HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS TO THIRD COMMITTEE; OUTLINES PROGRESS, RESTRUCTURING OF HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE
Press Release
GA/SHC/3390
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS TO THIRD COMMITTEE; OUTLINES PROGRESS, RESTRUCTURING OF HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE
19961114 Human Rights were an integral part of peace and development, and together the three constituted the trilogy upon which the United Nations was established, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Jose Ayala-Lasso, said this afternoon, as he presented his report and the country reports of Estonia and Latvia to the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural).Mr. Ayala-Lasso said working in concert would help all participants in the field of human rights understand the inter-relatedness of actions, strengthen teamwork and facilitate a single, shared vision. High priority should be given to establishing a constant dialogue with Member States. Continuous cooperation among all United Nations agencies was important to ensure a shared vision of human rights in the Organization.
Since 1994, there had been important progress in implementing the Platform for Action of the United Nations Conference on Human Rights (Vienna 1993), he continued. However, it was imperative to continue to develop new mechanisms to respond to human rights violations and establish preventive measures, such as training, assistance and monitoring. Human and financial resources must be mobilized to implement the Platform, which was geared to promoting and supporting local initiatives, particularly in the field of education. So far that had not occurred.
The restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights which began in September reflected all the priorities and mandates of United Nations human rights programmes, he said. Three new branches were devoted to research, the right to development and support services and activities. The new system, which would be reviewed at the end of a six-month transition period, was a more open, just and transparent and would encourage efficiency and competence, as well as ethical and professional integrity.
Mr. Ayala-Lasso then gave an oral presentation of the human rights situation in Estonia and Latvia. Representative of Latvia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ireland, Poland, South Africa, Colombia, Cuba, Estonia, China, Mali, Malaysia, Russian Federation, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico, Pakistan, Republic of Korea and Venezuela participated in a dialogue with the High Commissioner.
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Australia, Georgia and Cape Verde made statements.
Also this afternoon, the Third Committee approved three draft resolutions without a vote. By the terms of one text, the General Assembly would call on States to end their military intervention and occupation of foreign countries and territories, as well as all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment. It would deplore the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted and reaffirm their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour.
By the terms of another text, the Assembly would call on all States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to fulfil their obligations and submit their reports on time by the terms of one text.
A third draft resolution would have the Assembly urge governments and governmental and non-governmental organizations that have not yet done so, to submit their comments to the Secretary-General regarding the promotion of a new international humanitarian order. It would also ask governments to give him information and expertise on humanitarian issues in order to identify opportunities for future action.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Friday, 15 November, to continue joint consideration of the human rights questions, follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Committee Work Programme
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this afternoon to begin consideration of human rights questions. The Committee was also expected to take action on several draft resolutions.
The Committee has before it the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (document A/51/36), which states that the United Nations human rights programme, under the direction of the High Commissioner, is making notable advances in promoting the objectives of the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, 1983), which serves as a blueprint for action in the international efforts to promote and protect human rights. During the last year, concrete results have been seen in expanding the ratification of international human rights instruments, supporting the establishment or strengthening of human rights national institutions and in broadening technical cooperation projects. The High Commissioner has had particular success in strengthening human rights work in the field. He has assertively sought to give a higher profile to United Nations efforts in the areas of economic, social and cultural rights and particularly the right to development.
Acting on the principle that the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights rests with governments, the High Commissioner has continued his dialogue with governments in that regard. The main focus of that dialogue is to achieve concrete results by speaking frankly and openly about human rights issues and stirring necessary actions. He intends to pave the way for the visits of the special rapporteurs, representatives or experts who are following up on the recommendations made by human rights organs and bodies. Since the last session of the Assembly, the High Commissioner has undertaken official visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Gabon, Indonesia and Tunisia. The report also summarizes work of missions and programmes in Burundi, Cambodia, Rwanda and planned field activities in Abkhazia, Georgia and in Colombia.
The technical cooperation programme in the field of human rights, democracy and the rule of law is a fundamental part of the United Nations human rights programme, the report continues. A comprehensive review of the activities of the programme has enabled the High Commissioner to develop a policy orientation which focuses on countries or regions in transition to democracy. Priority consideration should be given to requests for cooperation in programmes that strengthen national capacities for promotion and protection of human rights, as well as programmes emanating from the Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action. Priority is also given to technical cooperation projects responding to the needs of less developed countries.
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Regarding the restructuring of the programme of work and the organization of the Centre for Human Rights, the report states that the new structure of the Office of the High Commissioner/Centre for Human Rights will provide a functional framework for integrated and consolidated human rights activities of the Secretariat. The restructuring aims to remove the obstacles to effective and efficient work, set up a new structure responding to the evolving needs of the Organization's human rights programme, adopt adequate rules and methods of work and create a new culture of work by opening cooperation and partnership with other parts of the human rights constituency. The High Commissioner concludes his report with a summary of the planned celebration in 1998 of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He suggests that 1998 should be called "Human Rights Year".
Also before the Committee and scheduled for action this afternoon were a draft resolution on a new international humanitarian order (document A/C.3/51/L.16), which would have the Assembly urge governments and governmental and non-governmental organizations that have not yet done so, to submit their comments to the Secretary-General regarding the promotion of a new international humanitarian order. It would also request governments to make available to the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, information and expertise on humanitarian issues, in order to identify opportunities for future action.
The Assembly would invite the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues to further strengthen its activities in cooperation with the governmental and non-governmental bodies concerned. It would also request the Secretary- General to remain in contact with governments and non-governmental organizations, including the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues, in order to report on the progress made by them to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session.
The draft is sponsored by Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Kyrgyz Republic, Libya, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Slovenia, Sudan and Yemen.
By a draft text on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (document A/C.3/51/L.24), the Assembly would call upon States parties to fulfil their obligation, under the Convention, to submit in due time their periodic reports on measures to implement it. The Assembly would urge States parties to accelerate their domestic ratification procedures on the amendment procedures regarding the financing of the Committee and to notify the Secretary-General in writing of their agreement to the amendment. The Assembly would also ask States to ratify or accede to the Convention; and States parties who have not done so, to consider the possibility of making the declaration provided for in article 14 of the Convention.
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The draft is sponsored by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
According to the terms of a draft resolution on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination (document A/C.3/51/L.28), the Assembly would call on all those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories and all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment. It would deplore the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of the aforementioned acts and reaffirm their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour.
The text is sponsored by Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, Honduras, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
Report of High Commissioner for Human Rights
JOSE AYALA-LASSO, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, introducing his report, said the Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration should, in practice, increasingly affect the way people live their lives. Human rights were an integral part of peace and development, and together those three constituted the trilogy upon which the United Nations was established.
He said working in concert would help all participants in the field of human rights understand the interrelatedness of actions and the shared goals of related efforts. It would also strengthen teamwork and facilitate a single shared vision. High priority should also be given to the establishment of constant dialogue with member countries. Continuous cooperation with all agencies was also necessary in order to ensure a shared vision of human rights in the United Nations system. Positive measures have been taken in that direction, and United Nations agencies had agreed on the necessary steps.
Since 1994, important progress had been achieved in the promotion of the objectives agreed to in Vienna in ratifying international instruments, he said. It was imperative to continue to develop mechanisms that were better able to respond to human rights violations and establish preventive measures to avoid those violations. Training, assistance and monitoring were all part of a system of prevention in the field of human rights. The Plan of Action for the Decade constituted a challenge that must be put into action by
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governments, international organizations, governmental organizations, professional associations and civil society. The Plan was geared to promoting and supporting local initiatives, particularly in the field of education. There was now a great need to mobilize human and financial resources in support of the Plan, and so far that has not occurred.
The reports that the majority of special rapporteurs submitted to the General Assembly referred to serious violations of human rights and formulated recommendations to resolve obstacles that impeded the exercise of human rights, he continued. This year, the special rapporteurs had completed over 25 missions. The third annual meeting of special representatives, special rapporteurs and working groups was held in May of this year. Those meetings sought to strengthen and coordinate special procedures. As a result, joint missions and joint appeals to governments have been completed to promote effective support for victims of human rights violations.
The concept of the right to development was related to the fight against social, economic and political exclusions and promoted the individual's participation in development activities, he said. But it did not merge with development itself. It was a way of ensuring democracy and improving income, social services and health at the same time. His office had been in contact with the World Bank and the regional international commissions in order to identify practical methods to strengthen financial and human rights programmes.
The Centre for Human Rights required a reorganization of agenda, operation and working methods, he said. In order to effectively implement the Vienna Declaration, the new structure was put into practice on 30 September. The objectives of the restructuring included improving the capacity of the programme and uniting the mandates of the legislative organs. The new structure reflected all of the priorities and the mandates of the human rights programmes of the United Nations. Three new branches have been devoted to research, the right to development and support services and activities.
The Centre was now under his authority with the support and assistance of a Board, he said. The new structure would require a six-month period to allow for the adjustment of activity. That new system would have momentum and clear vision for activities and would be reviewed after the end of the transition period. The result of the restructuring was an open, just and transparent system that would encourage efficiency, competence and ethical and professional integrity.
In 1998, the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights would be celebrated, he said. It would be a time for celebration, reflection and reaffirmation of the commitment to build a solid culture of human rights which would prevail in the century to come. The Vienna
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Declaration and Universal Declaration must be constant guides. For the Commission on Human Rights to succeed, it needed the support of Member States, the United Nations system, other international organizations and non- governmental organizations. It also needed renewed acts of faith, confidence and an ongoing commitment to improve the conditions of the human person in respect to his or her basic dignity.
Mr. AYALA-LASSO then gave an oral presentation of the human rights situation in Estonia and Latvia.
He said the on Human Rights Committee, after considering the initial report of Estonia, had expressed its satisfaction with changes in the country which provided a better institutional and administrative framework for the restoration of human rights. Estonia's ratification of various human rights instruments confirmed its genuine commitment to basic human rights. The Committee welcomed the new draft criminal code, which did not include the death penalty. However, it noted the lack of certain legislative guarantees and compensation to human rights victims, conditions in prisons and the use of excessive force by law enforcement officials. Large numbers of minority groups, especially Russians, did not enjoy the same rights as Estonian citizens. The Committee recommended adjusting domestic legislation on local elections, and on language which affected those minorities. Under the 1995 Citizenship Act, some 200,000 people living in Estonia found themselves stateless. Temporary travelling documents did not grant diplomatic protection abroad and the change in status from permanent to temporary resident had a negative impact on the human rights of many people living in Estonia.
He said that in reply, the Estonian Government said in the last few years only 100 people had been denied residence and another 3,000 cases had been delayed because of lack of documentation. Non-residents who had lived in the country for at least five years could vote in local elections and non- citizens could remain in Estonia and use their own language.
Mr. Ayala-Lasso said after having considered the initial report of Latvia, the Committee was satisfied with changes in domestic legislation since the country received its sovereignty and with its national programme to protect human rights. However, the Committee expressed concern with non- preferential status given to the Covenant, the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials and prison conditions. It said the citizenship and naturalization process was too slow and complicated. About 500,000 people of non-Latvian origin would remain stateless at least until the year 2000. Citizens of non-Latvian origin could not vote unless they passed a Latvian language test.
In reply, the Latvian Government said the European Council had evaluated Latvia's law on citizenship and had established that its naturalization
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process was in keeping with international law. The Government was monitoring it to ensure it was not abused or administered incorrectly. Its law on former Soviet Union citizens which was adopted in 1995 gave that category of persons the right to freedom of movement, the right to leave and return, to be united with their families and to preserve their language and culture.
Dialogue with High Commissioner
The representative of Latvia said the High Commissioner had carried out his responsibilities in an impartial and objective manner. The recommendations made in the process of establishing the Latvian Human Rights Centre had been fully implemented, and the office had been successfully operating since 1995.
The representative of Cote d'Ivoire asked about the restructuring of the Human Rights Centre. Would the new structure go beyond the mandate of the High Commissioner which stipulated that the Human Rights Centre and the High Commissioner be separate? The programme on the right to development had been merged with other technical assistance programmes. Would that diminish the right to development? The setting-up of offices in the field might be an additional imposition on States, she said, and asked if it would not be better to have Geneva-based teams working on a given mission. She also asked about measures to prevent human rights violations in the Great Lakes region of Africa.
The representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, agreed with the High Commissioner that there should be more follow-up to visiting human rights missions and with his attempts to integrate human rights more fully into United Nations agencies. He agreed with the establishment of field offices and the deployment of more staff in the field rather than in Geneva. Operations must be on a firm financial footing, preferably under the regular United Nations budget. The European Union contributed a great deal of funding to the activities of the High Commissioner, and it considered that the donor base should be widened.
The representative of Poland welcomed the restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights which he said was part of the overall United Nations reform efforts. How would the High Commissioner evaluate the results of his efforts to integrate human rights concerns throughout the United Nations system?
The representative of South Africa said any effort to revitalized the Office of the High Commissioner and United Nations human rights machinery must be supported, and he urged Member States to support the High Commissioner's restructuring efforts.
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The representative of Colombia noted that the restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights, which got under way in September, would be reviewed at the end of the transitional period. How did the High Commissioner's office envisage making the evaluation process? Would Member States be getting timely information on the results of the restructuring process?
The representative of Cuba said the process of restructuring the Centre had been extremely transparent. But, he asked, how had the reservations of States on that restructuring been taken into account and how would the views of Member States and those of the Third Committee's working group on human rights be taken into account?
The representative of Estonia said the High Commissioner's report gave a good review of the work of the Commission on Human Rights. He appreciated the introduction of the report concerning the situation in his country and that it had made use of different sources. However, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other European organizations were not used, which was a cause for concern. His Government gave the utmost attention to the fact-finding of experts on Estonia's institutions and had implemented an overwhelming number of their recommendations. It was regrettable that some of the material submitted to the High Commissioner contained a number of factual errors about his country, and he hoped that eventually the record would be set straight.
The representative of China said he would like the High Commissioner to explain the implication of the reference he made to the establishment of the office and its mandate. Regarding the restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights, how would the High Commissioner assimilate the suggestions and recommendations made by various Member States and would he make any changes in finalizing the restructuring, including the issues that had attracted the attention of various countries?
The representative of Mali said the restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights should reflect the priorities and mandates of the United Nations. Would the High Commissioner support the recommendations to set up a separate program for the right to development?
The representative of Malaysia asked if the restructuring might lead to the concentration of authority in his office and to the erosion of the important emphasis on social, cultural, economic rights, rights of indigenous populations, racial discrimination and women rights? The report did not show how the development component would play out.
Mr. AYALA-LASSO said that he wanted to assure representatives that the restructuring process for the Centre for Human Rights had the goal of fulfilling all the mandates for human rights, including the General Assembly
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and Economic and Social Council. His office could not innovate, change or modify any of those mandates. The restructuring had as a goal to better respond to those mandates, and the mandates of the High Commissioner for Human Rights were clearly delineated in a General Assembly resolution. His office worked for sovereign States and it needed to rely on sovereign States. It could not impose on those States; however, they needed to accept the manner and the programmes the Commissioner would use to promote human rights. The missions in the field were fulfilling a specific purpose, and the institutions should follow the instructions of sovereign States as efficiently as possible.
The programme for technical assistance began in 1989 with two programmes, and now the Centre was developing programmes for 205 governments, he said. The Centre did not impose technical assistance programmes on any countries. It received requests and analysed the situation, reached a development agreement with the States and then designed a programme of technical assistance. Nothing was ever imposed on States in the field of technical assistance. States could simply say, "no".
The right to development was of major importance, he said. Human rights were universal and interdependent, and the Committee's comments had shown that in addressing human rights, it was important to retain a constant balance. In order to maintain that balance, he needed to stress the right to development, and perhaps, he was being misinterpreted. His office concurred with the General Assembly's decision that one of the Centre's branches needed to have as its priority the right to development, and that was going to happen. In the working group, there were six people working on the right to development. His office needed to take specific measures in order to implement the right to development and coordinate work with financial institutions and within the United Nations system to achieve results along the lines of promotion and protection of human rights.
In order to meet the demands of States which presented requests to determine in which sector the work of his office would fit, he said it needed additional financial resources. Member States would be encouraged to contribute more to a fund for development, and his office had already received donations. All States needed to be donating States. Several developing States had donated to that fund so far, and it needed resources to meet the obligations all States had placed on their shoulders.
Regarding the restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights, early reports clearly identified the vacuums in the organization that needed to be filled, he said. His office set out to change the Centre to make it effective and operational. Cooperation within was stressed -- viewing the Centre as a whole -- so branches were part of one single institution with one single goal: the protection and promotion of human rights. His office did not want to impose any actions, and it was looking at and looking for reactions and
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comments to see what had been improved and what needed to be altered, adjusted or adapted in the Centre's process of constant evolution. The restructuring was a process that was carried out through time. Corrective measures would be taken if States raised objections to elements of the restructuring. Action would be taken within the context of the mandate for the better protection of human rights. The Centre needed additional financing that would help the High Commissioner's office better meet the intentions of the founders of the Organization, of which the Centre was a pillar.
The Russian Federation, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico, Pakistan, Republic of Korea and Venezuela also took part in the dialogue with the High Commissioner.
Statements
RICHARD BUTLER (Australia) said the human rights system must develop cooperative measures to encourage and assist governments to improve their human rights performance. It must also condemn human rights abuses wherever they occurred and take remedial measures. Australia readily accepted the obligation to open itself to international scrutiny and would continue to cooperate with United Nations human rights mechanisms. Earlier this year, a team from Amnesty International visited Australia to look into matters bearing on Australia's indigenous peoples. Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders enjoyed the full range of human rights to which all Australians were entitled, but the country had further to go before the implementation of those rights was delivered satisfactorily, he said. Australia would work vigorously to address problems and would take carefully into account the reports of visiting international human rights teams.
Regrettably, he said, some Governments -- notably Sudan, Iraq and Cuba - - had failed to cooperate with the human rights mechanisms, and they should reconsider their positions and cooperate with the United Nations special rapporteurs. He urged Sudan and Iraq to improve the grave human rights situation in their countries. He welcomed Iran's decision to accept a visit by a United Nations special representative on the human rights situation in his country. His Government was deeply concerned at the lack of progress in Burma. He deplored the continuing detention of political prisoners under very harsh conditions, the use of forced labour, the forced conscription of civilians to serve as military porters under appalling conditions and the forced displacement of ethnic communities. He urged the Burmese authorities to solve the internal problems in a spirit of compromise.
In recent years, China had made considerable progress in implementing economic and social rights and taken steps to build a more effective legal system, he continued. However, there was concern over the implementation of civil and political rights in China, including freedom of speech and assembly,
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the right to fair trial, the continuing detention and harassment of dissidents and religious freedom. The sentencing of Chinese dissident, Wang Dan, to 11 years in prison underlined the need to focus attention in that area.
He went on to say Australia would assist Cambodia to improve human rights and observance and the justice system. There had been improvements in many areas, but reports of violence and intimidation directed at minor parties were a concern. There had also been positive developments in Indonesia, such as the increased effectiveness of the Indonesian Commission on Human Rights, including the opening of an office in Dili and action on serious abuses in East Timor and Irian Jaya. Nevertheless, Australia was concerned about human rights in East Timor and encouraged the Government to reduce its military presence on the island.
He urged the authorities in Afghanistan to respect human rights and called on the Taliban to ensure that the rights of women and girls were fully respected in accordance with international norms. Australia acknowledged Turkey's need to respond to terrorism, but believed legislative reform and improved conduct of the security forces would contribute to a more stable security environment. The Turkish Government should move quickly to address concerns about torture, extra-judicial executions and disappearances, as well as the legitimate aspirations of the Turkish minority. His Government strongly condemned the recent spate of killings in Bougainville and urged the parties to the conflict there to act in accordance with international human rights law. He welcomed the Papua New Guinean human rights commission established last year which would provide it with the expertise to ratify United Nations human rights treaties.
GEORGE VOLSKI (Georgia) said the question of human rights had become the most complex and painful topic for Georgia. His Government had repeatedly stressed the necessity for the creation of mechanisms to safeguard the respect for human rights in Abkhazia, Georgia, particularly in the Gali region. Due to the efforts of the international community, a small number of people had returned, though most of the returnees were desperate. The process of revitalizing the razed and devastated region was constantly accompanied by terror, coercion, ethnic-related killings, burglary and hostage-taking. In the case of Georgia, all events preceding the flow of refugees were determined by a powerful and destructive political will which served the interests of the communist empire. The result was the inception of an aggressive separatism and the instigation of a bloody conflict in the Abkhazian region.
The Georgia Government was well aware of the importance of measures to protect human rights, he said. However, the treacherous intentions of the separatists were to misuse any manifestation of good will, including that of international humanitarian organizations. An example of such actions was the separatists' statement that they were ready to cooperate with the
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international community if the United Nations supported the planned parliamentary election in Abkhazia to be held on 23 November. According to reports from the field, the character of that statement was false, and the methods used to encourage voters to participate were no more sophisticated than literally dragging people to the voting precincts. The Government hoped that all necessary measures would be taken to prevent coercion and unpredictable processes posed by the policies of aggressive separatism.
JOSE LUIS MONTEIRO (Cape Verde) said there must be more efforts to create a culture of human rights, and the Decade for Human Rights Education initiated in 1995 would provide a moment which Member States must seize to forge new partnerships for action to give realization to human rights. At present the international community was in a new phase. The Vienna Declaration and Platform for Action was an integral and balanced approach to human rights whose attainment must involve an active commitment. He encouraged the High Commissioner to continue to work towards system-wide cooperation in human rights. Resources must be made available on a bilateral and multilateral level to improve human rights mechanisms within the United Nations system to help countries to fulfil their obligations under international instruments, namely their obligation to report. He welcomed the Human Rights Centre's restructuring efforts. It would strengthen the services the Centre provided. He also welcomed work under way on the drafting of two additional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, namely on children in armed conflict and the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
He said in his country poverty was a major obstacle to improving education, health and social security. However, Cape Verde was a State party to numerous international human rights instruments. Next January, his Government would be making its report to the Human Rights Commission. It would be an opportunity to make known Cape Verde's modest efforts to improve human rights in the country, as well as the situation in Africa.
Action on Draft Resolutions
The Committee then took action on a draft resolution on the "new international humanitarian order"
The Secretary of the Committee read out oral revisions to the text:
-- In operative paragraph 4, the following words should be added at the end of the paragraph: "including local and regional capacity-building to respond to humanitarian problems and the search for more effective measures to increase international cooperation in the humanitarian field";
-- In operative paragraph 5, the words "in a comprehensive manner" should be added to the third line after the words "in order to report".
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The Czech Republic, Costa Rica, France, Togo and Tunisia joined the list of co-sponsors.
Jordan read out the following amendment:
-- the sixth preambular paragraph should read, "Bearing in mind the urgent need to ensure respect for, and promotion of, the principles and norms relating to humanitarian emergencies".
The Committee approved the resolution, as orally amended, without a vote.
Speaking after the vote, the United States said his Government agreed with the resolution's message. A lack of respect for humanitarian principles and norms had contributed to recent humanitarian emergencies. The international community should focus on practical ways to respond to humanitarian emergencies. It should also focus on practical tools, including the recognition of the leadership role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator and improvement of the function of the Inter-agency Steering Committee.
The Committee then acted on a draft resolution on "the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Australia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Iceland, Guatemala, Federated States of Micronesia, New Zealand, Norway and Poland joined as co-sponsors.
The representative of Slovenia said the Czech Republic, Argentina, Namibia, El Salvador, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, San Marino, Peru, Japan, Togo, South Africa, Zambia, Madagascar and the Dominican Republic had been added as co-sponsors.
The Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote.
The Committee then took action on a draft resolution entitled "universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination";
Djibouti and Togo joined as co-sponsors.
The Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote.
Right of Reply
The representative of Sudan, speaking in exercise of right of reply, said she was responding to the earlier statement by the Ambassador of Australia. It was disappointed that speakers did not consult United Nations
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documents before making statements. In document A/51/490 on the situation of human rights in Sudan, paragraph 2 stated that the Special Rapporteur visited Sudan between 1 and 6 August. The document stated further that during that visit the Special Rapporteur concentrated on consultations with competent government officials and authorities of Sudan regarding recent measures undertaken in human rights and violations, with emphasis on steps taken to improve human rights in Sudan. The Ambassador of Australia obviously did not consult that document before expressing his Government's opinion on the area of concern in Sudan. It was a great concern to Sudan that despite its cooperation with international authorities, it was continually and deliberately undermined.
The representative of Australia, speaking in exercise of the right of reply, said he thanked Sudan for her statement and would convey it to his Government, as well as Sudan's intention to cooperate fully with the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The representative of Sudan said it did not intend to cooperate, it had already done so.
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