DRAFT TEXT ON DRUG CONTROL, YEAR OF OLDER PERSONS, YEAR OF FAMILY APPROVED BY THIRD COMMITTEE

8 November 1995

Press Release
GA/SHC/3314

DRAFT TEXT ON DRUG CONTROL, YEAR OF OLDER PERSONS, YEAR OF FAMILY APPROVED BY THIRD COMMITTEE

19951108 Commission on Narcotic Drugs to Consider Proposed International Conference to Combat Illicit Drugs

The General Assembly would call upon all States to adopt adequate national laws and regulations to strengthen national judicial systems and to carry out effective drug control activities in cooperation with other States, under the terms of one of three draft resolutions approved this afternoon in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural).

The draft, approved without a vote, would take note of the Economic and Social Council's proposal to hold a second international conference on combatting illicit drugs and would request the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to discuss the issue at its thirty-ninth session. The Commission would be requested to present its conclusions and suggestions, through the Council, to the General-Assembly at is fifty-first session.

With regard to the proposed conference, the representative of the United States said Secretary of State Warren Christopher had called for moratorium on conferences. Funds should be devoted to assistance to countries in need, rather than to global conferences whose purpose was not clear. The necessary international legal framework already existed on the subject, he added.

Also this afternoon, an orally revised draft resolution on the follow-up to the International Year of the Family was approved without a vote. Under its terms, the General Assembly would urge governments to ratify and to ensure implementation on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, so that universal ratification could be achieved by the year 2000. It would also urge governments to take urgent action to achieve universal ratification to the Convention on the Rights of the Child by 1996.

The following representatives expressed reservation with regard to the language in the third preambular paragraph of the draft that said "in different cultural, political and social systems various forms of family exist": Guatemala, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Kuwait, Philippines, Egypt, Syria, Oman, Pakistan, Morocco, Lebanon, Mauritania,

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Algeria, Indonesia, Peru, Malta, Sudan, Libya, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Bolivia, El Salvador, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Djibouti and Yemen. The observer of the Holy See also expressed similar reservations, reiterating that a family was based on marriage between a man and woman.

Under the terms of a draft also approved without a vote and recommended by the Economic and Social Council, the Assembly would invite Member States to adapt to national conditions the conceptual framework for the year 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons. It would also invite Member States to consider formulating national programmes for the Year and invite United Nations organizations and bodies to examine the conceptual framework and identify areas that they could expand in keeping with their mandates.

Also this afternoon, the Committee continued its consideration of questions relating to refugees and related issues. Statements were made by the representatives of Israel, Canada, United States, Slovenia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Uganda, India and the Sudan.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Thursday, 9 November, to conclude its consideration of refugees and related issues. It is also expected to take action on draft resolutions related to social development questions, as well as crime prevention and criminal justice.

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this afternoon to continue its consideration of refugees, returnees, displaced persons and humanitarian questions. (For background information on reports before the Committee, see Press Release GA/SHC/3312 of 6 November.) The addendum to the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (document A/50/12/Add.1), which contains the conclusions of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's programme, was not available for summary before the afternoon session.

Statements

RAPHAEL WALDEN (Israel) expressed gratitude for the statements of condolence made to his country in the Committee following the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

He said that as the High Commissioner's report had made clear, it was in Africa and the former Yugoslavia that the worst and most pressing refugee problems had recently arisen. While the problems posed by the situations in Burundi and Rwanda remained an intermediate challenge, the developments in Mozambique, Angola and Liberia were more encouraging. On the former Yugoslavia, the long-term situation of the refugees and displaced persons was dependent on a solution being found to the conflict. Recent developments justified a degree of caution.

He said that, in addition to the innumerable general problems that refugee flows generated, there were special problems for particularly vulnerable groups. For that reason, he welcomed the Secretary-General's report on assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors. He also supported the suggestion that similar attention be given to the problems of women refugees. Since its establishment, Israel had absorbed some 2.5 million immigrants. As a result, Israel had developed a wide range of absorption techniques, including the establishment of absorption centres, residential and educational facilities, financial assistance and free medical care, which could be of value to all countries.

SUSAN BURROWS (Canada) said that the basis of the international protection of refugees continued to be the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. Yet, it was evident that the need for protection required constant reinterpretation as individuals and entire populations found themselves in jeopardy. UNHCR played a vital role in identifying the limitations of international protection and in finding new ways to provide such protection to all who needed it.

Resettlement should retain a proper and effective role in the multifaceted international response to refugees, she said. Public confidence

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was also needed, so that generous asylum policies could be maintained. Such confidence depended on ability to manage the refugee status determination process effectively. She recognized the need for strengthening the coordination of international humanitarian assistance. Also, she noted that the Memorandum of Understanding signed between UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP) and the pending Memorandum of Understanding between UNHCR and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) were desirable as a means of achieving greater efficiency.

LANE KIRKLAND (United States) said he hoped the longest lasting humanitarian emergency of the 1990s, that of the former Yugoslavia, would soon come to an end. The need for political solutions in solving humanitarian crises was clear. "So-called exit strategies for humanitarian programmes depend on successful political reconciliation strategies", he said.

He welcomed the goodwill on all sides that would make it possible for hundreds of families who had lost their homes during the war to return to their homes in Jajce, Bogojno, Stolac and Travnik. Furthermore, population movements among Serbs, Croats and Muslims would result from redrawing the map of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Refugees and others, currently receiving temporary protection in western Europe, would return in a second phase, as local communities made progress integrating new populations from within Bosnia.

"Resettlement to third countries may prove to be the best or only solution for especially vulnerable people from the former Yugoslavia", he said. His country had pledged to provide resettlement for as many as 50 per cent of those persons for whom UNHCR had indicated a need. To date, it had already provided permanent resettlement for over 19,000 refugees.

"The United States is unequivocal in its belief that returning home is the sole remaining option for those now in camps in Southeast Asia who have been found not to qualify as refugees", he said. He welcomed the cooperation of the Vietnamese Government in the final phase of the comprehensive plan of action. His Government was prepared to establish a new bilateral programme that would offer additional opportunities for future repatriates to be interviewed in Viet Nam for possible resettlement in his country.

In regard to a successful repatriation of Rwandan refugees, intimidation in refugee camps needed to stop, he said. Also, refugees needed to have confidence that they would have a safe place to live. "Humanitarian assistance is the most vigorous, active, and results-producing activity in the United Nations system," he emphasized. He praised UNHCR for its work and called for the cooperation between the organization and governments. He said he regretted the comments made at a prior meeting by the representative of Thailand, who did not understand his country's commitment to ending the international illegal drug trade.

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EVA TOMIC (Slovenia) made a clarification with regard to yesterday's statement by the representative of Spain who, she said, had spoken on behalf of the European Union, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, not Slovenia.

Continuing, she said that the situation following the genocide in Rwanda and the conflict in Burundi produced a massive exodus of more than 2 million people fleeing to neighbouring countries last year. Slovenia added its voice to the call for implementation of the plan of action adopted at the regional Conference on assistance to refugees in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, held in Bujumbura in February, to enable their voluntary and safe return. She was glad that several parts of Africa witnessed large numbers of refugees returning to their homes, most notably nearly all the 1.6 million Mozambican refugees.

She said that the increasing complexity of refugee problems demonstrated the need to first address the root causes. Without eliminating those root causes, which included armed conflict, economic and social deprivation and gross violations of human rights, a durable solution could not be found to the problem.

It was important that the activities of UNHCR be well coordinated with the rest of the United Nations system, she continued. The international Tribunals on the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda could also play an important role by sentencing the perpetrators of the crimes that resulted in refugee flows. The punishment of criminals would contribute to creating an environment of peace and just reconciliation for the voluntary return of refugees. Voluntary repatriation, wherever possible, was the ideal and only viable long-term solution to the problem.

UGYEN TSHERING (Bhutan), Committee Chairman, took note of the clarification on the press release referred to by the representative of Slovenia. He said that the mistake had been made because of a statement he had made during the meeting.

FIKRET M. PASHAYEV (Azerbaijan) said that his country had a total of more than 1 million refugees and displaced persons and 20 per cent of its territory occupied as a result of aggression against it by Armenia. The Government had adopted significant decrees and resolutions aimed at solving the problems of refugees and displaced persons. Under that legislation, they were provided with an allowance and temporary accommodations to meet their most urgent needs. The employment and education of their children was being considered and solved at the governmental level.

The final solution to the problem of refugees and displaced persons was not only in their adaptation to new conditions, but also in the possibility of their return to rebuild and live in the area from where they had been ousted, he said. The convening of a conference devoted to the problems of refugees,

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returnees and displaced persons in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 49/173 of 23 December 1994, was one of the priority and significant activities of UNHCR.

ZAFAR ULLAH TARAR (Pakistan) said more determined efforts were required for protecting women refugees against violence and sexual abuse. Recent independent reports had pointed out that despite careful planning by UNHCR's staff, women in refugee camps were not getting food in sufficient quantities. That was mainly due to the fact that food was usually distributed by men who were not "sensitized to the special needs of women refugees". More women needed to be appointed as administrators to solve the problem.

Around 4 million refugees, which constituted the largest refugee case- load in the world, lived in his country and in Iran, he continued. He supported the efforts for peace in Afghanistan and hoped they would create the necessary conditions for the return, repatriation and rehabilitation of Afghan refugees. The total Afghan refugee population in his country alone was well beyond 1.5 million and UNHCR's decision to reduce the care and maintenance programme for them had added strain to his country's limited resources. "The UNHCR, WFP and donor countries should take a fresh look at the refugee situation in Pakistan", he said. In addition, the cumulative environmental degradation over the last 17 years of the refugee problem needed to be addressed in a more comprehensive manner. He also drew attention to the successive waves of refugees from Indian-held Kashmir.

PAUL MUKASA-SSALI (Uganda) said a codified set of international instruments must be agreed upon, whereby the sovereignty of States and the principle of territorial jurisdiction could be balanced against the inalienable rights of internally displaced persons who could not otherwise be protected. More than 2.2 million refugees from Rwanda had sought refugee status, mainly in Tanzania and Zaire, and the refugee camps in those countries had various problems. Furthermore, voluntary repatriation of sections of the refugee population had been frustrated. "Justice should be seen to be done on the perpetrators of genocide in Rwanda before the healing of social structures and the revitalization of the economy", he said.

KAMALUDDIN AHMED (India) said that from the initial days of its independence, India had received and provided home for millions of refugees. Entire communities who had sought refuge over the last four decades had been allowed to practice their own cultures, traditions, languages and religions and to set up their own schools with funding from the Government. It had been India's policy that repatriation should be on a voluntary basis. Wherever necessary, it had worked with friends and neighbours to enter into bilateral agreements for repatriation. It currently had two such agreements and repatriation was under way to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on the basis of those agreements.

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He said that India supported the need for global efforts to address the entire range of refugee problems. The work of UNHCR should continue to address the issues related to refugees in their entirety. It was true that the root causes that lead to refugee problems were increasing, becoming more complex and more difficult to identify, especially in conflict situations. While illegal migration could create difficulties, it was important that all the basic human rights of refugees and migrants be addressed under uniform, universal norms.

He said that in recent years UNHCR had been called upon to define the more complex situations of refugees, among them the question of internally displaced persons. It should be underlined that when assistance was called for, the consent of the State concerned was an important prerequisite. A candid and realistic appraisal of such situations in their totality was equally necessary to remove the possibility of political partisanship or attempts to discount the root causes. Humanitarian non-governmental organizations, particularly of international character, needed to adhere strictly to their non-partisan and non-political mandates, if governments were to continue cooperating with them.

IHSAN ABDALLA EL PABSHAW (Sudan) said many refugees had arrived in her country. While the international community had not failed to assist those refugees, its aid had diminished. The international community needed to share such burdens, as the existing resources were not commensurate with the needs. The allocation of financial resources by donor countries to certain countries was unjust. Such allocation should be done directly by UNHCR, which would remove the issue of political selectivity. Her country had maintained an open door policy for refugees in the past 30 years, but it needed increased financial assistance to continue with that policy.

Despite some rumours stating otherwise, Eritrean refugees were not badly treated by her Government, she continued. She hoped for the voluntary repatriation of Eritrean refugees, who numbered more than 500,000. Also, again despite the rumours, refugee children were not used as human shields or for military purposes. UNHCR should play an effective role in helping the repatriation of Sudanese refugees. The stress inflicted by refugees in host countries should also be considered. However, she regretted the attempts to include internally displaced persons among UNHCR's tasks. The organization should first provide refugees with all possible help, before taking on more responsibilities.

Action on Draft Resolutions

The Committee took up the six-part draft resolution on the International action to combat drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking (document A/C.3/50/L.14). Under the terms of part I of the text, the General Assembly would reaffirm that the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking

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should not in any way justify violation of the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. By the terms of part II of the resolution, the Assembly would call upon all States to adopt adequate national laws and regulations, to strengthen national judicial systems and to carry out effective drug control activities in cooperation with other States. The Assembly would also call upon the international community to provide increased economic and technical support to governments that request it for programmes of alternative and sustainable development aimed at reduction of illicit drug production.

Part III of the draft text would have the Assembly urge all governments and competent regional organizations to develop a balanced approach within the framework of comprehensive demand reduction activities, giving adequate priority to the prevention, treatment, research, social reintegration and training in the context of national strategic plans to combat drug abuse. Under the terms of part IV, concerning a proposal for an international conference to combat illicit drugs, the Assembly would take note of the proposal to hold a second international conference and request the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to discuss the matter and present its conclusions, through the Economic and Social Council, to the fifty-first Session of the Assembly. By the terms of part V, the Assembly would urge the governing bodies of the United Nations organizations associated with the United Nations System-wide Action Plan on Drug Abuse Control to help ensure effective follow-up by including drug control in their agendas.

Part VI of the draft text would have the Assembly invite governments and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to consider ways and means of improving the coordination of United Nations drug control-related activities. In addition, the Assembly would stress the importance of the meetings of heads of national law enforcement agencies, and encourage them to consider ways to improve their functioning and to strengthen their impact, so as to enhance cooperation in the fight against drugs at the regional level.

The draft resolution was sponsored by Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Greece, Honduras, India, Italy, Jamaica, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Greece, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Micronesia, Pakistan, Peru and Tunisia.

Argentina, Canada, Senegal, Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Mali, Belgium, Barbados, Singapore, South Africa, Mauritius, Guinea, Cyprus, Swaziland, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Gambia, Kenya, Romania, Guyana, Singapore, Paraguay, and Suriname joined in sponsoring the draft.

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Speaking before action on the draft, the representative of the United States said that a significant part of the resolution was the section relating to a proposal for an international conference. The United States did not endorse that call, although it would not call for a vote on it. United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher had called for a moratorium on conferences. Funds should be devoted to assistance to countries in need, rather than to global conferences whose purpose was not clear. The necessary international legal framework already existed on the subject. The existing convention provided clear guidance to the participating States.

The Committee approved the resolution on international action to combat drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking without a vote.

The Committee took up the draft on the International Year of Older Persons: towards a society for all ages, (document A/C.3/50/L.3) recommended by the Economic and Social Council to the General Assembly.

By that text, the Assembly would take note of the conceptual framework of a programme for the preparation and observance of the Year of Older Persons in 1999. It would invite Member States to adapt the conceptual framework to national conditions and to consider formulating national programmes for the Year. It would also invite United Nations organizations and bodies to examine the conceptual framework and identify areas that they could expand in keeping with their mandates.

Also under the text, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to monitor activities for the Year and to make appropriate coordinating arrangements, bearing in mind that the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development of the Secretariat had been designated the United Nations focal point on ageing. It would also decide that henceforth the term "older persons" should be substituted for the term "the elderly", in conformity with the United Nations Principles for Older Persons.

The draft was approved without a vote.

The Committee took up the draft resolution on the follow-up to the International Year of the Family (document A/C.3/50/L.10).

Under that text, the Assembly would have the General Assembly urge governments to ratify and to ensure implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, so that universal ratification could be achieved by the year 2000. It would also urge governments to take urgent measures to achieve universal ratification to the Convention on the Rights of the Child by 1996 and universal implementation by the year 2000.

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It would request the Secretary-General to: submit proposals to the Commission for Social Development assisting its work; prepare a comprehensive document containing the family-related provisions from the outcome of the recent United Nations World Conferences, including the World Summit for Children; and report through the Commission for Social development and the Economic and Social Council on the progress made on the follow-up to the International Year of the Family.

Under the terms of that draft, governments, organizations, individuals and the private sector would be called upon to contribute generously to the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities.

That draft resolution is sponsored by Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Nigeria, Panama, Romania, South Africa, Spain and Turkey.

The Secretary of the Committee made oral amendments to the draft text.

Austria, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Philippines, Madagascar, Guinea, Nigeria and Costa Rica joined in sponsoring the text.

Referring to the third preambular paragraph of the draft resolution, in particular the phrase that "in different cultural, political and social systems various forms of family exist", the representatives of the following countries, speaking before action on the draft, said they had reservations on that language: Guatemala, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Kuwait, Philippines, Egypt, Syria, Oman, Pakistan, Morocco, Lebanon, Mauritania, Algeria, and Indonesia.

That draft resolution was approved without a vote.

In statements following action on the draft, the representatives of Peru, Malta, Sudan, Libya, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Bolivia, El Salvador, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Djibouti and Yemen expressed reservations with regard to the language in preambular paragraph three. The observer of the Holy See expressed similar reservations, reiterating that a family was based on marriage between a man and woman.

The representative of Iran, in clarification of his earlier statement, said that his country's reservation was with regard to the third preambular paragraph and he joined in the consensus on the draft resolution.

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