instilling in mankind the basic requirement for a stable, just and peaceful world: the respect for the inherent dignity of the fellow human being. 260. The Special Rapporteur was in particular alarmed by the fact that he received a number of allegations referring to torture of children and juveniles. Torture is horrifying in all its forms and emanations, but the idea of children, who are still in their formative stage, being tortured is mind-boggling indeed. The fact that these alleged events took place at about the same time as the adoption by the international community of the Convention on the Rights of the Child glaringly illustrates how far this world is still removed from practising the standards it sets itself. 261. Education in the field of human rights, therefore, seems one of the most urgent tasks the international community has to tackle. The fact that the United Nations has launched a World Public Information Campaign for Human Rights i6 an important step in that direction. The primary responsibility for human rights education lies with Governments, who may be assisted in this vast task by private organizations. The world, however, cannot wait until this educational process takes effect; those in particular who are in a position that makes it possible for them to violate their fellow human beings' right to human dignity and physical and mental integrity must receive training how to deal with persons who have been brought under their control. In this respect the adoption by the General Assembly, by it6 resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988, of the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment must be highlighted. 262. This document contains principles which, in part, had already been recognized in human rights conventions and resolutions of the organs of the United Nations - sometimes in even stronger form - Buch as, for example, the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. The importance of this new Body of Principles lies in the fact that they are now contained in a document which can function as a check-list for Governments to see whether their legal provisions and administrative practices are in conformity with these principles, and to take corrective measures if this is not the case. In the covering resolution the General Assembly "urges that every effort be made so that the Body of Principles becomes generally known and respected", a recommendation which is addressed to all States. Another important aspect is that the Body of Principles applies to all forms of detention or imprisonment,