SOCIAL COMMITTEE SEEKS ACTION BY GOVERNMENT OF HAITI AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED CRIMES
Press Release
GA/SHC/3565
SOCIAL COMMITTEE SEEKS ACTION BY GOVERNMENT OF HAITI AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED CRIMES
19991118Assembly Would Also Call for Continued Judicial Reforms; Text on UN Institute for Women (INSTRAW) Urges Stronger Support for its Activities
The General Assembly would call upon the Government of Haiti to investigate politically motivated crimes and prosecute perpetrators of such crimes, in accordance with Haitian law, by one of two draft resolutions approved without a vote this morning by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural).
By that orally revised draft, the Assembly would call upon the Government of Haiti to continue structural reforms in the police and in the judicial system, and improvement of the prison sector. The Government would also be called upon to take vigorous action to eliminate any continuing human rights violations, including illegal arrests and detentions, and to ensure due process within a reasonable time. In addition, the Assembly would strongly support the efforts made to enable the people of Haiti to express their political will in the forthcoming legislative and local elections.
By the terms of the other orally revised draft approved this morning, the Assembly would urge Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute or consider increasing their contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) in order to facilitate the immediate implementation of its programmes and activities. It would ask the Director of the Institute to report on the advantages of a newly-established information and networking system and urge that the use of all six official United Nations languages in the Web-site of the Institute should be ensured as soon as possible.
The Committee decided to postpone taking action on a draft resolution related to the problems of refugees and others in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. It also decided to postpone the introduction of a draft resolution entitled The right to development.
The Committee will meet at 3 p.m. today to hear the introduction of draft resolutions and to take 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.
The Committee was expected receive 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, and 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. The draft is sponsored by South Africa, on behalf of the Movement of non-aligned countries, and China.
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 note with appreciation of the proposal for a new working method 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 Institutes Web-site, and urge States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the INSTRAW Trust Fund, to facilitate implementation of the Institutes programmes and activities. Afghanistan, Austria, Azerbaijan, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands and Spain become co-sponsors when the representative of Guyana introduced the draft on 17 November.
By a 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 call upon those countries, working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), to elaborate concrete proposals for a follow-up mechanism to the Conference for the period after the year 2000. It would endorse the broad consensus reached by the steering group of the Conference that implementation of the Programme of Action be continued. 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 related to ensuring human rights as an important factor in managing migration flows, consolidating democracy, the rule of law and stability. The draft is sponsored by Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, 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.
A draft on the situation of human rights in Haiti (document A/C.3/54/L.80) would have the Assembly draw attention to the need for the Haitian National Police to continue receiving technical assistance to enable it to perform efficiently within a framework of respect for human rights. It would strongly support efforts to enable the people of Haiti to express their political will in forthcoming legislative and local elections, inviting all political leaders of the country to involve themselves in constructive dialogue and inviting the Government to create the environment for the holding of fair and free elections in accordance with the schedule announced by the Provisional Electoral Council.
It would further call upon the Government to continue structural reforms in the police and the judicial system and improvement of the prison sector, to investigate politically motivated crimes and to take vigorous action to eliminate human rights violations. Finally, it would reaffirm the importance of investigations undertaken by the National Commission for Truth and Justice with regard to combating impunity and realizing a genuine process of transition and national reconciliation.
The draft is sponsored by Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Action on draft resolutions
The Committee took up the draft resolution Revitalization and strengthening of the International Training and Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (A/C.3/54/L.89). The following countries added their sponsorship of that draft: Croatia, the United Kingdom and Luxembourg.
The representative of the Dominican Republic said in operative paragraph eight, article 111 should read article III.
That draft resolution was approved without a vote.
Next, the Committee took up the draft entitled Situation of human rights in Haiti (A/C.3/54/L.80). The following countries were added as sponsors to that draft: Denmark, Netherlands, Dominican Republic, Greece, Poland, Hungary, Ireland, United Kingdom, Sweden, Luxembourg, Finland, Afghanistan, Italy, Panama, Germany, Malta.
The Committee approved that draft resolution, as orally revised, without a vote.