THIRD COMMITTEE APPROVES EIGHT DRAFTS, INCLUDING TEXTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN SUDAN, CUBA, IRAQ, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
Press Release
GA/SHC/3350
THIRD COMMITTEE APPROVES EIGHT DRAFTS, INCLUDING TEXTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN SUDAN, CUBA, IRAQ, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
19951213 The General Assembly would call upon the Government of Sudan to comply with applicable international human rights instruments to which it was a party, in particular the International Covenants on Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Slavery Convention, as amended, and the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, under the terms of one of eight draft resolutions approved this afternoon in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural).By that draft, approved as a whole by a recorded vote of 93 in favour to 15 against, with 47 abstentions, the General Assembly would urge the Government of the Sudan to cease immediately all aerial attacks on civilian targets and other attacks that were in violation of international humanitarian law. Furthermore, it would deplore the consequences for innocent civilians of the use of land-mines by Government and rebel forces alike. (For details see Annex VI.)
The representatives of the Sudan, the United States, Guatemala, Iraq, Qatar and the Russian Federation made statements relating to that draft resolution.
Operative paragraphs 2, 4 and 12 of that draft were put to a vote separately. Operative paragraph 2, urging the Government of the Sudan to investigate without delay the cases of slavery, was approved by a recorded vote of 83 in favour to 14 against, with 44 abstentions. (For details see Annex III.)
The representative of the Sudan made statements concerning each paragraph voted on.
Operative paragraph 4, welcoming the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur that human rights monitors be placed in various locations in the
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Sudan as soon as possible, was approved by a recorded vote of 86 in favour to 16 against, with 40 abstentions. (For details see Annex IV.)
Operative paragraph 12, deploring the Government of the Sudan's refusal to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur, was approved by a recorded vote of 87 in favour to 15 against, with 40 abstentions. (For details see Annex V.) The representative of Egypt made a statement relating to that operative paragraph.
Another draft resolution, approved by a recorded vote of 62 in favour to 23 against, with 73 abstentions, would have the Assembly once again call upon the Cuban Government to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur by permitting him full and free access to establish contact with the Government and the citizens of that country so that he might fulfil the mandate entrusted to him. (For details see Annex VII.) Also, under the draft, that Government would be called upon to release the numerous persons detained for activities of a political nature.
Statements relating to that draft resolution were made by the representatives of Cuba, Zambia, Gambia, Mexico, Brazil, Burundi and the Russian Federation.
Also, by the terms of a draft approved by a recorded vote of 104 in favour to 4 against (Sudan, Gambia, Nigeria and Libya), with 49 abstentions, the Assembly would condemn the "massive and extremely grave violations of human rights for which the Government of Iraq is responsible". (For details see Annex I.) Also, it would strongly condemn the continued refusal of the Government of Iraq to take advantage of resources available to alleviate the suffering of the people, and would express special alarm at policies which discriminate between regions.
The representatives of Iraq, Syria, and Egypt made statements on that draft.
By the terms of an orally revised draft resolution, approved without a vote, the Assembly would strongly condemn the "abhorrent practice of rape and abuse of women and children" in areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Preambular paragraph six of that draft, which refers to ethnic cleansing being carried out by Serbian forces, was approved by a recorded vote of 133 in favour to one against (Russian Federation), with 11 abstentions. (For details see Annex II.)
The representative of the Russian Federation made a statement after the approval of the draft resolution as a whole.
Also this afternoon, the Committee approved without a vote a draft resolution under which the Assembly would call upon States to take all
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necessary and effective measures in accordance with international standards of human rights to prevent, combat and eliminate all acts of terrorism wherever and by whomever committed.
Statements on the draft were made by the representatives of Spain, speaking on behalf of the European Union, Chile, Mexico, Pakistan, Norway and the Russian Federation.
The Committee also approved, without a vote, an orally revised draft resolution on human rights and mass exoduses. It also approved the draft resolution on protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, as orally revised, without a vote. The representative of Norway made a statement relating to the draft resolution before the action taken on it.
In addition, this afternoon the Committee approved without a vote a draft resolution on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The representative of the United States made a statement relating to that draft.
This afternoon as well, the representative of Canada introduced a draft resolution on the effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations under those instruments.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 14 December, to take action on the outstanding drafts relating to human rights.
Committee Work Programme
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this afternoon to hear the introduction of a draft resolution relating to human rights and to take action on other draft resolutions, also on human rights questions.
Draft Resolutions
The Committee is expected to hear the introduction of a draft resolution on the effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations under international instruments on human rights (document A/C.3/50/L.47/Rev.1).
Under the terms of that draft, the Assembly would urge States parties to notify the Secretary-General of their acceptance of the amendments approved by the States parties and the General Assembly in its resolution 48/120. [The amendments concern a change in financing -- from assessments on States parties to funding from the regular United Nations budget.] Also, it would call upon all States parties to fulfil without delay and in full their financial obligations, including their arrears, under the Conventions on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment until the amendments enter into force.
Also under the terms of that draft, the Assembly would urge States parties to contribute, individually and through meetings of States parties, to identifying and implementing ways of further streamlining, rationalizing, avoiding duplication in and otherwise improving reporting procedures. In addition, it would request the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) to ensure, from within existing resources, that the revision of the United Nations manual on Human Rights Reporting is completed as soon as possible.
That text is sponsored by Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden.
By the terms of a draft resolution on human rights and terrorism (document A/C.3/50/L.61.Rev.1), the General Assembly would call upon States to take all necessary measures in accordance with international standards of human rights to prevent, combat and eliminate all acts of terrorism wherever and by whomever committed. It would further urge the international community to enhance cooperation at regional and international levels in the fight against terrorism with the aim of its eradication.
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The draft text would also have the Assembly request the Secretary- General to continue to seek the views of Member States on the possible establishment of a United Nations voluntary fund for victims of terrorism, as well as ways to rehabilitate the victims of terrorism and to reintegrate them into society; and to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session a report containing Member States' comments on the subject.
The draft resolution was sponsored by Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Panama, Peru, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela.
By the terms of a draft resolution on importance of human rights in the early warning and prevention of mass exoduses and in the emergency operations of the United Nations (document A/C.3/50/L.51/Rev.1), the General Assembly would request all United Nations bodies, including the human rights treaty bodies, the specialized agencies and governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to cooperate fully with all mechanisms of the Commission for Human Rights and, in particular, to provide them with all pertinent information in their possession on the human rights situations creating or affecting refugees and displaced persons. It would also request the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in cooperation with the UNHCR, to pay attention to situations that cause or threaten to cause mass exoduses and to address such situations effectively through emergency preparedness and response mechanisms. The text calls for information to be shared with United Nations early-warning mechanisms, and for the provision of technical advice and expertise.
It would also have the Assembly invite the Secretary-General to attach high priority and to make available the necessary resources within the regular budget of the United Nations for the consolidation and strengthening of emergency preparedness and response mechanisms, including early-warning activities in the humanitarian area, for the purpose of ensuring, among other things, that effective action is taken to identify all human rights abuses that contribute to mass outflows of persons.
The draft text was sponsored by Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, United States.
A draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Iraq (document A/C.3/50/L.44) would have the Assembly condemn "massive and extremely grave violations of human rights for which the Government of Iraq is responsible". It would condemn violations of international humanitarian law, particularly summary and arbitrary executions, including political killings; the routine
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practice of systematic torture; cruel and unusual punishment, namely mutilation, as a penalty for certain offences and the abuse and diversion of medical-care services for the purpose of such mutilations; disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, and failure to respect due process and the rule of law; and suppression of freedom of thought, information, expression, association and assembly.
The Assembly would strongly condemn the continued refusal of the Government of Iraq to take advantage of resources available to alleviate the suffering of the people, and would express special alarm at policies that discriminate between regions.
The Assembly would urge the Government of Iraq to cooperate with the United Nations with a view to arranging for the export of oil in order to purchase essential food and medical supplies for humanitarian purposes, as authorized by Security Council resolution 986 (1995). It would call upon Iraq -- a State party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights -- to abide by its obligations under the Covenants and under other international instruments on human rights.
The Assembly would demand that Iraq restore the independence of the judiciary and abrogate all laws granting impunity to specified forces or persons. It would also demand that the Iraqi Government abrogate any and all decrees that prescribe cruel and inhuman punishment or treatment and take every step necessary to ensure that these practices and punishments no longer occurred.
The Iraqi Government would also be urged to abrogate all laws and procedures, including Revolution Command Council Decree No. 840, of 4 November 1986, that penalize the free expression of competing views and ideas and ensure that the genuine will of the people shall be the basis of authority in the State. Also, that Government would be urged to improve its cooperation with the Tripartite Commission with a view to establishing the whereabouts or resolve the fates of the remaining several hundred Kuwaitis and third-country nationals who disappeared under the illegal Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.
The draft was proposed by Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States.
By the terms of a draft resolution on rape and abuse of women in areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia (document A/C.3/50/L.45), the Assembly would strongly condemn the "abhorrent practice of rape and abuse of women and children" in areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia. The
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Assembly would express outrage that rape has been used as a weapon of war and an instrument of ethnic cleansing, and would reaffirm that rape in armed conflict constitutes a war crime, and that under certain circumstances it constitutes a crime against humanity and an act of genocide as defined in the Genocide Convention.
The General Assembly would reaffirm that all persons who perpetrate or authorize crimes against humanity or other violations of international humanitarian law are individually responsible for those violations. Those in positions of authority who have failed to ensure that persons under their control comply with the relevant international instruments are accountable, together with the perpetrators.
The Assembly would call upon States to put experts and resources at the disposal of the International War Crimes Tribunal, and would urge States and organizations to continue considering for Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committee in former Yugoslavia recommendations in the reports of the Special Rapporteur, in particular, provision for medical and psychological care to victims of rape.
The draft was sponsored by Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay.
Under the terms of a draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Sudan (document A/C.3/50/L.58), the Assembly would call upon the Government of Sudan to comply with applicable international human rights instruments to which Sudan was a party -- in particular the International Covenants on Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Slavery Convention, as amended, and the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery -- and to ensure that all individuals in its territory and subject to its jurisdiction, including members of all religious and ethnic groups, enjoyed fully the rights recognized in those instruments.
It would also have the Assembly urge the Government of Sudan to cease immediately all aerial attacks on civilian targets and other attacks that were in violation of international humanitarian law. It would call upon all parties to the hostilities in Sudan to respect fully the applicable provisions of international humanitarian law, to halt the use of all weapons against the civilian population and to protect all civilians, including women, children
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and members of ethnic and religious minorities from violations. It would deplore the consequences for innocent civilians of the use of land-mines by Government and rebel forces alike.
The draft text would also have the Assembly call upon the Government to extend its full and unreserved cooperation to the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Sudan and to assist him in the ongoing discharge of his mandate; and to that end, to take all necessary steps to ensure that the Special Rapporteur had free and unlimited access to any person in the Sudan with whom he wished to meet, with no threats or reprisals.
A draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Cuba (document A/C.3/50/L.60) would have the Assembly once again call upon the Cuban Government to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cuba by permitting him full and free access to establish contact with the Government and the citizens of that country so that he might fulfil the mandate entrusted to him. It would profoundly regret the numerous violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba as described in the report of the Special Rapporteur to the Commission on Human Rights and in his interim report.
The draft text would have the Assembly call upon the Government to release the numerous persons detained for activities of a political nature, including those specifically mentioned in the report of the Special Rapporteur. It would also call upon the Government to adopt the other measures proposed in the interim report of the Special Rapporteur to bring the observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba into conformity with international law and international human rights instruments and to end all violations of human rights.
The draft resolution was sponsored by Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan.
A draft on the protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons (document A/C.3/50/L.54) would have the General Assembly commend the efforts made by the representative of the Secretary-General to develop a legal framework and promote strategies for better protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons. The representative would be encouraged to pay specific attention to the needs of women and children.
Further, by the text, the Assembly would call upon the Human Rights Commission to consider establishing a framework for the question, such as a
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declaration for internally displaced persons, on the basis of the representative's report.
The draft is sponsored by Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Mozambique, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Zambia.
Also before the Committee is a draft resolution, submitted by the Chairman, on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (document A/C.3/50/L.64). Under its terms, the Assembly would call upon States, the United Nations system and all other actors to implement the Platform for Action, particularly by promoting an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective at all levels, including in the design, monitoring and evaluation of all policies in order to ensure effective implementation of the Platform. Also, it would stress that Governments have the primary responsibility for implementing the Platform for Action and that commitment at the highest level is essential for its implementation.
Also under that draft, the Assembly would call upon States, with the assistance of non-governmental organizations, to disseminate widely the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In addition, it would call upon Governments to create a national machinery, where it does not exist, and to strengthen, as appropriate, existing national machineries for the advancement of women. Furthermore, the Commission on the Status of Women would be requested to develop its multi-year programme of work for the period 1996-2000 at its fortieth session so that it can review the critical areas of concern in the Platform and to consider how it could integrate into its programme of work the follow-up to the Conference.
By a draft on the situation of human rights in Nigeria (document A/C.3/50/L.66) the Assembly would condemn the arbitrary execution, after a flawed judicial process, of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his eight co-defendants, and emphasize that everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law ,in a public trial with all the guarantees necessary for defence. It would express deep concern about other violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria, and would call on the Nigerian Government urgently to ensure their observance, in particular by restoring habeas corpus, releasing all political prisoners, guaranteeing freedom of the press and ensuring full respect for the rights of all individuals, including trade unionists and persons belonging to minorities.
The Assembly would also call upon the Government to abide by its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
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other international instruments on human rights and urge it to restore democratic government.
It would welcome actions by the Commonwealth and other States designed to underline to the Nigerian Government the importance of a return to democratic rule and the observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and invites Member States in a position to do so to consider appropriate steps, consistent with international law, for that specific purpose.
The sponsors are: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Samoa, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay.
Introduction of Draft Resolution
PETER SPLINTER (Canada) introduced the draft on the effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations. He announced that Albania, Argentina, Australia, Ireland, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and Spain had joined in sponsoring that draft. He orally amended the draft. Among those amendments, he said, operative paragraph 22 should end in the third sentence, with the word "mandate".
Action on Draft Resolutions
The Committee took up the draft resolution on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The Committee approved that draft without a vote.
The representative of the United States said his Government fully supported the draft but with the understanding that the costs to implement it would be taken from the regular United Nations budget.
Next, the Committee took up the draft on importance of human rights in the early warning and prevention of mass exoduses.
South Africa, Norway, New Zealand, Philippines, Georgia, Costa Rica, Greece, Israel, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain, Russian Federation and Cote d'Ivoire, joined in sponsoring that draft.
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The representative of Canada read out several amendments to that text. He said the title of the draft should now read: "Human rights and mass exoduses". Also, in operative paragraph 10, after the word "identify", the following should be inserted: "multiple and complex factors, including human rights violations". In addition, operative paragraph 11 should begin with the word "Requests" instead of "Also invites".
The Committee then approved that text without a vote.
The Committee next took up the draft resolution on human rights and terrorism (document A/C.3/50/L.61.Rev.1).
The representative of Turkey, speaking before action on the draft resolution, said that Rwanda had joined the sponsors. He amended operative paragraph 4, line 2, inserting the words "in accordance with relevant international instruments including those relating to human rights." after the words "fight against terrorism".
The representative of Spain, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the existence of terrorism and the activities of terrorist groups could not be invoked to justify human rights violations by any State. It was important that the fight against terrorism be carried out with full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The assertion in the tenth preambular paragraph that terrorist acts constituted human rights could not be supported by the European Union. The distinction between acts that were not attributable to States and criminal acts that were not was an important one and, in the view of the European Union, the paragraph did not confer on terrorists any status under international law.
Also, the European Union continued to have reservations on whether the establishment of a voluntary fund for victims of terrorism within the human rights context was the most effective way of helping terrorism victims. The appropriate forum for discussion of the question was the Sixth Committee.
The representative of Chile said that his country would join the consensus on the draft resolution but it had reservations regarding the tenth preambular paragraph. Respect for human rights was institutional in nature. That paragraph diluted the responsibility of States in that regard.
The Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote.
The representative of Mexico, speaking after approval of the draft resolution, said her country supported the draft resolution. Although the recurrence of terrorist acts generated deterioration in protection of human rights, Mexico was concerned about the link made in the draft text between terrorist acts and human rights. That link identified terrorist acts as human rights violations and not criminal acts.
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The representative of Pakistan said that there should be clear distinction between acts of terrorism against States and the actions of people under alien or colonial domination or foreign domination to realize their inalienable rights to self-determination. There should have been a clearer enunciation of that principle in that draft resolution.
The representative of Norway said his country had joined the consensus with reluctance. The right forum for the consideration of that item was the Sixth Committee. Only States could violate human rights. Terrorists could not violate human rights. It was necessary to distinguish between human rights and humanitarian law.
The representative of the Russian Federation said his delegation joined in the consensus but joined in the reservations expressed by a number of other States. Responsibility for violations of human rights should be borne by States as opposed to individuals. Terrorist actions should be punished under criminal law. Terrorism should be tackled in the context of fighting crime and not human rights.
Next, the Committee took up the draft on the human rights situation in Iraq. The following States joined in sponsoring that text: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Poland, United States.
KATE NEWELL, the Secretary of the Committee, read out oral revisions to that draft. Those included a change in operative paragraph 11, in which the words "Kuwaitis and third-country nationals who disappeared under the" should be deleted and replaced by the words "missing persons and prisoners of war, Kuwaitis and third-country nationals victims of".
The representative of Iraq said the draft on the situation of human rights in his country was "used by known International quarters for political purposes with predetermined and open bad intentions" against his country. Unlike what the draft stated, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations had visited Iraq and had provided assistance to different regions. In addition, the draft failed to mention that prisoners had been released after the proclamation of amnesty decrees. Also, it failed to mention the success of his country's rationing system to the north, central and southern parts of his country. Furthermore, there were no detainees in his country. His Government had not invited the Special Rapporteur to his country, because he had chosen "the path of open hostility". He requested a recorded vote on the draft.
The Committee then approved the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Iraq by a vote of 104 in favour to 4 against (Libya, Gambia, Nigeria, the Sudan), with 49 abstentions. (See Annex I for voting details.)
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The representative of Syria said his country had voted in favour of the draft, as it had last year, because it did not contain any wording that would affect the unity of the Iraqi people. However, he disagreed with the draft's support of the establishment of a human rights monitoring control system in Iraq. That action constituted an interference in the internal affairs of a State. It run counter to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
The representative of Egypt said his Government had abstained in voting on the draft. Even though he deplored any violations of human rights, each and every country was sovereign and was accountable to its people. His Government was opposed to operative paragraph 12 which supported the sending of human rights monitors to that country.
Next, the Committee took up the draft on rape and abuse of women in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia. The following countries joined in sponsoring the draft: Philippines, Cambodia, Gambia, Burundi, Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Czech Republic, Gabon, Iran, Jordan, Malta, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Yemen, New Zealand, Azerbaijan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom.
The Secretary of the Committee read out oral revisions to that draft.
The representative of the Russian Federation requested that the sixth preambular paragraph be put to a vote. That paragraph reads as follows: "Convinced that this heinous practice constitutes a deliberate weapon of war in fulfilling the policy of ethnic cleansing carried out by Serbian forces in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and noting General Assembly resolution 47/121 of 18 December 1992, in which the Assembly stated, inter alia, that the abhorrent policy of ethnic cleansing was a form of genocide".
That paragraph was then put to a vote.
The Committee approved preambular paragraph six of that draft by a vote of 133 in favour to 1 against (Russian Federation), with 11 abstentions (see Annex II).
The Committee then approved the orally revised draft resolution, as a whole, on rape and abuse of women in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia, without a vote.
The representative of the Russian Federation said that the draft resolution contained aspects that gave the impression that the crimes were being committed by only one side to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. A more balanced approach should have been taken. Rapes were being carried out by both sides to that conflict as contained in the report of the Secretary- General. That was why the Russian Federation had asked for a vote and had
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voted against the preambular paragraph. An objective and unbiased approach should have been used. All people guilty should be pursued, no matter their nationality.
The Committee next took up the draft resolution on protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons. Benin, France and Philippines joined the sponsors of the draft resolution.
Ms. NEWELL, Committee Secretary, revised the second line of operative paragraph 8, deleting the words "such as a Declaration for internally displaced persons".
The representative of Norway said that Burundi and San Marino had also joined as sponsors.
He then made oral amendments to operative paragraph 7, replacing the words "Encouraged by" with "Noting".
In the first line of operative paragraph 3, he deleted the penultimate word (legal).
Also, in the sixth line of operative paragraph 6, he inserted the words "with the approval of governments" between the words "invite" and "specialists", and, in the last line, inserted "to make use of" between the words "as" and "research".
The sponsors of the text were subsequently joined by Nicaragua, Monaco, Costa Rica, Croatia, Congo, Ireland, Malta, Angola, Liberia, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Albania, Republic of Korea.
The Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote.
The Committee next took up the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Sudan. Belgium, France, Netherlands and Monaco joined in as sponsors.
The representative of the United States said Portugal and Liechtenstein had also joined the sponsors.
The representative of Guatemala said his country was not a co-sponsor of the draft resolution as mentioned.
The representative of Austria said his country was correctly mentioned as a co-sponsor when the draft text was introduced, but seemed to have been dropped later. He requested that Austria be listed as a co-sponsor.
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UGYEN TSHERING, Committee Chairman, said that separate votes had been requested on operative paragraphs 2, 4 and 12, as well as on the whole draft resolution.
The Committee first took up operative paragraph 2 which states: "Urges the Government of Sudan to investigate without delay the cases of slavery, servitude, slave trade, forced labour and similar practices brought to its attention and to take all appropriate measures to put an immediate end to these practices."
The representative of Sudan, speaking before action on operative paragraph 2, said that her country had asked for the votes on the paragraphs because the draft resolution was a gross interference in the internal affairs of her country. Not a single case of slavery, servitude, slave trade, or forced labour was brought to the attention of the Government through any official or unofficial channel or through any government, in particular the United States Government. The Government of Sudan condemned slavery and any similar practice because it was against the Sudan's religion, culture, tradition and values. It was also against the penal code. The Sudan was a multicultural, multiracial and multireligious society in which all the people had equal rights and obligations according to the Constitution.
The Committee approved operative paragraph 2 by a recorded vote of 83 in favour to 14 against, with 44 abstentions. (See Annex III).
Next, a vote on operative paragraph 4 of the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Sudan was requested. That paragraph reads as follows: "Welcomes the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur that human rights monitors be placed at the earliest possible date in such locations as will facilitate improved information flow and assessment and independent verification of reports on the situation of human rights in the Sudan".
The representative of the Sudan said the idea of welcoming the deployment of human rights monitors was very dangerous since it attempted to institutionalize the interference in the internal affairs of her country. Furthermore, doing so was a duplication of efforts, particularly in view of the financial situation of the Organization and since the United Nations had already appointed a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan. Information about her country was available as it had opened its doors to all dignitaries to visit the country. It had given access to all parts of the country to many intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organization and private institutions.
Operative paragraph 4 was approved by a vote of 86 in favour to 16 against, with 40 abstentions. (See Annex IV.)
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Next, operative paragraph 12 was put to a vote. That paragraph reads as follows: "Deplores the Government of the Sudan's continuing refusal to cooperate in any manner with the Special Rapporteur and the unacceptable threats against his person".
Speaking in explanation of the vote before the vote, the representative of the Sudan said that her country had cooperated with the Special Rapporteur in 1993 and he had been granted access to all parts of the Sudan. Furthermore, he had freely interviewed people and his reaction had been a direct insult to the people of the Sudan. Her Government had only asked him to withdraw his insults but he had not done so. If he withdrew the insults, he would be welcomed back. Her Government had contacted the sponsors of the draft resolution to explain that Sudan did not and would never threaten the person of the Special Rapporteur. The sponsors however, had persisted in their unjust position, which showed "their persistence to incriminate the Sudan for no reason".
Operative paragraph 12 on the situation of human rights in the Sudan was approved by a vote of 87 in favour to 15 against, with 40 abstentions. (See Annex V.)
The representative of Egypt said he was in favour of the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Sudan. He deplored any human rights violations by the Government of the Sudan. However, he believed in the territorial integrity of the Sudan. For that reason, he had voted against operative paragraph 4 of the resolution since his Government opposed interference in the sovereignty of a State.
Next, the draft resolution as a whole on the situation of human rights in the Sudan was put to a vote.
Before the vote, however, the representative of the Sudan said the human rights issue had been used for resolving bilateral problems among States. It was a politically motivated draft and did not reflect the real situation in her country. If there was a true concern on the human rights situation on her country, the economic embargo against it needed to be stopped. The draft resolution confused the real situation in all parts of her country. She announced her Government's renewed commitment to respect for human rights.
The representative of Iraq said that were his country able to vote, and could not do so because of arrears in payment of dues, it would not support the draft resolution on the Sudan.
The representative of Qatar said he had voted against those separate operative paragraphs in the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Sudan. He emphasized that he had not abstained in voting on operative paragraph 2.
Third Committee - 15 - Press Release GA/SHC/3350 56th Meeting (PM) 13 December 1995
The draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Sudan was approved by a vote of 93 in favour to 15 against, with 47 abstentions. (See Annex VI.)
The representative of Guatemala said that his country was in favour of international monitoring of violations of human rights in all their manifestations.
The representative of the Russian Federation said his country had supported the draft resolution but pointed out that the Sudan had carried out steps that could be considered to be in compliance with recommendations of the forty-ninth General Assembly.
The Committee next took up the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Cuba. Bulgaria and Uzbekistan joined as sponsors.
The representative of the United States said that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia had also joined the sponsors.
The representative of Cuba, speaking before action on the draft resolution, said that the voting on the draft resolution was being imposed by the United States. That was a continuation of a fraudulent exercise that was linked to the hostile policy of successive United States Administrations against the people of Cuba. Cuba had nothing to be ashamed of. It had a clean slate to be proud of in the field of human rights. It had established a legal system and created institutions that ensured the enjoyment of those rights by each and every citizen. It had also given significant support to the most noble and just causes included in the agenda of the Organization during the last three decades.
The present draft resolution had only been sponsored by the United States and its allies, followed by a handful of those forced by circumstances to get involved in that exercise, he said. He wondered, for instance, what possible reason the delegation of Uzbekistan could have to support the blockade by the United States against Cuba and to co-sponsor the draft text.
He said Cuba would continue with its historical project of independence and national dignity and would continue with its current process of transformation based on popular consensus. Cuba would never accept "this gross draft no matter how well disguised, nor will it accept a special rapporteur no matter how neutral and independent he may look".
The representative of Zambia said her country believed the issue was a political one rather than a human rights one. The Special Rapporteur had expressed optimism about the situation of human rights in Cuba. Zambia would vote against the draft resolution.
Third Committee - 16 - Press Release GA/SHC/3350 56th Meeting (PM) 13 December 1995
MR. TSHERING, Committee Chairman, said a recorded vote had been requested.
The representative of Gambia, also speaking before the vote, said his country would vote against the draft resolution because it had concluded that there had been remarkable improvement in the human rights situation in Cuba. Its vote would encourage and appreciate the good work the Government of Cuba had been doing in that field.
The Committee then approved the draft resolution by a recorded vote of 62 in favour to 23 against, with 73 abstentions. (See Annex VII).
The representative of Mexico, speaking after the vote, said that political will in the issue of human rights should be guided by objectivity and non-selectivity. That was not reflected in the draft resolution. That was why her country abstained.
The representative of Brazil said that his country abstained from the vote because, as in previous years, it believed that when considering human rights, the General Assembly should take a non-political approach. Brazil welcomed measures taken by Cuba in the field of human rights. Those measures preceded the invitation to the High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Cuba last year.
The representative of Burundi said that his country abstained because it believed that it was necessary to separate human rights from politics. The draft contained contradictions because it recognized the progress made in human rights in Cuba. It was important to urge the Government of Cuba to convert to protecting human rights rather than seeking to ostracize that Government.
The representative of the Russian Federation said that the vote by his country in support of the draft resolution did not mean that it fully reflected the changes in the situation affecting human rights in Cuba. That draft text could have adequately reflected the measures taken by that Government with a view to making the Cuban society more open. Those measures had laid the foundation for an unbiased exchange of views on human rights in Cuba. Abandoning a line of opposition would correspond more fully to the wish of the international community.
(annexes follow)
Third Committee - 17 - Press Release GA/SHC/3350 56th Meeting (PM) 13 December 1995
Third Committee Press Release GA/SHC/3350 56th Meeting (PM) 13 December 1995
ANNEX I
Vote on Situation of Human Rights in Iraq
The draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Iraq (document A/C.3/50/L.44) was approved by the Third Committee by a recorded vote of 104 in favour to 4 against (Libya, Gambia, Nigeria, Sudan), with 49 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia.
Against: Gambia, Libya, Nigeria, Sudan.
Abstaining: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea- Bissau, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.
Absent: Djibouti, Dominica, Gabon, Grenada, Guyana, Madagascar, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.
(END OF ANNEX I)
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Third Committee Press Release GA/SHC/3350 56th Meeting (PM) 13 December 1995
ANNEX II
Vote on Sixth Preambular Paragraph of Text Relating to Former Yugoslavia
The sixth preambular paragraph, concerning rape and abuse of women in the conflict areas in the former Yugoslavia, of the draft text on that matter (document A/C.3/50/L.45) was approved by the Third Committee by a recorded vote of 131 in favour to 1 against, with 11 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen.
Against: Russian Federation.
Abstaining: Angola, Cameroon, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Thailand, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Absent: Armenia, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Eritrea, Gabon, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zaire, Zambia.
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(END OF ANNEX II)
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Third Committee Press Release GA/SHC/3350 56th Meeting (PM) 13 December 1995
ANNEX III
Vote on Operative Paragraph 2 of Text on Human Rights in Sudan
Operative paragraph 2, urging the Sudanese Government to investigate without delay the cases of slavery, slave trade and similar practices, of the draft resolution on human rights in the Sudan (document A/C.3/50/L.58) was approved by the Third Committee by a recorded vote of 83 in favour to 14 against, with 44 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria.
Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam.
Absent: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.
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(END OF ANNEX III)
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Third Committee Press Release GA/SHC/3350 56th Meeting (PM) 13 December 1995
ANNEX IV
Vote on Operative Paragraph 4 of Text on Human Rights in Sudan
Operative paragraph 4, concerning a Special Rapporteur recommendation on placement of human rights monitors in the Sudan, of the draft resolution on human rights in the Sudan (document A/C.3/50/L.58) was approved by the Third Committee by a recorded vote of 86 in favour to 16 against, with 40 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Afghanistan, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Mauritania, Myanmar, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Viet Nam.
Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan.
Absent: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, El Salvador, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles,
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Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.
(END OF ANNEX IV)
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Third Committee Press Release GA/SHC/3350 56th Meeting (PM) 13 December 1995
ANNEX V
Vote on Operative Paragraph 12 of Text on Human Rights in Sudan
Operative paragraph 12 -- which deplores the Sudanese Government's continuing refusal to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and the unacceptable threats against his person -- of the draft resolution on human rights in the Sudan (document A/C.3/50/L.58) was approved by the Third Committee by a recorded vote of 87 in favour to 15 against, with 40 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Afghanistan, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Viet Nam.
Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates.
Absent: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives,
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Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.
(END OF ANNEX V)
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Third Committee Press Release GA/SHC/3350 56th Meeting (PM) 13 December 1995
ANNEX VI
Vote on Draft Text as a Whole Concerning Human Rights in Sudan
The draft resolution as a whole on the situation of human rights in the Sudan (document A/C.3/50/L.58) was approved by the Third Committee by a recorded vote of 93 in favour to 15 against, with 47 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Afghanistan, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Viet Nam.
Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates.
Absent: Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominica, Gabon, Grenada, Madagascar, Malawi, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.
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(END OF ANNEX VI)
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Third Committee Press Release GA/SHC/3350 56th Meeting (PM) 13 December 1995
ANNEX VII
Vote on Text Concerning Human Rights in Cuba
The draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Cuba (document A/C.3/50/L.60) was approved by the Third Committee by a recorded vote of 62 in favour to 23 against, with 73 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan.
Against: China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libya, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Abstaining: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Absent: Angola, Djibouti, Dominica, Gabon, Grenada, Guatemala, Madagascar, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.
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