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09 November 2000
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Fifty-fifth General Assembly
Third Committee
9 November 2000
53rd Meeting (PM)
Resolution on Afghanistan Adopted without Vote;
Text on Promoting, Consolidating Democracy Adopted by 145-0, with 14 Abstentions
Country-specific resolutions on human rights situations were unproductive because they only made countries resist monitoring, the representative of Libya told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this afternoon, as it considered a number of draft resolutions. Libya made that statement in explanation of vote on a resolution regarding the human rights situation in Iran, one of four texts adopted by recorded vote out of a total 12 adopted. Also this afternoon, the Committee heard the introduction of eight new resolutions.
The resolution on human rights in Iran was approved by a recorded vote of 58 in favour to 53 against, with 48 abstaining (Annex III). By the terms of that draft, the Assembly will welcome steps taken by Iran to advance human rights, including its commitment to promote respect for the rule of law and taking note of legal changes in that direction. However, the Assembly will also call on Iran to receive the Special Rapporteur and to cooperate with him, as well as with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. It will call for further changes regarding capital punishment, universal freedoms and the human rights of women and minorities.
Two other country-specific resolutions were approved this afternoon. A draft on the human rights situation in Iraq was approved by a recorded vote of 89 in favour to 2 against (Libya and Sudan), with 56 abstaining (Annex IV). By that text, the Assembly will strongly condemn the systematic, widespread and extremely grave violations of human rights by the Government, which added up to an all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by terror. The Assembly will call on the Iraqi Government to cooperate with the United Nations human rights mechanisms, in particular, by receiving the Special Rapporteur and allowing human rights monitors into Iraq.
A resolution on human rights in Afghanistan was approved without a vote. According to that draft, the Assembly will strongly condemn the mass killings and the systematic human rights violations in areas of Afghanistan, and would note with alarm the resumption of wider conflict over the summer by the Taliban. It would stress the need for national reconciliation and for establishing the rule of law.
Also approved by recorded vote was a resolution on the protection of migrants, approved by 151 votes in favour with none against and 9 abstentions (India, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Singapore and United States) (Annex I). The draft resolution on promoting and consolidating democracy was approved by a recorded vote of 145 in favour and none against, with 14 abstaining (Annex II).
Approved without a vote this afternoon was a seven-part draft on the rights of the child, by whose terms the Assembly will stress the importance of integrating child-related issues into the work of the World Conference on racism. It will urge States to ratify and implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to ensure that the views of children are given due weight in implementing the Convention. Finally, it will urge States to assign priority to activities aimed at preventing substance abuse by children, to take steps to protect the rights of children to remain with parents, and to take special measures to protect vulnerable children such as those living in the streets.
In addition, the Committee decided to take note of the report of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Also approved without a vote were drafts on implementing international instruments on human rights; human rights and cultural diversity; promoting the Declaration on rights and responsibilities to protect rights; strengthening the rule of law; and extrajudicial executions.
Introduced this afternoon was a draft on the new humanitarian order by the representative of Jordan. Norway's representative introduced a draft on the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. South Africa introduced drafts on the pledging conference of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and on the fiftieth anniversary of the UNHCR and World Refugee Day, which will be observed on 20 June.
On behalf of the African Group of States, the representative of Mauritania introduced a draft text on assistance to refugees in Africa. The United States introduced a draft text on human rights in South-eastern Europe. France introduced drafts on human rights in the Sudan and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Speaking on the resolutions were the representatives of United States, Singapore, Canada, Fiji, Libya, Cuba, India, Algeria, Pakistan, Austria, Uruguay, Japan, Chile, Congo, Mexico, Romania, Poland, Sudan, Iran, Egypt, Viet Nam, Hungary, France (on behalf of the European Union), Syria, Guyana, Yemen, China, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Guinea, Iraq, Russian Federation and Cameroon.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Friday, 10 November, to continue considering resolutions on a range of issues within its mandate.
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Third Committee
9 November 2000
53rd Meeting (PM)
Resolution on Afghanistan Adopted without Vote;
Text on Promoting, Consolidating Democracy Adopted by 145-0, with 14 Abstentions
Country-specific resolutions on human rights situations were unproductive because they only made countries resist monitoring, the representative of Libya told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this afternoon, as it considered a number of draft resolutions. Libya made that statement in explanation of vote on a resolution regarding the human rights situation in Iran, one of four texts adopted by recorded vote out of a total 12 adopted. Also this afternoon, the Committee heard the introduction of eight new resolutions.
The resolution on human rights in Iran was approved by a recorded vote of 58 in favour to 53 against, with 48 abstaining (Annex III). By the terms of that draft, the Assembly will welcome steps taken by Iran to advance human rights, including its commitment to promote respect for the rule of law and taking note of legal changes in that direction. However, the Assembly will also call on Iran to receive the Special Rapporteur and to cooperate with him, as well as with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. It will call for further changes regarding capital punishment, universal freedoms and the human rights of women and minorities.
Two other country-specific resolutions were approved this afternoon. A draft on the human rights situation in Iraq was approved by a recorded vote of 89 in favour to 2 against (Libya and Sudan), with 56 abstaining (Annex IV). By that text, the Assembly will strongly condemn the systematic, widespread and extremely grave violations of human rights by the Government, which added up to an all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by terror. The Assembly will call on the Iraqi Government to cooperate with the United Nations human rights mechanisms, in particular, by receiving the Special Rapporteur and allowing human rights monitors into Iraq.
A resolution on human rights in Afghanistan was approved without a vote. According to that draft, the Assembly will strongly condemn the mass killings and the systematic human rights violations in areas of Afghanistan, and would note with alarm the resumption of wider conflict over the summer by the Taliban. It would stress the need for national reconciliation and for establishing the rule of law.
Also approved by recorded vote was a resolution on the protection of migrants, approved by 151 votes in favour with none against and 9 abstentions (India, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Singapore and United States) (Annex I). The draft resolution on promoting and consolidating democracy was approved by a recorded vote of 145 in favour and none against, with 14 abstaining (Annex II).
Approved without a vote this afternoon was a seven-part draft on the rights of the child, by whose terms the Assembly will stress the importance of integrating child-related issues into the work of the World Conference on racism. It will urge States to ratify and implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to ensure that the views of children are given due weight in implementing the Convention. Finally, it will urge States to assign priority to activities aimed at preventing substance abuse by children, to take steps to protect the rights of children to remain with parents, and to take special measures to protect vulnerable children such as those living in the streets.
In addition, the Committee decided to take note of the report of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Also approved without a vote were drafts on implementing international instruments on human rights; human rights and cultural diversity; promoting the Declaration on rights and responsibilities to protect rights; strengthening the rule of law; and extrajudicial executions.
Introduced this afternoon was a draft on the new humanitarian order by the representative of Jordan. Norway's representative introduced a draft on the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. South Africa introduced drafts on the pledging conference of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and on the fiftieth anniversary of the UNHCR and World Refugee Day, which will be observed on 20 June.
On behalf of the African Group of States, the representative of Mauritania introduced a draft text on assistance to refugees in Africa. The United States introduced a draft text on human rights in South-eastern Europe. France introduced drafts on human rights in the Sudan and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Speaking on the resolutions were the representatives of United States, Singapore, Canada, Fiji, Libya, Cuba, India, Algeria, Pakistan, Austria, Uruguay, Japan, Chile, Congo, Mexico, Romania, Poland, Sudan, Iran, Egypt, Viet Nam, Hungary, France (on behalf of the European Union), Syria, Guyana, Yemen, China, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Guinea, Iraq, Russian Federation and Cameroon.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Friday, 10 November, to continue considering resolutions on a range of issues within its mandate.
*****