RESERVATIONS TO HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES CALLED INTO QUESTION BY EUROPEAN UNION IN THIRD COMMITTEE

13 November 1996

Press Release
GA/SHC/3388

RESERVATIONS TO HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES CALLED INTO QUESTION BY EUROPEAN UNION IN THIRD COMMITTEE

19961113 Committee Begins Debate on Human Rights Questions, Hears Introduction of Two Drafts on Racism and Racial Discrimination

States should avoid making wide reservations when ratifying or acceding to international human rights treaties, the representative of Ireland told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this afternoon, as it began discussing the implementation of human rights instruments.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated countries, he deplored reservations aimed at excluding the applicability of core provisions of an instrument, or reservations that were otherwise contrary to the instrument's object and purpose. Such reservations were unacceptable under treaty law and called into question a State's commitment to the human rights instrument.

Reservations should not be seen as an expedient mechanism for obtaining international approval through the formal ratification of human rights instruments, while avoiding obligations, he continued. Nor was it appropriate for States to invoke national and regional particularities or historical, cultural and religious backgrounds to avoid the universality of human rights.

The representative of Egypt said some States used human rights to pressure other countries and to achieve specific political objectives. There was a need to depoliticize human rights and recognize that other cultures viewed things differently. And there was no justification for one country imposing an unacceptable pattern of life on another.

Ibrahima Fall, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, introducing the reports on human rights instruments, said although the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families had been adopted six years ago, so far it had been ratified by only nine countries. The Convention would not enter into force until at least 20 States have ratified or acceded to it.

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The representative for Mexico said her Government was very concerned with the serious violation of the human rights of migrant workers and their families. Governments must promote tolerance and prevent violence against migrant workers, and not enact legislation which denied migrant workers and their children the right to education and health services. The international community must also strengthen the protection of migrant workers, whose rights were often not respected in domestic legislation.

Statements were also made by Japan, South Africa and Belarus.

The representative of Costa Rica introduced a draft resolution on measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as a text on the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Thursday, 14 November, to continue its general debate on the implementation of human rights instruments.

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this afternoon to begin its examination of human rights questions: Implementation of human rights instruments. It has before it the 1996 report of the Economic and Social Council; a report of the Human Rights Committee; a report of the Committee Against Torture; five reports from the Secretary-General; and a note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the seventh meeting of the persons chairing human rights treaty bodies.

In the report of the Economic and Social Council for 1996 (document A/51/3), the composition of the staff of the Centre for Human Rights is discussed. The Council, by decision 1996/272 and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1996/65, approved the Commission's request to the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report to the General Assembly at its fifty-first session and to the Commission at its fifty-third session on the implementation of the Commission's resolutions, including measures adopted and their results, and recommendations for improving the current situation.

The report of the Human Rights Committee (document A/51/40) summarizes the work of the 18-member body of experts, established by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights charged with reviewing the implementation of the provisions of the Covenant and its optional protocols. It considers reports of States parties on measures taken to implement the Covenant's provisions. The Committee also receives and considers in private, under the terms of the First Optional Protocol, communications from individuals who claim that their human rights under the Covenant have been violated by a State party. The findings of the Committee on these communications are made public immediately after the session.

As of 26 July 1996, 134 States had ratified or acceded or succeeded to the International Covenant and 88 States had ratified or acceded to its First Optional Protocol. There were 29 States parties to the Second Optional Protocol aimed at abolition of the death penalty.

During the period covered in the report, the Committee held three sessions (at Geneva and in New York) and received 18 initial or periodic reports of States parties to the Covenant. Initial reports were submitted by Gabon, Georgia, Lithuania, Nigeria and Slovakia; Bolivia, Congo and Lebanon submitted second periodic reports; France and Portugal submitted third periodic reports; fourth periodic reports were submitted by Germany, Finland, Iraq, Poland, Colombia, Romania and Senegal; while the United Kingdom submitted a special report concerning Hong Kong. The report of Nigeria was submitted in response to a special decision by the Committee on 29 November 1995 which expressed deep concern about certain executions after trials that were not in conformity with the Covenant. It called for submission of the initial report without delay.

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The Committee report contains summaries of factors and difficulties which should prevent effective implementation of the Covenant, as gleaned from the Committee's examination of each country report. For each report, the Committee points out positive aspects, subjects of concern, and suggestions and recommendations by the Committee experts. In addition, at each session, the Committee may publish general comments drawn up by the experts on various articles of the Covenant in order to provide guidance to States parties in implementation of those particular articles of the Covenant.

The report of the Committee Against Torture (document A/51/44) -- the monitoring body of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment -- states that, as of 10 May 1996, there were 96 States parties to the Convention and lists them in Annex I. During the Committee's fifteenth session from 13 to 24 November 1995 and sixteenth session from 30 April to 10 May 1996 in Geneva, it considered four initial reports and six periodic reports from six States parties to the Convention. At its fifteenth session, the Committee considered the reports of Denmark, United Kingdom, Ireland, Senegal, Armenia, Guatemala and Colombia. The Committee agreed, at the request of Armenia and Senegal, to postpone consideration of their reports. Subsequently, Armenia submitted a revised version of its report. So at its sixteenth session, the Committee had before it the reports of Armenia, Senegal, Finland, China, Malta and Croatia.

The Committee was informed that the Secretary-General had received the initial report of the Republic of Korea and the second periodic reports of Algeria, Poland, Russian Federation and Uruguay. He had also received additional information requested by the Committee from Italy, Netherlands and the United Kingdom during its consideration of their respective reports. The revised version of Belize's initial report which the Committee had asked for on 10 March 1994 had not yet been received, in spite of reminders by the Secretary-General in June 1994 and 1995 and a letter from the Committee Chairman on 20 November 1995. The report also lists States parties whose reports were overdue as of 10 May 1996.

The report includes the Committee's activities under article 20 of the Convention, according to which it can consider reliable, well-founded information that torture is being systematically practised in the territory of a State party -- in this case Egypt. Activities under articles 22 of the Convention are also summarized. Under article 22, individuals who claim that any of their rights enumerated in the Convention have been violated by a State party and who have exhausted all domestic remedies may submit communications to the Committee. The report lists the 36 States out of the 88 who have acceded to or ratified the Convention who recognize the Committee's competence to receive and consider communications under article 22.

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The Secretary-General's report on the status of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (document A/51/426) says that as of 3 September 1996, the Convention had been ratified or acceded to by 99 States. In addition, 13 States had signed the Convention. The list of States that have signed, ratified or acceded to the Convention, and the dates of their signature, ratification or accession, is contained in the annex of the report.

Also as of 3 September 1996, 37 of the States parties to the Convention had made the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention. In addition, two States parties had made the declaration provided for in article 21 only, thus bringing the total number of declarations under that article to 39. Under article 21, a State party to the Convention may declare at any time that it recognizes the competence of the Committee Against Torture to receive and consider communications to the effect that a State party claims that another State party is not fulfilling its obligations under the Convention.

In accordance with article 17 of the Convention, five members of the Committee Against Torture were elected for a term of four years beginning 1 January 1996.

The Secretary-General's report on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (document A/51/465) states that pursuant to the General Assembly's resolution, voluntary contributions to the Fund are distributed through established channels of assistance, as humanitarian, legal and financial aid to individuals whose human rights have been severely violated as a result of torture and to relatives of such victims. The Fund also provides grants to humanitarian organizations which submit projects involving medical, psychological, psychiatric, social, economic or legal assistance to the victims of torture and their relatives. It funds projects under which health- care professionals receive training in the treatment of victims of torture.

The Fund is administered, in accordance with the Financial Regulations of the United Nations, by the Secretary-General, assisted by a Board of Trustees composed of five members who are appointed by the Secretary-General for a renewable three-year term of office on the basis of equitable geographical distribution and in consultation with their governments. The number of States contributing to the Fund rose from 5 in 1982 to 30 in 1994. Contributions decreased in 1995, as five regular donor countries discontinued their support. In 1996, 26 States provided financial support to the Fund, including, for the first time, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

The Board of Trustees held its fifteenth session in Geneva from 20 to 31 May 1996. The number of requests for funding to assist victims of torture totalled more than $5 million in 1996 for 96 projects or sub-projects in 54 countries. The total amount available in May 1996 for grants to projects to

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assist victims of torture was $2,535,500 (of which $100,000 was earmarked for the emergency fund for crisis situations outside the annual session of the Board of Trustees).

The Board recommended grants to 96 projects, making an effort to honour every request for funding which met the selection criteria it had established, in a proportion of 30 to 48 percent of the budget requested, according to the importance of the treatment offered and the number of victims assisted. Priority was given to the organizations which had most fully met the Board's requirements in terms of the submission of narrative, financial reports and on the uses of previous grants.

The report of the Secretary-General on the status of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (document A/51/415) states that as of 31 August 1996, it had been ratified or acceded to by Colombia, Egypt, Morocco, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Uganda and signed by Chile and Mexico. The Convention will enter into force when at least 20 States have ratified or acceded to it.

The report states that the Commission on Human Rights, by its resolution of 11 April 1996, request the Secretary-General to provide, within existing resources, all facilities and assistance necessary for the active promotion of the Convention. The Commission also requested that he invite organizations and agencies of the United Nations system, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to intensify their efforts in disseminating information and promoting understanding of the Convention.

The Secretary-General's report on effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations under international instruments on human rights (document A/51/425), in accordance with the General Assembly's request, describes the measures taken to implement the resolution and on obstacles to its implementation. The five international human rights instruments with monitoring mechanisms currently supported by the Centre for Human Rights are the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The reductions in the budget of the United Nations for the biennium 1996-1997, which involve the freezing of posts and the reduction in financial resources for each sector of the Secretariat, affect staff and other resources assigned to support the activities of the treaty bodies.

Pursuant to a recommendation of the chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies and a Commission on Human Rights resolution, a task force on computerization was established to examine the question of computerization of

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the treaty bodies' work. At present, the system contains information concerning the Convention on the Rights of the Child and is operational only with respect to that treaty. The time-frame in which the system will become operational for the other treaty bodies depends on the availability of resources for data entry and downloading of full-text documents.

According to the report, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure that both the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the Committee Against Torture meet as scheduled until the amendments to the Convention under which they are established enter into force. Extensive consultations between the Centre for Human Rights and the Department of Public Information took place in order to devise and implement a procedure to satisfy the Assembly's request that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ensure that reports would be made available to the relevant United Nations information centres prior to and after the consideration of treaty implementation in a given State party.

According to the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (document A/51/422), as of 31 August 1996, the Convention had been ratified or acceded to by 122 States. In addition, three States had signed the Convention. The list of States that have signed, ratified, acceded or succeeded to the Convention, as well as the dates of their signature, is contained in the annex of the report.

A note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the seventh meeting of persons chairing human rights treaty bodies (document A/51/482) says that pursuant to the General Assembly's resolution, representatives from the following human rights treaty bodies attended the meeting held from 16 to 20 September 1996 at United Nations Headquarters: Human Rights Committee, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Committee on the Rights of the Child, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, and the Committee Against Torture.

The chairpersons approved several conclusions and recommendations under four categories: improving the operation of the human rights treaty bodies; cooperation of human rights treaty bodies with United Nations non-conventional human rights bodies and mechanisms and regional organizations; gender perspectives in the work of treaty bodies; and assistance to States in implementing committee recommendations.

Among the recommendations made in the area of improving the operation of the human rights treaty bodies, the chairpersons requested that the Economic and Social Council amend the rules of the Commission on Human Rights so that the treaty bodies are recognized as having a distinct status that would enable

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them to participate in all relevant meetings. They noted with concern that the plans to restructure the Centre for Human Rights proceeded without meaningful consultation with the chairpersons or with the treaty bodies.

In the area of cooperation of human rights treaty bodies with United Nations non-conventional human rights bodies and mechanisms and regional organizations, the chairpersons approved many recommendations, including that the Centre for Human Rights engage in an active dialogue with Bretton Woods institutions so that the applicable United Nations human rights instruments will be given a preeminent role in references to human rights standards by these institutions.

Regarding gender perspectives in the work of the treaty bodies, the chairpersons made recommendations, among others, for treaty bodies to fully integrate gender perspectives into their working methods, particularly the consideration of the gender implications of each issue discussed under each of the articles of the respective instruments. They also concluded that guidelines for the preparation of reports by States parties should be amended to reflect the necessity of providing specific information on the human rights of women for consideration by the respective committees.

Under assistance to States in implementing committee recommendations, the chairpersons recommended that treaty bodies be specific when elaborating concluding observations on State party reports involving recommendations for technical assistance by the Centre for Human Rights to the State concerned.

Statements on Human Rights Questions

IBRAHIMA FALL, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, opening the discussion on the implementation of human rights instruments, said recently the human rights treaty bodies were able to supply States parties with more precise conclusions and recommendations. These recommendations therefore invited countries to use the technical assistance programme of the Centre for Human Rights.

Although the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was adopted by the General Assembly six years ago, he noted that so far it had been ratified only by Colombia, Egypt, Morocco, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Uganda and signed by Chile and Mexico. The Convention would enter into force when at least 20 States have ratified or acceded to it.

The universalization of human rights treaties, which was provided by the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, 1993) had yet to be obtained. In order to achieve this goal, the Centre had organized a meeting of 16 experts held on 17 May in Addis Ababa. Another meeting for the Asia-Pacific region had been postponed and will be held in 1997. The goal of these meetings was

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primarily to identify the obstacles States might meet or concerns they might have in terms of ratifying human rights treaties. Following these consultations, a report would be submitted to the Third Committee.

The report of the Human Rights Committee, which covered the fifty-fifth, fifty-sixth and fifty-seventh sessions, recorded that nine initial or periodic reports were considered by the Committee and 18 reports were received. It was noteworthy that when considering the report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Hong Kong, the Committee pointed out that the provisions of the Covenant would remain in effect on the territory. Therefore, future reporting obligations in relation to Hong Kong would remain after it reverts to China in 1997, even though China was not a part of the pact.

At its fifteenth and sixteenth meetings, he said the Committee Against Torture considered reports by 10 States, continued its private investigations and concluded one report, and would publish the results in its annual report. The Committee also considered 26 individual communications in accordance with article 22. Fifty per cent of the meetings were devoted to confidential procedures, and the number of issues under article 22 had increased dramatically over the past few years. The Committee believed that it was necessary to schedule a special, additional week-long session every year to keep up with the complex tasks it undertook and requested the General Assembly approve the request.

During the 1995 session of the Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the Board of Trustees had before it $2.7 million, which was distributed for a total of 104 projects, presented by 93 organizations that give support and aid to victims of torture and their families throughout the world, he said. In 1996, after seeing that the Fund had received only $330,000 one month before the Board's annual meeting, the Chairman of the Board made an appeal to governments to give follow-up donations to the Fund to meet the requirement made by the General Assembly. Thanks to the contributions made by Member States, the Board of Trustees was able to recommend the nearly $2.5 million to 96 programmes and 92 organizations.

In the report concerning the seventh meeting of the chairpersons of treaty bodies, who held the meeting earlier this year, the chairpersons made recommendations and suggestions to enhance the operations of treaty bodies and gave special attention to issues involving the restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights, he said. They expressed concern about the lack of information on the reorganization and pledged to take a more active role in the Centre. The chairpersons also suggested that treaty bodies could invite specialized institutions and non-governmental organizations to take a more active role in the oversight of implementation, and that the Centre for Human Rights engage in an active dialogue with Bretton Woods institutions.

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The avenues opened by the Vienna Conference on Human Rights and the implementation of the Convention were still open, he said. He called upon all States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to show more determination and concentration to reflect in reality the commitment proclaimed in Vienna. After all, it was only little more than one year from the fiftieth anniversary of adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and mid-course in consideration of evaluation of conclusions of the World Conference on Human Rights.

CIARAN BYRNE (Ireland) spoke on behalf of the European Union and associated countries. He said universal acceptance of human rights instruments would give concrete expression to human rights commitments. At the World Conference on Human Rights, the international community undertook specific commitments relating to the signature, ratification of, or accession to, human rights instruments. Those had not yet been fulfilled. It was essential that States avoid making wide reservations when ratifying or acceding to the human rights instruments. The Union deplored reservations aimed at excluding the applicability of provisions that were at the core of an instrument or which were otherwise contrary to its object and purpose. Such reservations were unacceptable under treaty law and called into question a State's commitment to the human rights instrument. He urged States to review their reservations periodically with a view to withdrawing them where possible.

Reservations should not be seen as an expedient mechanism for obtaining international approval through the formal ratification of human rights instruments, while avoiding obligations, he continued. Nor was it appropriate for States to invoke national and regional particularities or historical, cultural and religious backgrounds to avoid the universality of human rights. Vienna declared that "all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated". Protection and promotion of human rights depended on States parties' full implementation of their obligations. Domestic policy, practice and procedures must be consistent with the terms of an instrument. The programme of advisory services and technical cooperation through the Centre for Human Rights provides valuable assistance to strengthen national capacity and strengthen the rule of law and democracy.

He expressed concern over the number of States which were not submitting their reports on implementation by due dates and those who were not following the guidelines laid down by the committees. There were also considerable delays in committees' consideration of reports; they should be given to the treaty bodies to enable them to meet those demands. He reaffirmed the Union's support for work under way for the elaboration of an optional protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which introduces a right of petition procedure. The working group on that draft protocol must be given resources to carry on its work. He supported a comprehensive policy programme for mainstreaming the human rights

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concerns of women throughout the United Nations system. The restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights offered a valuable opportunity to ensure the important work on treaty bodies was enhanced.

YANERIT MORGAN (Mexico) said the Universal Declaration on Human Rights ensured that respect for the dignity of all human beings was the point of departure for all domestic and international mechanisms on the principle. The United Nations had again and again reiterated that principle in its work. There had been significant progress, such as the elimination of apartheid in South Africa and the adoption of conventions to protect the human rights of women and children. However, there was a long way to go before the full enjoyment of human rights became a reality for all people. Unfortunately, since the end of the cold war, intolerance, extreme nationalism and the rejection of ethnic diversity had often led to bloody conflicts and xenophobic attitudes.

She said her Government was very concerned with the serious violation of the human rights of migrant workers and their families. Every day, men and women faced hatred and violence simply because they crossed borders in search of ways to support their families. Migration was a complex phenomenon which was the result of social inequalities and excess labour in one State and a shortage in another. Mexico was firmly opposed to the mistreatment of Mexican workers who crossed borders in search of a better life and legislation which denied migrant workers and their children the right to education and health services. Both rights were enshrined in the Universal Declaration. Governments must promote tolerance and take actions to prevent violence against migrant workers. There must also be steps to strengthen the international community's protection of migrant workers, a population whose rights were often not respected in domestic legislation. A recent regional meeting in Peubla, Mexico promoted a constructive dialogue on the immigration issue. Delegates reaffirmed the right of every country to protect its borders and implement its immigration laws.

JIRO USUI (Japan) said the United Nations had made remarkable progress in its efforts to promote and protect human rights. Its first major achievement was the Universal Declaration on Human Rights which was now a standard in the field. His Government appreciated the efforts of the United Nations and the Commission on Human Rights in setting international standards. Certainly, the major human rights instruments had contributed immensely to the progress achieved. However, careful steps should be made to elaborate those instruments, bearing in mind the manner in which they were likely to be applied and the need to avoid unnecessary duplication with existing agreements.

His Government welcomed continuing efforts by the treaty bodies and the Secretary-General to streamline, rationalize and otherwise improve reporting procedures. Consideration should be given to conclusions and recommendations

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by people chairing the meetings of human rights treaty bodies. He shared their concern over the problem of overdue reports and agreed that appropriate advisory services be provided to help States with their reporting and other obligations. There was also a need for further improvement in the way human rights treaty bodies, such as the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, carried out their mandates. Given the backlog of reports before them, obviously the process of considering them could be more efficient.

IRMA ENGELBRECHT (South Africa) said adoption of the final democratic constitution for South Africa was nearing completion. The final bill of rights would contain all the generally recognized human rights, so the last vestiges of the country's racially and sexually discriminatory legislative history would be laid to rest. The new South African Government was committed to ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In light of its own recent history, South Africa had a special interest and also exceptional obligations to adopt and apply the prevailing international norms in the field of human rights.

The seriousness with which South Africa regarded the adherence to international human rights instruments was also well illustrated by the steps that were taken to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified in June 1995, she said. The Government also ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in December 1995, and had also signed the 1952 Convention on the Nationality of Married Women and the 1952 Convention on the Political Rights of Women.

The Government of South Africa regarded the Universal Declaration as a very important instrument, she said. It was co-sponsoring, with Germany and Poland, a workshop to discuss the relevance of the Universal Declaration at the end of the century. At the workshop, discussion would focus on how best to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration so that it could become a major event and receive the highest attention of the United Nations system.

KARIM WISSA (Egypt) said his Government's ratification of international human rights treaty instruments highlighted its resolve to protect those rights. It had made attempts to adjust national legislation to 18 international instruments and had taken into account its different contractual obligations while observing religious and cultural peculiarities. When implementing treaty obligations there was a need to depoliticize human rights. Some States used human rights to pressure other countries and to achieve specific political objectives. Policies which resulted in double standards when applying obligations should be avoided. There was also a need to recognize that other cultures viewed things differently and there was no justification for imposing an unacceptable pattern of life on them. Human rights were interrelated and there should not be any discrimination amongst fundamental freedoms, political rights or right to development.

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ALYAKSANDR SYCHOU (Belarus), speaking on behalf of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation and Tajikistan, noted the importance of the international covenants which were the legal expression of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. He underlined the need to maintain stability and the rule of law in each country, and the obligation to maintain and uphold all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Introduction of Draft Resolutions

The representative of Costa Rica, on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries, China and Turkey, introduced a draft resolution on measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (document A/C.3/51/L.23), by which the Assembly would call on governments and intergovernmental organizations, with the assistance of non-governmental organizations, to continue cooperating with, and supplying relevant information to, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights.

The Assembly would urge governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur to enable him to fulfil his mandate and would urge the Centre for Human Rights to facilitate his work. It would request the Secretary-General, without any further delay, to provide the Special Rapporteur with human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently and expeditiously, and to enable him to submit, in a timely manner, a report on this question to the Assembly's fifty-second session.

The representative of Costa Rica, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, also introduced a draft resolution on the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (document A/C.3/51/L.27) which would have the Assembly decide to convene a world conference to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance by the year 1999. It would urge all governments to take all necessary measures to combat new forms of racism and call upon them to cooperate more closely with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance.

The Assembly would also call upon all Member States 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. It would further urge the Secretary-General, the United Nations system, governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to pay particular attention to the situation of indigenous people in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade. In addition, it would strongly underline the importance of education as a significant means of preventing and eradicating racism. The Secretary-General would be requested to accord the highest priority to the Programme of Action for the Third Decade.

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