COMMISSION EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATIONS IN CAMBODIA AND SOMALIA
Press Release
HR/CN/866
COMMISSION EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATIONS IN CAMBODIA AND SOMALIA
19980422 Calls for Improvements in Haitian Judicial and Prison Systems; Also Passes Measures Condemning Terrorism, Violence against Women(Reissued as received.)
GENEVA, 17 April (UN Information Service) -- The Commission on Human Rights expressed grave concern this afternoon about numerous violations of human rights in Cambodia, including extrajudicial executions, torture, and rape, and called for urgent investigation of such offenses by the Government.
It similarly expressed deep concern at reports of arbitrary and summary executions, torture and violence, particularly against women and children, in Somalia, and strongly urged all parties in that country to respect human rights and international humanitarian law pertaining to internal armed conflict.
It also urged the Government of Haiti to strengthen its judicial system and improve the country's prisons.
Resolutions on these topics were adopted under the Commission's agenda item on advisory services in the field of human rights and were among 18 resolutions and two decisions adopted over the course of the afternoon. Others dealt with the Commission's agenda item on further promotion and encouragement of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the programme and methods of work of the Commission.
The text on terrorism, which was extensively debated, was approved by a show of hands of 33 in favour to none against, with 20 abstentions. Discussion centred on whether the allocation of human rights responsibilities to terrorist groups, granted them a standing they did not enjoy under international law. Several countries said terrorist acts should be dealt with only under criminal provisions and contended that other United Nations and international mechanisms were more appropriate for coping with issues raised by terrorism.
Also passed, by a roll-call vote of 37 in favour to none against, with 16 abstentions, was a decision recommended by the Subcommission on Prevention
of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities that one of its experts be appointed as a special rapporteur to carry out a study on human rights and terrorism.
After considerable debate and a roll-call vote of 36 in favour to 16 against, with 1 abstention, the Commission declared it was necessary for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in the course of its restructuring, to take immediate action to change the currently prevailing geographical distribution of the staff of the Office in favour of a more equitable distribution of posts, particularly by recruiting personnel from developing countries, including to key posts. It furthermore called for the establishment of a permanent mechanism under which every junior professional officer from a donor country who joined the Office would be matched by another from a developing country.
Countries opposing the text, including members of the European Union and the United States, said it amounted to interference with personnel and financial matters which were the prerogative of the Secretary-General, and disregarded standards set out in the United Nations Charter.
In other action, the Commission requested its Chairman to appoint an expert to prepare a revised version of draft basic principles and guidelines already elaborated on the right to restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, taking into account views and comments provided by States, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
Also this afternoon, the Commission adopted texts on the following: regional arrangements for promotion of human rights in the Asia/Pacific region; the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education; arbitrary deprivation of nationality; mass exoduses; internally displaced persons; implementing women's rights in the United Nations system; combating impunity for human rights violations; fostering a culture of peace; national human rights institutions; the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; publication of a study by an expert of the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on population transfers; and on advisory service and technical cooperation programmes in the field of human rights.
Action on Texts
In a resolution on the right to restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms (document E/CN.4/1998/L.76), the Commission requested the Chairman of the Commission to appoint an independent expert, at no additional cost to the regular budget, to prepare a revised version of the draft basic principles and
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guidelines already elaborated, taking into account views and comments provided by States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
Under a resolution, adopted without a vote, on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Asian and Pacific region (document E/CN.4/1998/L.42), the Commission endorsed the conclusions of the sixth workshop in the region on this topic and commended the efforts of the Government of Iran as the host of the workshop. It encouraged all governments in the region to consider making use of the facilities offered by the United Nations under its programme of advisory services and technical cooperation to further strengthen national human rights capacities; encouraged States of the region to hold regional and subregional workshops, seminars, and information exchanges designed to strengthen regional cooperation; and also encouraged them to develop programmes for human rights education.
In a resolution on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education (document E/CN.4/1998/L.52), approved without a vote, the Commission urged all governments to contribute further to implementation of the plan of action of the Decade and to encourage, support, and involve national and local non-governmental and community-based organizations in that implementation. It encouraged the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to support national capacities for such education through advisory and technical services programmes; requested human rights monitoring bodies to consider adopting a general comment on human rights education; and called upon all relevant organizations to undertake specific activities of formal, non-formal, and informal education, alone and in cooperation with the High Commissioner's office.
By a resolution on composition of the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (document E/CN.4/1998/L.63), approved by a roll-call vote of 36 in favour to 16 against, with 1 abstention, the Commission considered that it was necessary, within the process of restructuring of the Office, to take urgent, concrete, and immediate action to change the prevailing geographical distribution of the staff of the Office, in favour of a more equitable distribution of posts, particularly by recruiting personnel from developing countries, including to key posts. It requested once again that the Secretary-General, in signing agreements with countries concerning the provision of junior professional officers to the Office, urge those countries to ensure the allocation of additional funds to guarantee that personnel from developing countries were able to work as junior professional officers, with a view to conforming to the principle of equitable geographical distribution. Furthermore, a permanent mechanism must be established by which every junior professional officer from a donor country who joined the Office would be matched by another from a developing country. The Commission emphasized the importance of openly advertising all posts; requested the High Commissioner to ensure that junior professional officers were not given sensitive political assignments where their impartiality might be questioned;
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and requested the High Commissioner to submit a comprehensive report on implementation of the resolution.
The result of the vote was as follows:
In favour: Argentina, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Against: Austria, Belarus, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Poland, Russian Federation, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.
Abstention: Republic of Korea
Speaking befoe the vote, MARYAN BAQUEROT, Director of the Division of Administration of the United Nations Office at Geneva, said the review of some of the draft resolutions showed tendencies in the Commission to deal with budgetary and human resources matters. Concerning the latter, the General Assembly had adopted last year a comprehensive resolution on human resources management for the whole Secretariat which dealt, inter alia, with geographical composition.
RODOLFO REYES RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said geographical balance in the personnel of the Office of the High Commissioner was important. The intergovernmental task of the Office could only be ensured when there was a fair geographical distribution of the staff of the Office.
ANDREW McALISTER (Canada) said that some of the elements of the draft resolution constituted interference by the Commission in personnel and financial matters, which were the prerogative of the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights had Canada's full support in the measures that they had taken to enhance the effectiveness of the Office of the High Commissioner and to ensure that appointments conformed to the Charter of the United Nations. To the extent that Government delegations had a role in the matter, they should address the General Assembly.
AUDREY GLOVER (United Kingdom) said the European Union would vote against the draft. The Charter was disregarded by th etext, which attempted to reinterpret Article 101, paragraph 3. That article set forth clearly the standards for recruitment of Secretariat staff. The draft resolution also attempted to vest the Commission with powers which belonged exclusively to the Secretary-General.
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ROBERT LOFTIS (United States) said his delegation associated itself with the statements made by Canada and the United Kingdom on the draft resolution.
In a resolution, adopted by a show ofhands of 33 in favour to none against, with 20 abstenions, on human rights and terrorism (document E/CN.4/1998/L.64), the Commission reiterated unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods, and practices of terrorism, regardless of motivation; and condemned incitement of ethnic hatred, violence and terrorism. It called upon States to take all necessary measures, in strict conformity with international law, to prevent, combat, and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever committed; urged the international community to enhance cooperation on the matter; and urged all relevant human rights procedures and mechanisms to address the consequences of terrorism in their forthcoming reports to the Commission. It took note of the need for further study of the role and responsibility of non-State actors in the sphere of human rights; and requested the Secretary-General to continue to collect information on the implications of terrorism as well as on the effects of the fight against terrorism on the full enjoyment of human rights.
H.K. SINGH (India) said his delegation had full confidence in the attention the High Commissioner for Human Rights had given to the question of equitable geographical distribution in her Office at all levels. India regretted that the Secretariat's report on the subject came out too late to be of use during the general debate. India also welcomed that Mr. Baquerot had come here for the second time to address those issues. However, it might have been more useful if such a discussion had taken place during the agenda item itself rather than at this late juncture. India believed that equitable geographical distribution was of particular importance for the Office of the High Commissioner, which must enjoy universal support given the importance of the issues it dealt with.
JUAN GOMEZ-ROBLEDO VERDUZCO (Mexico) said his delegation would not be able to support draft because it did not contribute to the struggle against terrorism. Mexico condemned all terrorist attacks and was committed to strengthening mechanisms to combat the phenomenon in order to eradicate it completely. Nevertheless, Mexico considered that gross violations of human rights could only be dealt with by State agents.
ALEJANDRO SALINAS RIVERA (Chile) said his delegation would abstain from voting on the draft text. Terrorism could not be committed by States or their agents.
HERNAN PLORUTTI (Argentina) said it would abstain because it considered that reference to the violations of human rights by terrorist groups meant attributing to these groups a level of subjectivity which international law did not presently recognize. Argentina vigorously condemned terrorist acts whatever their form or motivation; they were serious crimes which had to be
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fought firmly. The struggle against terrorism required the firm commitment of every State to combat terrorist acts at the national level and to adopt national legislation to bring to trial or extradite those responsible for terrorist acts. This should be complemented by international instruments.
Ms. GLOVER (United Kingdom) said the European Union unequivocally condemned all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomever committed, and whatever the considerations that might be invoked to justify them. However, the Union believed that the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly was the forum best suited for a thorough examination of the question of terrorism.
DEBORAH CHATSIS (Canada), stating that her delegation would abstain, said that Canada strongly condemned all acts of terrorism, and it actively promoted effective international action to combat acts of terrorism. There was already a significant body of international law which addressed terrorist acts. Canada was unable to support this draft as it stated that terrorist groups were responsible for gross violations of human rights. The Government believed that terrorists committed crimes and should be brought to justice. While recognizing that acts of terrorism could have serious effects on the enjoyment of human rights, only governments had international human rights obligations.
Mr. LOFTIS (United States) said the United States remained deeply committed to the international effort to combat terrorism. It believed the proper forum for discussing terrorism and human right, however, was the Sixth Committee. Its Declaration on Terrorism, for example, remained the most comprehensive and far-reaching United Nations statement on the subject.
SHIGEKI SUMI (Japan) said Japan unequivocally condemned all acts, methods and practices of terrorism and was committed to enhancing international cooperation in the fight against such acts. However it had some difficulty with preambular paragraph 13 of the draft text, which defined acts of terrorist groups as gross violations of human rights. Although it believed that horrific acts of terrorists constituted serious crimes to be condemned, Japan was not certain whether their acts constituted the violation of human rights.
In a resolution, on human rights and arbitrary deprivation of nationality (document E/CN.4/1998/L.65), the Commission reaffirmed the importance of the right to a nationality of every human person; recognized that arbitrary deprivation of nationality on racial, national, ethnic, religious, or gender grounds was a violation of human rights; and called on all States to refrain from measures that discriminated against persons or groups of persons in such a manner. It noted that full social integration of an individual might be impeded as a result of arbitrary deprivation of nationality; and urged appropriate mechanisms of the Commission and pertinent
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United Nations treaty bodies to continue to collect information on the question.
In a resolution on human rights and mass exoduses (document E/CN.4/1998/L.67), the Commission emphasized the responsibility of all States and international organizations to cooperate with countries, particularly developing ones, affected by mass exoduses of refugees and displaced persons, and called on governments and relevant United Nations agencies to continue to respond to assistance needs of countries hosting large numbers of refugees until durable solutions were found. It recalled that everyone had the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution and that this right could not be invoked in case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. It encouraged States that had not done so to consider acceding to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol of 1967, and to other relevant instruments; and called upon States to ensure effective protection of refugees by, inter alia, respecting the principle of non-refoulement. It recognized that women and children needed special protection in cases of mass exoduses; requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to pay particular attention to human rights situations which caused or threatened to cause mass exoduses and to contribute to prevention efforts; and requested the High Commissioner to submit, within existing resources, a report on measures to prevent violations and denials of human rights that led to and took place during mass exoduses.
In a resolution, on internally displaced persons (document E/CN.4/1998/L.68), the Commission encouraged the representative of the Secretary-General on the subject to continue his analysis of the causes of internal displacement, the needs of those displaced, measures of prevention and ways to strengthen protection. It requested the Secretary-General to ensure publication and dissemination of the relevant guiding principles; and welcomed the attention paid to the special vulnerability and needs of women and children who were internally displaced. It called upon all governments to facilitate the activities of the representative of the Secretary-General, in particular those which had not yet extended invitations or responded positively to requests for information. It urged all relevant organizations and agencies to continue to focus on problems related to the issue and to develop a more comprehensive and coherent system of collecting data on such situations. It called upon the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to develop projects in the field; and decided to extend for a further three years the mandate of the representative.
Mr. GOMEZ-ROBLEDO VERDUZCO (Mexico) said his delegation would not oppose the text but would like to state for the record its reservation with regard to operative paragraph 1. Mexico supported the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for displaced persons and gave importance to his work. It regretted that the report of the Special
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Representative, which included a study on the legal aspects on protection against arbitrary displacement, was only distributed on 6 April although it was dated 11 February. Mexico could not take a stand on the report or the guiding principles outlined because it had not had enough time to study it. Mexico reserved its right to express in due course its ideas on the guiding principles.
TARIK ALI BAKHIT (Sudan) said the issue of internally displaced persons was vital, given their high number -- over 25 million all over the world. Sudan supported the recommendations regarding the extension of the mandate of the Special Representative on internally displaced persons.
In a resolution on integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system (document E/CN.4/1998/L.69), the Commission welcomed the cooperation and coordination between the Division for the Advancement of Women and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights aimed at mainstreaming women's human rights. It called for further strengthening of cooperation and coordination between the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on the Status of Women and between the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Division for the Advancement of Women in order to more effectively promote women's human rights. It drew attention to the need to develop practical strategies to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the expert group meeting on the development of guidelines for the integration of a gender perspective into human rights activities and programmes. It urged the relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system, all human rights bodies of the United Nations system, as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to bear in mind the need for expertise in the human rights of women in the recruitment of staff.
In a resolution on the elimination of violence against women (document E/CN.4/1998/L.70), the Commission condemned all acts of gender-based violence against women and called for the elimination of gender-based violence in the family, within the general community and where perpetrated and/or condoned by the State. It emphasized the duty of governments to refrain from engaging in violence against women and to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish acts of violence against women. It condemned all violations of the human rights of women in situations of armed conflict, recognized them to be violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and called for a particularly effective response to violations, particularly murder, rape including systematic rape, sexual slavery and forced pregnancy. It encouraged governments to support efforts to create an international criminal court that integrated a gender perspective in its statute and functioning. It stressed the conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur that States had the duty to promote and protect the human rights of women and must exercise due diligence to prevent violence against women, including violence against women in times of armed conflict, violence against women in custody and
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violence against refugee and internally displaced women. It called upon States to eradicate traditional or customary practices, particularly female genital mutilation, that were harmful to or discriminatory against women and that are violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of women through the development and implementation of national legislation and policies prohibiting such practices, the prosecution of perpetrators of such practices and awareness-raising programmes, education and training.
AYME HERNANDEZ (Cuba) said his delegation supported all United Nations work on human rights of women. Regarding the elimination of the violation of women's human rights, Cuba gave its support to the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the subject. It would support the consensus on the text but it wanted to place on record that if there had been a vote it would have been unable to support it. That was because operative paragraphs 7 and 14 went beyond the procedural, mixing mandates of different types and thus contributing to the politicization of the Commission.
WILHELM HOYNCK (Germany) said Germany's commitment to the issues raised by resolution was apparent from the fact that issues of violence against women had been discussed within Germany for years. Among measures taken by the country were steps to protect women migrant workers.
In a resolution on impunity (document E/CN.4/1998/L.72), the Commission recognized that for victims of humanrights violations, public knowledge of their suffering and the truth about perpetrators of those violations were essential steps towards rehabilitation and reconciliation, and urged States to intensify efforts to provide a fair and equitable process through which violations could be investigated and made public and to encourage victims to participate in it. It emphasized the importance of taking all necessary steps to hold accountable perpetrators of human rights violations, and urged States to take action through due process of law. It called upon States and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide concrete and practical assistance to States requesting it to achieve the goals set out in the resolution; and requested the Secretary-General to collect from States information on steps taken to combat impunity and to submit a report on the matter to the Commission at its fifty-fifth session.
Bn a resolution entitled "Towards a culture of peace" (document E/CN.4/1998/L.74), the Commission welcomed the General Assembly's proclamation of the year 2000 as the International Year for the Culture of Peace; urged States to promote such a culture; and decided to consider the issue of a culture of peace at its fifty-fifth session.
By a resolution on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (document E/CN.4/1998/L.75), the Commission encouraged member States to establish or strengthen such institutions as outlined in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. It invited
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governments to contribute additional funds to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for technical cooperation in the field of human rights. It requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide, from within existing resources, necessary assistance for holding meetings of the relevant coordinating committee of such national institutions during the sessions of the Commission. It was important for national institutions which conformed with the relevant principles to be able to participate in meetings of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies, and the Secretary-General was requested to submit a report on the implications of possible forms of such participation. The Commission recognized the important and constructive role non-governmental organizations could play in cooperation with national institutions in promoting human rights.
RODOLFO REYES RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said Cuba thanked the three main co-sponsors of l.77 for their significant flexibility in the complex process of negotiations. This showed how far the Commission could go when its members demonstrated a spirit of endeavour.
HAMIDON ALI (Malaysia) said it had always adopted an approach of constructive dialogue when addressing human rights issues and would continue to do so. In this spirit, it joined the consensus in that spirit. However, Malaysia would have preferred to have had an operative paragraph which made reference to the need to review and assess the progress made in the field of human rights since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This would have been relevant since there could be no doubt that the international community had fallen short of the standards set in the Universal Declaration.
ABUEL GASIM IDRIS (Sudan) said his delegation associated itself with the statement made by Malaysia.
In a decision recommended by the Subcommission on freedom of movement and population transfer (document E/CN.4/1998/2), the Commission recommended to the Economic and Social Council that the final report of Mr. Awn Al-Khansawneh, Special Rapporteur on human rights and population transfer, be published and widely disseminated.
In a decision recommended by the Subcommission on a study on terrorism and human rights, adopted by a roll-call vote of 37 in favour to none against, with 16 abstentions, the Commission approved the appointment of Kalliopi Koufa as Special Rapporteur to conduct a comprehensive study on terrorism and human rights on the basis of her working paper.
The result of the vote was as follows:
In favour: Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, El
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Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Abstentions: Argentina, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Poland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.
Mr. SINGH (India) said the study on human rights and terrorism proposed by the Subcommission was both important and timely. Since 1992, the Subcommission had made important contributions to the examination of the impact of terrorism on human rights and related matters, such as the accountability of non-State actors who were responsible for massive abuses of human rights. India recognized that there were differences in perception of how to address the problem of terrorism. The Subcommission was best placed to undertake a detailed study on the subject, which it hoped would clarify all aspects related to human rights and terrorism and contribute to the building of international consensus.
By a resolution on advisory services, technical cooperation and the United Nations Voluntary Fund for technical cooperation in the field of human rights (document E/CN.4/1998/L.44), the Commission reaffirmed that advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights required close cooperation and coordination between United Nations bodies ad all specialized agencies active in this field so as to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their respective programmes and to promote all human rights, the rule of law and democracy. It invited relevant United Nations treaty bodies, special rapporteurs and special representatives, as well as working groups, to continue to include in their recommendations proposals for specific projects to be realized under the programme of advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights. It emphasized the need for an increase in the allocation of resources from within the regular United Nations budget for advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights.
Mr. SINGH (India) said the programme of advisory services and technical cooperation was of utmost importance because it was among the most effective means to promote human rights. It was essential to maintain the identity of the programme and ensure that its mandate was not mixed up with those on monitoring and other issues. Therefore, India could not continue to be a co-sponsor of the draft.
DENIS LEPATAN (Philippines) said the delegation associated itself with the statement just made by India.
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By a resolution, on the situation of human rights in Haiti (document E/CN.4/1998/L.51), the Commission called upon the Haitian authorities to mobilize political will for the pursuit of reform and for the strengthening of the judicial system and improvement of the country's prisons. It drew attention to the need for the Haitian National Police to continue receiving technical training; invited the international community, including the Bretton Woods institutions to continue their involvement in the reconstruction and development of Haiti; and invited once again the Special Rapporteur on violence against women to consider favourably the invitation by the Government of Haiti to visit the country.
In a resolution, on assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights (document E/CN.4/1998/L.66), the Commission expressed deep concern at reports of arbitrary and summary executions, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and violence, in particular against women and children, and at the absence of an effective judicial system. It strongly urged all parties in Somalia to respect human rights and international humanitarian law pertaining to internal armed conflict; and called upon all parties to the conflict to work towards a peaceful solution to the crisis.
In a resolution on the situation of human rights in Cambodia (document E/CN.4/1998/L.71), the Commission expressed grave concern about numerous instances of violations of human rights, including extrajudicial executions, torture including rape, illegal arrests and detention and violence in relation to political activities. It called upon the Government to investigate urgently and prosecute all those who had perpetrated human rights violations; and expressed grave concern at the situation of impunity in Cambodia. It welcomed the legislative framework adopted by the National Assembly and the return of political leaders from abroad, which was a key requirement towards a credible election process. It also welcomed the ceasefire and called upon all Cambodian parties to implement fully its terms and to facilitate the integration of all units into the Cambodian armed forces and guarantee their safety. It urged the Government to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women, including in the political and public life of the country and to combat violence against women in all its forms. it urged the Government to take concrete action to combat child prostitution and trafficking; and to increase its efforts to create a functioning and impartial system of justice. It expressed grave concern at the devastating consequences of the use of anti-personnel landmines on Cambodian society and encouraged the Government to continue its efforts or the removal of these mines.
AGUS TARMIDZI (Indonesia), speaking on behalf of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), said he would offer some thoughts on human rights situation in Cambodia. It was generally recognized that the situation in Cambodia was at a delicate stage. Indonesia wished to inform the Commission that the ASEAN troika on Cambodia would meet in Bangkok tomorrow to review the latest developments, with the view to making positive contributions
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to the restoration of peace. After the meeting, the troika would confer with the "Friends of Cambodia" and would also seek an audience with King Sihanouk. Cambodia had witnessed recent positive developments, such as a ceasefire and the general amnesty, which could contribute to a process of free, fair and credible elections. However, a number of important issues remained to be worked out, such as a permanent ceasefire, the reintegration of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the repatriation of those displaced in Thailand. The role of the United Nations had been essential so far and ASEAN hoped it would continue. ASEAN would continue to do its level best to contribute to peace and stability in Cambodia.
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