SUBCOMMISSION ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS ON MYRIAD SUBJECTS INCLUDING INDIGENOUS ISSUES, GLOBALIZATION AND MINORITY RIGHTS

Subcommission on the Promotion
and Protection of Human Rights
53rd session
15 August 2001
Afternoon




Recommends Convening International Conference on Indigenous Issues; Proclaiming International Year for Minorities;
Appointing Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues



The Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights this afternoon adopted myriad resolutions and measures on indigenous and minority issues and globalization under its agenda items on economic, social and cultural rights, prevention of discrimination and other human rights issues.

Concerning indigenous issues, the Subcommission in a resolution invited the Commission on Human Rights to recommend that the Economic and Social Council authorize the convening of an international conference on indigenous issues during the last year of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (2003). It also invited Subcommission Expert Iulia-Antoanella Motoc to prepare a working paper for the Working Group on indigenous populations containing proposals and suggestions for possible future standard setting activities, as well as a second working paper on the consequences of biotechnology on indigenous peoples; and it requested Subcommission Expert Erica-Irene A. Daes to prepare a working paper on indigenous peoples' permanent sovereignty over their natural resources.

In resolutions on minority issues, the Subcommission recommended that consideration be given to an International Year for the world's minorities; and recommended the possible appointment of a Special Rapporteur on minority issues; and the possible establishment of a voluntary trust fund to aid the participation of minority representatives and experts from developing countries in the activities of the Working Group on minorities. It also recommended that the High Commissioner for Human Rights, when inviting Governments to submit their views on how best to protect minority persons, also requested them to provide their views on the possible drafting of a convention on the rights of minorities, including the possibility of establishing regional institutions for conflict prevention and resolution. Subcommission Expert Rajendra Kalidas Wimala Goonesekere was entrusted with the preparation of an expanded working paper on the topic of discrimination based on work and descent.

Under its agenda item on economic, social and cultural rights, the Subcommission Experts encouraged the Special Rapporteur on globalization to examine the relationship between international human rights law and international economic law. The resolution recommended that the Commission on Human Rights consider convening an expert consultation on economic globalization and human rights. On the effects of the working methods and activities of transnational corporations on the enjoyment of human rights, the Subcommission decided to extend, for a three-year period, the mandate of the Working Group on the methods and activities of transnational corporations, and requested that the Working Group contribute to the drafting of relevant legal rules concerning transnational corporations.

The Subcommission also decided to appoint Subcommission Expert Fried van Hoof as Commentator on the minimum guidelines which would comprise part of the final report on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights. And on extreme poverty, the Subcommission in a resolution reaffirmed that the existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibited the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and might, in some situations, constitute a threat to the right to life, and that its immediate alleviation and eventual eradication should remain a high priority for the international community. It requested that Subcommission Experts Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Yozo Yokota, El-Hadji Guisse and Jose Bengoa prepare a joint working paper on the subject. It also requested that the authors specifically consider the situations of poverty in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The Subcommission Experts also approved resolutions on topics ranging from recommending an optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to condemning all forms of discrimination and violations against women and girls in territories controlled by Afghan armed groups. Other resolutions and decisions dealt with the following topics: liberalization of trade in services; intellectual property and human rights; a study on non-discrimination; the right to food and the World Food Summit: five years later; a preliminary report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of non-citizens; the final working paper on indigenous peoples and their relationship to land; discrimination based on work and descent; the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People; a preparatory workshop on implementation of the recommendations relating to indigenous peoples contained in Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development; the Working Group on indigenous populations; traditional practices affecting the health of women and the girl child; the report of the Working Group on contemporary forms of slavery; and human rights and bioethics.

Nearly 20 draft resolutions and measures remained, and the Subcommission will continue voting on them when it reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 16 August.

Action on Resolutions and Decisions

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.8) on the effects of the working methods and activities of transnational corporations on the enjoyment of human rights, adopted by consensus, the Subcommission supported the Declaration on the Right to Development and underlined the multidimensional, integrated and dynamic character of this right which favoured a partnership for development; decided to extend, for a three-year period, the mandate of the Working Group on the methods and activities of transnational corporations; and requested that the Working Group, in particular, examine, receive and gather information; compile a list of the various relevant instruments and legal rules concerning human rights that were applicable to transnational corporations; contribute to the drafting of relevant legal rules concerning transnational corporations; analyse the possibility of establishing a monitoring mechanism in order to apply sanctions and obtain compensation for infringements committed and damage caused by transnational corporations, and to contribute to the drafting of legal rules for that purpose; compile a list of the various existing agreements on investment, agriculture, trade and services in relation to the activities of transnational corporations and analyse their compatibility with various international human rights instruments; study the effects of competition among transnational corporations, such as mergers, purchase and resale of companies, and the oligopoly system, on the enjoyment of human rights and on the sovereignty of States and the right to development; request the Secretariat to prepare each year a list of countries and transnational corporations, indicating their gross national product and financial turnover, respectively; and consider the scope of the obligation of States to regulate the activities of transnational corporations.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.13) on liberalization of trade in services and human rights, adopted by consensus, the Subcommission called upon Governments and international economic policy fora to actively ensure that such trade in services did not negatively impact on the enjoyment of human rights by all persons without discrimination; requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit a report on the human rights implications of the matter, particularly as reflected in the framework of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), to the Subcommission at its fifty-fourth session; encouraged other relevant United Nations agencies, in particular the World Health Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to undertake analyses of the implementation of GATS on the provision of basic services such as health and education services; recommended that, through the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Trade Organization and its Council for Trade in Services be asked to include consideration of the human rights implications of international trade in basic services and the further liberalization thereof; and recommended that the World Trade Organization take into account in assessments of the implementation of GATS the report to be prepared by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and any other relevant United Nations analyses.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.16) on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission urged all Governments and international economic policy forums to take international human rights obligations and principles fully into account in international economic policy formulation, including during the forthcoming Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization; encouraged the Special Rapporteur on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights to examine further the relationship between international human rights law and international economic law, particularly in relation to the functioning of multilateral and plurilateral economic institutions, to focus on guidelines and mechanisms necessary to deal effectively with the phenomenon of globalization and its varied impacts on the full enjoyment of human rights, and to propose further measures necessary to ensure that the United Nations human rights regime was strengthened to address the challenges presented; recommended that Governments engaged in the preparation of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers include in them reference to applicable human rights obligations and ensure that the realization of such obligations was incorporated in the objectives defined in their Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers; encouraged the Special Rapporteur on the right to food to explore, within his mandate, the implications for the realization of the right to food of liberalization of the international trade in agricultural products, particularly in the framework of the Agreement on Agriculture of the World Trade Organization; and encouraged the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other bodies monitoring the implementation of human rights treaty obligations in the area of economic, social and cultural rights to explore, in the course of reviewing States parties' reports, the implications for the realization of the right to food of liberalization of the international trade in agricultural products, particularly in the framework of the Agreement on Agriculture of the World Trade Organization.

The Subcommission requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to consider if there was a need for an examination of whether the patent as a legal instrument was compatible with the rights of individuals and companies and the obligations of States, particularly in the medical and pharmaceutical field, and a framework for an alternative system for meeting the legitimate needs of all parties within the framework of human rights, and to undertake such an investigation should she decide that it was necessary, and recommended that the Commission on Human Rights consider requesting that an expert consultation be convened on economic globalization and human rights, involving Special Rapporteurs and other special mechanisms of the Commission having relevant mandates, members of the Subcommission, United Nations agencies with relevant competencies, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, other international economic institutions, including the World Trade Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, academics and relevant civil society representatives.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.21) on the optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission urged the Commission on Human Rights to give high priority to the consideration of a draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to consider communications from individuals; reiterated its suggestion that the Commission on Human Rights establish at its fifty-eighth session an intersessional Working Group entrusted with the further study of a draft optional protocol to the International Covenant; and decided to follow progress towards the further elaboration and the adoption of a draft optional protocol to the International Covenant at its fifty-fourth session.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.25) on the right to food, and the World Food Summit: five years later, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission appealed to the world's leaders, through the Commission on Human Rights, when they assembled in Rome in November 2001 for the World Food Summit: five years later, to reaffirm the right of everyone to adequate food and to be free from hunger; to call on States to develop, consistent with their resources and capacities, a national strategy to implement progressively the right of all to adequate food and to be free from hunger, in order to achieve their individual goals in implementing the recommendations contained in the Rome Declaration and Plan of Action of the World Food Summit; to promote the explicit incorporation of the right to adequate food and to be free from hunger in poverty reduction strategies; to encourage further clarification of States' international responsibilities in implementing the right to adequate food and to be free from hunger, considering both international human rights legal provisions and other international instruments relevant to the right to food and the relationships between them; and to mobilize and optimize the allocation and utilization of technical, human and financial resources from all sources in order to reinforce national actions to implement sustainable food security policies.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.30) on the appointment of a Commentator on the guidelines to be proposed in the final report on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission decided to appoint Fried van Hoof as Commentator on the minimum guidelines which would comprise part of the final report on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights.


In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.35) on the implementation of existing human rights norms and standards in the context of the fight against extreme poverty, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission reaffirmed that the existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibited the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and might, in some situations, constitute a threat to the right to life, and that its immediate alleviation and eventual eradication should remain a high priority for the international community; requested Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Yozo Yokota, El-Hadji Guisse and Jose Bengoa to prepare a joint working paper on the basis of the various relevant international instruments, the ongoing work in other forums, the conclusions and recommendations of the Expert Seminar on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty and any other relevant inputs, to be submitted to the Subcommission at its fifty-fourth session so that it could be considered and thereafter forwarded to the Commission for considerations at its fifty-ninth session; also requested that the authors specifically consider the situations of poverty in Asia, Africa and Latin America in the light of international jurisprudence, treaties, covenants and other relevant instruments, in order to alleviate the situation of poverty, and that the authors also consider the policies of the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and other international bodies in order to fight poverty; further requested that the authors present conclusions and recommendations in order to contribute to work on a draft declaration on extreme poverty and human rights and other international and regional initiatives; and requested regional specialized bodies from Asia, Africa, and Latin America and international agencies such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Development Programme to collaborate and provide information for the study.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.12) on the rights of minorities, adopted by consensus, the Subcommission welcomed the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights with a view to publishing a United Nations guide for minorities containing an overview of the relevant procedures and mechanisms of regional and international organizations, as well as the text of the relevant Declaration; noted with satisfaction the work undertaken by the Chairperson of the Working Group to prepare a statement for the World Conference against Racism on the relationship between the elimination of racial discrimination and the protection of minorities; noted that 2002 would be the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration and recommended that consideration be given to an International Year for the world's minorities; recommended the possible appointment of a Special Rapporteur on minority issues; and the possible establishment of a voluntary trust fund to aid the participation of minority representatives and experts from developing countries in the activities of the Working Group; took note with satisfaction of the second African workshop on multiculturalism and the intention of the working group to hold other regional seminars; recommended that the High Commissioner for Human Rights, when inviting Governments to submit their views on how best to protect minority persons, also request them to provide their views on the possible drafting of a convention on the rights of minorities, including regional standard setting, as well as on the possibility of establishing regional institutions for conflict prevention and resolution; took note of the future thematic discussions planned in the Working Group; and requested Asbjorn Eide to update his study on peaceful and constructive approaches to situations involving minorities.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.14) on the Working Group on indigenous populations, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission recommended that the Working Group cooperate, upon request, as a body of experts in any conceptual clarification or analysis which might assist the open-ended intersessional Working Group established by the Commission on Human Rights to elaborate further the draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous people; requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue efforts to organize meetings on indigenous issues in different parts of the world, in particular in Africa, Asia, and Latin America; requested the High Commissioner to encourage studies with respect to the rights to food and adequate nutrition of indigenous peoples and indigenous peoples and poverty; called upon the organizers of the World Conference against Racism to ensure that a mechanism existed for the full and active participation of representatives of indigenous peoples in the World Conference; recommended that the organizers invite indigenous representatives to address the plenary of the World Conference; recommended that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights organize a parallel activity on indigenous issues during the Conference and that funds be set aside for this purpose; recommended that a chapter in both the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference be dedicated to indigenous peoples and that the Conference recognize and use the term indigenous "peoples"; suggested that the High Commissioner organize a workshop for indigenous peoples in the context of the International Year of Eco-tourism in 2002; appealed for contributions to the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations; recommended that the Commission on Human Rights invite the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank to present their new policy guidelines on indigenous peoples at the twentieth session of the Working Group; invited Iulia-Antoanella Motoc to prepare a working paper for the Working Group containing proposals and suggestions for possible future standard setting activities, as well as a second working paper on the consequences of biotechnology on indigenous peoples; requested Erica-Irene A. Daes to prepare a working paper on indigenous peoples' permanent sovereignty over their natural resources; and requested the Commission on Human Rights to authorize the Working Group to meet for five working days prior to the fifty-fourth session of the Subcommission.

In a measure (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.19) on the concept and practice of affirmative action, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission decided to request the Secretary-General to invite Governments, international organizations, the human rights treaty bodies and the non-governmental organizations to transmit to him their respective comments on the preliminary report (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/11 and Corr.1) on the topic.

In a measure (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.20) on the rights of non-citizens, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission decided to request the Secretary-General to transmit a questionnaire of the Special Rapporteur to Governments, intergovernmental organizations, the human rights treaty bodies, and non-governmental organizations to solicit any information they may wish to submit in connection with the study.

In a measure (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.27) on indigenous peoples and their relationship to land, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission decided to submit the final working paper to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-eighth session for its consideration; to request the Commission on Human Rights to invite the Special Rapporteur to present her final working paper to the Commission during its discussion; to request that the working paper be translated into all the official languages of the United Nations; to request the Commission to consider the establishment of a presessional Working Group, to which the Special Rapporteur should be invited to participate to discuss the fundamental guiding principles and the recommendations regarding indigenous peoples and their relationship to land; and to request the Secretary-General to give the necessary assistance to the Special Rapporteur to enable her to be present at the meetings of the Commission on Human Rights during the consideration of the final working paper.

In a measure (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.28) on discrimination based on work and descent, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission decided to entrust Rajendra Kalidas Wimala Goonesekere with the preparation of an expanded working paper on the topic of discrimination based on work and descent.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.14) on the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission declared that all forms of racism were among the most serious violations of human rights in the contemporary world and must be combatted; commended all States that had ratified or acceded to relevant international instruments; encouraged educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and the mass media to promote ideas of tolerance and understanding among peoples and between different cultures; regretted the continued lack of interest, support and financial resources for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and the Programme of Action for the Third Decade, and called for contributions for the full implementation of the Programme of Action; expressed its conviction that the draft declaration and programme of action to be adopted by the World Conference would focus on action-oriented and practical steps; suggested that the Conference focus, among other topics, on the link between contemporary forms of slavery and racial or other discrimination based on descent; the impact of massive and flagrant violations of human rights which constituted crimes against humanity and which took place during the period of slavery, colonialism and wars of conquest; the current realities in the aftermath of slavery and colonialism, including the legal implications of the slave trade and the conditions of persons of African descent in all continents, including Europe; the impact of globalization on the question of racial equality; the treatment of indigenous peoples, minorities, migrants, victims of trafficking, refugees, asylum-seekers, and other non-citizens and displaced persons; early warning and urgent procedures and sanctions; recognition, remedies, redress mechanisms and reparations for racial discrimination for victims of racism; international mechanisms for the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities and ensuring peaceful group accommodation based on human rights; the incompatibility between freedom of speech and campaigns promoting hate, intolerance and violence on the basis of racism, particularly in the digital age; and racism and other forms of intolerance within the criminal justice system.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.48) on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission recommended that the Coordinator for the Decade hold a special fund-raising meeting with the permanent missions in Geneva of interested States and members of the Advisory Group for the Voluntary Fund for the Decade to encourage financial contributions to the Voluntary Fund for the Decade and the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, as well as the appointment of qualified staff, to assist with the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights relating to the indigenous programme, and to submit to the Subcommission at its fifty-fourth session and its Working Group on indigenous populations at its twentieth session a report on the results of initiatives taken to those effects; urged Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and individuals to contribute to the Voluntary Fund for the Decade established by the Secretary-General and invited indigenous organizations to do likewise; recommended that attention continue to be given to improving the extent of the participation of indigenous peoples in planning and implementing the activities of the Decade in order to implement fully the Decade's theme; strongly recommended that the draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous people be adopted as early as possible and not later than the end of the International Decade in 2003; recommended that the High Commissioner, in consultation with interested Governments, organize meetings and other activities in all regions of the world within the framework of the International Decade in order to raise public awareness about indigenous issues; recommended that the High Commissioner for Human Rights organize a seminar on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and indigenous peoples, to discuss possible follow-up to the study completed by the Special Rapporteur and to explore ways and means of implementing the recommendations including in his final report; also recommended that the High Commissioner organize a workshop on indigenous peoples, private sector natural resource, energy and mining companies and human rights in order to contribute to the ongoing work of the sessional Working Group on the working methods and activities of transnational corporations; further recommended that the High Commissioner take the necessary action in order to promote the establishment of a database of national legislation on matters of relevance to indigenous peoples, as well as a compilation of treaties and agreements between States and indigenous peoples, and to establish a global public awareness programme with respect to indigenous issues; and invited the Commission on Human Rights to recommend that the Economic and Social Council authorize the convening of an international conference on indigenous issues during the last year of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (2003).

In a measure (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.49) on a preparatory workshop on implementation of the recommendations relating to indigenous peoples contained in Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission decided to recommend that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights organize a preparatory workshop on implementation of the recommendations relating to indigenous peoples contained in Agenda 21.

In a measure (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.50) on presentation of the report of the Working Group on indigenous populations on its nineteenth session to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission decided to request that the Commission on Human Rights recommend that the Economic and Social Council invite the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the nineteenth session, Erica-Irene A. Daes, in recognition of the high esteem in which she was held by the world's indigenous community, to attend the first meeting of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and to present to it the report of the nineteenth session.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.9) on traditional practices affecting the health of women and the girl child, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission appealed to all States concerned to intensify efforts to develop awareness of and mobilize national public opinion concerning the harmful effects of such practices, in particular through education, information and training, in order to achieve the total eradication of these practices; requested all non-governmental organizations (NGOs) dealing with women's issues to devote part of their activities to the study of such harmful practices; appealed to the international community to provide material, technical and financial support to such NGOs; called upon all Governments to give their full attention to the implementation of the relevant Plan of Action; considered that organization of regional seminars on the question was one of the most effective means of developing awareness of Governments about the problems of traditional practices; reiterated its proposal that three seminars be held in Africa, Asia and Europe to review progress achieved since 1985, and ways and means of overcoming obstacles encountered in implementation of the Plan of Action; requested the High Commissioner to assist the mandate by raising funds for the organization of the seminars; and requested the relevant Special Rapporteur to submit an updated report to the Subcommission at its fifty-fourth session.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.18) on the report of the Working Group on contemporary forms of slavery, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission urged States to ensure that their policies and laws did not legitimize prostitution as victims' choice of work; called upon Governments to provide victims of trafficking with protection and assistance based on humanitarian considerations and not contingent on their cooperation with the prosecution of their exploiters; expressed its conviction that the adoption of a resolution by the General Assembly on the elaboration of an additional protocol to the three conventions on slavery and slavery-like practices would strengthen the effectiveness of these conventions through the establishment of an efficient monitoring mechanism; recommended the creation of special observatories at the national and regional levels to gather information to further the goals of the Programme of Action for the Prevention of Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others; urged Governments to ratify the 1949 Convention for the Suppression of Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others; called upon United Nations human rights bodies to focus on situations of human rights violations related to trafficking in persons and victims of prostitution; invited relevant human rights committees to clarify reporting procedures with regard to victims of trafficking; and recommended that the issue of trafficking in persons be considered at the World Conference against Racism.

On the topic of the prevention of transborder traffic in children, the Subcommission, through the resolution, called upon States to set action against trafficking within a human rights framework so that victims of child trafficking were fully protected and were not treated as illegal immigrants; encouraged cooperation among concerned States, as well as with international agencies and non-governmental organizations, in research and data collection and the design and implementation of programmes to eliminate child trafficking; and encouraged strengthened cooperation to that end between national and international law-enforcement agencies. On the role of corruption in the perpetuation of slavery and slavery-like practices, the Subcommission urged all States to take adequate steps to monitor and enforce relevant laws, and encouraged them to improve the training and professionalism of their law-enforcement personnel.

On the matter of misuse of the Internet for sexual exploitation, the Subcommission, through the resolution, recommended that Governments, as a matter of priority, review, amend and enforce existing laws or enact new laws to prevent such misuse of the Internet; urged Governments to act more forcefully to eliminate sexual exploitation through the Internet; recommended that Governments and NGOs develop and implement educational programmes on the harm caused by trafficking in persons; and requested Governments to investigate and use as evidence of crimes and acts of discrimination advertising, correspondence and other communications over the Internet to promote sex trafficking.

On the subject of migrant workers, the Subcommission urged States to prohibit and punish the confiscation of passports belonging to migrant workers; recommended that NGOs pay attention to the problems affecting migrant workers and provide information in that regard to the Working Group; and requested the Commission on Human Rights to authorize the High Commissioner for Human Rights to organize in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and other concerned organizations, a workshop in which all aspects of the smuggling and trafficking in persons and protection of their human rights would be considered.

On the topic of bonded labour and child labour, the Subcommission, through the resolution, urged States to introduce comprehensive legislation to prohibit bonded labour in all its forms, as a matter of urgency; strongly recommended that existing laws to that end be enforced and the rule of law be applied; considered it necessary that national programmes of action to prevent the recurrence of bonded labour ensure progressive land reform and enforce the national minimum wage; urged concerned Governments to carry out independent and comprehensive surveys of the phenomenon; invited the International Labour Office and other competent organs to consider the possibility of holding a seminar or a workshop to determine the best practices for eradicating debt bondage; urged all States, while attempting ultimately to eliminate child labour, to adopt measures and regulations to protect child labourers to ensure they were not exploited and to prohibit their labour in hazardous occupations; and invited the international community to cooperate in developing viable alternatives to child labour, particularly for young girls.

On the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, the Subcommission, through the resolution, requested the relevant Special Rapporteur to continue to pay attention to issues related to the traffic in children, such as organ transplantation, disappearances, the purchase and sale of children, adoption for commercial purposes or exploitation, child prostitution and pornography, and invited the Special Rapporteur to participate in the twenty-seventh session of the Working Group; and requested the Working Group to examine, as a matter of priority, at its next session, the issue of exploitation of children, particularly in the context of prostitution and domestic servitude. The Subcommission further requested the Secretary-General to give effect to his decision to reassign to the Working Group a professional staff member of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.22) on the situation of women and girls in the territories controlled by Afghan armed groups, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission condemned all forms of such discrimination and violations in these territories; noted that the situation was totally at variance with the precepts of Islam, which imposed on Muslims the duty to acquire an education and to pursue knowledge; condemned official policies discriminating against women; considered it essential that the international community continue to monitor the situation closely and to bring necessary pressures to bear on Afghan armed groups; encouraged continued United Nations activities aimed at promoting the fundamental rights of women in these territories; considered that it was the duty of the armed groups to respect the fundamental rights of women; requested the Commission on Human Rights to insist that the Afghan armed groups abide by international human rights standards in relation to women; and considered that any diplomatic recognition and any financial agreement with the Taliban regime would reinforce the discriminatory treatment which the latter was reserving for women, whereas it must be induced to end such treatment.

In a measure (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/L.23) on human rights and bioethics, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission decided to entrust Iulia-Antoanella Motoc with the preparation of a working paper on the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights as its contribution to the reflections of the International Bioethics Committee on the follow-up to the Universal Declaration.



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