ASSEMBLY WOULD DEMAND END TO HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO, BY TERMS OF DRAFT APPROVED IN THIRD COMMITTEE

25 November 1996

Press Release
GA/SHC/3403

ASSEMBLY WOULD DEMAND END TO HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO, BY TERMS OF DRAFT APPROVED IN THIRD COMMITTEE

19961125 Texts on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty, Right to Development, International Cooperation in Human Right also Approved

The General Assembly would demand the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) immediately end human rights violations against the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo, according to the terms of a draft resolution introduced to the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this afternoon.

The Assembly would demand the authorities revoke discriminatory legislation; release political prisoners; stop the persecution of political leaders and members of human rights organizations; allow the establishment of genuine democratic institutions, including parliament and the judiciary; allow the reopening of educational, cultural and scientific institutions of ethnic Albanians; and, pursue constructive dialogue with their representatives.

Member States would be called on to make further national and international efforts to remove obstacles to the realization of the right to development, according to terms of another text introduced this afternoon on human rights issues. It also would call on the Commission on Human Rights to continue making proposals through the Economic and Social Council on the future action, particularly practical measures to implement the Declaration on the Right to Development.

Draft resolutions on human rights and extreme poverty and the enhancement of international cooperation in human rights field were also introduced.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Tuesday, 26 November, to continue hearing the introduction of draft resolutions on human rights issues.

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this afternoon to hear the introduction of four more draft resolutions on human rights issues.

Introduction of Draft Resolutions

The representative of Peru introduced a draft resolution on human rights and extreme poverty (document A/C.3/51/L.54) which would have the General Assembly reaffirm that extreme poverty and exclusion from society constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate them. It would call on States, the specialized agencies, United Nations bodies, and other international and intergovernmental organizations to give necessary attention to the problem and follow-up to recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty.

The representative of Colombia introduced a draft resolution on the right to development (document A/C.3/51/L.57) which would have the Assembly call upon Member States to make further national and international efforts to remove obstacles to the realization of the right to development; and to address, within the declarations and programmes of action adopted by relevant United Nations conferences, elements to promote and protect that right as set out in the Declaration of the Right to Development. It also would call on the Commission on Human Rights to continue making proposals through the Economic and Social Council on the future action, particularly practical measures to implement the Declaration.

He also read out the following amendment to the draft resolution:

-- In operative paragraph 8, line 7, replace the word "effort" with the word "efforts".

The representative of Albania introduced a draft resolution on the situation on human rights in Kosovo (document A/C.3/51/L.59) by which the Assembly would demand the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) immediately end human rights violations against the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo, particularly discriminatory measures and practices, arbitrary searches and detention, violation of the right to a fair trial, torture. It would also demand the authorities revoke discriminatory legislation; release political prisoners and stop the persecution of political leaders and members of human rights organizations; allow the establishment of genuine democratic institutions, including parliament and the judiciary; allow

Third Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/SHC/3403 51st Meeting (PM) 25 November 1996

the reopening of educational, cultural and scientific institutions of ethnic Albanians; and, pursue constructive dialogue with representatives of ethnic Albanians.

He also read out the following amendments to the draft resolution:

-- In the fifth preambular paragraph, line 3, delete "at its fifty- second session"; also in line 3, insert "the resolution of" between "and" and "the Subcommission"; and, in line 4, insert "adopted" before the word "at";

-- In operative paragraph 2 (e), line 2, replace "in" with the word "of".

By the terms of a draft resolution on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights (document A/C.3/51/L.58), also introduced by the representative of Colombia, the Assembly would request the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights to pursue the promotion of international cooperation through constructive dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and equality of States in order to reach a conclusion of that initiative, preferably by the fifty-third session of the Commission.

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