ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ON CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT, SPECIAL SESSION ON DRUG CONTROL, AS IT ADOPTS THIRD COMMITTEE REPORTS
Press Release
GA/9201
ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ON CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT, SPECIAL SESSION ON DRUG CONTROL, AS IT ADOPTS THIRD COMMITTEE REPORTS
19961212 Other Action Covers the Girl Child, Refugees, Women's Issues, Along with 11 Country-Specific Human Rights Texts, Including Myanmar, SudanThe General Assembly this afternoon recommended that the Secretary- General appoint a Special Representative to examine the impact of armed conflict on children. It also decided to convene a special session in June 1998 to find new ways to combat drug abuse and trafficking, in the course of adopting the reports of its Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) on a wide range of subjects, including refugees, women, racism, transnational crime and human rights.
The Special Representative's mandate is outlined in a seven-part resolution on the rights of the child, which was adopted without a vote. Other parts of the text include a call for countries to criminalize commercial and sexual exploitation of children and to eliminate child labour. Appointed for three years, the Special Representative will work closely with the Committee on the Rights of the Child and United Nations agencies to raise awareness about the plight of children affected by armed conflict. The Assembly recommended that the Secretary-General ensure that the Special Representative be given the necessary support and called on States and institutions to make voluntary contributions for the mandate.
Further, the Assembly called on States and United Nations agencies to treat children in armed conflict as a priority in all human rights, humanitarian and development activities. And it also called for States and other parties to armed conflict to recognize refugee and internally displaced children's particular vulnerability to recruitment into armed forces, as well as to sexual violence, exploitation and abuse. The impact of economic sanctions on children should be assessed and monitored, and humanitarian exemptions should be child-focused.
The representatives of the United States and Costa Rica spoke in explanation of position.
The three-day special session on drug abuse and illicit trafficking, which will be funded through the United Nations regular budget, will propose
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new strategies and specific measures to strengthen international cooperation. Details of the special session are contained in a resolution on international drug control, which was adopted without a vote. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs will act as the preparatory body for the special session and Governments will be invited to make extrabudgetary contributions to meet preparatory costs.
The United States spoke in explanation of position regarding the resolution.
In a resolution on the girl child, the Assembly called on States and non-governmental organizations to ensure girls and young women were able to participate as equal partners with boys and young men in social, economic and political life. It also called for gender-sensitive strategies to address the rights and needs of children and adolescent girls. States were called on to generate social support for laws on the minimum legal marriage age and to protect adolescent girls from sexual exploitation, harmful cultural practices and abuse.
A series of six resolutions on refugees and displaced persons, which were all adopted this afternoon without a vote, address such issues as resettlement in the Great Lakes region of Africa, the burden on asylum countries with limited resources, and assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors. By one text on refugees and displaced persons, the Assembly urged the international community to support a search by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for durable solutions to refugee problems, including voluntary repatriation, integration and resettlement, by the terms of one resolution. By another text, the Assembly asked the international community to respond positively, in the spirit of burden-sharing, to third- country requests for help in resettling African refugees. The international donor community was asked to help rehabilitate the environment and infrastructure in countries of asylum affected by refugees.
In addition, the Assembly called for the UNHCR programmes to include policies to prevent refugee family separation, and for governments, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations to assist and protect refugee minors and to expedite reunification with their families. In other action on refugee issues, the Assembly endorsed follow-up to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) regional conference on refugees and displaced persons and decided to increase membership of the UNHCR's Executive Committee from 51 to 53 States.
Six texts dealing with women's issues were adopted without a vote. In one, the Assembly called for governments to criminalize trafficking in women and girls, and to penalize offenders, including intermediaries, while ensuring the victims themselves are not penalized. Another text deals with violence against migrant women workers.
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Addressing the status of women in the United Nations Secretariat, the Assembly expressed concern that the goal of 50/50 gender distribution in staffing by the year 2000 might not be met, especially at the policy and decision-making levels. It encouraged governments to identify and regularly submit more women candidates for United Nations posts.
The Assembly also decided that from 1997, for an interim period, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will hold two three-week sessions annually, each preceded by a pre-session working group. It then decided to appraise follow-up to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing 1995) on an annual basis.
Costa Rica spoke in explanation of position before action was taken on the resolution on the Fourth World Conference on Women.
An 11-article United Nations Declaration on Crime and Public Security which urges States to combat serious transnational crime was among six resolutions on crime prevention and criminal justice adopted without a vote. In the Declaration, States agreed to eradicate: organized crime; trafficking in illicit drugs, arms and people; smuggling; terrorism; and money laundering. States will also promote regional and global enforcement and cooperation to apprehend and prosecute persons guilty of serious transnational crimes.
The Assembly also adopted an International Code of Conduct for Public Officials and recommended States use it as a tool to guide anti-corruption efforts. The Code, attached as an annex to the resolution, defines the roles and responsibilities of public officials and includes provisions on conflicts of interest, disclosure of assets, acceptance of gifts, disclosure of confidential information and political activity.
States were asked to submit their views on the elaboration of an international convention against transnational organized crime before the sixth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, by the terms of one text. By another, they were asked to enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation to fight criminal organizations responsible for smuggling aliens. The Assembly also asked the Secretary-General to provide resources to strengthen the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, and to provide funding and technical support to the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders.
The Assembly adopted 38 resolutions and decisions dealing with a wide range of human rights issues, including the situations in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Rwanda, Haiti, Cambodia, and Cuba, as well as one on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).
In one of the country-specific texts, the Assembly asked the Government of Myanmar to permit unrestricted access to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and to hold substantive dialogue with her, other political leaders
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and ethnic representatives. The Government was strongly urged to release political prisoners, allow citizens to participate freely in the political process, and to end torture, abuse of women, forced labour and relocations and summary executions.
The United States spoke in explanation of position on the Myanmar resolution.
In its resolution on Afghanistan, the Assembly deeply deplored the grave deterioration in women's human rights there and urged all Afghan parties to respect accepted humanitarian rules. It called on the authorities to ensure women's effective participation in social, political and cultural life and urged them to restore respect for women's human rights, including their right to work and the right of girls to an education without discrimination.
The resolution on the human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) was adopted, as orally revised, by a vote of 136 in favour to 1 against (Russian Federation), with 28 abstentions. (See Annex XII).
Croatia spoke in explanation of vote.
By its terms, the Assembly called on all parties to the Dayton peace agreement to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and to take immediate steps to determine the fate of missing persons, particularly near Srebrenica, Zepa, Prijedor, Sanski Most and Vukovar.
By a vote of 103 in favour to 3 against, (Libya, Sudan and Turkmenistan) with 59 abstentions, the Assembly urged Iraq to cooperate with the United Nations to ensure medicine, food and other humanitarian supplies purchased with Iraqi oil proceeds, are distributed equitably on a non-discriminatory basis. (See Annex VI.)
Turkmenistan spoke in explanation of vote.
By the resolution on Nigeria, the Assembly expressed deep concern about violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and called on the Government to implement, without delay, its interim undertakings to the Secretary-General. The text was adopted by a vote of 92 in favour to 19 against with 55 abstentions. (See Annex VIII).
Nigeria and Lesotho spoke in explanation of vote.
The Assembly then called on the Sudanese Government to halt the use of weapons against the civilian population and to protect all civilians, including women, children and members of ethnic and religious minorities, from
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forcible displacement, arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, torture and summary executions. It took that action in adopting a resolution by adopted by a vote of 100 in favour to 16 against, with 50 abstentions. (See Annex X).
Sudan spoke in explanation of vote on that text.
The Assembly demanded that the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) immediately end human rights violations against the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo, by a vote of 114 in favour to 2 against (Russian Federation and India) with 48 abstentions. It also demanded that they revoke discriminatory legislation; release political prisoners; stop the persecution of political leaders and members of human rights organizations and establish genuine democratic institutions. (See Annex IX).
India, China and the Philippines spoke in explanation of vote.
By a vote of 62 in favour to 25 against with 84 abstentions, the Assembly called on the Cuban Government to release people detained for political activities. It also called on the Government to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and carry out his recommendations and conform with international standards and applicable international human rights instruments. (See Annex XI).
Cuba and Solomon Islands spoke in explanation of vote.
The text on Iran was adopted by 79 votes in favour to 30 against with 54 abstentions. The Government was called on to implement existing agreements with international humanitarian organizations and the Special Rapporteur's recommendations on religious tolerance relating to the Baha'is and other groups, including Christians. (See Annex VII.)
The resolutions on Cambodia, Haiti, Rwanda, and the decision on Estonia and Latvia, were all adopted without a vote. The Assembly called on the Cambodian Government to investigate violence and intimidation directed at minor political parties and their supporters, as well as at the media, and to ensure fair access to government television and radio, especially in the lead- up to national elections.
Cambodia spoke in explanation of position before action on the resolution on the human rights situation in that country.
Yemen and Iraq spoke in explanation of position on several human rights resolutions.
The Assembly asked the international community, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to continue funding Haitian judicial reform and social and economic development, by the terms of its text on Haiti
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which was adopted without a vote. On Rwanda, it urged all parties to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and called on States to respond to appeals and to contribute to the High Commissioner for Human Rights field operations in the country.
The Assembly also voted on a number of other human rights issues. It called on States to allow the free flow of financial remittances by foreign nationals residing in their territory to relatives in their country of origin, by a vote of 89 in favour to 4 against (Canada, Israel, Japan and the United States), with 76 abstentions. (See Annex III.)
By a recorded vote of 57 in favour to 45 against, with 59 abstentions, the Assembly called on Member States to revoke unilateral coercive measures which created obstacles to trade and which were not in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter. It rejected the use of such measures as tools for political or economic pressure against any country, particularly developing ones, because of the negative effects on populations, including women, children and the elderly. (See Annex V.)
The representatives of Poland, Niger, Vanuatu and Burkina Faso spoke in explanation of vote.
By a recorded vote of 114 in favour to 42 against, with 16 abstentions, the Assembly asked the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights to promote international cooperation through constructive dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and equality of States. (See Annex IV.)
Several human rights resolutions that address recommendations by various Special Rapporteurs from the Commission on Human Rights were adopted without a vote. A text on the rape and abuse of women in areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia includes a call for States to put experts on the prosecution of violent sexual crimes, as well as adequate resources and services, at the disposal of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
By the term of one text, the Assembly demanded that governments end extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions, and combat and eliminate the phenomenon in all its forms. By another, it called on them to assist the Special Rapporteur on torture and to continue including the United Nations Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture in the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities. Other texts address the reports of the Special Rapporteurs on the elimination of racial intolerance; enforced or involuntary disappearances; human rights and extreme poverty and on strengthening the rule of law.
Egypt spoke in explanation of position before action on the resolution on torture and other forms of degrading treatment.
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In further action on the human rights front, the Assembly decided to convene a ceremonial one-day meeting on 10 December 1998 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also called on the Secretary-General in another text to give the United Nations human rights treaty monitoring bodies adequate administrative support, technical expertise and appropriate databases and on-line information services. By another resolution it supported efforts by the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to reorganize the Centre for Human Rights so as to improve its efficiency and effectiveness.
Cuba spoke in explanation of position before action on the resolution on the High Commissioner for Human Rights/Centre for Human Rights.
Other human rights resolutions adopted without a vote included texts on implementation and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; strengthening United Nations action in the human rights field; follow- up to the United Nations Year for Tolerance; the promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education and public information.
Three resolutions dealing with racism and the elimination of racial discrimination were adopted without a vote. By one text, the Assembly called on governments and intergovernmental bodies, with help from non-governmental organizations, to continue cooperating with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The United States spoke in explanation of position after action was taken.
By a text on the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, the Assembly, once again, asked the Secretary-General to consult with States, governmental and non-governmental organizations on the possibility of a world conference to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and contemporary forms of intolerance.
Member States were called on to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination were called on to fulfil their obligations and to submit their reports on time.
The Assembly adopted three resolutions on the rights of people to self- determination. By a recorded vote of 117 in favour to 17 against, with 39 abstentions, it urged States to take legislative measures to ensure their territories were not used to recruit, assemble, finance, train, or serve as a
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transit for mercenaries or activities designed to destabilize or overthrow a government or threaten the territorial integrity or political unity of a State. (See Annex II.)
By a recorded vote of 159 in favour to 3 against (Israel, Palau and the United States), with 12 abstentions, the Assembly reaffirmed the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and expressed the hope they would soon exercise it in the current peace process. (See Annex I.)
The Russian Federation spoke in explanation of vote.
The Assembly adopted another text without a vote, calling on States to end their military intervention and occupation of foreign countries and territories, as well as repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment. It deplored the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted and reaffirmed their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour.
In other action this afternoon, the Assembly also adopted resolutions on the right to development, the role of cooperatives, the culture of peace and a new international humanitarian order -- all without a vote. It also approved the Third Committee's programme of work for the 1997-1998 biennium.
The Russian Federation spoke regarding the Committee's organization of work.
The Philippines spoke in explanation of position after the resolution on the Culture of Peace.
The Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. Friday, 13 December, to take up the reports of the Fourth Committee.
Assembly Work Programme
The General Assembly met this afternoon to take action on 18 reports of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) on the following items: social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family; crime prevention and criminal justice; international drug control; advancement of women; implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995); the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and questions relating to refugees, returnees, and displaced persons; promotion and protection of the rights of children; programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1994- 2004); elimination of racism and racial discrimination; the right of peoples to self-determination; implementation of human rights instruments; alternative approaches to human rights; human rights situations and reports; follow-up to the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and, the report of the Economic and Social Council.
Social Development
The Third Committee's report on social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family (document A/51/609), contains a draft resolution on the role of cooperatives in the light of new economic and social trends which was approved by the Committee without a vote on 31 October.
By its terms, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to continue to support the goals and objectives of the cooperative movement and to ascertain, in cooperation with the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives, the desirability and feasibility of elaborating United Nations guidelines to support the development of cooperatives. Governments and organizations would be urged to utilize and develop cooperatives' potential contribution to sustainable development, particularly poverty eradication, full and productive employment, and social integration.
Crime
The Committee's report on crime prevention and criminal justice (document A/51/610) contains five draft resolutions.
An annex to draft resolution I contains an international code of conduct for public officials which the General Assembly would recommend to States as a tool to guide their action against corruption. The code requires public officials to declare business, commercial and financial interests or activities that might raise a possible conflict of interest and, on leaving office, not to take advantage of their previous position. It also requires them to disclose personal assets and liabilities and those of their spouses
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and/or dependants and prohibits the acceptance of gifts or other favours which may influence functions, performance or judgement. The code also covers the disclosure of confidential information and political activity.
The Committee approved that text without a vote on 31 October.
Draft resolution II, approved without a vote on 6 November, would have the Assembly urge Member States to take national and international measures to combat transnational crime and to ensure that the United Nations Declaration on Crime and Public Security is observed and implemented in accordance with their national legislation. The 11-article Declaration, attached as an annex to the text, would have Member States agree, among other things, to promote regional and global enforcement cooperation and assistance to apprehend and prosecute persons guilty of serious transnational crimes.
By draft resolution III, the Assembly would appeal to all Member States and non-governmental agencies to support the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in the elaboration and implementation of programmes and activities aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa. The Secretary-General would be requested to provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Institute to enable it to fulfil its mandate effectively. He would also be requested to enhance regional cooperation, coordination and collaboration in the fight against crime.
That text was approved without a vote on 31 October.
By the terms of draft resolution IV on measures for prevention on the smuggling of aliens by sea, approved without a vote on 15 November, the Assembly would condemn the smuggling of aliens in violation of international law or other agreements between States and without regard to the safety, well- being and human rights of migrants. States would be asked to share information, coordinate their law enforcement activities, and cooperate to prevent smugglers illegally transporting third-country nationals by sea.
By draft resolution V on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, particularly its technical cooperation capacity, the Secretary-General would be asked to further strengthen the Programme by providing resources to fully implement its mandates, including follow-up action to the Naples Political Declaration and the Global Action Plan against organized transnational crime and to the Ninth Crime Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. It would also ask him to continue to strengthen cooperation between the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. The Assembly would call on States and United Nations funding agencies to make significant financial contributions for the Programme's operational activities and encourage them to make voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Trust Fund.
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The Committee approved that text without a vote on 31 October.
Drugs
The Committee's report on international drug control (document A/51/611) contains one omnibus draft resolution which was approved without a vote on 13 November.
Under its terms, the Assembly would decide to convene a special session for three days in June 1998, to propose new strategies for the fight against the illicit production, sale, demand, traffic and distribution, of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs would act as the preparatory body for the special session which would be funded through the United Nations regular budget, and governments would be invited to make extra-budgetary contributions to meet the preparatory costs. All States would be called on to, among other things, encourage international cooperation to develop illicit crop eradication programmes and promote alternative development programmes.
Advancement of Women
The report of the Third Committee on the advancement of women (document A/51/612) contains four draft resolutions and one draft decision for adoption by the Assembly.
By the terms of draft resolution I on violence against migrant women workers, the Assembly would acknowledge the economic benefits that accrue to sending and receiving States from the employment of women migrant workers and determine to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. It would ask the UNHCR, the Centre for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur and relevant United Nations agencies to give particular attention to the violence perpetrated against women migrant workers when submitting reports on violence against women to the Assembly. Member States would be invited to adopt legal measures against intermediaries who encourage the clandestine movement of workers and who exploit migrant women workers.
That draft resolution was approved without a vote on 18 November.
Under the terms of draft resolution II, approved without a vote on 15 November, governments would be called on to criminalize trafficking in women and girls in all forms and to condemn and penalize all offenders involved, including intermediaries, while ensuring that the victims are not penalized, and to penalize persons in authority found guilty of sexually assaulting trafficking victims in their custody.
Draft resolution III would have the Assembly call on the Secretary- General to ensure full and urgent implementation of the strategic plan of action for the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat (1995-2000) to achieve overall gender equality, particularly at the
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Professional level and above. The Assembly would reaffirm the goal of 50/50 gender distribution in the Secretariat by the year 2000, and express its concern that this goal may not be met, especially at policy-making and decision-making levels (D-1 and above). Member States would be encouraged to support the strategic plan by identifying and regularly submitting more women candidates and by encouraging women to apply for posts within the Secretariat, specialized agencies and regional commissions. The Secretary-General would also be requested to further develop policy measures aimed at the prevention of sexual harassment in the Secretariat.
The Committee approved that text without a vote on 18 November.
By the terms of draft resolution IV, the Assembly would approve the request made by the Committee and supported by States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women for additional meeting time to allow the Committee to hold two sessions annually, each of three weeks' duration, preceded by a pre-session working group, and starting from 1997 for an interim period. Member States would be urged to ratify the Convention so that universal ratification of the Convention can be achieved by the year 2000. The open-ended working group of the Commission on the Status of Women would meet for 10 working days, parallel with the Commission at its forty-first session.
That draft resolution was approved without a vote on 20 November.
By a draft decision, the Assembly would take note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (document A/51/277 and Corr.1).
Fourth World Conference on Women
The Committee's report on the implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women (document A/51/613) contains one draft resolution which was approved without a vote on 13 November.
By its terms, the Assembly would decide to appraise progress on an annual basis and to assess in the year 2000 progress in implementing the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and the Beijing Platform for Action in an appropriate forum. States would be called on to allocate sufficient resources to develop national implementation strategies and to commit to gender balance in all government-appointed committees, boards, and international institutions and mechanisms. The Assembly would commit adequate financial resources to implement the Platform in developing countries, particularly in Africa.
Refugees
The Committee's report on the UNHCR and questions relating to refugees, returnees, and displaced persons (document A/51/614) contains six draft
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resolutions recommended for adoption.
By the terms of draft resolution I on the follow-up to the regional conference to address the problems of refugees, approved on 15 November without a vote, displaced persons, other forms of involuntary displacement and returnees in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and relevant neighbouring States, the Assembly would endorse the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the conference at Geneva on 31 May 1996. The High Commissioner would be urged to include key elements of the Programme of Action in projects of the Centre for Human Rights in the CIS. The Assembly would call for international cooperation to assist the CIS countries in migration-related matters. Concerned States and intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations would be urged to fully implement the conference's recommendations.
Draft resolution II on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa, would have the Assembly call on the Secretary-General, the High Commissioner and intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations to increase the capacity to coordinate and deliver humanitarian emergency assistance and disaster relief with States. It would also appeal to the international community to respond positively to the third-country resettlement requests of African refugees in the spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing. The international donor community would be asked to provide assistance for programmes to rehabilitate the environment and infrastructure in the countries of asylum affected by refugees. The Assembly would also appeal to the international community to strengthen the emergency response capacity of the United Nations system on the basis of experience of the emergency in the Great Lakes region, and to continue to provide resources and support to refugees and asylum countries in Africa until a permanent solution could be found.
That draft resolution was approved without a vote on 15 November.
Under the terms of draft resolution III, approved without a vote on 11 November, the General Assembly would decide to increase the size of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 51 to 53 States. The Economic and Social Council would be requested to elect the additional members at its resumed organizational session in 1997.
Draft resolution IV on assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors, would have the Assembly condemn the exploitation of unaccompanied refugee minors, forced recruitment in military forces, and any other acts that endanger their personal safety and security. The UNHCR, in cooperation with other United Nations bodies, would be called on to incorporate policies aimed at preventing refugee family separation. The Assembly would call on the international community to assist and protect refugee minors and to expedite reunification with their families. Relevant United Nations agencies and other organizations would be called on to mobilize assistance for the relief, health, education
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and psychological rehabilitation of unaccompanied minors.
That text was approved without a vote on 13 November.
Draft resolution V 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. Governments would also be requested 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 draft resolution was approved without a vote on 14 November.
By the terms of draft resolution VI on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, approved without a vote on 8 November, the Assembly would call on all States to ensure respect for the principle of protection and humane treatment of asylum-seekers in accordance with internationally recognized human rights and humanitarian norms. All governments and other donors would be called on to demonstrate international solidarity by alleviating the burden of States who have received large numbers of refugees, particularly developing countries and those with limited resources.
The draft resolution was approved without a vote on 8 November.
Children
The report on the promotion and protection of the rights of children (document A/51/615) contains two draft resolutions and one draft decision.
By the terms of draft resolution I, on the girl child, adopted without a vote on 20 November, the Assembly would call on States and international and non-governmental organizations to mobilize resources and support to realize the goals, strategic objectives and actions in the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995). States and international and non-governmental organizations would also be called on to develop and implement gender-sensitive strategies to address the rights and needs of children; to provide education opportunities for girls; and, to give attention to the rights and needs of adolescent girls, including special actions for their protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
Draft resolution II is a seven-part text on the rights of the child, approved without a vote on 22 November. In part I, on the implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, the Assembly would call on States parties to ensure that the education of the child is carried out in accordance with the Convention and that education respects human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Charter of the United Nations, and different cultures.
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Regarding the protection of children affected by armed conflict, the Assembly, in part II of the text, would call on States, United Nations bodies and other organizations to treat children in situations of armed conflict as a priority in human rights, humanitarian and development activities. The Assembly would recommend that the Secretary-General appoint, for a period of three years, a special representative on the impact of armed conflict on children.
In part III of the draft, the Assembly would call on States and United Nations bodies to protect the safety and developmental needs of refugee and internally displaced children; to recognize their vulnerability to recruitment into armed forces and to sexual violence, exploitation and abuse; to ensure the early identification and registration of unaccompanied children; and, to give priority to family tracing and reunification.
In part IV, the Assembly would call on States to criminalize commercial and other forms of sexual exploitation of children. It would also condemn and penalize local and foreign offenders, while ensuring that victims were not penalized.
In part V, the Assembly would call on governments to commit to eliminating child labour and to implementing national action plans and the resolution on the elimination of child labour adopted by the eighty-third session of the International Labour Conference. It would also call on governments to take legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect children from economic exploitation, particularly from hazardous work that interferes with their education, health or development.
In part VI of the text on street children, the Assembly would call on the international community to cooperate to improve the situation of children in need of special protection, in accordance with the Agenda adopted by the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) (Istanbul, 1996).
In part VII, the Assembly would decide to continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-second session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of the rights of children".
By the decision, the Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General's report on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (document A/51/424).
International Decade of the World's Indigenous People
The Committee's report on the programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (document A/51/616) contains one draft resolution which was approved without a vote on 18 November.
By its terms, the Assembly would reaffirm the adoption of a declaration
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on the rights of indigenous people as one of the Decade's objectives. It would recommend relevant United Nations bodies and agencies take part in consultations on the establishment of a permanent United Nations forum for indigenous people. Governments would be encouraged to contribute to the United Nations Trust Fund for the Decade and seek ways, in consultation with indigenous people, to give them greater responsibility for their own affairs and an effective voice on decisions which affect them.
Racism and Racial Discrimination
The Committee's report on the elimination of racism and racial discrimination (document A/51/617) contains three draft resolutions and one draft decision.
By the terms of draft resolution I on measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, approved without a vote on 22 November, 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. The Secretary-General would be requested to provide the Special Rapporteur with human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently and expeditiously.
By draft resolution II, approved without a vote on 14 November, States would be requested to ratify or accede to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. States parties would be requested to consider making the declaration provided for in article 14 of the Convention. (Article 14 concerns individual complaints.) The Assembly would call upon States parties to fulfil their obligation, under the Convention, to submit in due time their periodic reports on implementation measures. States parties would also be urged to accelerate their domestic ratification procedures on the amendment procedures regarding the financing of the Committee.
By the terms of draft resolution III on the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, the Secretary-General would be requested to consult Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on the possibility of holding a world conference to combat the problem. All governments would be urged to take all necessary measures to combat new forms of racism and 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 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.
That draft resolution was approved without a vote on 22 November.
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By the draft decision, the Assembly would take note of the Secretary- General's report on the status of the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (document A/51/427).
Right to Self-Determination
The Third Committee's report on the right of peoples to self- determination (document A/51/618) contains three draft resolutions.
By draft resolution I on the right of the Palestinian people to self- determination, the Assembly would reaffirm that right and express the hope that the Palestinian people would soon exercise it in the current peace process. It would urge all States and the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in their quest for self- determination.
That text was approved by a recorded vote of 138 in favour to 2 against (Israel and United States), with 11 abstentions.
Under draft resolution II, the Assembly would request the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights to report his findings on the use of mercenaries to violate human rights and impede the right of peoples to self-determination. All States would be called on to consider signing or ratifying the International Convention against Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries. The Assembly would urge all States to take legislative measures to ensure that their territories were not used for the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to destabilize or overthrow the government of any State or threaten the territorial integrity and political unity of sovereign States.
The Committee approved that text on 15 November by a recorded vote of 96 in favour to 17 against, with 37 abstentions.
By draft resolution III on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, approved without a vote on 14 November, the Assembly would call upon 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. The Commission on Human Rights would be requested to continue to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation.
Human Rights
The report of the Third Committee on the implementation of human rights instruments (document A/51/619/Add.1) contains four draft resolutions.
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Draft resolution I, approved on 20 November without a vote, would have the Assembly call on 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. The Secretary-General would be requested to provide all facilities and assistance necessary for the promotion of the Convention through the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights and the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights.
By draft resolution II on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Assembly would call on all governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur on torture in the performance of his task, and to supply all necessary information requested by him. The Secretary-General would be requested to appeal to all governments for contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and to continue to include the Fund on an annual basis among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities.
The text was approved without a vote on 22 November.
Under draft resolution III on the effective implementation of international instruments of human rights, including reporting obligations under international instruments on human rights, the Assembly would call on the Secretary-General to seek resources to give the treaty bodies adequate administrative support, technical expertise and appropriate databases and on-line information services. The treaty bodies would be urged to continue to reduce the duplication of reporting as well as reduce the reporting burden on Member States. The Assembly would also express concern about the large number of overdue reports, the increasing backlog of States parties' reports and delays in considering them.
The Committee approved the text without a vote on 22 November.
Draft resolution IV on the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, approved without a vote on 20 November, would have the Assembly decide to convene, during its fifty-third session, a ceremonial one-day meeting on 10 December 1998 and to review preparations for the anniversary during its fifty-second session. The High Commissioner for Human Rights would be asked to continue coordinating preparations. The Assembly would call on United Nations organs and agencies, in coordination with the High Commissioner, to mark the anniversary by intensifying their contributions to system-wide efforts to promote and protect human rights.
Part II of the report on human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms (document A/51/619/Add.2) contains 17 draft resolutions.
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Draft resolution I on respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification would have the Assembly call on States to guarantee the universally recognized freedom of travel to all foreign nationals legally residing in their territory. All States would be called on to allow, in conformity with international legislation, the free flow of financial remittances by foreign nationals residing in their territory to their relatives in their country of origin. The Assembly would also call on all States to refrain from enacting, and to repeal existing legislation, intended as a coercive measure, that discriminates against individuals or groups of legal immigrants by adversely affecting family reunification and their right to send financial remittances to relatives in the country of origin.
That draft was approved on 26 November by a vote of 79 in favour to 3 against (Canada, Japan and United States), with 75 abstentions.
By draft resolution II on strengthening the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights/Centre for Human Rights, approved on 29 November without a vote, the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to enhance the capability of the High Commissioner and the Centre to effectively fulfil their mandates and to coordinate efficiently with other departments of the Secretariat, as well as other elements of the United Nations system. It would also fully support the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner in their efforts to strengthen the human rights activities of the United Nations through reorganization of the structure of the Centre to improve its efficiency and effectiveness.
Draft resolution III on effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities would have the Assembly call on the Secretary-General to make available qualified expertise on minority issues, including dispute prevention and resolution, to assist in existing or potential situations involving minorities. States would be called on to include in their reports to human rights treaty bodies measures to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
That draft was approved without a vote on 26 November.
By draft resolution IV, approved without a vote on 26 November, the Assembly would strongly condemn the large number of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions which continue to take place throughout the world and demand that all governments ensure that they be brought to an end. The Special Rapporteur on the matter would be urged to continue to draw the attention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions where early action might prevent further deterioration.
Draft resolution V on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance, also approved on 26 November without a vote, would have the
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Assembly call on all States to recognize the right of all persons to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief, and to establish and maintain places for that purpose. It would request the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the necessary staffing, financial and material resources to enable him to discharge his mandate fully and on time.
Under the terms of draft resolution VI, on the question of enforced or voluntary disappearances, approved without a vote on 26 November, the Assembly would call on governments to ensure that when a state of emergency is introduced, the protection of human rights is ensured, particularly as regards enforced disappearances. It would also decide to consider the question, particularly implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, at its fifty-third session.
By draft resolution VII on follow-up to the United Nations Year for Tolerance, the Assembly would request the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to continue coordinating actions to support the promotion of tolerance and education in partnership with other United Nations agencies and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The UNESCO would also be asked to make reports available to the Assembly, on a biennial basis, on implementation of the Declaration of Principles of Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the United Nations Year for Tolerance.
The Committee approved that draft without a vote on 26 November.
Draft resolution VIII on strengthening the rule of law, approved on 26 November without a vote, would have the Assembly express its deep concern at the scarcity of means at the disposal of the Centre for Human Rights for the fulfilment of its tasks. The High Commissioner for Human Rights would be requested to give high priority to technical cooperation activities by the Centre with regard to the rule of law. The Assembly would encourage the High Commissioner to continue exploring the possibility of further contact with and support of financial institutions for technical and financial means to strengthen the Centre's capacity to assist national projects on human rights and the rule of law.
By draft resolution IX on human rights and extreme poverty, approved without a vote on 26 November, the Assembly would reaffirm that extreme poverty and exclusion from society constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent national and international action is required to eliminate them. It would call on States, specialized agencies, United Nations bodies, and other international and intergovernmental organizations to give necessary attention to the problem.
Draft resolution X on the situation of human rights in Cambodia would have the Assembly call on the Cambodian Government to investigate cases of violence and intimidation directed at minor political parties and their
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supporters, as well as media personnel and offices, and bring those guilty to justice. The Government would also be called on to ensure the people of Cambodia have access to a variety of information, especially in the lead-up to the elections. The Assembly would urge the Government to give priority attention to combating child prostitution and trafficking and work with the Centre for Human Rights and non-governmental organizations to develop a national action plan.
That text was adopted without a vote on 27 November.
By draft resolution XI, adopted without a vote on 26 November, the Assembly would call on Member States to make further national and international efforts to remove obstacles to realizing the right to development. The Commission on Human Rights would be called on to continue making proposals through the Economic and Social Council on future action to implement the Declaration. The Assembly would call on Member States to address elements to promote and protect that right as set out in the Declaration of the Right to Development.
Draft resolution XII on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights would have the Assembly ask the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights to promote international cooperation through constructive dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and equality of States in order to implement paragraph 17, part II, of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.
The Committee approved that text on 26 November by a vote of 94 in favour to 39 against, with 15 abstentions.
By the terms of draft resolution XIII, approved without a vote on 27 November, the Assembly would call for the promotion of a Culture of Peace based on the principles established in the Charter, respect for human rights, democracy, tolerance, dialogue, cultural diversity and reconciliation, and efforts to promote development, education for peace, the free flow of information and the wider participation of women, as an integral approach to prevent violence and conflicts and to contribute to the creation of conditions for peace. The Secretary-General would be requested to report, in coordination with the Director-General of UNESCO, to the Assembly at its fifty-second session on the progress of educational activities of the trans- disciplinary project entitled "Towards a Culture of Peace", including the preparation for a draft provisional declaration and programme of action.
Draft resolution XIV on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights would have the Assembly stress the importance of the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights and would appeal to all governments to make use of that programme. The Secretary- General would be requested to continue to strengthen exchanges between the United Nations and regional intergovernmental organizations dealing with human rights. The Assembly would also invite States in areas where regional
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arrangements in the field of human rights do not yet exist to consider concluding agreements to establish suitable regional machinery for the promotion and protection of human rights.
That text was approved without a vote on 26 November.
By draft resolution XV on human rights and unilateral coercive measures, the Assembly would call on Member States that have initiated unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter, particularly those of a coercive nature which create obstacles to trade relations among States, to commit themselves to their obligations and responsibilities arising from the international human rights instruments to which they are party and revoke such measures at the earliest possible time. It would also request States to notify the Secretary-General about the implications and negative effects of such measures on their populations.
The Committee approved that text on 27 November by a vote of 54 in favour to 44 against, with 49 abstentions.
Under draft resolution XVI on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education and public information activities in the field of human rights, the Assembly would request the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights/Centre for Human Rights to continue to coordinate the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Decade for Human Rights Education, to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency in the use, processing, management and distribution of information and educational materials, and to continue to coordinate and harmonize human rights information strategies within the United Nations system. It would also request the Secretary-General to bring the resolution to the attention of all members of the international community, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with human rights education and public information.
That text was approved without a vote on 27 November.
Draft resolution XVII, approved without a vote on 27 November, would have the Assembly request the Secretary-General to consult Member States, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations on the strengthening of United Nations action in the human rights field through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity. The Assembly would call on Member States to base their promotion and protection of human rights on the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other international instruments and to refrain from activities which are inconsistent with that international framework.
Part III of the report addresses human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives (document A/51/619/Add.3). It contains 12 draft resolutions and one draft decision.
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Draft resolution I on the situation of human rights in Iraq would have the Assembly urge the Government of Iraq to cooperate with the United Nations to ensure the implementation of Security Council resolution 986 (1995), in accordance with the agreement reached in May 1996, that medicines, health supplies, food and other humanitarian supplies, purchased with the proceeds of the sale of Iraqi oil, are distributed to the Iraqi population equitably and on a non-discriminatory basis. The Assembly would demand the abrogation of any decrees that prescribe cruel and unusual punishment or treatment, and implement steps to ensure torture and cruel and unusual treatment no longer occurs. The Iraqi Government would be urged to improve its cooperation within the framework of the Tripartite Commission and its technical subcommittee to resolve the fate of several hundred missing persons and prisoners of war, Kuwaitis and third-country nationals who were victims of the illegal Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.
That text was approved by a recorded vote of 102 in favour to 2 against (Libya and Sudan), with 51 abstentions.
By the terms of draft resolution II on the situation of human rights in Iran, the Assembly would urge the Government of Iran to abide by its freely undertaken obligations under the International Covenants of Human Rights and other international instruments of human rights, and to ensure that all individuals within its territory, including members of religious groups and persons belonging to minorities, enjoy all the rights enshrined in those instruments. The Assembly would call on the Government to implement existing agreements with international humanitarian organizations and the Special Rapporteur's recommendations on religious intolerance relating to the Baha'is and to other minority religious groups, including Christians.
The Committee approved that draft resolution by a recorded vote of 78 in favour to 26 against, with 49 abstentions.
Draft resolution III on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan would have the Assembly call on all Afghan parties to respect fully and act in accordance with all human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly the right to life, liberty and security, and freedom of opinion and expression. It would also demand that all parties fulfil their obligations and commitments regarding the safety of United Nations and other international personnel, as well as their premises in Afghanistan, and cooperate fully with the United Nations and associated bodies and other humanitarian organizations and agencies.
That text was approved without a vote on 26 November.
Under the terms of draft resolution IV on the situation of human rights in Nigeria, the Assembly would call upon the Government to ensure the observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the release of all political prisoners. The Assembly would also call on the Nigerian Government to: ensure that trials were held in strict conformity with the
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international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a party; abide by its freely undertaken obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other human rights instruments; implement fully and without further delay its interim undertakings to the Secretary-General; and, respond in full to the recommendations of the Secretary-General's mission to Nigeria.
That draft was approved on 29 November by a recorded vote of 86 in favour to 14 against, with 56 abstentions.
By the terms of draft resolution V on human rights in Haiti, the Assembly would ask the international community, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to continue to provide funds to reform the judicial system and activities for social and economic development, including reconstruction of Haitian society. It would also encourage the international community to contribute generously to the Trust Fund for the Haitian National Police, which will be needed to respond to the Government's request for a technical adviser programme.
That draft resolution was approved without a vote on 26 November.
Draft resolution VI on the situation on human rights in Kosovo would have the Assembly demand that the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) revoke discriminatory legislation and end human rights violations against the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo, particularly discriminatory measures and practices, arbitrary searches and detention, and violation of the right to a fair trial and torture. It would also demand that the authorities 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 the reopening of educational, cultural and scientific institutions of ethnic Albanians; and, pursue constructive dialogue with representatives of ethnic Albanians.
The Committee approved that text by a recorded vote of 102 in favour to 3 against (India, Russian Federation and Saint Lucia), with 45 abstentions, on 27 November.
By draft resolution VII on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, the Assembly would call on the Sudan to ensure that all individuals in its territory, including members of all religious and ethnic groups, enjoy fully the rights recognized in the international human rights instruments to which the country is a party. The Sudan would be called on to halt the use of weapons against the civilian population and protect all civilians, including women, children and members of ethnic and religious minorities, from such violations as forcible displacement, arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, torture and summary executions. The Assembly would deplore the use of land- mines by the Government and rebel forces and its consequences for innocent civilians.
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That text was approved on 27 November by a vote of 93 in favour to 16 against, with 45 abstentions.
By the terms of draft resolution VIII, the Assembly would call on the Government of Cuba to carry out the recommendations contained in the Special Rapporteur's interim report to bring the observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba into conformity with international standards and applicable human rights instruments. The Government would also be called on to end all violations of human rights and to grant access to its prisons to non-governmental humanitarian organizations and international humanitarian agencies. The Assembly would also call on the Cuban Government to release persons detained for political activities who suffer from inadequate medical care while imprisoned or whose rights as journalists or jurists are impeded or denied.
The Committee approved that draft on 27 November by a recorded vote of 59 in favour to 26 against, with 71 abstentions.
By the terms of three-part draft resolution IX on the situation of human rights in Rwanda, the Assembly, in part I, would urge all parties to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; by the terms of part II, it would express grave concern at reports of the killings of civilians during attacks on survivors and witnesses of genocide, apparently by militias and insurgents opposed to the Government, and at reports that civilians have been killed during military search operations by the Rwandese Patriotic Army. In part III, the Assembly would call on States to respond to the appeal by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and contribute to the costs of the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda and work for lasting solutions to its financing problems through the regular United Nations budget.
That draft resolution was approved without a vote on 27 November.
Under draft resolution X, the Assembly would express outrage that the deliberate and systematic practice of rape and abuse of women in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia has been used as a weapon of war and an instrument of ethnic cleansing against women and children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. States would be called on to put experts, as well as adequate resources and services, at the disposal of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The Assembly would demand that the parties cooperate fully with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur, the High Commissioner for Refugees and monitoring and other missions of the European Union and the Organization of the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) by providing full access.
That text was approved without a vote on 27 November.
Draft resolution XI on the situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
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would have the Assembly call on all States and parties to the Peace Agreement to cooperate fully with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and to fully and consistently implement the Peace Agreement and the Basic Agreement. The parties to the Peace Agreement would also be called upon to take immediate steps to determine the fate of missing persons, particularly near Srebrenica, Zepa, Prijedor, Sanski Most and Vukovar. The Assembly would call on the Government of Croatia to fully respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to any national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minority; to allow the expeditious and safe return of all refugees and displaced persons; and, to investigate and arrest those responsible for acts of violence and intimidation aimed at driving people away. The Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) would be called on to act immediately to allow full participation by all residents in Kosovo in the political, economic, social, and cultural life of the region; to guarantee all Kosovo residents equal treatment and protection regardless of ethnic affiliation; and, to prevent arbitrary evictions and dismissals and discrimination against any ethnic or national, religious and linguistic group.
The Committee approved that text on 29 November by a recorded vote of 131 in favour to 1 against (Russian Federation), with 20 abstentions. That approval followed a vote on an amendment proposed by the Russian Federation to add a new second preambular paragraph. The amendment was rejected following a recorded vote of 4 in favour (Azerbaijan, China, India and Russian Federation) to 90 against, with 43 abstentions.
By draft resolution XII on the human rights situation in Myanmar, the Assembly would strongly urge the Government to allow citizens to participate freely in the political process and accelerate the transition to democracy, particularly through the transfer of power to democratically elected representatives. The Government would be asked to permit unrestricted access to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and other National League for Democracy leaders and supporters, and release detained political prisoners. The Government would also be strongly urged to put an end to violations of the right to life, torture, abuse of women, forced labour, forced relocations and enforced disappearances and summary executions. The Assembly would call on the Government and other parties to hostilities in the country to halt the use of weapons against the civilian population and protect civilians from violations of humanitarian law.
The draft resolution was approved without a vote on 27 November.
By the first draft decision, the Assembly took note of the information provided by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, on behalf of the Secretary-General, in relation to the situation of human rights in Estonia and Latvia, pursuant to Assembly resolution 48/155 of 20 December 1993, and decided to conclude its consideration of the matter.
By the second draft decision, the Assembly took note of the report of
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the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa and the Secretary-General's note transmitting the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi.
The fourth part of the human rights report addresses the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. It contains one draft resolution and one draft decision.
By the terms of the draft, the Assembly would call on all States to take further action to fully realize all human rights in light of the recommendations of the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, 1993). The High Commissioner for Human Rights would be requested to continue to coordinate human rights promotion and protection activities throughout the United Nations system and to report on the measures taken and progress achieved in the comprehensive implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, particularly concerning the preparation of the 1998 five- year review.
The Committee approved the text without a vote on 27 November.
By the draft decision, it is recommended to the Assembly that Agenda item 110 (d) be kept open in order to allow the working group of the Third Committee to continue its work.
The fifth part of the report includes the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and contains one draft resolution which was approved without a vote on 26 November.
By its terms, the General Assembly would encourage the High Commissioner to continue discharging his responsibilities under resolution 48/141. It would also decide to consider the matter at its next session under a sub-item entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights" under the item entitled "Human rights questions".
Organized Transnational Crime
The Committee's report on the international convention against organized transnational crime (document A/51/620) contains one draft resolution which was approved without a vote on 31 October.
By the terms of the draft resolution, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to invite all States to submit their views on the elaboration of an international convention against organized transnational crime not later than two months before the start of the sixth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. It would ask the Commission to consider the question of the elaboration of a convention against organized transnational crime, taking into account the views of all States, with a view to finalizing its work as soon as possible.
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Economic and Social Council
The Committee's report on the report of the Economic and Social Council (document A/51/608) contains a draft decision by which the Assembly would approve the Committee's draft biennial programme of work for 1997-1998. That text was approved by the Committee without a vote on 29 November.
According to the 1997-1998 draft biennial programme of work of the Committee, at its next session, the Committee will consider the following items: social development, including questions on the world social situation, youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family; crime prevention and criminal justice; international drug control; advancement of women; implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women; report of the UNHCR, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions; promotion and protection of the rights of children; programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People; elimination of racism and racial discrimination; right of peoples to self-determination; and the report of the Economic and Social Council.
The Committee will consider human rights under five sub-items: implementation of human rights instruments; human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms; human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives; comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; and the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Another draft decision would have the General Assembly, recalling its resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994 on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, request the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-second session a report on the programme of activities of the Decade, under the appropriate agenda item.
By the third draft decision contained in the report, the Assembly would take note of the report of the Economic and Social Council (document A/51/3), in particular chapters I to IV (sections A and E) and VII, relating to the Third Committee's work.
Action on Third Committee Reports
The Rapporteur of the Third Committee, VICTORIA SANDRU (Romania), introduced the Committee reports to the Assembly, as orally revised.
The Assembly then took up the report on social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family. The resolution on the role of cooperatives in the light of new economic and social trends was adopted without a vote.
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The Third Committee's report on crime prevention and criminal justice was taken up next by the Assembly.
First, it adopted without a vote the text on action against corruption, which contains the International Code of Conduct for Public Officials in its annex.
The Assembly also adopted a resolution on the United Nations Declaration on Crime and Public Security without a vote.
Another text on the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders was also adopted without a vote.
The Assembly then adopted the resolution on measures for prevention on the smuggling of aliens by sea without a vote.
Another text on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, particularly its technical cooperation capacity, was also adopted without a vote.
The Assembly then took up the seven-part omnibus resolution on international drug control contained in the Third Committee's report.
It first adopted without a vote the report of the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) (document A/51/719) on programme budget implications of the omnibus resolution as recommended by the Third Committee.
Speaking after the vote, the representative of the United States said his Government was very concerned about the high cost of preparations in the current biennium for the 1998 special session on drugs. It had reluctantly dissociated itself from the consensus adoption of the resolution in the Third Committee. The United States could not accept any resolution which had the potential effect of increasing the United Nations budget above the cap for the current biennium, irrespective of whether the issue was narcotics, which was a high priority. The statement of programme budget implications had not been revised sufficiently even though there was room for budgetary savings to be found, such as, but not limited to, requiring most countries to pay their own way to the meetings, and reducing the length of the sessions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in 1997 and 1998.
He said the United States agreed with the concept of the special session but regretted that wholehearted support could not be given on the budgetary matters. He expressed disappointment that the Secretariat had been unable to eliminate the programme budge implication, associated with the resolution, which the United States solidly supported.
He said the United States agreed to join the consensus on the resolution on the clear understanding that, as the budget exercise moves towards conclusion, additional offsets will be identified that will enable the
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preparation for the special session to go forward.
Acting without a vote, the Assembly then adopted the omnibus resolution on international drug control.
The Assembly then took up the Committee's report on the advancement of women.
Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted a resolution on violence against migrant women workers.
Another resolution on the criminalization of trafficking in women and girls was also adopted without vote.
Next, the Assembly took up the resolution on the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat (1995-2000), which was adopted without a vote.
The RAPPORTEUR read out the following amendment to the resolution:
-- operative paragraph 9, should read:
"Urges the Secretary-General to increase the number of women employed in the Secretariat from developing countries, including at the D-1 level and above, particularly those that are unrepresented or underrepresented, and from countries that have a low representation of women, including countries with economies in transition".
The resolution on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was also adopted without a vote.
Also acting without a vote, the Assembly took note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
The representative of the Philippines, speaking after the vote, said the resolution on violence against women migration workers was missing the names of the following co-sponsors: Egypt, Fiji, Nigeria, Uruguay, Sri Lanka and the Kyrgyz Republic. In the text of the resolution on trafficking in women and girls, the following co-sponsors were missing: Malaysia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Zambia, Ghana, Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Italy, El Salvador, Ukraine, Cameroon, Kenya, Hungary, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The Assembly then took up the resolution on the implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995), contained in the Committee's report on that matter, which was adopted without a vote.
The representative of Costa Rica, speaking before the vote on behalf of
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the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said the group had decided to object to the term "within existing budgetary resources" in all resolutions and decisions because budgetary matters should stay within the jurisdiction of the Fifth Committee. The Group had been applying this decision in all forms. However, in the case of the resolution on the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Group had decided not to change the terminology.
The report of the Third Committee on the UNHCR and questions relating to refugees, returnees, and displaced persons was taken up next.
Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted the draft resolution on the follow-up to the regional conference to address the problems of refugees, displaced persons, other forms of involuntary displacement and returnees in the countries of the CIS and relevant neighbouring States.
Also adopted without a vote were resolutions on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa, the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the UNHCR, and on assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors.
The text on a new international humanitarian order was adopted without a vote, as was the resolution on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The Assembly then turned to the report of the Third Committee on the promotion and protection of the rights of children.
The resolution on the girl child was taken up first and adopted without a vote.
The seven-part text on the rights of the child was also adopted without a vote.
The Assembly then took note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (document A/51/424).
The representative of the United States, in explanation of position on the draft on the rights of the child, said the United States was a strong supporter of efforts to protect the world's children. However, the United States was not prepared to endorse changes to the resolution on children's issues previously agreed to in other forums or to endorse provisions inconsistent with the laws and customs of war as were found in the resolution before the Assembly. The United States had not changed its position regarding age-specific restrictions on recruitment into and participation in armed forces.
Concerning reservations on international conventions, the United States continued to support the language contained in the Commission on Human Rights resolution on the rights of the child. By contrast, the current resolution
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requested States to review the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant rules of international law. The United States was not aware of other relevant rules of international law on that point.
With regard to the resolution on the situation of children in armed conflict, the United States firmly supported efforts to bring an end to practices which were inconsistent with international norms and laws of armed conflict. The Assembly must, however, be cautious when addressing those laws, and humanitarian laws, the development of which must take place in forums adequately prepared to address the technical issues. In addition, the United States noted inconsistencies in the resolution, stressing that identification of war crimes must be precise in order to have any legal effect.
The representative of Costa Rica said it had been a year since the Conference of States Parties to the Convention, on 12 December 1995, had decided to adopt the amendment proposed by Costa Rica to article 43, paragraph 2 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, without a vote. For the amendment to enter into force, it was necessary that the States Parties respond to the Secretary-General's query of 29 March 1996. Until now, there had only been around 10 replies -- two-thirds of States Parties was necessary. Costa Rica asked Member States to convey their acceptance of the amendment, which would give the Rights of the Child Committee eight additional experts.
The Third Committee's report on the elimination of racism and racial discrimination was taken up next.
Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted the resolutions on measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and on the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination.
The representative of the United States said his Government interpreted operative paragraph 24 as not prejudging the outcome of discussions at the 1997 session of the Commission on Human Rights with regard to a possible world conference. The resources required for a world conference would be better applied to programme efforts to combat racism, and it welcomed alternative forums to discuss the means to address the purposes and goals of the decade.
The Assembly then took up the Committee's report on the programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People and the draft resolution it contains, which was adopted without a vote.
The Third Committee's report on the elimination of racism and racial discrimination was taken up next.
Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted the resolutions on measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and on the International Convention on the Elimination of
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All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Also adopted without a vote was the draft resolution on the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination.
The Assembly then took note of the Secretary-General's report on the status of the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (document A/51/427).
The Assembly then turned to the report on the right of peoples to self- determination.
The text on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination was adopted by a vote of 159 in favour to 3 against (Israel, Palau and United States), with 12 abstentions. (For details of the voting, see Annex I.)
The representative of the Russian Federation, speaking after the vote, said his Government had always been in favour of developing the potential of peace agreements reached in the Middle East. It had never wished to prejudice, in any way, the outcome of peace talks, or to impede the self- determination of the Palestinian people. However, it believed it could vote in favour of the current resolution, because of the state of the current Middle East peace talks.
The representative of the Kyrgyz Republic, speaking after the vote, said she had voted in favour of resolution, but her vote was not registered.
The resolution on the use of mercenaries to violate human rights and impede the right of peoples to self-determination was adopted by a vote of 117 in favour to 17 against, with 39 abstentions. (See Annex II.)
The representative of Eritrea, speaking after the vote, said that she would have voted in favour of the resolution.
The text on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self- determination was then adopted without a vote.
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The Assembly took note of part I of the report of the Third Committee on human rights questions.
Next, part II of the report on human rights questions on the implementation of human rights instruments was taken up.
Speaking before the vote on the resolution on torture, the representative of Egypt said his Government was pleased to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur in this area and believed it was essential to put an end to torture and other cruel and inhuman treatment. It could not suggest, however, that it was fully satisfied with the draft resolution, specifically sections regarding the Committee's report and how it acts. He trusted improvements would be made at the next session. His Government's desire to preserve a consensus did not mean that it accepted the actions of the Committee against Torture.
In the Committee's consideration of the item, he said several negative aspects were taken up and this led to some conclusions which were not based on sound information and did not really describe the situation accurately. This had led to the issuance of a note on Egypt, but so far the Committee had not responded to Egypt's reservations about the report nor had it included Egypt's remarks in its report. Torture had never been systematically or regularly carried out in Egypt, and the Government had given complete responses to the Committee on those matters. Egypt believed in the rule of law, which was the very basis of democracy.
The Assembly then adopted, without a vote, the resolutions on the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, on the effective implementation of international instruments of human rights, and on the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Part III of the report, on alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, was taken up next.
The representative of Cuba said there was no value judgement in restructuring the Centre for Human Rights. The consensus could not be used to apply restrictions on the role played by Member States in streamlining the United Nations.
The representative of Cambodia said he had no difficulty with the resolution on the human rights situation in his country. Cambodia's new independence, democracy and respect for human rights were born out of free and fair elections, organized and supervised by the United Nations in 1993. Presently, it was experiencing new-found freedom, democracy and a multi-party system. His Government had cooperated closely with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in his country and considered his report well- balanced. In September, the Cambodian Prime Minister had submitted comments and clarifications on the report, and he encouraged Member States to read them. In the last three years there had been great changes and successes, including human rights training for police officers and judges, and the formation of a parliamentary commission on human rights.
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The Assembly adopted the text on respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification by a vote of 89 in favour to 4 against (Canada, Japan, Israel and the United States), with 76 abstentions. (See Annex III.)
Adopted without a vote were the resolutions on strengthening the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights/Centre for Human Rights; on effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities; on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance; on the question of enforced or voluntary disappearances; on follow-up to the United Nations Year for Tolerance, and on strengthening the rule of law.
The Assembly also adopted without a vote, the resolutions on human rights and extreme poverty; on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, and on the right to development.
The text on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights was adopted by a vote of 114 in favour to 42 against, with 16 abstentions. (See Annex IV.)
Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted the resolutions on the culture of peace and on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights.
Next, the Assembly took action on human rights and unilateral coercive measures. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 57 in favour to 45 against, with 59 abstentions. (See Annex V.)
The representative of Poland said he voted against the resolution.
The representative of Niger said he had voted for the text.
The representative of the Philippines said she regretted that in the pursuit of consensus, the text on a culture of peace was virtually unrecognizable. It should be considered under a separate agenda item.
The representative of Vanuatu said he had abstained in the vote.
The representative of Burkino Faso said he had abstained, but had, in fact, wanted to vote in favour of the resolution.
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Adopted without a vote were the resolutions on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education and public information activities in the field of human rights, and on the strengthening of United Nations action in the human rights field through the promotion of international cooperation and on the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity.
The Assembly then took up part IV of the report on human rights situations.
The representative of Yemen, speaking in explanation of vote before vote, said his Government, while considering draft resolutions on human rights situations in specific countries, had noted that there was a politicization of human rights for specific political motives on the part of some countries. Sometimes there was an application of criteria without regard to international conventions on human rights in ways that were selective and involved double standards. In some cases this could be considered as interference in the affairs and sovereignty of countries. The Government of Yemen denounced and condemned any violations of human rights in any country, without exception, and called for the respect for national sovereignty in matters of human rights. Therefore, it would not participate, on principle, in such votes, except in cases of action by consensus.
The representative of Iraq said, because of the economic blockade against his country, his delegation was deprived of a vote. But had it been able to vote, Iraq would have vote against the resolutions on the human rights situations in Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Sudan and Cuba.
The representative of Cuba, speaking before the vote on the human rights situation in his country, said his Government was alarmed to see how industrialized countries increasingly sought to establish themselves as the judges of the Third World. They seemed to forget their responsibility for the deaths of 12 million children from curable diseases, for the 200 million homeless children, the 100 million children forced to work, and the 1 million engaged in prostitution. Instead, the United States was the author of the resolution -- the country of Indian reservations, of an incarceration rate of blacks six times that of whites, and the country in which disabled persons were executed. Cuba was proud of its human rights records. Cuba was proud that it came to the United Nations and told the truth.
The representative of the Sudan, speaking before the vote on human rights in his country, said that the current resolution was introduced for the first time during the forty-seventh session of the Assembly. Today, after five years, the same resolution continued with almost the same language, word for word, in many cases. This fact implied that the status quo was maintained in the Sudan. However, it was a well-known fact that democratic free elections were held in March 1996 in the Sudan, attended by regional and international observers. And the first decision taken by the elected Sudanese President was the declaration of national amnesty and the release of all political prisoners.
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He said his Government reiterated its position of unreserved commitment to the respect, promotion and protection of all human rights. Its political will to address human rights concerns would continue to be maintained. It was convinced that cooperation and coordination, not confrontation and predetermined condemnation, should be the only viable path to be followed if countries genuinely and sincerely wanted to achieve concrete results in the field of human rights. Therefore, it would vote against the resolution on human rights in the Sudan, and requested that others that shared its views do the same.
The representative of Nigeria, speaking before the vote on the situation of human rights in Nigeria, said that some Members had tabled the politically motivated resolution. In response, Nigeria had noted the hasty manner in which it was tabled, motivated by the emotions of the moment. Nigeria was committed to the realization of human rights and the fundamental freedoms enshrined in its draft constitution, and to an effective national mechanism for their enforcement. It appeared that some members of the Organization had a tendency to behave like the proverbial ostrich "which hides its head in the sand and feels that nobody sees it because it is unable to see its own body", he said. It would also appear that the human rights promotion based on the principles of non-selectivity, objectivity and impartiality was being politicized by some members, with severe consequences for the credibility of the Organization.
Anyone who was genuinely interested in the affairs of Nigeria and in an objective analysis of developments could not fail to recognize the positive development and the momentum of events towards the promotion of human rights and democracy, he continued. Since last year's resolution, Nigeria had taken several major actions: the phased transition to civil rule was in place; the local government elections on a non-party basis had been held, which effectively established democratic governance at local level; and efforts were ongoing to hold other elections as scheduled in the phased transition timetable.
Secondly, he said, the Government had established an independent Commission of Human Rights, comprised of jurists, academics and human rights and pro-democracy activists. The Government had abrogated, reviewed or amended, as necessary, the various decrees and acts under which some persons were detained or tried and had reinstituted the writ of habeas corpus and the right of appeal in the procedures of the special tribunals; military personnel would no longer serve on those tribunals. Nigeria hoped that this would be the last time that the Assembly entertained the present "superfluous, unfair and unbalanced" resolution.
The resolution on the situation of human rights in Iraq was adopted by a vote of 103 in favour to 3 against (Libya, Turkmenistan and Sudan), with 59 abstentions. (See Annex VI.)
Next, the Assembly took up the text on the situation of human rights in
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Iran. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 79 in favour to 30 against, with 54 abstentions. (See Annex VII.)
The text on human rights in Afghanistan was adopted without a vote.
Next, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the situation of human rights in Nigeria by a vote of 92 in favour to 19 against, with 55 abstentions. (See Annex VIII.)
The resolution on human rights in Haiti was adopted without a vote.
The Assembly adopted the text on the situation on human rights in Kosovo by a vote of 114 in favour to 2 against (India and the Russian Federation), with 48 abstentions. (See Annex IX.)
Next, the resolution on the situation of human rights in the Sudan was taken up. The Assembly adopted the draft by a vote of 100 in favour to 16 against, with 50 abstentions. (See Annex X.)
The resolution on the situation of human rights in Cuba was adopted by a vote of 62 in favour to 25 against, with 84 abstentions. (See Annex XI.)
The three-part draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Rwanda was taken up next, and was adopted without a vote.
The Assembly then adopted, without a vote, the text on rape and abuse of women in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia.
The RAPPORTEUR read out the following amendments to the resolution on the situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro):
-- after the fourteenth preambular paragraph, insert the following two preambular paragraphs:
"Encouraging the international community, acting through the United Nations and other international organizations as well as bilaterally, to enhance significantly humanitarian support for the people of the region and promote human rights, economic reconstruction, the repatriation of refugees and the holding of free elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina;"
"Welcoming the efforts of the European Union to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and endorsing the Special Rapporteur's recommendation that economic and other aid must be made conditional on meaningful progress on human rights."
Next, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), as orally revised by the
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Rapporteur, by a vote of 136 in favour to 1 against (Russian Federation), with 28 abstentions. (See Annex XII.)
The Assembly then took up the resolution on the human rights situation in Myanmar.
The RAPPORTEUR read out the following revision to the resolution:
-- in operative paragraph 17, line 3, insert the words "in" between the word "and" and "its efforts".
The Assembly then adopted the resolution on the human rights situation in Myanmar, as orally revised by the Rapporteur, without a vote.
The representative of the United States, speaking in explanation of position, said her delegation strongly supported the resolution on Burma which reflected the consensus view of the members of the United Nations. Every government of every society should be held to certain minimum standards of respect for the rights and freedoms of its own people. Regrettably, the current Government of Burma was not meeting those minimum standards. It had subjected democratic forces to a kind of rolling repression in which small steps forward alternate with crackdowns and episodes of intimidation and violence. The world did not accept Burma's excuse that its harsh policies were necessary in the light of its turbulent history and the multi-ethnic nature of Burmese society.
She said the right of people to participate freely in a democratic political process was an ally -- not an enemy -- to national unity and social peace. She called on the Government to cease abusing human rights, to empty their cells of those detained for political reasons, to permit United Nations representatives to visit and to begin a genuine dialogue with democratic and ethnic leaders.
The representative of India, referring to the draft resolution on human rights in Kosovo, said his Government was committed to the promotion and protection of all human rights in all States. India was also committed to the preservation and protection of the territorial integrity, national sovereignty and independence of Member States. Also, India firmly adhered to the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of Member States. Many did not believe in addressing human rights situations in part of a country, detaching it from the context of the situation in the whole of the country. For that reason, India was obliged to vote against the resolution.
The representative of Croatia said he wished to explain his Government's position relating to the resolution on human rights in Croatia, Bosnia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). Croatia, acting in good faith, had taken part in deliberations on the draft in hopes of reaching consensus on a text. While Croatia had made some difficult compromises, many of its concerns had been taken into account by the co-sponsors. Despite
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strong reservations about a part of the draft, Croatia had thought it proper to join the consensus.
However, since a vote had been requested, Croatia would take the opportunity to express its reservation, he said. Croatia objected to the mention in the draft of the Zagreb city council. That reference addressed a situation being resolved within the Croatian constitutional and legal framework. Discussions were under way to resolve the issue in a democratic manner and various, proposals were being considered to break the impasse and to select Zagreb's mayor. Such an internal political matter should not be considered by the Assembly.
The elections for the Zagreb city council had been free and fair, he said. The results of the election were respected and the democratically elected officials were allowed to take their seats. Croatia strongly objected to that matter being included in the resolution and disassociated itself from the reference in the resolution. However, Croatia would support the overall draft.
As a State subjected to aggression and which had some 27 per cent of its territory under occupation, Croatia attached great importance to the principle of respect for territorial integrity of States, he said. The region of Eastern Slavonia was not yet fully reintegrated into Croatia. States of the region could best demonstrate their adherence to the principle of respect for the territorial integrity of States by undertaking measures ensuring that all areas not yet reintegrated would be reintegrated into Croatia quickly.
The representative of the Solomon Islands said the resolution on the human rights situation in Cuba gave his delegation pause. While it endorsed the interim report of the Special Rapporteur and cited the major elements of his critique of the situation, the resolution said nothing about his conclusions concerning the positive aspects of the changing situation of human rights in Cuba in the face of the grave difficulties that that small island developing country endured because of the economic embargo imposed on it. To advance and protect human rights, Assembly resolutions must be balanced and impartial. His delegation had abstained.
The representative of China, on the situation in Kosova, said respect for the principle of territorial integrity was enshrined in the United Nations Charter and should be strictly observed. The sovereignty of a State should be respected. His delegation had abstained on the vote.
The representative of Lesotho would have voted yes on the resolution on Nigeria but was unable to vote.
The representative of the Philippines said violations of human rights should be condemned wherever they occurred. However, the text on the situation in Kosova totally ignored the situation in other parts of the former Yugoslavia and that went against the principle of universality and non- partiality. She hoped that when the resolution was updated next year due note would be taken of that point.
The representative of Turkmenistan said its correct vote on the resolution on the situation in Iraq should have been an abstention.
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Next, the Assembly took note of the information provided by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, on behalf of the Secretary-General, in relation to the situation of human rights in Estonia and Latvia.
The Assembly also took note of the Secretary-General's report on the situation of human rights in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa and the Secretary-General's note transmitting the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi.
Then the Assembly turned to the fifth part of the human rights report, the resolution on the follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. The text was adopted without a vote.
Also without a vote, the Assembly decided to keep open Agenda item 110 (d), on the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, in order to allow the working group of the Third Committee to continue its work.
The representative of the Russian Federation said that the way the work of the Third Committee was handled was not always in accordance with established procedures. He requested that the work be more accurate in the future. Regarding document A/51/619/Add.3, there were inadequacies on page 23 of the English text, namely the chronology of paragraphs 55 and 56. In the first part, a paragraph had been omitted. There were also inaccuracies in the Russian translation of the document, and he asked that the Special Rapporteur take note of his comments.
The Assembly then took note of the sixth part of the report, the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and adopted the resolution without a vote.
The report on the international convention against organized transnational crime and the resolution it contained was adopted without a vote.
The report of the Economic and Social Council, containing the Committee's draft biennial programme of work for 1997-1998, was taken up next.
It then adopted a decision on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous peoples.
The Assembly adopted, without a vote, the Third Committee's draft biennial programme of work for 1997-1998.
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It also took note of the report of the Economic and Social Council, in particular chapters I to IV, V (sections A and E) and VII, relating to the Third Committee's work.
(annexes follow)
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ANNEX I
Vote on Right of Palestinian People to Self-determination
The draft resolution on right of the Palestinian people to self- determination (document A/51/618) was adopted by a recorded vote of 159 in favour to 3 against, with 12 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, 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, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, 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, Liberia, 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, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Israel, Palau, United States.
Abstaining: Argentina, Congo, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Uzbekistan, Zaire.
Absent: Comoros, Greece, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan.
(END OF ANNEX I)
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ANNEX II
Vote on Use of Mercenaries
The draft resolution on use of mercenaries (document A/51/618) was adopted by a recorded vote of 117 in favour to 17 against, with 39 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, 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, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, 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, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States.
Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, France, Georgia, Ireland, Israel, Kazakstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Monaco, New Zealand, Palau, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Zaire.
Absent: Comoros, Congo, Gabon, Greece, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan.
(END OF ANNEX II)
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ANNEX III
Vote on Freedom of Travel and Family Reunification
The draft resolution on freedom of travel and family reunification (document A/51/619/Add.2) was adopted by a recorded vote of 89 in favour to 4 against, with 76 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Canada, Israel, Japan, United States.
Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lietchtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Soloman Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Zaire.
Absent: Comoros, Congo, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Mauritius, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome Principe, Seychelles, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan.
(END OF ANNEX III)
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ANNEX IV
Vote on Enhancement of International Cooperation in Field Of Human Rights
The draft resolution on enhancement of international cooperation in field of human rights (document A/51/619/Add.2) was adopted by a recorded vote of 114 in favour to 42 against, with 16 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, 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, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.
Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Palau, Paraguay, Russian Federation, Zaire.
Absent: Comoros, Congo, El Salvador, Greece, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan.
(END OF ANNEX IV)
General Assembly Plenary 47 Press Release GA/9201 82nd Meeting (PM) 12 December 1996
ANNEX V
Vote on Human Rights and Unilateral Coercive Measures
The draft resolution on human rights and unilateral coercive measures (document A/51/619/Add.2) was adopted by a recorded vote of 57 in favour to 45 against, with 59 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Russian Federation, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan.
Abstaining: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Zaire, Zambia.
Absent: Angola, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Greece, Kuwait, Maldives, Poland, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates.
(END OF ANNEX V)
General Assembly Plenary 48 Press Release GA/9201 82nd Meeting (PM) 12 December 1996
ANNEX VI
Vote on Human Rights in Iraq
The draft resolution on human rights in Iraq (document A/51/619/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 103 in favour to 3 against, with 59 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia.
Against: Libya, Sudan, Turkmenistan.
Abstaining: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zaire, Zimbabwe.
Absent: Comoros, Djibouti, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Iran, Lesotho, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Yemen.
(END OF ANNEX VI)
General Assembly Plenary 49 Press Release GA/9201 82nd Meeting (PM) 12 December 1996
ANNEX VII
Vote on Human Rights in Iran
The draft resolution on human rights in Iran (document A/51/619/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 79 in favour to 30 against, with 54 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Soloman Islands, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia.
Against: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brundi Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Viet Nam, Zaire.
Abstaining: Albania, Angola, Bahrain, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Absent: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Djibouti, Georgia, Greece, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Rwanda, Sao Tome Principe, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen.
(END OF ANNEX VII)
General Assembly Plenary 50 Press Release GA/9201 82nd Meeting (PM) 12 December 1996
ANNEX VIII
Vote on Human Rights in Nigeria
The draft resolution on human rights in Nigeria (document A/51/619/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 92 in favour to 19 against, with 55 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Afghanistan, Benin, Chad, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Iran, Liberia, Libya, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Togo.
Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zaire.
Absent: Azerbaijan, Belize, Comoros, Costa Rica, Greece, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Maldives, Oman, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Yemen.
(END OF ANNEX VIII)
General Assembly Plenary 51 Press Release GA/9201 82nd Meeting (PM) 12 December 1996
ANNEX IX
Vote on Human Rights in Kosovo
The draft resolution on human rights in Kosovo (document A/51/619/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 114 in favour to 2 against, with 48 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.
Against: India, Russian Federation.
Abstaining: Angola, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Syria, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Absent: Armenia, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Viet Nam, Yemen.
(END OF ANNEX IX)
General Assembly Plenary 52 Press Release GA/9201 82nd Meeting (PM) 12 December 1996
ANNEX X
Vote on Human Rights in the Sudan
The draft resolution on human rights in the Sudan (document A/51/619/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 100 in favour to 16 against, with 50 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Afghanistan, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Viet Nam.
Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Dar- Salam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Sierra leone, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Zaire.
Absent: Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Greece, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Yemen.
(END OF ANNEX X)
General Assembly Plenary 53 Press Release GA/9201 82nd Meeting (PM) 12 December 1996
ANNEX XI
Vote on Human Rights in Cuba
The draft resolution on human rights in Cuba (document A/51/619/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 62 in favour to 25 against, with 84 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.
Against: Angola, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libya, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Abstaining: Afghanistan, 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, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saints Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Zaire.
Absent: Comoros, Djibouti, Greece, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Yemen.
(END OF ANNEX XI)
General Assembly Plenary 54 Press Release GA/9201 82nd Meeting (PM) 12 December 1996
General Assembly Plenary 55 Press Release GA/9201 82nd Meeting (PM) 12 December 1996
ANNEX XII
Vote on Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina:
The draft on human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina (document A/51/619/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 136 in favour to 1 against, with 28 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea- Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saints Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela.
Against: Russian Federation.
Abstaining: Angola, Belarus, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Absent: Armenia, Comoros, Congo, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Gabon, Greece, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Viet Nam, Yemen.
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