DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WEALTHY STATES DIFFER OVER TEXT ON IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Press Release
GA/SHC/3623
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WEALTHY STATES DIFFER OVER TEXT ON IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
20001110Draft Resolution Adopted by Roll Call Vote: 91 in Favour; 44 Against; 15 Abstentions
After long, fruitful deliberations described by the United States as boding well for the upcoming Conference on racism, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this morning approved, without a vote, a four-part resolution strongly proclaiming 2001 as the International Year of Mobilization against Racism. By that proclamation, the Assembly will mobilize preparations for the World Conference against Racism, to be held from 31 August to 7 September 2001 in Durban, South Africa. That decision was part of the resolution on the Third Decade to Combat Racism and on the convening of the Conference, one of two resolutions the Committee approved this morning.
While the United States could not co-sponsor the resolution because its wording conflicted with her country's constitutional guarantees for free speech, the United States representative said that a real spirit of compromise had been shown by everyone in reaching the degree of consensus attained by the text. Her country knew the tragedy of racism first-hand, and was committed to combating all its manifestations at home and abroad.
In addition to strongly proclaiming the Year and the decision, the Assembly will call for observing the Year at all levels and by all actors, including through programmes of action. It will emphasize that activities of the Year should be implemented within the framework of the World Conference, and will urge all States to become parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, limiting reservations to it and implementing it with special attention to indigenous people.
Further by the draft, the Assembly will welcome the slogan adopted by the Conference Preparatory Committee, "United to combat racism: equality, justice, dignity". The Secretary-General will be asked to ensure adequate financing for preparations and the High Commissioner for Human Rights will be asked to mobilize resources for conference activities. Regional preparatory conferences held by the Council of Europe, Senegal, Iran and Chile will be welcomed. The High Commissioner will be asked to initiate steps building momentum for the Conference, while the Assembly will appeal to States for generous contributions to the World Conference voluntary fund.
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In addition to that draft, the Committee approved a resolution on the impact of globalization on human rights, by a recorded vote of 91 in favor to 44 against, with 15 abstaining (Annex). By that draft, the Assembly will reaffirm that the narrowing of the gap between rich and poor is a global goal. It will also reaffirm the commitment to create an environment conducive to development and to eliminating poverty at both the global and national levels, recognizing that while globalization offered great opportunities, its benefits were unevenly shared and its costs unevenly distributed. Finally, the Assembly will underline the need to continue analysing the consequences of globalization for human rights.
Those unable to vote in favour of the draft said the text failed to address the breadth of the issue. Speaking on behalf of the European Union, the representative of France said the text was imbalanced and addressed the issue of globalization in "nearly exclusively" negative terms. The representative of Japan said the resolution failed to mention key players in civil society and the private sector.
Others speaking on the drafts were the representatives of Algeria, Canada, Japan and Egypt.
The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. with the expectation of concluding deliberations for the present segment of its work programme.
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Committee Work Programme
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to continue considering draft resolutions with a view to taking action.
Resolutions
By Part I of a four-part draft on the Third Decade to Combat Racism and the World Conference against Racism (document A/C.3/55/L.27/Rev.1), the Assembly would urge governments not to ignore dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred. It would urge them to take all necessary measures to combat new forms of racism, in particular by constantly adapting legislative, judicial, administrative, educational and informational means already available. It would urge them to become parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and to limit reservations to it. It would also urge them to intensify efforts to meet obligations by declaring illegal and punishable any dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority and the forming of organizations on that basis. Finally, the Assembly would urge governments and the United Nations system to implement the Convention with special attention to the situation of indigenous people.
By Part II of the draft, the Assembly would welcome the slogan adopted by the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference against racism, "United to combat racism: equality, justice, dignity". It would ask the Secretary-General to ensure adequate financing for the preparatory process. It would also ask him and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to mobilize resources to fund conference activities. It would welcome the Council of Europe, Senegal, Iran and Chile to convene regional preparatory meetings within the framework of the World Conference. It would request the High Commissioner for Human Rights to take numerous steps to promote the World Conference, and would call upon various segments of the world community to take similar steps in building momentum for the Conference. The Assembly would welcome the themes for the Conference adopted by the Preparatory Committee, would appeal to States for generous contributions to the World Conference voluntary fund and would decide to hold the Conference in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001.
By Part III of the draft, the Assembly would strongly reaffirm the proclamation of 2001 as the International Year of Mobilization against Racism, and would call upon all actors to observe the Year, including through programmes of action. It would emphasize that the activities should be implemented within the framework of the World Conference. By Part IV of the draft, the Assembly would decide to keep the item on its agenda.
By a resolution on globalization and its impact on human rights (document A/C.3/55/L.48/Rev.1), the Assembly would reaffirm that it was a goal of the international community to narrow the gap between rich and poor, both within and between countries. It would also reaffirm the commitment to create an environment conducive to development and to eliminating poverty at both the global and national levels. The Assembly would also recognize that while globalization offered great opportunities, its benefits were unevenly shared and its costs unevenly distributed. It would affirm globalization as a complex process of structural transformation that was to be pursued in a manner ensuring respect for the cultural diversity of all. Underlining the need to continue analysing the consequences of globalization for human rights, the Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General's report on the matter and ask him to continue reporting.
Action, Draft on Third Decade to Combat Racism
The Committee took up the draft resolution on the Third Decade to Combat Racism and racial Discrimination and the convening of the World Conference against Racism and Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (document A/C.3/55/L.27/Rev.1), with a number of technical amendments to the text introduced by the drafts main sponsor, Nigeria, on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China.
The Secretary made an oral statement with conference-service implications in connection with the revised draft resolution. She then drew the Committees attention, at the request of the Office of the United Nations Controller, to certain paragraphs of the current draft resolution which his Office felt contained administrative and budgetary issues.
The following were added as co-sponsors: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, Croatia, Kazakhstan, and Malawi.
The representative of the United States said that her delegation appreciated the spirit of cooperation shown during the deliberations leading to the completion of the text of the current resolution. Those consultations had been fruitful and boded well for the upcoming World Conference against Racism. Her country knew the tragedy of racism first hand and was committed to combating it in all its manifestations at home and abroad. However, some elements that troubled her and kept her delegation from joining as a co-sponsor of the draft were references inconsistent with the First Amendment rights elaborated in the United States Constitution concerning freedom of speech. Her delegation also did not believe that the General Assembly had the power to direct States to ratify treaties or conventions. And, while she supported the use of all appropriate measures to combat racism, all available measures was the wording of the draft text. That she saw as an overly broad formulation that could lead to misinterpretation.
The resolution was adopted without a vote.
Action, Draft on Globalization and Its Impact on Human Rights
The Committee next took up a draft resolution on globalization and its impact on human rights (document A/C.3/55/L.48/Rev.1).
The following were added as co-sponsors: Sudan, Cameroon, Guyana and Sierra Leone.
A recorded vote was called for.
In a general statement, the representative of Algeria said that globalization, which was radically transforming relationships between States, had promising aspects but was also fraught with dangers. The promotion and implementation of social and economic rights were not advancing as quickly as other rights and freedoms. In some countries, poverty had become endemic, as had problems with social protection and employment opportunities. But recognizing the dual nature of the effects of the phenomenon, she called upon all delegations to support this important draft resolution.
In explanation of vote before the vote, the representative of France, on behalf of the European Union, said that his delegation had wanted to have the text adopted by consensus. But he said that even after extensive negotiations, the text of the draft remained profoundly imbalanced. It addressed the impacts of globalizaton in almost exclusively negative terms. For example, he said that while globalization might truly lead to the spread of poverty -- which would in turn lead to the loss of certain human rights -- that phenomenon did not hinder the enjoyment of certain other rights, such as the right not to be subjected to cruel or unusual punishment. The draft text did not address globalization in all its complexity, nor did it mention the emergence of important new actors in civil society or the private sector. For those and other reasons, the European Union would vote against the draft resolution.
The representative of Canada, on behalf of Australia, Republic of Korea, Norway and New Zealand, said her delegation was mindful of the importance of ensuring that the benefits of globalization were shared equitably. In that regard, putting in place a comprehensive policy on the phenomenon was key. However, the current draft resolution did not recognize many important issues, including the benefits of globalization. For those and other reasons, her delegation would vote against the draft resolution.
The representative of Japan said her delegation was of the view that globalization offered the people of the world greater opportunities to live more fulfilling lives. Although she was aware of the many problems associated with the phenomenon, she was not convinced that the Third Committee was the best place to address the issue. She also noted that the draft resolution failed to mention key players in the private sector and civil society.
The draft resolution was adopted by a recorded vote of 91 in favour and 44 against, with 15 abstentions.
In a general statement, the representative of Egypt said it was a pity that on such an important matter as globalization and its impact, the Committee could not reach consensus. As to concerns voiced by other delegations concerning new partners in the field of globalization, he pointed out that the draft was not action-oriented, it merely set principles. He also said that if
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the overall situation of human rights could not be discussed in the Third Committee, what then was the worth of the Committees work?
(annex follows)
Third Committee Press Release GA/SHC/3623 54th Meeting (AM) 10 November 2000
ANNEX
Vote on Globalization and Its Impact on Human Rights
The draft resolution on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights (document A/C.3/55/L.48/Rev.1) was adopted by a recorded vote of 91 in favour to 44 against, with 15 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Comoros, Côte dIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.
Abstain: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Bolivia, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Uruguay.
Absent: Afghanistan, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Haiti, Kiribati, Lebanon, Maldives, Nauru, Palau, Republic of Moldova, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela.
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