GENERAL ASSEMBLY ASKED TO ARRANGE HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE NEXT YEAR FOR SIGNING OF CONVENTION AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME

Press Release
GA/SHC/3564

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ASKED TO ARRANGE HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE NEXT YEAR FOR SIGNING OF CONVENTION AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME

Decision on Millennium Event among Various Actions Taken By Social Committee; Proposal on Death Penalty Shelved for Present Session

A high-level political signing conference for the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime will be held in Palermo, Italy, during next year’s session of the General Assembly, by the terms of one of 10 draft resolutions approved without a vote by the Assembly’s Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this afternoon, as the Committee met to hear the introduction of drafts and to act on others.

By the draft, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to schedule the conference for a period of up to one week before the end of the Millennium Assembly in 2000. The United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention would be asked to propose the agenda and to include opportunities for the discussion of matters related to the Convention and its protocols. The text was originally sponsored by 48 States. They were joined by 107 more when the draft was introduced by the representative of the United States.

Two drafts on the Convention itself were among the others approved by the Committee this afternoon. The Assembly would note the results achieved by the Ad Hoc Committee to elaborate the Convention and its protocols. It would also decide that the Ad Hoc Committee should submit the final texts to the Assembly in advance of the high-level meeting.

Other drafts approved by the Committee concerned the African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders; enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, including public information activities in the field of human rights; promoting the Declaration on the rights of minorities; human rights in the administration of justice; protection and assistance of internally displaced persons; and the Declaration on rights and responsibilities to promote and protect human rights.

In addition, the Committee heard the introduction of other draft resolutions. Those concerned the revitalization of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW); follow-up to the conference on refugees in the Commonwealth of Independent States; globalization and human rights; human rights and unilateral coercive measures; strengthening

Third Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SHC/3564 50th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1999

the role of the United Nations in elections and democratization; enhancing international cooperation in the field of human rights; the right to development; human rights in Kosovo; and human rights in Iraq.

Also this afternoon, on the basis of a decision by sponsors of the draft, the Committee decided it would not consider a draft resolution on the death penalty during the present session.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday, 18 November) to continue hearing the introduction of draft resolutions and taking action on others.

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to hear the introduction of draft resolutions on a range of issues and to take action on others.

Draft Resolutions

The Committee has before it the following draft resolutions expected to be introduced.

A draft resolution on revitalizing and strengthening the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) (document A/C.3/54/L.89) would have the Assembly take note with appreciation of the proposal for a new working method of the Institute through the establishment of an electronic Gender Awareness Information and Networking System, urging at the same time that traditional methods of information dissemination be improved and strengthened. It would request the new Institute Director to ensure preparation of a feasibility study of the proposed new networking system, recommending that it provide information on how the new working method would benefit the advancement of women, particularly from developing countries. It would urge the use of all six official United Nations languages on the Institute’s Web site and urge States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the INSTRAW Trust Fund. The draft resolution is sponsored by Guyana.

By a 27-Power draft resolution on the follow-up to the regional conference on refugees, displaced persons and related persons in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (document A/C.3/54/L.91), the Assembly would endorse the broad consensus reached by the steering group of the Conference that implementation of the Programme of Action be continued and that follow-up after the year 2000 should be considered. It would invite steps by those concerned to continue implementation activities, welcoming the progress made in building civil society in the area and emphasizing the need to fulfil recommendations of the Programme of Action relating to ensuring human rights as an important factor in managing migration flows, consolidating democracy, the rule of law and stability.

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

By a draft resolution on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights (document A/C.3/54/L.71/Rev.1), the Assembly would underline the need to analyse the consequences of globalization for the full enjoyment of all human rights. Also, it would request the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights. The draft is sponsored by Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Pakistan.

By a draft on human rights and unilateral coercive measures (document A/C.3/54/L.79), sponsored by China, on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, and South Africa, the Assembly would urge all States to refrain from adopting or implementing unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter. It would reject unilateral coercive measures with all their extraterritorial effects as tools for political or economic pressure against any country. It would urge the Commission on Human Rights to take fully into account the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures in its task of implementing the right to development, requesting the High Commissioner for Human Rights to give priority to the resolution in her annual report.

Another draft resolution before the Committee is on strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization (document A/C.3/54/L.83). The General Assembly would ask that the United Nations continue its efforts to ensure that conditions exist to allow free and fair elections in requesting States and that provisions can be made for adequate and comprehensive reporting of the results. The Secretary-General would be requested to take further steps to support States that request assistance by enabling the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support democratization activities related to human rights concerns, including human rights training and education. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) would be requested to continue its commendable programmes of assistance for governance, in cooperation with other relevant organizations and institutions, in particular those for strengthening democratic institutions and participation and linkages between concerned sectors of society and governments.

That text is sponsored by Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States.

A draft on enhancing international cooperation in the field of human rights (document A/C.3/54/L.84) would have the Assembly call on the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations to carry out inter-cultural dialogue as a salient part of the dialogue among civilizations and to continue consultations to enhance understanding and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms, encouraging non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to contribute. The draft is sponsored by South Africa and China, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The two nations are also sponsors of a draft resolution on the right to development (document A/C.3/54/L.85), by which the Assembly would express deep concern that the gap between the developed and developing countries remained unacceptably wide. It would urge States to eliminate all obstacles to development at all levels by such measures as the promotion and protection of all rights, by such actions as implementing comprehensive development programmes at the national level, integrating them into development activities, and promoting international cooperation. Recommending proper consideration of the humanitarian effects of sanctions, it would stress the need for the Secretary- General to give high priority to the right to development, urging all States to promote it as a vital element in a balanced human rights programme. Finally, it would urge States, the Secretary-General and the United Nations system to fully support the follow-up mechanism for implementing the right to development.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Kosovo (document A/C.3/54/L.82), the Assembly would demand that the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) provide an updated list of all persons detained and transferred from Kosovo to other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, specifying the charge, if any, under which each individual is detained. It further demands of that Government that it guarantee to the families of those detained and to NGOs and international observers unimpeded and regular access to those who remain in detention and release all individuals detained and transferred from Kosovo before July 1999, in violation of international humanitarian and human rights standards. It would also demand that Kosovo Albanian leaders provide an updated list of all persons detained and held against their will in Kosovo.

The Assembly would stress the importance, and the responsibility of all parties, of creating a secure environment in Kosovo to allow refugees and displaced persons to return, and allow all those wishing to remain in Kosovo a genuine possibility to do so, irrespective of ethnic origin. Also, all parties involved in Kosovo would be urged to support the efforts of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to ensure that all children in Kosovo return to school as soon as possible and to contribute to the rebuilding and repair of schools destroyed or damaged during the conflict in Kosovo.

The draft is sponsored by the following: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.

A draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Rwanda (document A/C.3/54/L.87) would have the Assembly express continuing concern at the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Rwanda. It would urge the Government and invite the International Tribunal for Rwanda to give utmost priority to prosecuting and punishing crimes of sexual violence against women. It would reiterate its appeal to the international community to provide financial and technical assistance to Rwanda, calling upon the Government to promote the rule of law and taking note with great concern the results of an investigative team of the Secretary-General. It would welcome a number of steps taken by the Government in its efforts to build a State based on the rule of law and would encourage further such actions, urging the Government to ensure that civil defence patrols in the north-west part of the country were properly controlled and held accountable for actions. The draft is sponsored by Canada.

A draft text, sponsored by the Russian Federation, on the human rights situation in Iraq (document A/C.3/54/L.92), would amend the draft introduced in the Committee yesterday (document A/C.3/54/L.60) by adding a note to the sixth preambular paragraph concerning the effect of sanctions and blockades.

Also before the Committee are the following drafts resolutions on which action is expected:

A draft resolution on the draft United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the draft protocols thereto (document A/C.3/54/L.88) contains amendments proposed by the United States to a resolution transmitted by the Committee (document A/C.3/54/L.4). By both drafts, the Assembly would take note of results achieved by the Ad Hoc Committee on elaborating a Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the draft protocols addressing the issues of trafficking in women and children, illicit firearms and illegal trafficking in migrants.

The Assembly would decide that the international instrument being prepared by the Ad Hoc Committee addressing trafficking in women and children should address trafficking in all persons, but especially women and children. It would also decide that the Ad Hoc Committee would be convened in 2000, holding no fewer than four sessions of two weeks each. The proposed amendment would further decide that the Ad Hoc Committee in Vienna should submit the final texts of the draft Convention and protocols to the General Assembly for early adoption prior to a high-level signing conference.

By a draft resolution on a high-level political signing conference for the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (document A/C.3/54/L.21/Rev.1), the Assembly would accept with appreciation Italy's offer to host a high-level political signing conference in Palermo for the Convention and would also decide to hold the conference. It would request the Secretary- General to schedule the conference for a period of up to one week before the end of the Millennium Assembly in 2000. It would request the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention to propose the agenda, including opportunities to discuss matters related to the draft Convention and its protocols.

The draft is sponsored by Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Spain, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom and the United States.

The following became co-sponsors when the representative of the United States introduced the draft on 16 November: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Brunei, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

By terms of a draft text on the African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (document A/C.3/54/L.22/Rev.1), the Assembly would urge States members of the Institute to make every effort to meet their obligations to the Institute. It would call upon Member States and the international community to adopt concrete practical measures, including by increasing their financial assistance, to support the Institute in developing the necessary capacity to implement its programmes and activities. It would request the Secretary-General to mobilize the financial resources to provide the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable the Institute to carry out its mandate. It would call upon the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme to work closely with the Institute. The draft resolution is sponsored by Burkina Faso.

By a draft on enlarging the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (document A/C.3/54/L.57), the Assembly would decide to increase the number of members of the Committee from 54 to 57 States. It would request the Economic and Social Council to elect the additional members at its organizational session for 2000. The draft is sponsored by Chile, Côte d'Ivoire and Republic of Korea.

By the terms of a 13-Power draft resolution on human rights and cultural diversity (document A/C.3/54/L.62), the Assembly would call upon States, international organizations, United Nations agencies and NGOs -- for the purpose of advancing the objectives of peace, development and universally accepted human rights -- to recognize and respect cultural diversity and uphold the principle that all peoples and nations have the right to hold, develop and preserve their cultures.

The draft is sponsored by Afghanistan, Bahrain, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sudan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

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.3/54/L.64), the Assembly would urge all governments to contribute further to the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Decade. In particular, this would be by establishing broadly representative national committees for human rights education responsible for the development of comprehensive, effective and sustainable national plans of action for human rights education and information, and by taking into consideration the guidelines for national plans of action for human rights education developed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights within the framework of the Decade. Also, governments would be urged to encourage, support and involve national and local non-governmental and community-based organizations in the implementation of their national plans of action.

Also by the text, the Assembly would urge the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat 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. These would include the reports of States parties under international human rights instruments and, to this end, to ensure that the information centres are supplied with adequate quantities of those materials. Also, governments and intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations would be urged to contribute to the mid-term global evaluation, to be undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner in 2000, of progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the Decade by providing appropriate information on steps undertaken in this regard.

The draft is sponsored by Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mali, Malta, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

By a draft on the effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (document A/C.3/54/L.65), the Assembly would urge States and the international community to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as set out in the Declaration, by such means as allowing their participation in all aspects of the political, economic, social, religious and cultural life of society, and in the economic progress and development of their country. States would also be urged to take, as appropriate, all the necessary constitutional, legislative, administrative and other measures to promote and give effect to the Declaration.

The draft is sponsored by Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Uruguay.

Also before the Committee is a draft resolution on human rights in the administration of justice (document A/C.3/54/L.66). By its terms, the Assembly would stress the special need for national capacity-building in the field of the administration of justice in post-conflict situations, in particular, through reform of the judiciary, the police and the penal system. Also, it would call upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and its subsidiary bodies, to continue to give special attention to questions relating to the effective promotion of human rights in the administration of justice and provide, where appropriate, specific recommendations in this regard, including proposals for measures to provide advisory services and technical assistance.

The draft is sponsored by Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

By terms of a draft text on protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons (document A/C.3/54/L.68), the General Assembly would urge all relevant United Nations humanitarian assistance and development organizations to enhance their collaboration with the representative of the Secretary-General, by developing frameworks of cooperation, especially through the inter-agency Standing Committee, to promote protection, assistance and development for internally displaced persons, and to provide him with all possible support. Also, the Secretary-General would be requested to give all necessary assistance to the representative to carry out his mandate effectively.

The following countries are sponsors of the draft: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa and Sweden.

By a further draft resolution, the General Assembly would call upon governments, specialized agencies and relevant intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations to submit proposals and ideas contributing to further work on the implementation of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individual, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (document A/C.3/54/L.69).

That text is sponsored by Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.

By terms of a draft introduced by the Chairman on the question of human rights in Afghanistan (document A/C.3/54/L.58), the Assembly would strongly condemn the mass killings and systematic human rights violations against civilians and prisoners of war in areas of Mazar-e-Sharif and Bamyan, noting with alarm the resumption by the Taliban of a wider conflict resulting in massive, forced displacement of the civilian population. The Assembly would condemn the widespread violations and abuses of civil rights and humanitarian law. It would reiterate its condemnation of the killing of Iranian diplomats and correspondents of the Islamic Republic News Agency, as well as attacks on United Nations personnel in Taliban-held territories. The Assembly would note with deep concern the sharp deterioration of the humanitarian situation and would urge all States to respect the sovereignty and national unity of Afghanistan, and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs, as well as to end the supply of arms or military support of any kind to parties in the conflict.

Further, the Assembly would urge all the Afghan parties to take such actions as to respect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, to cease hostilities immediately, to provide remedies to victims, and to treat all detainees in accordance with international instruments. It would demand that they fulfil their obligations regarding the safety of all humanitarian and diplomatic personnel, urging especially the Taliban to end violations of human rights against women and girls, and take other urgent measures ensuring their human rights.

Chairman’s Statement

When this afternoon’s meeting began, the Chairman, VLADIMIR GALUSKA (Czech Republic), announced that the sponsors of the draft resolution on the death penalty would not pursue their initiatives at the current General Assembly session.

Draft Resolutions: Introduction and Action

The representative of Guyana introduced the draft resolution entitled “The revitalization and strengthening of the International Training and Research Institute for the Advancement of Women”. The following countries added their sponsorship: Afghanistan, Austria, Azerbaijan, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands and Spain.

Next, the representative of the Russian Federation introduced the draft entitled “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”. Canada joined in sponsoring that draft.

The Committee then took up the draft on “High-level Political Signing Conference for the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime” (document A/C.3/54/L.21/Rev.1). The following countries joined in sponsoring that draft: Ukraine, Cambodia, Nepal, India and Colombia.

The Committee approved the draft, as orally revised, without a vote.

The Committee heard the introduction on “Draft United Nations Convention against Organized Crime and the draft protocols thereto”, containing amendments proposed by the United States (documents A/C.3/54/L.88 and A/C.3/54/L.4), and approved the draft without a vote.

Next, the Committee took up the draft on “African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders” (document A/C.3/54/L.22/Rev.1).

The representative of Algeria made oral revisions to that draft. In the title, the words “United Nations” should be added before “African”. Also, in operative paragraph 1, the words “United Nations” should be added before “African”. In operative paragraph 4, the following should be added, “and non- governmental organizations”. Also in second line, replace “to” with “and”.

The Committee approved the draft, as orally revised, without a vote.

The Committee then took up the draft resolution on enlarging its Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (document A/C.3/54/L.57). The Committee approved the text without a vote.

The representative of Egypt introduced the draft on the impact of globalization on the enjoyment of human rights (document A/C.3/54/L.71/Rev.1). He amended operative paragraph 1, line two, changing “affect human rights” to read “may affect human rights”. The following became additional sponsors: Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nigeria, Qatar, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia became additional co-sponsors.

The representative of South Africa, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and China, introduced the draft on human rights and unilateral coercive measures (document A/C.3/54/L.79).

The representative of the United States introduced a resolution on strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of elections and promoting democratization (document A/C.3/54/L.83). Added as co-sponsors were New Zealand, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta, Zambia, El Salvador, Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea, Russian Federation, Romania, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Lesotho, Greece, Central African Republic, South Africa, Singapore, Slovakia, Ukraine and Sweden.

The representative of South Africa, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and China, introduced the draft resolution on enhancing international cooperation in the field of human rights (document A/C.3/54/L.84) and on the right to development (document A/C.3/54/L.85).

The Committee then took up the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Kosovo (document A/C.3/54/L.82). The representative of the United States said one amendment in the operative paragraphs had been made based on recent new information. The last four lines demanding a list of detainees would be deleted so that the paragraph would end with the phrase “ ... human rights standards;” on line eight. Estonia, Ireland, Malta, Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, Iceland, San Marino and New Zealand also became co-sponsors. The representative of the Russian Federation introduced the draft on the human rights situation in Iraq (document A/C.3/54/L.92), which would amend the draft on that situation introduced yesterday (document A.C.3/54/L.60). The amendment would take note, in the sixth preambular paragraph, of the effect of sanctions on human rights in Iraq.

Next, the Committee took up the draft resolution entitled “United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and public information activities in the field of human rights” (document A/C.3/54/L.64). The following countries were added as sponsors to that draft: Philippines, Cambodia, El Salvador, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Ukraine, Liberia, Panama, Madagascar, Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Turkey, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Croatia, Thailand, Ireland, Venezuela, Brazil and Indonesia.

The Committee approved the text without a vote.

The Committee then took up the draft on “effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities” (document A/C.3/54/L.65). Cameroon and Sri Lanka were added as sponsors to that draft.

The draft was approved without a vote.

Next, the Committee took up the draft entitled “Human rights in the administration of Justice” (document A/C.3/54/L.66). The following countries were added as sponsors to that draft: Spain, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Panama, Croatia and Cameroon.

The draft was approved without a vote.

The Committee then took up the draft resolution entitled “Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons” (document A/C.3/54/L.68). The following countries were added as sponsors: Croatia, Spain, San Marino, Sierra Leone, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Japan, Thailand, Belgium, Georgia, Colombia and the United Kingdom.

That draft resolution was approved without a voted.

The Committee then took up the draft entitled “Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individual, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms” (document A/C.35/54/L.69). The following countries were added as sponsors: Thailand, Croatia, Malta, Colombia, Panama, Republic of Moldova, Uruguay, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Côte d’Ivoire, Costa Rica and Armenia.

The representative of Syria said that, by the draft resolution on the Declaration, States should not intervene in the domestic affairs of other countries, or discriminate against other States. The Declaration not only granted rights, but it also gave duties in respect of violations. It stated that organizations should not be selective on regulations, and called for full impartiality and objectivity. The draft gave people the right to contact NGOs. However, those bodies must be established in conformity with national laws. No other approach would be acceptable. The draft addressed the rights of States to non-interference, and it encouraged dialogue between peoples.

The representative of Georgia said her country had decided to withdraw its sponsorship on 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”.

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