THIRD COMMITTEE APPROVES DRAFT ONCE AGAIN CALLING UPON STATES TO GUARANTEE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF TRAVEL, RECOGNIZE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY REUNIFICATION

17 November 1998

Press Release
GA/SHC/3510

THIRD COMMITTEE APPROVES DRAFT ONCE AGAIN CALLING UPON STATES TO GUARANTEE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF TRAVEL, RECOGNIZE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY REUNIFICATION

19981117 States Would Be Urged to Take All Appropriate Measures to Combat Hatred, Acts of Violence Motivated by Religious Intolerance, by Another Approved Draft

The General Assembly would once again call upon States to guarantee the right to universal freedom of travel to all foreign nationals residing in their territory and reaffirm that all Governments must recognize the vital importance of family reunification, under the provisions of one of five draft resolutions approved by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this afternoon.

Approved by a recorded vote of 82 in favour to 1 against (United States), with 67 abstentions, that text would also have the Assembly call upon all States to refrain from enacting, and to repeal if it already exists, legislation intended as a coercive measure that discriminates against individuals or groups of legal migrants by adversely affecting the right to send financial remittances to relatives in the country of origin. (For details of the vote, see Annex.)

Speaking in explanation of the vote, the representative of Mexico, who had voted in favour of the draft, emphasized that freedom of movement was established in article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it was clear that that right applied to all people, regardless of their migratory status.

The Committee, acting without a vote, approved four other drafts this afternoon.

Under the terms of a draft on strengthening of United Nations actions in the human rights field through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity, the Assembly would reaffirm that it is a purpose of the United Nations and the task of all Member States to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to remain vigilant with regard to violations of human rights wherever they occur.

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By another draft approved this afternoon, the Assembly would urge States to take all appropriate measures to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance and to encourage, through educational systems and by other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief.

A draft on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights would have the Assembly stress the importance of the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights and renew its appeal to Governments to organize information or training courses at the national level for government personnel on applying international human rights standards.

Under the provisions of another text approved, the Assembly would welcome the translation and dissemination of the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance into many languages and would welcome the experience gained during the two celebrations of the International Day for Tolerance.

Also this afternoon, the Committee heard the introduction of 10 draft resolutions. Under the provisions of those texts, the Assembly would:

-- call upon States and international organizations to provide support for the practical implementation of the Programme of Action of the Regional Conference to Address the Problems of Refugees in the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States;

-- call on Governments and other actors to ensure strict adherence to accepted humanitarian norms and principles and to promote national and international legislation responsive to actual and potential humanitarian problems;

-- condemn all acts that pose a threat to the personal security and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers, and call upon all States of refuge to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection;

-- call upon Governments to take steps to ensure that, in a state of emergency, the protection of human rights is ensured, in particular regarding the prevention of enforced disappearances;

-- call upon Governments to accord priority to the dissemination in their national and local languages of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights instruments, materials and training manuals, as well as reports of States parties under the human rights treaties;

-- welcome the commitment made by the Government of Iran to promote respect for the rule of law, including the elimination of arbitrary arrest and detention, and to reform the legal and penitentiary system;

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-- call upon the Haitian authorities to mobilize the political will for the pursuit of reform and for the strengthening of the judicial system and express deep concern at the prolonged political stalemate in the country, which presents risks for democracy, development and respect for human rights;

-- urge the Democratic Republic of the Congo to extend equal protection to all persons under its jurisdiction, regardless of their origin;

-- deplore the continuing violations of human rights in Myanmar, including extra-judicial and arbitrary executions, rape, torture, inhuman treatment, mass arrests, forced labour, and denial of freedom of expression, assembly, association and movement; and

-- urge the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the ethnic Albanian leadership in Kosovo to enter immediately into a meaningful dialogue, and to commit themselves to a clear timetable, leading to an end of the crisis there.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. tomorrow, 18 November, to continue its deliberations.

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this afternoon to take action on texts concerning the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance; respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification; regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights; strengthening of United Nations actions in the human rights field through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity; and follow-up to the United Nations Year for Tolerance.

It was also scheduled to hear the introduction of texts relating to 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 Commonwealth of Independent States and Relevant Neighbouring States; the new international humanitarian order; the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; the question of enforced or involuntary disappearances; the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004; situation of human rights in Iran; human rights in Haiti; the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the situation of human rights in Myanmar; and the situation of human rights in Kosovo.

Drafts for Action

By the terms of a draft resolution on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance (document A/C.3/53/L.32), the General Assembly would urge States to ensure that their constitutional and legal systems provide effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, including the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of religion or belief is violated. It would also urge States to ensure, in particular, that no one within their jurisdiction is, because of his or her religion or belief, deprived of the right to life or the right to liberty and security of person or subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or detention.

It would further urge States, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to take all necessary action to prevent such instances, to take all appropriate measures to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance and to encourage, through the educational system and by other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief. It would reaffirm that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a human right derived from the inherent dignity of the human person and guaranteed to all without discrimination.

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States would be urged to ensure that, in the course of their official duties, members of law enforcement bodies, civil servants, educators and other public officials respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons professing other religions or beliefs. They would be called upon to recognize, as provided in the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, the right of all persons to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places for those purposes.

The Assembly would encourage the continued efforts of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the elimination of all forms of religions intolerance and discrimination, and would encourage Governments to give serious consideration to inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries. The Secretary-General would be requested to ensure that the Special Rapporteur received the necessary staffing, financial and material resources to enable him to discharge his mandate.

When seeking the assistance of the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights, Governments would be encouraged to consider including requests for assistance in the field of the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

The draft is sponsored by Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.

By the terms of a draft resolution sponsored by Cuba on respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification (document A/C.3/53/L.36), the Assembly, recalling its resolution 52/121 of December 1997, would once again call upon all States to guarantee universally recognized freedom of travel to all foreign nationals legally residing in their territory.

The Assembly would call upon all States to allow, in conformity with international legislation, the free flow of financial remittances by foreign nationals residing in their territory to their relatives in the country of origin. It would also call upon all States to refrain from enacting, and to repeal if it already exists, legislation intended as a coercive measure that discriminates against individuals or groups of legal migrants by adversely

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affecting family reunification, and the right to send financial remittances to relatives in the country of origin.

The Assembly would decide to continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-fourth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions".

By terms of a draft on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights (document A/C.3/53/L.42), the Assembly would stress the importance of the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights. It would also renew its appeal to Governments to make use of the possibilities offered under the programme to organize information or training courses at the national level for government personnel on applying international human rights standards.

By the draft, the Assembly would reiterate the recommendation of the World Conference on Human Rights that human rights officers be assigned to United Nations regional offices to disseminate information and to offer training and other technical assistance when requested. It would invite States to take the steps establishing regional machinery for the promotion and protection of human rights. It would request the Commission on Human Rights to continue paying special attention to the most appropriate ways to assist countries of different regions both through the programme of technical cooperation and through recommendations.

The draft is sponsored by Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cameroon, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Philippines, United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Ukraine, United States and Venezuela.

By the terms of a draft resolution on strengthening of United Nations actions in the human rights field through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity (document A/C.3/53/L.44), the General Assembly would call upon Member States to base their activities for the protection and promotion of human rights, including the development of further international cooperation in the field, on the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other relevant international instruments, and to refrain from activities that are inconsistent with the international framework. It would reaffirm that it is a purpose of the United Nations and the task of all Member States, in cooperation with the Organization, to promote and encourage respect for human

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rights and fundamental freedoms and to remain vigilant with regard to violations of human rights wherever they occur.

The Assembly would consider that international cooperation in the field should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing mass and flagrant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and to the strengthening of international peace and security. It would reaffirm that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms should be guided by the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity, and should not be used for political ends.

It would request that all human rights bodies within the United Nations system take duly into account the contents of the present resolution in carrying out their mandates, and also request the Commission on Human Rights to take into account the present resolution and to consider further proposals for 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.

It would stress the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic and social situations and events of all countries, and would invite Member States to consider adopting the measures they may deem appropriate to achieve further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It would also request the Secretary-General to consult Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on ways and means for the strengthening of United Nations action in the human rights field.

The draft is sponsored by Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, China, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Lao Peoples's Democratic Republic, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Rwanda, Sudan, Syria, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

By terms of a draft on follow-up to the United Nations Year for Tolerance (document A/C.3/53/L.48), the Assembly would welcome the translation and dissemination of the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance into many languages. The Assembly would also welcome the experience gained during the two celebrations of the International Day for Tolerance and would invite Member States and other governmental and non-governmental bodies to continue contributing to the annual celebration. It would invite Member States to continue efforts toward achieving a wider application of the Declaration and would request the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to continue as lead agency in promoting tolerance and

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non-violence. It would request UNESCO to include information on progress made in implementing the follow-up Plan of Action for the United Nations Year for Tolerance in its report on a culture of peace to be submitted to the Millennium Assembly.

The draft is sponsored by Albania, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uruguay.

Drafts for Introduction

Under the provisions of a draft text 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 Commonwealth of Independent States and Relevant Neighbouring States (document A/C.3/53/L.52), the Assembly would invite all countries that have not yet done so to accede to and implement fully the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the status of refugees. It would also call upon States and interested international organizations, in a spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing, to provide appropriate forms and levels of support for the practical implementation of the Programme of Action adopted by the Conference, and invite international financial and other institutions to contribute to the financing of projects and programmes within the framework of the implementation of the Programme of Action.

The Assembly would call upon Governments of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to strengthen their efforts and mutual cooperation relating to the follow-up to the Conference, and welcome the positive results achieved by them in the implementation of the Programme of Action of the Conference.

Countries of the CIS would be invited to intensify bilateral and subregional cooperation in maintaining the balance of commitments and interests in the process leading up to the implementation of the Programme of Action, and their Governments would be called upon to continue to strengthen their commitments to the principles underpinning the Programme, in particular human rights and refugee protection principles.

The Assembly would welcome the progress made in building civil society, in particular through the development of the non-governmental sector, the development of cooperation between non-governmental organizations and the Governments of a number of countries of the CIS; and encourage the involvement

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of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the follow-up to the Conference.

The draft is sponsored by Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom and United States.

By terms of a draft on the new international humanitarian order (document A/C.3/53/L.54), the Assembly would invite Governments to make available to the Secretary-General information and expertise on humanitarian problems of special concern in order to identify opportunities for future action. The Assembly would also call on Governments and other actors to ensure strict adherence to accepted humanitarian norms and principles and to promote national and international legislation responsive to actual and potential humanitarian problems. The Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues would be invited to reinforce its activities and the Secretary-General would requested to maintain contact with all actors.

The draft is sponsored by Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Monaco, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Slovenia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

By the terms of a 110-power draft resolution on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (document A/C.3/53/L.55), the Assembly would condemn all acts that pose a threat to the personal security and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers such as refoulement, unlawful expulsion and physical attacks, and call upon all States of refuge to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection. It would also urge States to uphold the civilian and humanitarian character of refugee camps and settlements, by means including the prevention of infiltration of armed elements, and identifying and separating armed elements from refugees.

It would call upon States and all concerned parties to refrain from any actions that prevent or obstruct the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner and other humanitarian personnel from performing the functions required under their mandates and to take all possible measures to safeguard their physical security and property. States and relevant organizations would be further urged to support the High Commissioner's search for durable solutions to refugee problems, including voluntary repatriation, and integration in the country of asylum, reaffirming that voluntary repatriation is the preferred solution. They would be called upon to promote conditions

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conducive to the voluntary repatriation of refugees in safety and with dignity, including conditions furthering reconciliation and long-term development in countries of return, and to support the sustainable reintegration of returnees by providing countries of origin with necessary rehabilitation and development assistance.

In addition, the Assembly would urge States, in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant organizations, to explore and fully support capacity-building initiatives as part of a comprehensive approach to addressing refugee issues, and to take necessary measures to promote sustainable development and to ensure the success of capacity-building activities. It would call upon them to adopt an approach that is sensitive to gender-related concerns, and would urge States and relevant parties to respect and to observe principles of international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law that are of particular relevance to safeguarding the rights of the child and adolescent refugees.

States would also be called upon to demonstrate their international solidarity and burden-sharing with countries of asylum through efforts aimed at continuing to alleviate the burden borne by States, in particular developing countries, countries in transition and countries with limited resources that, due to their location, host large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers.

The draft is sponsored by Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

By the terms of a resolution on the question of enforced or involuntary disappearances (document A/C.3/53/L.46), the Assembly would reaffirm that any act of enforced disappearance is an offence to human dignity and a grave and flagrant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It would call upon Governments to take steps to ensure that, when a state of emergency is

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introduced, the protection of human rights is ensured, in particular as regards the prevention of enforced disappearances, and once again urge Governments concerned to take steps to protect the families of disappeared persons against any intimidation or ill-treatment to which they might be subjected. States would be encouraged to provide concrete information on measures taken to give effect to the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, as well as obstacles encountered; States would be requested to consider disseminating the text of the Declaration in national and local languages.

Under further terms of the text, the Assembly would recall the importance of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the primary role of which is to act as a channel of communication between the families of disappeared persons and the Government concerned; invite the Group to continue to identify obstacles to the realization of the provisions of the Declarations and to recommend ways of overcoming those obstacles; encourage the Group to continue to consider the question of impunity; and request the Group to pay the utmost attention to cases of children subjected to enforced disappearance and children of disappeared persons.

The Assembly would appeal to the Governments concerned to cooperate fully with the Group, and express its profound thanks to the many Governments that have cooperated with it. It would call upon the Commission on Human Rights to continue to study this question and to take any necessary steps in pursuing the tasks of the Group. It would renew its request to the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Group with all the facilities it requires to perform its functions. He would also be requested to keep it informed of the steps he takes to secure dissemination and promotion of the Declaration.

The draft is sponsored by Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Spain and United Kingdom.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and public information activities in the field of human rights (document A/C.3/53/L.50), the Assembly would urge all Governments to contribute further to the implementation of the Decade's Plan of Action, in particular by establishing, in accordance with national conditions, broadly representative national committees for human rights education, taking into consideration the guidelines developed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights within the framework of the Decade. The Assembly would urge Governments to encourage, support and

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involve national and local non-governmental and community-based organizations in the implementation of their national plans of action.

Also by the draft, the Assembly would call upon Governments to accord priority to the dissemination in their relevant national and local languages of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other human rights instruments, materials and training manuals, as well as reports of States parties under the human rights treaties, and to provide information and education in those languages on how national and international institutions and procedures may be utilized to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments.

The Assembly would also urge the Department of Public Information to continue to utilize United Nations information centres for the timely dissemination of basic information, reference and audio-visual materials on human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the reports of States parties under human rights instruments, and to ensure that the information centres are supplied with adequate quantities of those materials.

It would further stress the need for close collaboration between the Office of the High Commissioner and the Department of Public Information in the implementation of the Plan of Action and the World Public Information Campaign on Human rights and the need to harmonize their activities with those of other international organizations such as UNESCO with regard to its project entitled "Towards a culture of peace" and the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations, with regard to the dissemination of information on international humanitarian law.

The Assembly would call upon the international, regional and national non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations, in particular those concerned with women, labour, development, food, housing, education, health care and the environment, as well as all other social justice groups, human rights advocates, educators, religious organizations and the media, to undertake specific activities of formal, non-formal and informal education, including cultural events, on its own and in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner, in implementing the Plan of Action. Governments and organizations would be urged to continue the human rights education and public information work undertaken in the context of the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as the development of materials, the elaboration of programmes and the establishment of networks, beyond 10 December 1998, as called for by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 1998/45 of 17 April. The Assembly would encourage the Commission on Human Rights to consider jointly the question of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and public information activities in the field of human rights, including the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights.

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The draft resolution is sponsored by Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Greece, Guatemala, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United States and Zimbabwe.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran (document A/C.3/53/L.38), the Assembly would welcome the commitment made by the Government of that country to promote respect for the rule of law, including the elimination of arbitrary arrest and detention, and to reform the legal and penitentiary system, including the closure of detention centres outside the national prison system, and to bring it into line with international human rights standards in the field.

It would call upon the Government to continue its efforts and to abide by its freely undertaken obligations under the International Covenants on Human Rights and other international instruments on human rights, and to ensure that all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction, including persons belonging to religious minorities, enjoy all the rights enshrined in those instruments; to ensure that capital punishment would not be imposed for other than the most serious crimes, for apostasy, or otherwise in disregard of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and United Nations safeguards; and to make full use of technical cooperation programmes in the field of human rights. The willingness of the Government to introduce international human rights standards into the curricula of universities would be welcomed.

Also welcomed would be the interim report of the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Iran. The Assembly would take note of his conclusion that a political will exists to move Iranian society to a more tolerant and more peaceful condition but that, while some sectors are already benefiting from that progress, significant violations of human rights continue to occur. It would deplore the fact that no invitation has yet been extended to the Special Representative to visit the country. The Government would be called upon to extend an invitation to him and to resume its full cooperation with the Special Representative in the discharge of his mandate.

The Assembly would welcome the more open debate in Iran on issues of governance and human rights, by further terms of the draft, as well as governmental efforts to make progress in the area of freedom of expression, while remaining concerned at instances of arbitrary closure of publications, widely reported cases of harassment and persecution of persons, including writers and members of the press. The more positive approach by the Government with regard to freedom of assembly, as well as the support given to the development of non-governmental organizations would be welcomed. The

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Assembly would express its hope that freedom for political activities will become more effective.

Concern would be expressed at the continuing violations of human rights in Iran, in particular executions in the apparent absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, the use of national security laws as a basis for derogating from the rights of the individual, cases of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including sentences of stoning and amputation, as well as the failure to meet international standards in the administration of justice and the absence of due process of law. Concern would be expressed at the discrimination against religious minorities and grave concern expressed at the unabated pattern of persecution against the Baha'is, in particular the execution and sentencing to death and arrests of members of the Baha'i community. The Government would be called upon to implement the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on religious intolerance relating to the Baha'is and to other religious minorities.

The resolution is sponsored by Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States.

Under the provisions of a draft text on human rights in Haiti (document A/C.3/53/L.43), the Assembly would call upon the Haitian authorities to mobilize the political will for the pursuit of reform and for the strengthening of the judicial system and the improvement of the country's prisons. It would welcome the decision of the Government of Haiti to distribute throughout the country the report of the National Commission for Truth and Justice of February and to initiate legal action in serious cases; encourage it to continue its work on the reform of the judicial system and call upon all sectors of Haitian society concerned to adopt coordinated measures with a view to the enhancement of the justice system.

The Assembly would express its deep concern at the prolonged stalemate in the country which presents considerable risks for democracy, economic and social development and respect for human rights, and urge the authorities and political leaders to continue their efforts to resolve the crisis so that the appointment of a Prime Minister may be ratified by the Parliament without further delay. It would note with satisfaction the putting into operation by the Government of Haiti of the Office of Citizen Protection, and invite the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to contribute to its strengthening, through a programme of technical support.

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The international community would be invited to continue their involvement in the reconstruction and development of Haiti, having regard for the fragility of the political, social and economic situation of the country. The Government would be encouraged to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights.

The draft is sponsored by Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

By terms of a draft on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (document A/C.3/53/L.47), the Assembly would express deep concern at the impact of the current conflict in that country and at the deterioration of the situation of human rights there, aggravated by the ongoing conflict. It would urge that all parties to the conflict take measures to prevent violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law by forces under their command and to abstain from inciting ethnic hatred or persecuting civilians on the grounds of nationality or ethnicity. It would further urge the Government to extend equal protection to all persons under its jurisdiction regardless of origin.

Further by that draft, the Assembly would express concern at severe restrictions on the work of non-governmental organizations and media personnel, urging the authorities to address concerns about restrictions such as the banning of human rights organizations or detention of human rights defenders. It would recall and welcome the expressed commitment of the Government to a process of democratization, welcoming such steps as the establishment of the Constitutional Commission and a commitment to restoring the judicial system. Recalling the report of the Secretary-General's Investigative Team charged with investigating serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, the Assembly would call upon the Governments of both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of Rwanda to investigate allegations and bring to justice those found to have been involved in massacres, atrocities or other violations of rights.

In addition, the Assembly would deplore the failure of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur to that country and would urge the Government to allow him to visit the country. It would request the Government to fully cooperate with the Human Rights Field Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and would call upon the international community to provide assistance to the Office, in such areas as national capacity-building. Underlining the need for human rights

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considerations to be fully taken into account in settling any conflict, the Assembly would invite the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism and intolerance to investigate allegations of hate propaganda and policies of ethnic hatred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to include relevant information in his report to the Commission on Human Rights.

The draft is sponsored by Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar (document A/C.3/53/L.59), the Assembly would urge the Government of Myanmar to cooperate fully with all United Nations authorities and bodies, in particular and without further delay with the Special Rapporteur, and to ensure his access to Myanmar, without preconditions, to establish direct contact with the Government and all other sectors of society to allow him fully to discharge his mandate. The Assembly would deplore the continuing violations of human rights in Myanmar, including extra-judicial and arbitrary executions, rape, torture, inhuman treatment, mass arrests, forced labour, forced relocation and denial of freedom of expression, assembly, association and movement, as reported by the Special Rapporteur.

The Assembly would strongly urge the Government of Myanmar to release immediately and unconditionally detained political leaders and all political prisoners, to ensure their physical integrity and to permit them to participate in the process of national reconciliation. It would also urge that Government to urgently expand and intensify its contacts with the National League for Democracy with a view to engaging in a substantive political dialogue with the General Secretary of the League, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other political leaders, including the representative of ethnic and other groups, as the best means of promoting national reconciliation and the full and early restoration of democracy.

By further terms of the draft, the Assembly would strongly urge the Government of Myanmar, taking into account its assurances given at various times, to take all necessary steps towards the restoration of democracy in accordance with the will of the people as expressed in the democratic elections held in 1990 and to ensure that political parties and non-governmental organizations can function freely. The Government would be strongly urged to take all appropriate measures to allow all citizens to participate freely in the political process, in accordance with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to accelerate the process of transition to democracy.

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The Government would be further called upon to implement fully the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur and strongly urged to fulfil its obligations with regard to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, among other international human rights instruments. The Government and other parties to the hostilities would be called upon to respect fully obligations under international humanitarian law, including article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The Assembly would express concern that the human rights situation in Myanmar, and the lack of stability, has resulted in flows of refugees to neighbouring countries, and may cause further negative effects for these countries, and therefore call upon that Government to create the necessary conditions to ensure an end to the movements of refugees to neighbouring countries and to create conditions conducive to their voluntary return and their full reintegration, in conditions of safety and dignity.

The Secretary-General would be requested to continue his discussions on the situation of human rights and the restoration of democracy with the Government of Myanmar, and to submit additional reports to the Assembly during its fifty-third session on the progress of these discussions, and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-fourth session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-fifth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Kosovo (document A/C.3/53/L.61), the Assembly would call upon the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to respect fully all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to abide by democratic norms, especially in regard to respect for the principle of free and fair elections, the rule of law, the administration of justice, free and fair trials and the promotion and protection of free and independent media. The Assembly would call upon the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the ethnic Albanian leadership in Kosovo to condemn acts of terrorism, denounce and refrain from all acts of violence, encourage the pursuit of goals through peaceful means, and respect international humanitarian law and international human rights standards.

The authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanian leadership would be urged to enter immediately into a meaningful dialogue, without preconditions and with international involvement, and to commit themselves both to a clear timetable, leading to an end of the crisis, and to a negotiated political settlement of the issue of Kosovo. The current efforts aimed at facilitating such a dialogue would be welcomed. The Assembly would strongly condemn the overwhelming number of human rights violations

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committed by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the police and military authorities in Kosovo, in breach of international humanitarian law including the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Protocol II to the Conventions relating to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts, including summary executions, indiscriminate and widespread attacks on civilians, the taking of civilian hostages, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia would be called upon to take all measures necessary to eliminate those unacceptable practices.

The Assembly would condemn the violence by armed ethnic Albanian groups, in particular against non-combatants, including kidnappings and would strongly condemn the denial of appropriate access to Kosovo of non-governmental organizations, the manipulation and denial of relief and basic foodstuffs, and the denial of medical care to wounded civilians. It would call upon the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to take all measures necessary to eliminate those unacceptable practices.

The Assembly would deeply deplore the killing of humanitarian aid workers, as reported by the Secretary-General, and would call upon all parties, in particular those of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to clear the area of all landmines and booby-traps and to work with the relevant international bodies to that end. Further, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia would be called upon to establish a local police force in Kosovo under local or communal direction; to abide by the principle that no person will be prosecuted in state courts for crimes related to the conflict in Kosovo, except for crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes covered by international law; to allow complete, unimpeded access to Kosovo for all forensic experts of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, to examine the recently alleged atrocities against civilians; to mitigate the punishments of and where appropriate to amnesty the ethnic Albanians in Kosovo sentenced for criminal offenses motivated by political aims; and to respect fully all the rights of individuals in Kosovo, whatever their ethnic, cultural or religious backgrounds, so as to guarantee equitable treatment of their values and historic patrimony and so as to preserve and permit expression of their national, cultural, religious and linguistic identities in accordance with international standards and the Helsinki Final Act.

The Assembly would further call upon the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to open to public observation all trials or criminal prosecutions against all those charged in relation to the conflict in Kosovo, and would also call upon those same authorities to make possible the establishment of genuine democratic self-governance in Kosovo, through a negotiated political settlement with representatives of the ethnic Albanian community, as called for by the Security Council in its resolutions, to include executive, legislative and judicial bodies and police, and in so doing

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to respect the rights of Kosovar Albanians and all who live in Kosovo, and expresses its support for an enhanced status for Kosovo, which would include a substantially greater degree of autonomy.

The Assembly would call upon the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and armed Albanian groups to refrain from any harassment and intimidation of journalists; to work closely with and support the mission to Kosovo of the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE and with the Kosovo Verification Mission; to investigate and prosecute in all cases where so warranted, notably those cases concerning its personnel, anyone suspected of torture and ill-treatment of persons held in detention; and to release all political prisoners, to allow unimpeded access by non-governmental organizations and international observers to those prisoners who remain in detention, and to cease the persecution of political leaders and members of local human rights organizations.

Further, the Assembly would call upon the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and ethnic Albanian leaders to allow for and facilitate the free and unhindered return to their homes, in safety and dignity, of all internally displaced persons and refugees, and express its concern about reports of continuing harassment or other impediments in that regard. It would also call upon that Government and all others concerned to guarantee the unrestricted access of humanitarian organizations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to Kosovo.

The Assembly would demand that the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanian leadership and all others concerned cooperate fully with the Tribunal and honour all of their obligations towards it, by providing full and free access to Kosovo for the investigators of the Tribunal. It would request the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia to monitor closely the situation of human rights in Kosovo, to pay special attention to Kosovo in his reporting and to report his findings to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-fifth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Djibouti, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States.

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Introduction of Drafts

ANDREI NIKIFOROV (Russian Federation) introduced the draft resolution on 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 Commonwealth of Independent States and relevant neighbouring States (document A/C.3/53/L.52).

PRINCE ZEID RA'AD ZEID AL-HUSSEIN (Jordan) introduced the draft resolution on the new international humanitarian order (document A/C.3/53/L.54). He said Kazakhstan, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania had joined as co-sponsors of the draft.

PER SJOGREN (Sweden), on behalf of the Nordic countries, introduced the draft resolution on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (document A/C.3/53/L.55). He made an oral revision to operative paragraph 10 of the draft. The words "...refrain from any actions that prevent or obstruct..." should be replaced by "...continue to closely cooperate...", so that it reads: "Calls upon States and concerned parties to continue to closely cooperate with the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner and other humanitarian personnel in performing..."

He said the following countries had joined as co-sponsors of the draft: Bolivia, Botswana, Cape Verde, Chad, Guinea, Malta, Paraguay, Swaziland and Uruguay.

MARINE DE CARNE DE TRECESSON (France) introduced the draft resolution on the question of enforced or involuntary disappearances (document A/C.3/53/L.46). She said the following countries had joined as co-sponsors of the draft: Hungary, Portugal, Senegal, Sweden, Republic of Moldova, United States, Lithuania, United States, Cuba and Iceland.

HAZEL DE WET (Namibia) introduced the draft on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and public information activities in the field of human rights (document A/C.3/53/L.50). She said the following countries had joined as co-sponsors: Venezuela, Croatia, Philippines, Russian Federation, Austria, Ukraine, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Togo, Burundi, Botswana and Benin.

ENGELBERT THEUERMANN (Austria), on behalf of the European Union, introduced the draft on the situation of human rights in Iran (document A/C.3/53/L.38).

MARTHA DI FELICE (Venezuela) introduced the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Haiti (document A/C.3/53/L.43). She said the following countries had joined as co-sponsors of the draft: Australia,

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Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Denmark, Hungary, Israel, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic and Iceland.

She said the words ".. express their wishes fully through free, honest..." in the penultimate preambular paragraph should be replaced by "...fully express their will through free, fair and... " so that the paragraph reads: Reiterating the hope that the Haitian people will, at the earliest possible date, be able to fully express their will through free, fair and transparent elections". Also, in operative paragraph 5, the word "statement" should be replaced by "stalemate".

Mr. THEUERMANN (Austria) introduced the draft on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (document A/C.3/53/L.47).

MAURICE ESSANDZO (Congo) said his country was not a co-sponsor of the draft resolution.

MONGA MULENDA MAKONGA (Democratic Republic of the Congo) said his country was not a co-sponsor of the text and rejected the text as a whole.

ANTONIO RICOCA FREIRE (Portugal) said Portugal should have been included as a co-sponsor of the draft resolution.

CARINA MARTENSSON (Sweden) introduced the draft on the situation of human rights in Myanmar (document A/C.3/53/L.59).

BETTY KING (United States) introduced the draft on the human rights situation in Kosovo (document A/C.3/53/L.61). She said the following countries had joined as co-sponsors: Croatia, Iceland and the United Arab Emirates.

Action on Draft Texts

The Committee took up the draft resolution on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance (document A/C.3/53/L.32).

The representative of Ireland said that Solomon Islands had joined as a co-sponsor of the draft.

Ukraine, Madagascar and Panama also joined as co-sponsors.

The resolution was approved without a vote.

The Committee then turned to the draft resolution on respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification (document A/C.3/53/L.36).

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The draft resolution was approved by a vote of 82 in favour to one against (United States), with 67 abstentions. (See Annex.)

The representative of Mexico, in explanation of her vote after the action, said she had voted in favour of the draft because the elements in the text were important for the promotion of the human rights of migrants. However, regarding operative paragraph 1 of the draft (which would have the General Assembly, once again, call upon all States to guarantee the universally recognized freedom of travel to all foreign nationals legally residing in their territory), she emphasized that freedom of movement was established in Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it was clear that that right applied to all people, regardless of their migratory status.

The representative of Chile said he had voted in favour of the draft because its elements were important for the fulfilment of the human rights of migrants. However, the text of the draft should express recognition of Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, under which everyone had the right to leave his country and to return to it.

The Committee then took up the draft on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights (document A/C.3/53/L.42).

The representative of Belgium said that Guinea and the Republic of Korea had also joined as co-sponsors of the draft.

El Salvador, Malawi and Sierra Leone added their names to the list of co-sponsors.

The resolution was approved without a vote.

The Committee then turned to the resolution on the strengthening of United Nations actions in the human rights field through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity (document A/C.3/53/L.44).

Madagascar and Uganda joined as co-sponsors.

The draft resolution was then approved without a vote.

The Committee then took up the draft resolution on the follow-up to the United Nations Year for Tolerance (A/C.3/53/L.48).

The representative of Turkey said the Russian Federation had joined the list of co-sponsors.

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The Dominican Republic and Panama also announced their decision to co- sponsor the draft.

The draft was approved without a vote.

The representative of Syria, in explanation of his position after the action, said he had supported the consensus, but believed that some important principles had been left out of the draft. Tolerance did not include the violation of rights that had been provided for in the United Nations Charter or international humanitarian law. Nor did it mean accepting aggression, systematic massacres or confiscation of properties. The principle of tolerance did not agree with the use of force or with intransigence.

The question of terrorism had only been dealt with in passing in the formulation of the Follow-up Plan of Action for the United Nations Year of Tolerance, he said. There was no distinction between terrorism and occupation. Syria had always condemned terrorism, including by supporting many resolutions on that subject within the United Nations, and had contributed to the adoption of a code of conduct for Arab States in combating terrorism.

Syria naturally condemned racism, he said. It did not condone foreign occupation, hatred of Arabs, Africans or the peoples of Asia and Latin America. He affirmed that Syria was committed to all principles of tolerance and the Plan of Action, and was seriously committed to finding solutions to the problem of intolerance.

Other Matters

The representative of Cuba, referring to resolution 52/154 on the award for human rights to be granted in 1998, asked how the winners for the human rights prizes were to be chosen. The prizes were to be awarded on 10 December, and the committee charged with selecting the winners had already met. It would be appropriate for the Third Committee to be given some information about who would be receiving the prizes. The prizes were obviously very highly valued, and there should be more information from the preparatory committee. The information should not come as a surprise.

KATE STARR NEWEL, Committee Secretary, replied that the Bureau had discussed that question, and had put it to the committee that chose the prize winners. The response had been that the names would be announced only on 10 December. She said it might be useful to relay the comments of the representative of Cuba to the President of the General Assembly, so that they could be followed up upon.

The representative of Cuba thanked the Committee Secretary for her explanation. He said he was surprised, because a procedure such as that

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should be participatory. He considered that all members of the General Assembly had a responsibility regarding the prizes, and he did not want there to be any unpleasant surprises. In certain political processes, secrecy was not the best way of dong things, especially when such a solemn occasion was coming up on 10 December.

The representative of China also thanked the Committee Secretary for her answer. He noted the question raised by Cuba, and said he also wanted to raise a question on that issue. As far as he knew, on 10 December, the General Assembly would adopt a decision on human rights awards. He asked how long before the decision was made would the list of candidates be published. After the list was released, would the General Assembly make its decision immediately? he asked. He understood that there would be some time before the decision would be taken. It was necessary to have one day between the introduction of and action on resolutions.

ALI HACHANI (Tunisia), Committee Chairman, said several meetings had been held to select prize winners. He did not know whether the final decision had been made yet. Tomorrow, the Committee Secretary might be in a position to provide more answers to the Committee.

(annex follows)

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ANNEX

Vote on Right to Freedom of Travel, Family Reunification

The draft resolution on respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the right of travel and the vital importance of family reunification (document A/C.3/53/L.36) was approved by a recorded vote of 82 in favour to 1 against, with 67 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: United States.

Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

Absent: Afghanistan, Belize, Benin, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Honduras, Kenya, Mauritius, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen.

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