ASSEMBLY ADOPTS TEXTS ON SELF-DETERMINATION, RACISM, REFUGEES, CRIME, IN ACTION ON 24 THIRD COMMITTEE DRAFTS
Press Release
GA/9044
ASSEMBLY ADOPTS TEXTS ON SELF-DETERMINATION, RACISM, REFUGEES, CRIME, IN ACTION ON 24 THIRD COMMITTEE DRAFTS
19951221 The General Assembly expressed the hope that the Palestinian people could soon exercise their rights to self-determination in the current peace process by a resolution adopted this afternoon on the recommendation of its Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural).By a vote of 145 in favour to 2 against (Israel and the United States), with 9 abstentions (Republic of Moldova, Lithuania, Norway, Argentina, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russian Federation and the Federated States of Micronesia), the Assembly urged all States, specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support the Palestinian people in their quest for self-determination. (For details of voting, see Annex I.)
Acting on a number of recommendations of the Third Committee, the Assembly this afternoon adopted two draft resolutions with recorded votes and 22 drafts without votes on such issues as racism and racial discrimination, the rights of people to self-determination, social development, refugees, crime prevention and criminal activities as well as international drug control. It also adopted three draft decisions.
By its second recorded vote the Assembly urged all States to exercise the utmost vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take legislative measures against those activities. That resolution was adopted by 106 votes in favour to 18 against, with 31 abstentions. (Annex II.)
In the first of three draft resolutions on crime prevention issues adopted without a vote, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders be provided with adequate funds within the overall appropriation of the United Nations programme budget and from extrabudgetary resources, by another text adopted without a vote.
By the second text, the Assembly endorsed the resolutions adopted by the Ninth Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. A third text stressed the improvement of operational activities of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme.
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Turning to racial discrimination texts, the Assembly decided to call upon all States to include in all their educational curricula and social programmes, knowledge, tolerance and respect for foreign cultures, peoples and countries.
Next, the Assembly decided that the international community in general and the United Nations, in particular, should give the highest priority to programmes for combating racism and racial discrimination and should intensify their efforts, during the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, which began in 1993, to provide assistance and relief to the victims of racism.
Finally, the Secretary-General was requested to ensure adequate financial arrangements and appropriates means to enable the functioning of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by the terms of another text adopted without a vote.
By another resolution on the issue of self-determination, the Assembly called upon the States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and their territories and all acts of exploitation and maltreatment.
The Assembly then adopted four texts without a vote on social development issues. In one resolution the Assembly invited Member States to adapt the conceptual framework to national conditions and to consider formulating national programmes for the International Year of Older Persons. By another text, the Assembly called upon governments, as well as organizations, individuals, and the private sector, to contribute generously to the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities.
In the third text, the Assembly called upon the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to continue leading the follow-up to the International Literacy Year and the World Conference on Education for All.
Also, in the fourth text, governments were called upon, when implementing the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, to take into account the elements suggested in the Long-term Strategy to Implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond.
By the terms of a seven-part resolution on international drug control the Assembly called upon all States to intensify their actions to promote effective cooperation in the efforts to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
In connection with the report on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Assembly called upon the international community as a whole to strengthen the emergency response capacity of the UNHCR on the basis of the emergency experience in Rwanda, in a first text adopted without a vote. It also adopted resolutions on assistance to United Nations accompanied refugee minors and on a comprehensive review of the problems of refugees, returnees, displaced persons and related migratory movement.
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Also this afternoon, the Assembly adopted a resolution on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which called upon all States that have not yet done so to accede to and implement fully the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, and relevant regional refugee instruments, as applicable, for the protection of refugees.
The representative of Ukraine made a statement on that text.
Under the terms of a six-part resolution, the General Assembly urged all States that had not yet done so to sign and ratify or accede to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as a matter of priority, in order to reach universal adherence by the end of 1995.
The Assembly then adopted without a vote a text addressing the particular needs of the girl child.
Also, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution on the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, introduced by the representative of Chile.
The Assembly then decided that the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations should also be used to assist representatives of indigenous communities and organizations to participate in the deliberations of the open-ended inter-sessional working group of the Commission on Human Rights as well as in the deliberations of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations by another draft.
It also decided, without a vote, to adopt the programme of activities for the Decade contained in an annex to the resolution on the Programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People.
The representative of the United States made a statement on that text.
Also this afternoon, the Assembly adopted, without a vote, a resolution urging the United Nations to facilitate the participation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in its peace-keeping and peacemaking operations and in joint fact-finding missions in Africa, and to continue to support the OAU in its efforts to manage a peaceful democratic transition in Africa.
The Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 22 December, to consider strengthening the coordination of United Nations humanitarian and disaster relief assistance; implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s; and implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development. It will also take action on the reports of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).
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Assembly Work Programme
The General Assembly met this afternoon to take up eight reports of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) and the related draft resolutions. It will also consider cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity (OAU). (For background on the Secretary- General's report on United Nations-OAU cooperation, see Press Release GA/9032, issued 11 December.)
The report of the Third Committee on elimination of racism and racial discrimination (document A/50/626) contains three draft resolutions and a draft decision for action by the Assembly. Each draft was approved by the Committee without a vote.
By draft resolution I, on measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance the Assembly would call upon all States to include in all their educational curricula and social programmes, knowledge, tolerance and respect for foreign cultures, peoples and countries. Also, it would call upon governments and intergovernmental organizations to continue to supply relevant information to the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights.
Draft resolution II, on the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, would have the international community in general and the United Nations, in particular, give the highest priority to programmes for combating racism and racial discrimination and should intensify their efforts, during the Third Decade, which began in 1993, to provide assistance and relief to the victims of racism and all forms of racial discrimination. All Member States would be called upon to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families as a matter of priority.
By draft resolution III, on the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Assembly would encourage that Committee to contribute fully to the implementation of the Third Decade and its revised Programme of Action. The Assembly would request the Secretary-General to ensure adequate financial arrangements for the Committee and would further call on States to submit in due time their periodic reports on measures taken to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and to pay outstanding contributions.
By a draft decision contained in the report, the Assembly would take note of the following documents: report of the Secretary-General on the status of the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (A/50/468); the Secretary-General report on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (A/50/493); and the note by the Secretary-General transmitting to the General Assembly the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on
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Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (document A/50/476).
The Third Committee's report (document A/50/627) on the right of peoples to self-determination of the Assembly, contains three draft resolutions.
By draft resolution I, on the use of mercenaries, the Assembly would urge all States to exercise the utmost vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take legislative measures against those activities.
All States that have not yet done so would be called upon to consider taking early action to sign or to ratify the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries. It would request the Centre for Human Rights to publicize, as a matter of priority, the adverse effects of mercenary activities on the rights to self-determination and to render advisory services to States that are affected by the activities of mercenaries.
The draft was approved in the Committee as orally revised, by a vote of 98 in favour to 18 against, with 32 abstentions.
By draft resolution II, on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, which the Committee approved without a vote, the Assembly would call upon the States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and their territories and all acts of exploitation and maltreatment. It would further deplore the plight of the millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of such acts, and reaffirm their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour.
By the terms of draft resolution III, on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, the Assembly would express the hope that the Palestinian people could soon exercise their rights to self-determination in the current peace process. It would urge all States, specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support the Palestinian people in their quest for self-determination.
The draft was approved by the Committee, as orally revised, by a vote of 134 in favour to 2 against (Israel and the United States), with 14 abstentions.
Another Third Committee report (document A/50/628) on social development of the Assembly contains four draft resolutions and a draft decision, approved without a vote by the Committee.
By draft resolution I on the International Year of Older Persons: towards a society for all ages, the Assembly 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 the United Nations organizations
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and bodies concerned to identify areas for expanding upon the conceptual framework.
By draft resolution II on follow-up to the International Year of the Family, the Assembly would urge Governments to ratify and accede to and to ensure implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women so that universal ratification can be achieved by the year 2000 and to take urgent measure to achieve universal ratification of or accession to the Convention on the Rights of the Child before the end of 1995. In addition, it would call upon Governments, as well as organizations, individuals and the private sector, to contribute generously to the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities.
The Assembly would call upon the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to continue leading the follow-up to the International Literacy Year and the World Conference on Education for All by the terms of draft resolution III on a mid-decade review against illiteracy. Also, by that draft the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to submit to the Assembly's fifty-second session, in 1997, through the Economic and Social Council, a progress report on the implementation process.
By draft resolution IV, on opportunities for persons with disabilities, the Assembly would call upon Governments, when implementing the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, to take into account the elements suggested in the long-term strategy to implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond.
By a draft decision on reports considered by the General Assembly in connection with the question of social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing disabled persons and the family, the Assembly would take note of the following Secretary-General reports: containing the interim report on the world social situation; and on the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons.
The Assembly also had before it the Committee's report on crime prevention and criminal justice (document A/50/629), which contains three draft resolutions and a draft decision.
By draft resolution I, recommended by the Economic and Social Council to the General Assembly and approved without a vote by the Committee, the Assembly would endorse the resolutions adopted by the Ninth Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. It would invite governments to be guided by the results of the Congress and urge the United Nations systems to become actively involved in their implementation.
By draft resolution II on "strengthening of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme particularly its technical cooperation capacity", also approved without a vote, the Assembly would stress the importance
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of improving the operational activities of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, particularly in developing countries and those in transition. It would call upon States and funding agencies to make significant financial contributions for operational activities for crime prevention and criminal justice.
Draft resolution III of the report on the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders would request the Secretary-General to ensure that the Institute be provided with adequate funds within the overall appropriation of the United Nations programme budget and from extrabudgetary resources. It would also request the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to reconsider its decision with regard to its financial support for the Institute and to continue providing appropriate funds for the strengthening of the Institute and the implementation of its programme of work, taking into account the difficult economic and financial situation faced by many countries in the African region.
The draft was approved by the Committee on 29 November, as orally revised, without a vote. Operative paragraph 4 of the draft which "requests the Secretary General to ensure that the Institute is provided with adequate funds, within the overall appropriation of the programme budget and from extrabudgetary resources" was approved by a vote of 76 in favour to 1 against (United States), with 47 abstentions.
By the draft decision on the document considered by the General Assembly in connection with the question of crime prevention and criminal justice, the Assembly would take note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders.
Another report of the Third Committee on International Drug Control (document A/50/631) contains one draft resolution, approved without a vote.
By the terms of a seven-part draft resolution on International action to combat drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking, the Assembly would call upon all States to intensify their actions to promote effective cooperation in the efforts to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Also, States would be called upon 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. Furthermore, the international community would be called upon to provide increased economic and technical support to governments that request it for programmes of alternative and sustainable development.
Another report before the Third Committee on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (document A/50/632) contains four draft resolutions, each approved by the Committee without a vote.
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By the terms of draft resolution I, on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa, the Assembly would call upon the international community as a whole to strengthen the emergency response capacity of the UNHCR on the basis of the emergency experience in Rwanda, and to continue providing needed resources and operational support to Rwandan refugees and the host countries until a permanent solution can be implemented. It would also call upon the international donor community to provide material and financial assistance for the implementation of programmes intended for rehabilitation of the environment and infrastructure in areas affected by refugees in countries of asylum. It would further call upon the international community to continue to provide the necessary support and financial assistance to the High Commissioner to enhance her capacities and abilities to implement emergency operations, care and maintenance activities and repatriation and reintegration programmes for the benefit of refugees, returnees and, as appropriate, internally displaced persons.
The Assembly would call upon all governments, the Secretary-General, the UNHCR, all United Nations organizations, other international and non-governmental organizations concerned to exert the maximum effort to assist and protect refugee minors and to expedite their return and reunification with their families under the terms of draft resolution II on assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors. It would further urge those various organizations to take steps to mobilize resources commensurate with the needs and interest of the unaccompanied refugee minors and for reunification with their families. The Assembly would also condemn all acts of exploitation of such minors, including their use as soldiers or human shields in armed conflict and their recruitment in military forces.
By the terms of draft resolution III, on comprehensive consideration and review of the problems of refugees, returnees, displaced persons and related migratory movements, the Assembly would call upon the UNHCR, in consultation with States and international bodies, to develop comprehensive regional approaches to the problems of refugees and displaced persons.
By draft resolution IV on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , the Assembly would call upon all States that have not yet done so to accede to and implement fully the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, and relevant regional refugee instruments, as applicable, for the protection of refugees. It would also call upon all States to uphold asylum as an indispensable instrument for the protection of refugees, to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection, including the fundamental principle on non-refoulment, as well as the humane treatment of asylum-seekers and refugees in accordance with internationally recognized human rights and humanitarian norms.
Another report of the Third Committee which concerns the promotion and protection of the rights of children (document A/50/633) contains two draft resolutions approved without a vote.
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A six-part draft resolution on the rights of the child, would have the General Assembly welcome the unprecedented number of 181 States that had ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Also, it would urge all States that had not yet done so to sign and ratify or accede to the Convention as a matter of priority, to reach universal adherence by the end of 1995. In addition, States parties that had made reservations would also be urged to review them. In addition, the Assembly would strongly urge all Governments to guarantee the respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly the right to life, and to take urgent measures to prevent the killing of street children.
By the terms of draft resolution II on the girl child, the Assembly would call upon the international community to take into account the rights and the particular needs of the girl child and to eliminate negative cultural attitudes and practices against her. Also, States, international organizations and non- governmental organizations would be called upon to mobilize the necessary financial resources and political support to achieve goals, strategies and actions relating to the survival, development and protection of the girl child in all programmes for children.
The Assembly will also take up a draft resolution on the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (document A/50/L.61/Rev.1). By that draft, the Assembly would approve the amendment to article 43, paragraph 2, of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, replacing the word "ten" with the word "eighteen". Also, it would urge States parties to take appropriate measures so that acceptance by a two-thirds majority of the States parties can be reached as soon as possible in order for the amendment to enter into force.
Article 43, paragraph 2 of the Convention currently reads as follows: "The Committee shall consist of ten experts of high moral standing and recognized competence in the field covered by this Convention. The members of the Committee shall be elected by States parties from among their nationals and shall serve in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographic distribution, as well as to the principal legal systems."
According to a Fifth Committee report on programme budget implication of draft resolution of draft resolution A/50/L.61, no additional appropriation would be required under section 21, human rights, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997 should the Assembly adopt the draft on the Convention Conference.
The report of the Third Committee on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, (document A/50/634) contains two draft resolutions, approved without a vote.
By the terms of draft I, the Assembly would decide that the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations should also be used to assist representatives of indigenous communities and organizations to participate in the
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deliberations of the open-ended intersessional working group of the Commission on Human Rights as well as in the deliberations of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations.
Under the terms of draft resolution II, on the Programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, the Assembly would adopt the programme of activities for the Decade contained in an annex to that resolution. In addition, it would appeal to Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to support the Decade by identifying resources for activities designed to implement the goals of the Decade, in cooperation with indigenous people.
United Nations-OAU Cooperation
The Assembly has before it a revised draft resolution sponsored by Sudan on cooperation between the United Nations and the OAU (document A/50/L.51/Rev.1). By its terms, the Assembly would request the United Nations Secretary-General to support the efforts of the OAU Secretary-General, in particular in preparing the first meeting of the Economic and Social Council of the African Economic Community, and in strengthening the regional economic communities and supporting the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community. The Assembly would request the agencies of the United Nations system working in Africa to include in their programmes activities that would enhance regional cooperation and facilitate the realization of the objectives of the Treaty. The Assembly would request the relevant organs of the United Nations system to assist the OAU to strengthen its capacity for information gathering, analysis and dissemination.
Also by that text, the Assembly would call upon the United Nations to coordinate its efforts and to cooperate with the OAU in the context of the pacific settlement of disputes and the maintenance of international peace and security in Africa. United Nations organs would be called upon to ensure the effective, fair and equitable representation of Africa at senior and policy levels. It would call upon United Nations agencies to intensify the coordination of their regional programmes in Africa in order to create interlinkages among them and to ensure the harmonization of their programmes with those of the African economic organizations.
The Assembly would urge the United Nations to facilitate the participation of the OAU in its peace-keeping and peacemaking operations and in joint fact- finding missions in Africa, by providing technical assistance and assisting in the mobilization of support. The Assembly would also urge the United Nations to continue to support the OAU in its efforts to manage a peaceful democratic transition in Africa. It would urge all Member States and regional and international organizations to provide assistance to refugees and displaced persons, as well as to African countries of asylum. And it would urge continued support for the operations of the African Economic Community.
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An addendum to the Secretary-General's report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity (document A/50/575/Add.1) contains the conclusions and recommendations adopted at the meeting of the two organizations, at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) headquarters in Addis Ababa from 6 to 10 November 1995. (For further information, see Press Release GA/9032 of 11 December.)
In the addendum, the Secretary-General details a number of measures adopted regarding the maintenance of peace, security and democracy in Africa. Among them, United Nations assistance was requested for the establishment of an OAU early-warning system and situation centre. While acknowledging the United Nations' primary responsibility for peace-keeping, it was recommended that the two organizations should establish joint operations guidelines and rules of engagement for joint operations. In that regard, the OAU also envisaged establishing peacemaking contingents and limited deployments of observers.
The meeting also proposed that the United Nations and the OAU should collaborate in rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes for post-conflict peace-building and in addressing the needs of those affected by conflict. The two organizations should also cooperate in promoting education for democracy, human rights and freedom.
Regarding refugees, returnees and displaced persons, the OAU and the UNHCR were encouraged to develop a comprehensive strategy and plan of action, the report states. They would address such purposes as ensuring that asylum and protection of refugees continue to be granted in Africa while taking into account the legitimate interests of States and hosting communities; reinforcing cooperation in the field of conflict prevention; developing a more comprehensive programme of assistance and support to host countries and communities; and mobilizing additional resources in favour of refugees from non-traditional sources.
Action on Third Committee Reports
AHMED YOUSIF MOHAMED (Sudan), Committee Rapporteur, introduced the reports of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural).
He announced that in the report on the promotion and protection of the rights of children, there was a correction to be made in draft resolution I. The original eighteenth preambular paragraph should be reinstated. This paragraph reads as follows:
"Further alarmed, in particular, by the exploitation of child labour in its most extreme forms, including forced labour, bonded labour and other forms of slavery".
He also said that for draft resolution II, the following sponsors to the draft should be added: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Germany,
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Guyana, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mali, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and Uruguay.
The RAPPORTEUR also announced that the Ukraine had expressed concern regarding operative paragraph 23 of the draft resolution on the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and had intended to pursue an amendment to that paragraph. In the spirit of cooperation and not to open a resolution which was passed by consensus, it had been agreed that provided their concerns and understanding regarding the operative paragraph 23 were clearly understood, they would not pursue an amendment to the current text of the resolution. The reference to the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States at the end of paragraph 23 pertained to those States who were party to the Convention referred to in the paragraph (1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees).
The Assembly first took up the report on elimination of racism and racial discrimination, adopting the three related draft resolutions without a vote. The first on measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; the second on the third decade to combat racism and racial discrimination; and the third, on the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The Assembly then adopted, without a vote, the draft decision of that report on documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with the question of elimination of racism and racial discrimination.
The Assembly then took up the report on the right of peoples to self- determination.
The report's draft resolution I, on the use of mercenaries was adopted by 106 votes in favour to 18 against, with 31 abstentions. (Annex I.)
The report's draft II, on universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination was adopted without a vote.
The draft resolution III, on the right of the Palestinian people to self- determination was adopted by a vote of 145 in favour to 2 against (Israel and the United States), with 9 abstentions (Republic of Moldova, Lithuania, Norway, Argentina, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russian Federation and the Federated States of Micronesia. (Annex II.)
The Assembly then took up the report on social development.
Resolution I, on the International Year of Older Persons was adopted without a vote.
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Resolution II, on follow-up to the International Year of the Family was also adopted without a vote.
The General Assembly then adopted resolution III on the struggle against illiteracy without a vote.
Next, resolution IV, on opportunities for persons with disabilities was adopted without a vote.
The draft decision in that report, on "reports considered by the General Assembly in connection with the question of social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family" was adopted by the Assembly without a vote.
The Assembly then took up the report on Crime Prevention and criminal justice.
Resolution I of the report, on the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders was adopted without a vote.
The Assembly then took up draft II on strengthening the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, which was adopted without a vote.
Next, draft III on the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders was adopted without a vote.
The Assembly then adopted, without a vote, a draft decision on documents considered in connection with the questions of crime prevention and criminal justice.
Next, the Assembly took up the report on international drug control and adopted without a vote its seven-part resolution on international action to combat drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking.
Then the Assembly took up the report of the High Commissioner for Refugees.
MARKIYAN Z. KULYK (Ukraine) said that his country had always attached great importance to the promotion of refugees. Draft resolution I under the agenda item did not adequately reflect its concerns. Its paragraph 23 was not in conformity with Ukraine's national legislation. His country would join the consensus on the understanding that the provisions of the paragraph would apply only to those countries which were party to the relevant Convention on Refugees. Ukraine's acceptance of the draft resolution should not be interpreted as the granting of powers to the Commonwealth of Independent States on the matter of refugees.
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Draft resolution I of the report, on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa was adopted without a vote.
The Assembly then adopted draft II on assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors without a vote.
Draft III, on comprehensive consideration and review of the problems of refugees, returnees, displaced persons and related migratory movements was adopted without a vote.
Draft IV of the report on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was adopted without a vote.
Next, the Assembly took up the report on the promotion and protection of the rights of children.
It then adopted, without a vote, the six-part draft resolution I on the rights of the child.
Draft resolution II, on the girl child was also adopted without a vote.
EMILIA CASTRO DE BARISH (Costa Rica) said the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, held on 12 December 1995, had decided to consider an amendment to article 43, paragraph 2, of the Convention to increase the number of experts of "high moral standing and recognized competence in the field covered by this Convention" from 10 to 18. The increase to 182 States members of the Convention justified the increase in the number of experts. Also, the increase in the number of States parties to the Convention had increased the work load of the Committee. The Committee needed an appropriate number of Members. She appealed for approval of the draft by consensus.
Next, the Assembly took up the draft on the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and adopted it without a vote. It also adopted the report of the Fifth Committee on the programme budget implications of that draft.
Then, the Assembly took up the report on the programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People.
HERBERT DONALD GELBER (United States) said that his country was going along with the consensus on draft resolution I under the agenda item. However, his country was of the view that all United Nations programmes of activities should take into consideration the current United Nations budget to avoid duplication.
The Assembly adopted the report's draft on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations without a vote.
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It also adopted the draft on the programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People without a vote.
Action on the OAU
The General Assembly adopted without a vote the resolution urging the United Nations to facilitate the participation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in its peace-keeping and peacemaking operations and in joint fact- finding missions in Africa, and to continue to support the OAU in its efforts to manage a peaceful democratic transition in Africa.
The Assembly then decided to defer consideration of item 10 regarding armed Israeli aggression against the Iraqi nuclear installations and to include that item in the provisional agenda of its next session.
The Assembly decided to defer consideration of item 56 regarding the consequences of Iraqi occupation of and aggression against Kuwait and to include that item in the provisional agenda of its next session.
(annexes follow)
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General Assembly Plenary Press Release GA/9044 97th Meeting (PM) 21 December 1995
ANNEX I
Vote on Use of Mercenaries to Violate Human Rights
The draft resolution on the use of mercenaries as a means to violate human rights (document A/50/627) was adopted by a recorded vote of 106 in favour to 18 against, with 31 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: 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, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States.
Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Kazakstan, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
Absent: Afghanistan, Angola, Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Guinea, Latvia, Marshall Islands, Palau, Poland, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Zaire.
General Assembly Plenary - 15 - Press Release GA/9044 97th Meeting (PM) 21 December 1995
(END OF ANNEX I)
General Assembly Plenary Press Release GA/9044 97th Meeting (PM) 21 December 1995
ANNEX II
Vote on Right of Palestinian People to Self-Determination
The draft resolution on the right of Palestinian people to self- determination (document A/50/627) was adopted by a recorded vote of 145 in favour to 2 against, with 9 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, 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, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Israel, United States.
Abstaining: Argentina, Federated States of Micronesia, Georgia, Lithuania, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
General Assembly Plenary - 16 - Press Release GA/9044 97th Meeting (PM) 21 December 1995
Absent: Afghanistan, Angola, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Gambia, Guinea, Latvia, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Palau, Poland, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Zaire.
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