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19 October 2000
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Fifty-Fifth General Assembly
Third Committee
28th Meeting (PM)
19 October 2000
A global approach to eradicating trafficking in women and girls would be urged by a resolution approved this afternoon by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), as it met to take action and continue its debate on racism and self-determination. Also this afternoon, the Committee heard comments on the medium-term plan (2002-2005) under the programme planning item.
The resolution on traffic in women and girls was one of two the Committee approved this afternoon without a vote. By it, governments would be urged to work up a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy that included legislative measures, prevention campaigns, information exchange, assistance and protection, as well as prosecution provisions. They would also be urged to allocate resources for programmes, to strengthen preventive actions and to strengthen national programmes through bilateral, regional and international cooperation.
Also approved was a resolution on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. That would have the Assembly urge all States to ratify or accede to the Convention and its Optional Protocol concerning communications. It would also urge States to submit reports on implementation and to cooperate fully with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in presenting the reports.
Turning to racism and self-determination, delegates stressed the importance of teaching tolerance and respecting the right of self-determination. The representative of Algeria said racism was as rampant as ever in many developed countries, with neo-Nazi groups agitating on the pretext of freedom of association. He called for governments to adopt civil, legislative and economic penalties against such groups and for full participation in the 2001 World Conference on Racism, to which his Government would fully contribute.
The representative of Saint Lucia, meanwhile, called for the United Nations to fulfil its promise of political equality for small island Territories with the same vigour, initiative and resources as for other Territories. Self-determination for the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories was unfinished business. "Democratic deficits" must be resolved in the political dependency arrangements that did not pass muster for equality.
Also speaking on issues related to racism and self-determination were the representatives of the Russian Federation, Australia, Libya, Jordan and Pakistan.
The representatives of Algeria, Morocco, Eritrea and Ethiopia took part in an exchange under the rule of the right of reply.
Addressing issues related to the medium-term plan (2002-2005) were the representatives of Cuba, Bangladesh, Australia, Pakistan, China, Chile, Germany, United Kingdom, Syria, Algeria, Mexico and Egypt.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Friday, 20 October, to continue its discussion of issues related to racism and self-determination.
Committee Work Programme
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this afternoon to continue considering issues related to racism and to self-determination.
(For background, see Press Release GA/SHC/3596 of 18 October.)
Also before the Committee were a number of documents related to programme planning issues for consideration of the medium-term plan (2002-2006), as well as draft resolutions on which action was expected.
The report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) (document A/55/16) summarizes the CPC activities at its fortieth session (5 June-1 July and 21-29 August). The report indicates that the CPC considered such issues of relevance to the Third Committee as crime prevention and criminal justice, international drug control and human rights. It also considered the draft system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women for the period
2002-2005.
The proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005 as relevant to the Committee is as follows (document A/55/6): General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference services (document A/55/6, Prog. 6); economic and social affairs (document A/55/6, Prog. 7); crime prevention and criminal justice (document A/55/6, Prog. 12); international drug control (document A/55/6, Prog. 13); economic and social development in Africa (document A/55/6, Prog. 14); economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific (document A/55/6, Prog. 15); economic development in Europe (document A/55/6, Prog. 16); and economic and social development in Western Asia (document A/55/6, Prog. 18).
Continuing, portions of the medium-term plan relevant to the Committee are: human rights (document A/55/6, Prog. 19); humanitarian assistance (document A/55/6, Prog. 20); protection and assistance to refugees (document A/55/6, Prog. 21); and Palestine refugees (document A/55/6, Prog. 22).
The Committee also had before it the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (document A/55/18) which summarizes the work of the Committee during its fifty-sixth (6-24 March) and fifty-seventh (31 July-25 August) sessions. The report states that by the closing date of the Committee's fifty-seventh session, there were 156 States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Thirty of those parties had made the declaration under article 14 of the Convention, which recognizes the competence of the Committee to consider communications from individuals or groups of individuals who claim to be victims of violations of the Convention by the State party concerned.
According to the report, no decisions were adopted by the Committee during the reporting period on the prevention of racial discrimination, including early warning and urgent procedures. Chapter III of the report summarizes the main activity of the Committee: the examination of reports and information received from States parties. In an era when the international community has become increasingly aware of the importance of preventing human rights violations, says the report, it must be emphasized that regular reporting by States under human rights treaties constitutes a highly developed and institutionalized system for prevention. In recent years, consideration of periodic reports had uncovered patterns of discrimination in many countries that were similar to those against the Roma in Central Europe. Accordingly, at its fifty-seventh session, the Committee organized a general thematic discussion of the question of discrimination against Roma populations which resulted in the adoption of a general recommendation.
Further to the report, in addition to the general recommendation on discrimination against the Roma, the Committee, at its fifty-sixth session, adopted two general recommendations regarding article 6 of the Convention and gender-related dimensions of discrimination. The Committee was also well aware of the role it must play in the preparatory process of the World Conference and the Conference itself, the report continues. Therefore, the work of the Committee during the reporting period was characterized by efforts to fulfil those obligations. In its contribution to the World Conference, the Committee's emphasis includes the developing of priorities for the five themes of the Conference, the effectiveness of mechanisms and procedures of prevention, and best practices to be promoted in the struggle for the elimination of racial discrimination.
The Committee also had before it an addendum to the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (document A/55/18/Add.1) which states the programme budget implications and requirements for holding the Committee's fifty-eighth session in New York as compared with Geneva. It further states that no provision had been made in the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001 to cover the additional requirements of $86,300, relating to the holding of a session of the Committee in New York instead of Geneva.
Draft Resolutions
By terms of a draft resolution on traffic in women and girls (document A/C.3/55/L.12), the Assembly would urge governments to address the root factors that encouraged trafficking, including external ones, for prostitution and other forms of commercialized sex or for forced marriage or labour. Governments would be urged to eliminate trafficking in women, including by strengthening legislation to protect victims and punish perpetrators. They would also be urged to work up a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy that included legislative measures, prevention campaigns, information exchange, assistance and protection as well as prosecution provisions. The Assembly would urge governments to allocate resources for programmes, to strengthen preventive actions and to strengthen national programmes through bilateral, regional and international cooperation. Stressing the need for a global approach to eradicate the practice, the Assembly would encourage data collection and sharing, including through the Secretary-General.
The draft on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (document A/C.3/55/L.15) would have the Assembly express disappointment that the universal ratification of the Convention had not been met by the year 2000. It would urge all States to ratify of accede to the Convention. The Assembly would also urge parties to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention. It would further urge States parties to the Convention to make every possible effort to submit their reports on implementation and to cooperate fully with the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in the presentation of those reports. States parties would further be urged to take appropriate measures so that acceptance of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention by a two-thirds majority would take place as soon as possible in order for the amendment to enter into force.
The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General to provide resources, including staff and facilities necessary for the effective functioning of the Committee within its full mandate, in particular taking into account the entry into force of the Optional Protocol. It would also request the Secretary-General to submit a report on the status of the Convention and implementation of the present resolution at its fifty-sixth session. The Assembly would urge governments, and agencies and organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, to disseminate the Convention and the Optional Protocol and to continue to assist States parties, upon request, in implementing the Convention.
Action on Drafts
The Committee now turned to the draft on traffic in women and girls (document A/C.3/55/L.12), noting a number of technical amendments.
The following also became co-sponsors of the draft text: Azerbaijan, Croatia, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guatemala, Hungary, Libya, Malaysia, Israel, Latvia, Norway, Togo, Tanzania, Republic of Korea, Jamaica, Paraguay, Liberia, Bahamas, Madagascar, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Swaziland, Guinea, Congo and Rwanda.
The resolution as orally amended was adopted without a vote.
Explanation after Adoption
Speaking after adoption of the draft, the representative of the United States said that while he shared the concern of the international community over the serious problem of trafficking and agreed with the consensus, his delegation was not able to co-sponsor the draft resolution. That was because his delegation felt the references to “women and girls” should be replaced with “women and children”, since boys and young men were often the victims of trafficking. His delegation also felt that the tenets of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women should be amended in the resolution to apply a universal jurisdiction over traffickers. As to paragraphs dealing with the allocation of funds for relevant programmes “as appropriate”, he said that his country could not commit State or local governments to the allocation of such expenditures, nor could Congress be expected to allocate the appropriate funding.
The Committee next took up the draft resolution on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (document A/C.3/55/L.15), noting a number of technical amendments.
The following also became co-sponsors: Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Israel, Paraguay, Peru, Togo, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Barbados, Guyana, Rwanda, Poland, Belarus, Congo, Uzbekistan, Burkina Faso, Saint Lucia, Senegal and Uganda.
The draft as orally amended was adopted without a vote.
Explanation after Adoption
The representative of Singapore said that his delegation agreed with the general thrust of the draft resolution, but could not endorse the provision which urged States parties to the Convention to “review reservations regularly with a view to withdrawing them”. That provision seemed to contravene the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which had drawn a distinction between “permissible” and “impermissible” reservations based on their compatibility with the object and purpose of the relevant treaty. While the Convention permitted reservations that were compatible with the object of the relevant Convention, the Convention in question only forbids reservations which were incompatible with the object of the relevant Convention. It was therefore inappropriate to insist that States parties regularly review permissible reservations, with a view to withdrawing them. Indeed, the purpose of reservations was to allow as many countries as possible to ratify international treaties as soon as possible.
He was also concerned that there was an apparent trend to discourage reservations. That was counter-productive, and would only make it more difficult for countries to come aboard international treaties.
The representative of the United States said that his delegation felt that it was not appropriate for the resolution to allow only one form of reservation.
The representative of Jordan said that his delegation would associate itself with the statement of the representative of Singapore.
Statements
ALEXEY ROGOV (Russian Federation) said racism and xenophobia continued to exist in many forms, on a daily basis, in many States. A broader approach to racism had to be adopted, one that encompassed national extremism and discrimination against minorities. Merely condemning racist practices and adopting legislation would not cure the problem. Public opinion needed to be mobilized to combat the emergence of hatred and various kinds of phobias and ethnic animosities. People needed to be brought together through dialogue so they could interact and become familiar with each other.
He said the regional meeting held in Strasbourg just last week to prepare for the World Conference had addressed many important issues. It was intolerable today that people should not be allowed to speak their mother tongue in their own country, or to be thrown into prison for fighting Nazism, as was still done. Another European conference on human rights, to be held in Rome, would issue a declaration that his country intended to sign. It would become an integral part of the European protection of human rights.
Self-determination, he said, should be separated from other principles of law. It must not be interpreted as encouragement to deny the territorial integrity of sovereign States. Whatever humanitarian guise was given to armed intervention, the term "aggressive separatism" had been coined now and was increasingly allied with violence, including with terrorism. Any real concept of self-determination implied democracy.
PETER HEYWARD (Australia) said his country considered diversity of race and culture to be a means of mutual enrichment rather than limiting factors in human exchange and development. As hosts recently to the Olympic Games, Australia's character of diverse origins had come across to the world. Multiculturalism had led to harmonious coexistence and the commitment to improve the social and economic circumstances of indigenous Australians through practical programmes to improve their health, housing, employment and education. Laws banned all forms of racial discrimination and promoted equality, while the process of reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians was being pursued robustly as a first priority.
Even so, Australia was not immune from intolerance and prejudice based on race and culture. If not continually addressed, such attitudes could disrupt the communal harmony. Describing various programmes to counter bigotry and intolerance and, at the same time, raise cross-cultural awareness, tolerance and understanding, he said partnership approaches at the regional and global levels were vital to the effort.
It was therefore disappointing that Australia and New Zealand would not be allowed full participation in the Tehran preparatory meeting for the World Conference on Racism, he said. As an extraordinarily successful multicultural society, Australia could contribute much towards the stamping out of racism, wherever it occurred.
Ms. EL-HAJAJI (Libya) said that its was troubling that a millennium which had seen the end of apartheid in South Africa, as well as the creation of multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies around the world, had also seen horrific acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing among races that had lived together in tolerance and peace for years. The rapid spread of globalization had also seen the spread of racial discrimination and the passing of laws and regulations restricting freedom of movement. There had been a sharp rise in separatist movements and internal conflict which had drawn the attention of the United Nations. She said that, today, Africa was riddled with conflicts arising from religious and ethnic differences as a result of the legacy of colonialism.
She went on to say that, because of differences in race and culture, ethnic groups had become the target of all sorts of racism and discrimination. It was also important to note that, at a time when the human race was witnessing great technological progress, those new technologies were being used to incite xenophobia and racist ideas. The international community must cooperate to deal with the problem of racist ideas spread on the Internet. Supplying resources to combat discrimination and employing sanction against those that perpetrate racism were very important. That made the upcoming World Conference an encounter of great significance. It was necessary to adopt an agenda that defined compensation for the victims of racism, she added.
SAMER NABER (Jordan) said that racial discrimination ran counter to the principles of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was troubling then to hear reports that incidents of slavery, ethnic cleansing and xenophobia were on the rise. Those tragic occurrences should provide lessons for the international community. It seemed that, as the United Nations tried to establish instruments to combat racism, new challenges arose which required decisive political will on the part of the international community. A prime example of this was the spread of racist ideas on the Internet. Action to combat those new forms of racism should start at regional and national levels, and include intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
He said that while Jordan had suffered many crises, it still subscribed to principles of openness and tolerance. The country had also adhered to relevant international instruments aimed at combating racial discrimination. It was not enough to preach values of tolerance and human rights, for real value lay in the principles of equality and respect for rights of minorities and ensuring their participation in political processes. That was the way to ensure that they were an active component of the basic fabric of societies. While many nations had made great strides in exercising their right to self-determination, it was disturbing that the Palestinian people were still suffering greatly on their own national soil. He hoped that the recent agreement would be implemented so as to pave the way to peace.
MUNAWAR SAEED BHATTI (Pakistan) said that racial discrimination was an affront to human dignity. Over the past century, humanity had suffered greatly from the spread of racial hatred and xenophobia. It was true that the international community had tried its best to combat the problem. The Committee had made valuable contributions, and the recent Millennium Declaration had named the elimination of racism as a high priority. The upcoming World Conference would be another step in the right direction. Regrettably, however, racism appeared to be on the rise, mainly against migrants and refugees. The spread of hatred through the use of new technologies such as the Internet was particularly disturbing. He firmly believed that such advances should be used to uplift and promote understanding and harmony between the peoples of different regions.
He went on to say that he was most disturbed by the fact that Islam was now being portrayed in a negative light. Muslims, he said, had become the preferred target of racist ideas. "Islamophobia" had very serious implications. Indeed, it was ironic that the religion which spoke of tolerance had itself become a target of intolerance. The international community must reject all notions of racial, ethnic or religious superiority and promote harmony, tolerance and the acceptance of diversity.
ABDALLAH BAALI (Algeria) said racism was as rampant as ever in many developed countries. The targets of hatred were ethnic groups, refugees and indigenous people. Neo-Nazi groups were agitating on the pretext of freedom of association. Governments should adopt civil, legislative and economic penalties against such groups. A code of conduct should be devised for Internet services, so that mass communications could become a tool to promote tolerance instead of bigotry.
The Third Decade had failed to attain its goals because of a scarcity in funds, he continued. The World Conference would be a timely event to identify obstacles and initiate action in memory of the noble martyrs who fought apartheid in South Africa. Algeria would contribute in full, and would insist on full participation by the United Nations system.
While it was heartening that more than 80 countries had become independent since the Second World War, the task of decolonization would not be complete so long as a single people was still deprived of its right to self-determination. The new wave of repression in the occupied territories must stop. Israel must be induced to abide by the Geneva Conventions. The brave Palestinian people must have their rights restored to them. The referendum in Western Sahara was still inconclusive. It had been postponed year after year, including this year. The difficulties must be resolved as soon as possible. The United Nations responsibility was clear. The settlement plan and the implementation accords must be put into place to give the Saharan people their rights.
JULIAN HUNTE (Saint Lucia) said the United Nations must fulfil its promise of political equality for small island territories with the same vigour, initiative and resources as had been devoted to the process for other territories in the past. The mission of self-determination for the Small Island Non-Self-Governing Territories remained unfinished business. Efforts must be intensified to find solutions for the "democratic deficits" characterizing many of the political dependency arrangements that did not pass muster by any objective standard for political equality.
To that end, he continued, the international community must strongly reaffirm the inalienable right of the peoples of those Territories to self-determination. That would be done through the appropriate decisions and actions. Secondly, political education programmes should be initiated for the peoples of the Territories by the United Nations. Finally, the unimplemented activities of the first International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism must be implemented and a second decade inaugurated.
Right of Reply
The representative of Eritrea said he must unfortunately respond to Ethiopia's charges delivered this morning. The record of his country's practices proved it was against racism. His country had never shouted, "we don't like the colour of their eyes", as their Ethiopian neighbours had. The Ethiopian representative should have been advised not to talk irresponsibly about Eritreans. They were of the same racial group, although of different ethnic groups. The record also showed that the Eritrean Government had requested United Nations monitors to assess the situation between the two countries. They had not been sent because Ethiopia had refused to receive them. Again, he said, he invited Ethiopia to open itself to inspection by the United Nations.
Morocco's representative asked for close attention to his statement. He said he was shocked by Algeria's allegation. Algeria’s statement ran counter to the efforts of the Secretary-General's Special Representative to solve the problem. It was not Morocco's fault if the peace plan was still dragging on after a decade. Morocco had accepted the plan. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro (POLISARIO) and its supporters had held up progress. In 1997, the POLISARIO had refused to identify the Saharawis, then later had agreed to identify only a small percentage of those awaiting identification. The Secretary-General had intervened, but the obstinacy and obstructions of others had remained an impediment. There had been substantial disagreement on the issues, but Morocco was trying to end the suffering of the Saharawis. The Kingdom of Morocco sought a permanent solution to the problem, within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty. Information on the Tindouf camps, where refugees were not allowed to circulate without military authorization, would be most useful.
Ethiopia's representative said he would stick to the facts despite colourful words and fabrications. In May 1998, an international crime had been committed when Eritrea invaded Ethiopia. The only position regarding the issue was that aggression should not be rewarded, but rather must be reversed. The leadership at Asmara continued to defy that position, but Ethiopia must reverse the aggression once and for all, because over 30,000 Ethiopians had been incarcerated and thousands of Ethiopians had disappeared in Eritrea. Atrocities were being carried out, including the detention of women. He appealed to the international community to help women and children whose only crime was to be Ethiopians, saying it was laughable for the representative of a country without a constitution to criticize another.
Algeria's representative said he had expected his brother from Morocco to agree with him because nothing in his statement was calculated to displease him. He had expected Morocco to support that statement. He stated that the Houston Agreements should be implemented, and that Algeria believed there were still obstacles to be overcome with a view to implementation of the plan. The agreements and arrangement plans should be implemented. Only a constraint-free referendum for self-determination was acceptable for the resolution of what he said was a decolonization problem. Morocco, however, had claimed that it enjoyed the support of the European Union. No record of European Union support had been found, and must have existed only in Morocco's imagination. It was noteworthy that Morocco's language had evolved to the point where it now named only the POLISARIO.
Eritrea's representative said it was difficult to listen to allegations and simply turn away. He had independent media reports of his position. Could Ethiopia say the same thing? Also, Eritrea had invited independent observers to assess the situation. Was Ethiopia ready to receive them?
The representative of Morocco said the Sahara question was dear to his country's heart. As for the position of the European Union, he would send a copy of the relevant document to the Algerian delegation. The Sahara issue was not a decolonization question, he said. It would do to remember that Spain had been the occupying Power in the Sahara. Morocco had set the Western Sahara free with its liberating army. The people were free, they could move and say what they wanted. The same could not be said of the so-called refugees in the Tindouf camps. If they had been free to return to Morocco, the Sahara problem would already have been settled. Morocco favoured the plan for the Saharawis if it was implementable, and it had offered to dialogue.
The representative of Ethiopia objected to the repeated charge that his country had refused to admit human rights observers. At no time had his Government refused to accept any human rights observers. For the representative of Eritrea to twist the issue under discussion by making such a claim was a blatant public relations stand. He said that there was a human rights ombudsman in Ethiopia, and his country would always be willing to work with human rights representatives. Perhaps, the Eritrean representative had made those allegations in order to whitewash his own country’s violation of the human rights of innocent Ethiopian civilians. It was true, he added, that the Ethiopian Government, as a victim of aggression, had been forced to take measures against some Eritrean nationals. But those measures had been taken in transparency and only after a thorough investigation.
The representative of Algeria said he was very surprised that the representative of Morocco had been “shocked” by his earlier statement. He had no idea why that representative would be bothered or displeased, as the statement had used arguments based on United Nations resolutions. Algeria could not be silent and would speak anywhere and whenever the right of people to self-determination was flouted. Algeria had won that right through force of arms, he added. His delegation would always speak out to defend that right. On the issue of refugees, he said that repatriation would have taken place within the settlement plan, but that plan had been blocked. Regarding the “famous” statement by the European Union, he said that he had spoken with that delegation’s current Presidency and had been assured that no such statement had been made.
Statements on Medium-term Plan
The representative of Cuba said he regretted that the documents under discussion had not been made available sooner. On the human rights aspects of the plan, he said that his delegation regretted that there was no inclusion of provisions for follow-up to “right to development”. He proposed a new subprogramme that would include such aspects. He also expressed concern that there had been no agreement on language for the creation of a task force for emergency response. That would perhaps lead to greater politicization of the work of the United Nations.
The representative of Bangladesh said that the human rights aspects of the plan were very important. The plan, however, was substantially different what had first been discussed in August. He said that the right to development had not been addressed adequately, and the international aspects were totally absent.
The representative of Australia said that the inclusion of indicators of achievement was of critical importance. While the definitions of those indicators were welcome, some refinement was necessary. He disagreed with the representative of Cuba that the right to development deserved its own subprogramme. That issue was still being actively discussed in other venues within the United Nations system.
The representative of Pakistan said that he would appreciate closer coordination with the Fifth Committee when it took up the human rights implications of the plan.
The representative of China said he believed that discussions of human rights matters in the Fifth Committee might also include members of the Third Committee.
The representative of Chile said that it was important to include indicators, as it would be essential to have mechanisms to measure progress on human rights issues. Such indicators needed to be improved and fine-tuned, however. He also said that all subprogrammes should include some link between gender and the rights of women. He said it would be essential to have a team that would provide a rapid response to human rights violations.
The representative of Germany said that the medium-term plan was a document of great relevance for the Organization. He emphasized his delegation’s keen interest in successful deliberation of human rights issues in the Fifth Committee.The representative of the United Kingdom stressed the importance of indicators on the right to development. He also agreed that it was important to reach consensus of all those issues during the current General Assembly.
The representative of Syria said that a rapid response task force within the framework of the Secretariat was a highly complicated issue, and might interfere with other aspects of the work of the United Nations. He believed that it was premature to discuss the issue now without identifying specific mandates.
The representative of Algeria said that her delegation had real reservations about the setting up of an emergency response task force without discussion of mandates for such a force. Perhaps the issue could be revisited when the Committee took up human rights issues next week. On the right to development, she hoped that the resolution would be adopted by consensus.
The representative of Mexico said that discussions of the medium term should perhaps include the directors of various programmes in order to give Committee members a clearer idea of budgetary issues.
The representative of Egypt said that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had no mandate to create mechanisms to establish a rapid response force. He also hoped that the resolution on the right to development would be adopted by consensus during this General Assembly.
* *** *
Third Committee
28th Meeting (PM)
19 October 2000
A global approach to eradicating trafficking in women and girls would be urged by a resolution approved this afternoon by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), as it met to take action and continue its debate on racism and self-determination. Also this afternoon, the Committee heard comments on the medium-term plan (2002-2005) under the programme planning item.
The resolution on traffic in women and girls was one of two the Committee approved this afternoon without a vote. By it, governments would be urged to work up a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy that included legislative measures, prevention campaigns, information exchange, assistance and protection, as well as prosecution provisions. They would also be urged to allocate resources for programmes, to strengthen preventive actions and to strengthen national programmes through bilateral, regional and international cooperation.
Also approved was a resolution on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. That would have the Assembly urge all States to ratify or accede to the Convention and its Optional Protocol concerning communications. It would also urge States to submit reports on implementation and to cooperate fully with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in presenting the reports.
Turning to racism and self-determination, delegates stressed the importance of teaching tolerance and respecting the right of self-determination. The representative of Algeria said racism was as rampant as ever in many developed countries, with neo-Nazi groups agitating on the pretext of freedom of association. He called for governments to adopt civil, legislative and economic penalties against such groups and for full participation in the 2001 World Conference on Racism, to which his Government would fully contribute.
The representative of Saint Lucia, meanwhile, called for the United Nations to fulfil its promise of political equality for small island Territories with the same vigour, initiative and resources as for other Territories. Self-determination for the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories was unfinished business. "Democratic deficits" must be resolved in the political dependency arrangements that did not pass muster for equality.
Also speaking on issues related to racism and self-determination were the representatives of the Russian Federation, Australia, Libya, Jordan and Pakistan.
The representatives of Algeria, Morocco, Eritrea and Ethiopia took part in an exchange under the rule of the right of reply.
Addressing issues related to the medium-term plan (2002-2005) were the representatives of Cuba, Bangladesh, Australia, Pakistan, China, Chile, Germany, United Kingdom, Syria, Algeria, Mexico and Egypt.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Friday, 20 October, to continue its discussion of issues related to racism and self-determination.
Committee Work Programme
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this afternoon to continue considering issues related to racism and to self-determination.
(For background, see Press Release GA/SHC/3596 of 18 October.)
Also before the Committee were a number of documents related to programme planning issues for consideration of the medium-term plan (2002-2006), as well as draft resolutions on which action was expected.
The report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) (document A/55/16) summarizes the CPC activities at its fortieth session (5 June-1 July and 21-29 August). The report indicates that the CPC considered such issues of relevance to the Third Committee as crime prevention and criminal justice, international drug control and human rights. It also considered the draft system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women for the period
2002-2005.
The proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005 as relevant to the Committee is as follows (document A/55/6): General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference services (document A/55/6, Prog. 6); economic and social affairs (document A/55/6, Prog. 7); crime prevention and criminal justice (document A/55/6, Prog. 12); international drug control (document A/55/6, Prog. 13); economic and social development in Africa (document A/55/6, Prog. 14); economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific (document A/55/6, Prog. 15); economic development in Europe (document A/55/6, Prog. 16); and economic and social development in Western Asia (document A/55/6, Prog. 18).
Continuing, portions of the medium-term plan relevant to the Committee are: human rights (document A/55/6, Prog. 19); humanitarian assistance (document A/55/6, Prog. 20); protection and assistance to refugees (document A/55/6, Prog. 21); and Palestine refugees (document A/55/6, Prog. 22).
The Committee also had before it the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (document A/55/18) which summarizes the work of the Committee during its fifty-sixth (6-24 March) and fifty-seventh (31 July-25 August) sessions. The report states that by the closing date of the Committee's fifty-seventh session, there were 156 States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Thirty of those parties had made the declaration under article 14 of the Convention, which recognizes the competence of the Committee to consider communications from individuals or groups of individuals who claim to be victims of violations of the Convention by the State party concerned.
According to the report, no decisions were adopted by the Committee during the reporting period on the prevention of racial discrimination, including early warning and urgent procedures. Chapter III of the report summarizes the main activity of the Committee: the examination of reports and information received from States parties. In an era when the international community has become increasingly aware of the importance of preventing human rights violations, says the report, it must be emphasized that regular reporting by States under human rights treaties constitutes a highly developed and institutionalized system for prevention. In recent years, consideration of periodic reports had uncovered patterns of discrimination in many countries that were similar to those against the Roma in Central Europe. Accordingly, at its fifty-seventh session, the Committee organized a general thematic discussion of the question of discrimination against Roma populations which resulted in the adoption of a general recommendation.
Further to the report, in addition to the general recommendation on discrimination against the Roma, the Committee, at its fifty-sixth session, adopted two general recommendations regarding article 6 of the Convention and gender-related dimensions of discrimination. The Committee was also well aware of the role it must play in the preparatory process of the World Conference and the Conference itself, the report continues. Therefore, the work of the Committee during the reporting period was characterized by efforts to fulfil those obligations. In its contribution to the World Conference, the Committee's emphasis includes the developing of priorities for the five themes of the Conference, the effectiveness of mechanisms and procedures of prevention, and best practices to be promoted in the struggle for the elimination of racial discrimination.
The Committee also had before it an addendum to the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (document A/55/18/Add.1) which states the programme budget implications and requirements for holding the Committee's fifty-eighth session in New York as compared with Geneva. It further states that no provision had been made in the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001 to cover the additional requirements of $86,300, relating to the holding of a session of the Committee in New York instead of Geneva.
Draft Resolutions
By terms of a draft resolution on traffic in women and girls (document A/C.3/55/L.12), the Assembly would urge governments to address the root factors that encouraged trafficking, including external ones, for prostitution and other forms of commercialized sex or for forced marriage or labour. Governments would be urged to eliminate trafficking in women, including by strengthening legislation to protect victims and punish perpetrators. They would also be urged to work up a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy that included legislative measures, prevention campaigns, information exchange, assistance and protection as well as prosecution provisions. The Assembly would urge governments to allocate resources for programmes, to strengthen preventive actions and to strengthen national programmes through bilateral, regional and international cooperation. Stressing the need for a global approach to eradicate the practice, the Assembly would encourage data collection and sharing, including through the Secretary-General.
The draft on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (document A/C.3/55/L.15) would have the Assembly express disappointment that the universal ratification of the Convention had not been met by the year 2000. It would urge all States to ratify of accede to the Convention. The Assembly would also urge parties to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention. It would further urge States parties to the Convention to make every possible effort to submit their reports on implementation and to cooperate fully with the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in the presentation of those reports. States parties would further be urged to take appropriate measures so that acceptance of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention by a two-thirds majority would take place as soon as possible in order for the amendment to enter into force.
The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General to provide resources, including staff and facilities necessary for the effective functioning of the Committee within its full mandate, in particular taking into account the entry into force of the Optional Protocol. It would also request the Secretary-General to submit a report on the status of the Convention and implementation of the present resolution at its fifty-sixth session. The Assembly would urge governments, and agencies and organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, to disseminate the Convention and the Optional Protocol and to continue to assist States parties, upon request, in implementing the Convention.
Action on Drafts
The Committee now turned to the draft on traffic in women and girls (document A/C.3/55/L.12), noting a number of technical amendments.
The following also became co-sponsors of the draft text: Azerbaijan, Croatia, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guatemala, Hungary, Libya, Malaysia, Israel, Latvia, Norway, Togo, Tanzania, Republic of Korea, Jamaica, Paraguay, Liberia, Bahamas, Madagascar, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Swaziland, Guinea, Congo and Rwanda.
The resolution as orally amended was adopted without a vote.
Explanation after Adoption
Speaking after adoption of the draft, the representative of the United States said that while he shared the concern of the international community over the serious problem of trafficking and agreed with the consensus, his delegation was not able to co-sponsor the draft resolution. That was because his delegation felt the references to “women and girls” should be replaced with “women and children”, since boys and young men were often the victims of trafficking. His delegation also felt that the tenets of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women should be amended in the resolution to apply a universal jurisdiction over traffickers. As to paragraphs dealing with the allocation of funds for relevant programmes “as appropriate”, he said that his country could not commit State or local governments to the allocation of such expenditures, nor could Congress be expected to allocate the appropriate funding.
The Committee next took up the draft resolution on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (document A/C.3/55/L.15), noting a number of technical amendments.
The following also became co-sponsors: Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Israel, Paraguay, Peru, Togo, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Barbados, Guyana, Rwanda, Poland, Belarus, Congo, Uzbekistan, Burkina Faso, Saint Lucia, Senegal and Uganda.
The draft as orally amended was adopted without a vote.
Explanation after Adoption
The representative of Singapore said that his delegation agreed with the general thrust of the draft resolution, but could not endorse the provision which urged States parties to the Convention to “review reservations regularly with a view to withdrawing them”. That provision seemed to contravene the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which had drawn a distinction between “permissible” and “impermissible” reservations based on their compatibility with the object and purpose of the relevant treaty. While the Convention permitted reservations that were compatible with the object of the relevant Convention, the Convention in question only forbids reservations which were incompatible with the object of the relevant Convention. It was therefore inappropriate to insist that States parties regularly review permissible reservations, with a view to withdrawing them. Indeed, the purpose of reservations was to allow as many countries as possible to ratify international treaties as soon as possible.
He was also concerned that there was an apparent trend to discourage reservations. That was counter-productive, and would only make it more difficult for countries to come aboard international treaties.
The representative of the United States said that his delegation felt that it was not appropriate for the resolution to allow only one form of reservation.
The representative of Jordan said that his delegation would associate itself with the statement of the representative of Singapore.
Statements
ALEXEY ROGOV (Russian Federation) said racism and xenophobia continued to exist in many forms, on a daily basis, in many States. A broader approach to racism had to be adopted, one that encompassed national extremism and discrimination against minorities. Merely condemning racist practices and adopting legislation would not cure the problem. Public opinion needed to be mobilized to combat the emergence of hatred and various kinds of phobias and ethnic animosities. People needed to be brought together through dialogue so they could interact and become familiar with each other.
He said the regional meeting held in Strasbourg just last week to prepare for the World Conference had addressed many important issues. It was intolerable today that people should not be allowed to speak their mother tongue in their own country, or to be thrown into prison for fighting Nazism, as was still done. Another European conference on human rights, to be held in Rome, would issue a declaration that his country intended to sign. It would become an integral part of the European protection of human rights.
Self-determination, he said, should be separated from other principles of law. It must not be interpreted as encouragement to deny the territorial integrity of sovereign States. Whatever humanitarian guise was given to armed intervention, the term "aggressive separatism" had been coined now and was increasingly allied with violence, including with terrorism. Any real concept of self-determination implied democracy.
PETER HEYWARD (Australia) said his country considered diversity of race and culture to be a means of mutual enrichment rather than limiting factors in human exchange and development. As hosts recently to the Olympic Games, Australia's character of diverse origins had come across to the world. Multiculturalism had led to harmonious coexistence and the commitment to improve the social and economic circumstances of indigenous Australians through practical programmes to improve their health, housing, employment and education. Laws banned all forms of racial discrimination and promoted equality, while the process of reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians was being pursued robustly as a first priority.
Even so, Australia was not immune from intolerance and prejudice based on race and culture. If not continually addressed, such attitudes could disrupt the communal harmony. Describing various programmes to counter bigotry and intolerance and, at the same time, raise cross-cultural awareness, tolerance and understanding, he said partnership approaches at the regional and global levels were vital to the effort.
It was therefore disappointing that Australia and New Zealand would not be allowed full participation in the Tehran preparatory meeting for the World Conference on Racism, he said. As an extraordinarily successful multicultural society, Australia could contribute much towards the stamping out of racism, wherever it occurred.
Ms. EL-HAJAJI (Libya) said that its was troubling that a millennium which had seen the end of apartheid in South Africa, as well as the creation of multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies around the world, had also seen horrific acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing among races that had lived together in tolerance and peace for years. The rapid spread of globalization had also seen the spread of racial discrimination and the passing of laws and regulations restricting freedom of movement. There had been a sharp rise in separatist movements and internal conflict which had drawn the attention of the United Nations. She said that, today, Africa was riddled with conflicts arising from religious and ethnic differences as a result of the legacy of colonialism.
She went on to say that, because of differences in race and culture, ethnic groups had become the target of all sorts of racism and discrimination. It was also important to note that, at a time when the human race was witnessing great technological progress, those new technologies were being used to incite xenophobia and racist ideas. The international community must cooperate to deal with the problem of racist ideas spread on the Internet. Supplying resources to combat discrimination and employing sanction against those that perpetrate racism were very important. That made the upcoming World Conference an encounter of great significance. It was necessary to adopt an agenda that defined compensation for the victims of racism, she added.
SAMER NABER (Jordan) said that racial discrimination ran counter to the principles of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was troubling then to hear reports that incidents of slavery, ethnic cleansing and xenophobia were on the rise. Those tragic occurrences should provide lessons for the international community. It seemed that, as the United Nations tried to establish instruments to combat racism, new challenges arose which required decisive political will on the part of the international community. A prime example of this was the spread of racist ideas on the Internet. Action to combat those new forms of racism should start at regional and national levels, and include intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
He said that while Jordan had suffered many crises, it still subscribed to principles of openness and tolerance. The country had also adhered to relevant international instruments aimed at combating racial discrimination. It was not enough to preach values of tolerance and human rights, for real value lay in the principles of equality and respect for rights of minorities and ensuring their participation in political processes. That was the way to ensure that they were an active component of the basic fabric of societies. While many nations had made great strides in exercising their right to self-determination, it was disturbing that the Palestinian people were still suffering greatly on their own national soil. He hoped that the recent agreement would be implemented so as to pave the way to peace.
MUNAWAR SAEED BHATTI (Pakistan) said that racial discrimination was an affront to human dignity. Over the past century, humanity had suffered greatly from the spread of racial hatred and xenophobia. It was true that the international community had tried its best to combat the problem. The Committee had made valuable contributions, and the recent Millennium Declaration had named the elimination of racism as a high priority. The upcoming World Conference would be another step in the right direction. Regrettably, however, racism appeared to be on the rise, mainly against migrants and refugees. The spread of hatred through the use of new technologies such as the Internet was particularly disturbing. He firmly believed that such advances should be used to uplift and promote understanding and harmony between the peoples of different regions.
He went on to say that he was most disturbed by the fact that Islam was now being portrayed in a negative light. Muslims, he said, had become the preferred target of racist ideas. "Islamophobia" had very serious implications. Indeed, it was ironic that the religion which spoke of tolerance had itself become a target of intolerance. The international community must reject all notions of racial, ethnic or religious superiority and promote harmony, tolerance and the acceptance of diversity.
ABDALLAH BAALI (Algeria) said racism was as rampant as ever in many developed countries. The targets of hatred were ethnic groups, refugees and indigenous people. Neo-Nazi groups were agitating on the pretext of freedom of association. Governments should adopt civil, legislative and economic penalties against such groups. A code of conduct should be devised for Internet services, so that mass communications could become a tool to promote tolerance instead of bigotry.
The Third Decade had failed to attain its goals because of a scarcity in funds, he continued. The World Conference would be a timely event to identify obstacles and initiate action in memory of the noble martyrs who fought apartheid in South Africa. Algeria would contribute in full, and would insist on full participation by the United Nations system.
While it was heartening that more than 80 countries had become independent since the Second World War, the task of decolonization would not be complete so long as a single people was still deprived of its right to self-determination. The new wave of repression in the occupied territories must stop. Israel must be induced to abide by the Geneva Conventions. The brave Palestinian people must have their rights restored to them. The referendum in Western Sahara was still inconclusive. It had been postponed year after year, including this year. The difficulties must be resolved as soon as possible. The United Nations responsibility was clear. The settlement plan and the implementation accords must be put into place to give the Saharan people their rights.
JULIAN HUNTE (Saint Lucia) said the United Nations must fulfil its promise of political equality for small island territories with the same vigour, initiative and resources as had been devoted to the process for other territories in the past. The mission of self-determination for the Small Island Non-Self-Governing Territories remained unfinished business. Efforts must be intensified to find solutions for the "democratic deficits" characterizing many of the political dependency arrangements that did not pass muster by any objective standard for political equality.
To that end, he continued, the international community must strongly reaffirm the inalienable right of the peoples of those Territories to self-determination. That would be done through the appropriate decisions and actions. Secondly, political education programmes should be initiated for the peoples of the Territories by the United Nations. Finally, the unimplemented activities of the first International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism must be implemented and a second decade inaugurated.
Right of Reply
The representative of Eritrea said he must unfortunately respond to Ethiopia's charges delivered this morning. The record of his country's practices proved it was against racism. His country had never shouted, "we don't like the colour of their eyes", as their Ethiopian neighbours had. The Ethiopian representative should have been advised not to talk irresponsibly about Eritreans. They were of the same racial group, although of different ethnic groups. The record also showed that the Eritrean Government had requested United Nations monitors to assess the situation between the two countries. They had not been sent because Ethiopia had refused to receive them. Again, he said, he invited Ethiopia to open itself to inspection by the United Nations.
Morocco's representative asked for close attention to his statement. He said he was shocked by Algeria's allegation. Algeria’s statement ran counter to the efforts of the Secretary-General's Special Representative to solve the problem. It was not Morocco's fault if the peace plan was still dragging on after a decade. Morocco had accepted the plan. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro (POLISARIO) and its supporters had held up progress. In 1997, the POLISARIO had refused to identify the Saharawis, then later had agreed to identify only a small percentage of those awaiting identification. The Secretary-General had intervened, but the obstinacy and obstructions of others had remained an impediment. There had been substantial disagreement on the issues, but Morocco was trying to end the suffering of the Saharawis. The Kingdom of Morocco sought a permanent solution to the problem, within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty. Information on the Tindouf camps, where refugees were not allowed to circulate without military authorization, would be most useful.
Ethiopia's representative said he would stick to the facts despite colourful words and fabrications. In May 1998, an international crime had been committed when Eritrea invaded Ethiopia. The only position regarding the issue was that aggression should not be rewarded, but rather must be reversed. The leadership at Asmara continued to defy that position, but Ethiopia must reverse the aggression once and for all, because over 30,000 Ethiopians had been incarcerated and thousands of Ethiopians had disappeared in Eritrea. Atrocities were being carried out, including the detention of women. He appealed to the international community to help women and children whose only crime was to be Ethiopians, saying it was laughable for the representative of a country without a constitution to criticize another.
Algeria's representative said he had expected his brother from Morocco to agree with him because nothing in his statement was calculated to displease him. He had expected Morocco to support that statement. He stated that the Houston Agreements should be implemented, and that Algeria believed there were still obstacles to be overcome with a view to implementation of the plan. The agreements and arrangement plans should be implemented. Only a constraint-free referendum for self-determination was acceptable for the resolution of what he said was a decolonization problem. Morocco, however, had claimed that it enjoyed the support of the European Union. No record of European Union support had been found, and must have existed only in Morocco's imagination. It was noteworthy that Morocco's language had evolved to the point where it now named only the POLISARIO.
Eritrea's representative said it was difficult to listen to allegations and simply turn away. He had independent media reports of his position. Could Ethiopia say the same thing? Also, Eritrea had invited independent observers to assess the situation. Was Ethiopia ready to receive them?
The representative of Morocco said the Sahara question was dear to his country's heart. As for the position of the European Union, he would send a copy of the relevant document to the Algerian delegation. The Sahara issue was not a decolonization question, he said. It would do to remember that Spain had been the occupying Power in the Sahara. Morocco had set the Western Sahara free with its liberating army. The people were free, they could move and say what they wanted. The same could not be said of the so-called refugees in the Tindouf camps. If they had been free to return to Morocco, the Sahara problem would already have been settled. Morocco favoured the plan for the Saharawis if it was implementable, and it had offered to dialogue.
The representative of Ethiopia objected to the repeated charge that his country had refused to admit human rights observers. At no time had his Government refused to accept any human rights observers. For the representative of Eritrea to twist the issue under discussion by making such a claim was a blatant public relations stand. He said that there was a human rights ombudsman in Ethiopia, and his country would always be willing to work with human rights representatives. Perhaps, the Eritrean representative had made those allegations in order to whitewash his own country’s violation of the human rights of innocent Ethiopian civilians. It was true, he added, that the Ethiopian Government, as a victim of aggression, had been forced to take measures against some Eritrean nationals. But those measures had been taken in transparency and only after a thorough investigation.
The representative of Algeria said he was very surprised that the representative of Morocco had been “shocked” by his earlier statement. He had no idea why that representative would be bothered or displeased, as the statement had used arguments based on United Nations resolutions. Algeria could not be silent and would speak anywhere and whenever the right of people to self-determination was flouted. Algeria had won that right through force of arms, he added. His delegation would always speak out to defend that right. On the issue of refugees, he said that repatriation would have taken place within the settlement plan, but that plan had been blocked. Regarding the “famous” statement by the European Union, he said that he had spoken with that delegation’s current Presidency and had been assured that no such statement had been made.
Statements on Medium-term Plan
The representative of Cuba said he regretted that the documents under discussion had not been made available sooner. On the human rights aspects of the plan, he said that his delegation regretted that there was no inclusion of provisions for follow-up to “right to development”. He proposed a new subprogramme that would include such aspects. He also expressed concern that there had been no agreement on language for the creation of a task force for emergency response. That would perhaps lead to greater politicization of the work of the United Nations.
The representative of Bangladesh said that the human rights aspects of the plan were very important. The plan, however, was substantially different what had first been discussed in August. He said that the right to development had not been addressed adequately, and the international aspects were totally absent.
The representative of Australia said that the inclusion of indicators of achievement was of critical importance. While the definitions of those indicators were welcome, some refinement was necessary. He disagreed with the representative of Cuba that the right to development deserved its own subprogramme. That issue was still being actively discussed in other venues within the United Nations system.
The representative of Pakistan said that he would appreciate closer coordination with the Fifth Committee when it took up the human rights implications of the plan.
The representative of China said he believed that discussions of human rights matters in the Fifth Committee might also include members of the Third Committee.
The representative of Chile said that it was important to include indicators, as it would be essential to have mechanisms to measure progress on human rights issues. Such indicators needed to be improved and fine-tuned, however. He also said that all subprogrammes should include some link between gender and the rights of women. He said it would be essential to have a team that would provide a rapid response to human rights violations.
The representative of Germany said that the medium-term plan was a document of great relevance for the Organization. He emphasized his delegation’s keen interest in successful deliberation of human rights issues in the Fifth Committee.The representative of the United Kingdom stressed the importance of indicators on the right to development. He also agreed that it was important to reach consensus of all those issues during the current General Assembly.
The representative of Syria said that a rapid response task force within the framework of the Secretariat was a highly complicated issue, and might interfere with other aspects of the work of the United Nations. He believed that it was premature to discuss the issue now without identifying specific mandates.
The representative of Algeria said that her delegation had real reservations about the setting up of an emergency response task force without discussion of mandates for such a force. Perhaps the issue could be revisited when the Committee took up human rights issues next week. On the right to development, she hoped that the resolution would be adopted by consensus.
The representative of Mexico said that discussions of the medium term should perhaps include the directors of various programmes in order to give Committee members a clearer idea of budgetary issues.
The representative of Egypt said that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had no mandate to create mechanisms to establish a rapid response force. He also hoped that the resolution on the right to development would be adopted by consensus during this General Assembly.
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