THIRD COMMITTEE REVIEWS SECTIONS OF PROPOSED MEDIUM-TERM PLAN FOR 1998-2001; PROGRAMMES ON CRIME/DRUG CONTROL, HUMAN RIGHTS, REFUGEES DISCUSSED
Press Release
GA/SHC/3363
THIRD COMMITTEE REVIEWS SECTIONS OF PROPOSED MEDIUM-TERM PLAN FOR 1998-2001; PROGRAMMES ON CRIME/DRUG CONTROL, HUMAN RIGHTS, REFUGEES DISCUSSED
19961023 The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this morning examined sections of the proposed medium-term plan for 1998 to 2001 on crime prevention and criminal justice; international drug control; human rights; and protection and assistance to refugees.The medium-term plan, which provides a framework for the United Nations budget, is designed to set concrete objectives and strategies to implement mandates for the period from 1998 to 2001. It has 25 chapters which sometimes correspond to the sections of the United Nations budget. The Committee review of the plan sections was in response to a request from the Chairman of the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).
Speakers this morning described the plan as a "collective effort" to reorganize the United Nations work in the fields of social development, and many said its relevant programmes should be adopted without changes. The United States said it was meant to be a tool for substantive programme planning that could be used in preparing future budgets. Unfortunately, the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) had not reached consensus on the plan, although the budget for the next biennium had begun. The CPC should fulfil its role of reviewing both the programme and budget aspects of United Nations activities and, through its recommendations, ensure those activities and resource allocations faithfully reflected mandates and priorities set by members.
Cuba said the programmes adequately reflected priorities of General Assembly mandates. However, they should indicate support for the basic needs of States, including training and education.
Human Rights
Most speakers expressed support for the restructuring of the Human Rights Centre and said it would improve the ability of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, José Ayala-Lasso, to carry out his mandates. The restructuring was an effective follow-up to the Programme of Action of the United Nations International Conference on Human Rights (Vienna 1993). The restructuring was not an end in itself, but part of a process which would
strengthen the United Nations work in the field of human rights. It was also a response to the Organization's financial crisis as the Commissioner had identified additional savings within his already reduced budget.
South Africa described the restructuring as a constructive effort which would enable the Commissioner to carry out his work more effectively. There had been much talk about United Nations reform, but, so far, the High Commissioner had been the only senior official to take actual radical reform and members should give him maximum and unqualified support.
The representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, rejected any suggestion of a hierarchy of human rights. The restructuring of the Centre would strengthen the human rights machinery and better reflect United Nations priorities. The programme fully reflected mandates of the High Commissioner and other policy-making bodies and should be adopted without change.
The representative of Colombia, speaking on behalf of the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement, said paragraph 19.3 (b) should be redrafted to include the names of each agency involved in the promotion and protection of human rights. The wording in paragraph 19.3 (j) on the human rights aspects of peace-keeping operations was too general. Coordination in peace-keeping operations and humanitarian assistance was important; however, it was necessary to reiterate that these activities should be clearly differentiated. Peace-keeping operations could only be carried out under a strict interpretation of the facts that constituted a threat to international peace and security. There should also be a separate sub-group in the human rights programme on the right to development.
Cuba said additional resources should be dedicated to education and technical assistance to promote all human rights in the interest of developing countries. Additional allocated resources should not, however, come at the expense of the programme for development.
The United States said the restructuring of the Centre was consistent with relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly resolution 50/214 from the Fifth Committee. She regretted the lack of consensus on the plan's human rights programme.
Objecting to the restructuring, China said the process should follow procedural rules. It should have only been undertaken after full consultation and approval from the General Assembly. It involved many complex issues, including financial restraints and the distribution of posts. The Fifth Committee should study the CPC report to eliminate any discrepancies with the programme. The priorities listed in paragraph 19.2 did not fully reflect the complete situation of human rights in the world today. The programme did not fully reflect the importance of the right to development and the Vienna
Third Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/SHC/3363 11th Meeting (AM) 23 October 1996
declarations. Iran also said portions of the programme were inconsistent with the Vienna declarations.
The representative of Egypt said he supported the High Commissioner's efforts, but there had not been any attempt to address differences with the CPC report. The medium-term plan should be adopted, but in keeping with Assembly mandates on human rights to avoid problems of procedure. He was "deeply concerned" over the six-month restructuring period and questioned the degree of transparency in the process. How did delegates know it would take that long? he asked.
Resolution 50/214, paragraph 239, section 21, approved by the Fifth Committee last year, which established a new section of the Centre that would deal with right to development, was a violation of the Assembly resolution and was not in keeping with the spirit of the Vienna declarations. The consultative process should be separated from the section on development. It was important that the advisory services and technical assistance be covered in a separate section. And the Fifth Committee should be given a clear and unequivocal message about the sentiments expressed today, he added.
The representative of India said more prominence should be given to the right to development and the functional over the thematic approach in all aspects of the human rights programme. Financial pressures should not be used as an excuse to micro-manage the High Commissioner's work, and he should be given adequate technical assistance -- the "linchpin of the entire human rights programme".
Criminal Justice
Costa Rica said that in paragraph 12.3 (b) reference should be made to "support the strengthening of" and not just "to strengthen" the capacity of governments to reform their legislation and criminal justice systems and to establish or strengthen their institutions and mechanisms for detection, investigation, prosecution and adjudication of various types of crimes.
That was a sovereign prerogative of States, while the United Nations system should support such efforts, the representative continued. A reference should be made to the principle of consent of the State to this collaboration. Something similar occurred in paragraph 12.3 (c) when it stated that "the work of the programme will result in improved ...". It should say: "the work of the programme will enable support of the improvement of". In this paragraph, it is important to add "trafficking and sale of children and their organs" as another form of transnational crime.
The representative of the Philippines said the programme on crime and criminal justice did not mention the rights of the victims of crime, although
Third Committee - 4 - Press Release GA/SHC/3363 11th Meeting (AM) 23 October 1996
it referred to the exchange of expertise in the handling of offenders and victims. The United Nations needed to take measures to help crime victims.
Drug Control
The representative of Japan said the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) should be given adequate resources to carry on its important work.
Costa Rica, speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said the role of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme should be mentioned. Reference should be made to Assembly resolutions 49/168 and 50/148 -- an essential part of the Programme's mandate. Paragraph 13.3, in referring to development of international norms and standards of drug control, should include a reference to "universal acceptance". The representative of the Philippines said the Programme should mention the special concerns of countries used as a transit route by drug traffickers.
Refugees
Costa Rica, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said it supported the proposal since it maintained an integral criteria in the approach to refugees. However, it was concerned that new and additional resources be allocated to different programmes in the interest of developing countries on social and economic questions. The programme respected the respective mandates.
Syria said more funding should be given to deal with the problems of refugees, particularly Palestinian refugees.
Statements were also made this morning by Algeria, Nicaragua, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, New Zealand (on behalf of Australia and Canada), Dominican Republic, Panama, Uruguay, Bolivia, Ghana, Republic of Korea and Indonesia.
The Committee will meet again today at 3 p.m. to conclude its debate on crime and criminal Justice, international drug control and the elaboration of a draft convention on organized transnational crime.
* *** *