ECOSOC ADOPTS DOZENS OF RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS RECOMMENDED BY ITS SUBSIDIARY ORGANS

ECOSOC ADOPTS DOZENS OF RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS

RECOMMENDED BY ITS SUBSIDIARY ORGANS

High Commissioners for Human Rights, Refugees Address Council

GENEVA, 24 July (UN Information Service) -- The Economic and Social Council this afternoon adopted dozens of resolutions and decisions recommended to it by its subsidiary bodies on social and human rights issues.

In addition to adopting measures on issues as diverse as Chechnya, illicit trafficking in protected species of wild flora and fauna and establishing a multi-year programme of work for the Commission on the Status of Women, the Council discussed myriad other issues, including the upcoming World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa.  There was also an update on the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the Council that the World Conference against Racism had three objectives:  adopting a Declaration that solemnly acknowledged the wrongs of the past, noting the current manifestations of racism, and committing States and peoples to move forward in the fight against racism.  Further, she pledged a concrete, forward-looking Programme of Action that identified practical steps for fulfilling this commitment, and forging an alliance between governments and civil society that would enable the struggle against racism to be carried beyond Durban.

Ruud Lubbers, the High Commissioner for Refugees, spoke to Council delegates about the global responsibility required for the care of refugees.  It included, he said, dealing with the strains that huge refugee populations imposed on social stability, security and the environment, particularly in less-developed countries.  Mr. Lubbers said good governance also meant managing effective asylum systems, providing a decent quality of protection, and offering people real solutions.  Refugees given respect and real options were less likely to fall prey to criminal trafficking and smuggling networks in a desperate bid to improve their lot, he said.

Among the subsidiary bodies which had reports that contained resolutions and decisions approved by the Council were the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission for Social Development, the Commission on Crime Prevention, and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

In addition, the Council adopted 51 decisions that were approved during the annual Commission on Human Rights' session in March and April.  Approved by a roll-call vote of 24 in favour to four against, with 20 abstaining, was a decision on the situation in Chechnya.

National delegations participating in this afternoon's debate were Syria, Costa Rica, Argentina, Switzerland, Belgium (on behalf of the European Union), Iraq, Bahrain, Cuba, Egypt, Australia, China, Belarus, Sudan, Suriname, Russian Federation, United States and Sudan.

Also speaking were representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and the non-governmental organization (NGO) International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development.

The Council will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Wednesday 25 July to take up economic issues and questions relating to the environment.

Documents

Before the Council under this agenda item is the report of the Commission on Human Rights on its fifty-seventh session (E/2001/23), which provides 51 decisions for consideration by the Council, a number of them calling for extension of the mandates of Commission Special Rapporteurs, Special Representatives and Independent Experts on various human-rights issues and/or referring to human-rights situations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar, Iran, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Chechnya (Russian Federation), the occupied Arab territories, parts of South-Eastern Europe, and the situation of Lebanese detainees in Israel.

A report of the UNHCR (E/2001/46) provides an account of the activities undertaken by UNHCR from 1 January 2000 to 31 March 2001.  The contents relate mainly to the activities undertaken under the direction of the former High Commissioner.  It covers management and oversight issues, and describes activities with respect to cooperation within and beyond the United Nations system.

Action on Resolutions and Decisions

The Council adopted without a vote a number of resolutions recommended to it by the Commission on the Status of Women. 

It adopted a resolution regarding discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan which, among other things, deplored the deteriorating economic, social and cultural conditions of women and girls in all areas of Afghanistan, in particular in areas under the control of the Taliban; also deplored the July 2000 edict of the Taliban barring Afghan women from working in foreign organizations and NGOs; and was deeply concerned about the detrimental impact of these harmful conditions on the well-being of Afghan women and the children in their care.

The Council adopted a resolution regarding proposals for a multi-year programme of work for the Commission on the Status of Women for 2002-2006, which adopts a multi-year work programme for the effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century".

The Council adopted a resolution on agreed conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women on thematic issues which endorsed the several agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission on the Study of Women with respect to the thematic issues addressed by the Commission at its forty-fifth session, including women and HIV/AIDS and the empowerment of women.

The Council then adopted without a vote a number of resolutions and decisions recommended to it by the report of the Commission for Social Development (E/2001/26).

It adopted a resolution on preparation for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family which requested the Commission to continue to review annually the preparations for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family; invited Member States to consider organizing activities in preparation for the celebration of the anniversary; and requested the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the preparations for the tenth anniversary. 

The Council adopted a resolution about proposals for a multi-year programme of work of the Commission for Social Development for 2002-2006 which decided that the multi-year programme of work of the Commission would consist of, among other things, social aspects of macroeconomic policies, social assessment as a policy tool, and a Preparatory Committee for the Second World Assembly on Ageing.

It adopted a decision on the report of the Commission for Social Development on its thirty-ninth session and the provisional agenda and documentation for the fortieth session of the Commission which approved the provisional agenda and documentation for the fortieth session of the Commission.

It also adopted a decision on the nomination of members of the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development which decided to nominate several candidates for members of the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development for a period of four years, expiring on 30 June 2005.

The Council adopted without a vote a resolution and several decisions recommended to it in the report of the Commission for Social Development, acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Second World Committee Assembly on Ageing on its first and resumed first sessions (E/2001/71).

In the resolution on the United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing, the Council recommended that the General Assembly urge all Member States and other actors to contribute generously to the United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing; and also urged all States and public and private organizations to contribute to the Trust Fund to support public information activities to promote the Second World Assembly and its outcomes.

The Council adopted a decision about arrangements regarding participation of non-governmental organizations in the Second World Conference on Ageing which asked the General Assembly to decide that representatives from NGOs accredited to the Second World Assembly on Ageing could make statements in the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole.

The Council adopted a decision on the provisional rules of procedure for the Second World Conference on Ageing which asked the General Assembly to adopt the provisional rules of procedure for the World Assembly.

The Council next adopted without a vote several resolutions recommended to it in the report of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (E/2001/30).

It adopted a resolution concerning the role, function, periodicity and duration of the United Nations Congress on the prevention of crime and the treatment of others, and decided to continue holding the United Nations Congresses, and beginning in 2005, the Congresses would be held to discuss specific topics, and should include a high-level segment.

The Council adopted a resolution regarding action against transnational organized crime: assistance to States in capacity-building with a view to facilitating the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the adopted protocols, which expressed deep concern at the impact of transnational organized crime on the political, social and economic stability and development of societies; and requested the Secretary-General to provide the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the Secretariat with the resources necessary to enable it to promote, in an effective manner, the entry into force and implementation of the Convention and the protocols; and also requested the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its eleventh session.

The Council adopted a resolution on action to promote effective community-based crime prevention which requested the Secretary-General to convene a meeting of experts to arrive at a version of the draft elements on which the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice would be able to reach consensus.

It also adopted a resolution concerning illicit trafficking in protected species of wild flora and fauna, which expressed deep concern about the existence of groups, in particular those operating transnationally, dedicated to illicit trafficking in protected species of wild flora and fauna, who were increasingly employing sophisticated technologies; and requested the Secretary-General to prepare a report analysing domestic, bilateral, regional and multi-lateral legal provisions to combat and eradicate this illegal trafficking.

And the Council adopted a resolution which aimed at strengthening international cooperation in preventing and combating the transfer of funds of illicit origin, derived from acts of corruption, including the laundering of funds, and in returning such funds, which expressed alarm at the fact that such funds are often being transferred from their countries of origin to international banking centres and financial havens, and requested, among other things, the intergovernmental open-ended expert group referred to in General Assembly resolution 55/61 to consider issues including strengthening international cooperation; developing measures necessary to ensure that those working in banking systems and other financial institutions contribute to the prevention of the transfer of funds of illicit origins; and establishing criteria for the determination of countries to which funds should be returned.

Concerning the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (E/CN.7/2001/12), the Council adopted without a vote a number of resolutions and decisions recommended to it.

The Council adopted a resolution on the prevention of diversion of precursors used in the illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs, which urged governments to implement operating procedures for chemical control that would give effect to the measures to control precursors.

The Council adopted a resolution on international cooperation for the control of narcotic drugs, which expressed deep concern about the magnitude of and rising trend in the illicit production of trafficking in opiates; and requested the International Narcotics Control Board to monitor the cultivation of the new variety of the poppy Papaver somniferum.

It also adopted a resolution concerning international assistance to the States most affected by the transit of drugs which exhorted the international financial institutions to provide financial assistance to such transit States in order to enable them to intensify their action against illicit drug trafficking.

The fourth adopted resolution was about the demand for and supply of opiates for medical and scientific needs, which urged governments of all producing countries to adhere to the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, and to take effective measures to prevent illicit channels, especially when increasing licit production.

It adopted a resolution on the implementation of the computer and telecommunication system for international and national drug control developed by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme which recommended that States that had not already done so consider implementing the national database system in cooperation with the Programme and the current group of user States or establishing systems compatible with the national database system, and urged governments to consider making additional resources available to the Programme to enable it to strengthen its capacity to implement, maintain and further develop the national database system in Member States.

A decision was adopted concerning the report of the Commission on its forty-fourth session and the provisional agenda and documentation for the forty-fifth session of the Commission which asked the Council to take note of the report, on the understanding that inter-sessional meetings would be held at Vienna, at no additional costs, to finalize the items to be included in the provisional agenda and the documentation requirements for the forty-fifth session.

The Council adopted a decision on the report of the International Narcotics Control Board which asked the Council to take note of the report of the Board for 2000.

It adopted a final decision on the functioning of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the duration of its forty-fifth session which asked the Council to take note of the fact that the Commission should meet for a period not exceeding five working days at its forty-fifth session, and that the Commission should establish a committee of the whole with membership open to all its States Members with a view to providing assistance in dealing with the agenda and facilitating its work.

The Council went on to adopt 51 decisions recommended to it in the report of the 2001 session of the Commission on Human Rights (E/2001/23/Part 1, II, III).

In a measure on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination, the Council decided to renew for a period of three years the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the subject.

In a decision on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the Council, among other things, called for the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to undertake research and consultations on the use of the Internet for the purposes of incitement to racial hatred, to study ways of promoting international cooperation in this area, and to draw up a programme of human rights education and exchanges over the Internet on experience in the struggle against racism; and to provide, insofar as possible, non-governmental organizations with technical assistance for the holding of a forum before and partly during the World Conference against Racism; and approved the Commission’s recommendations that a gender approach be systematically adopted throughout the preparations for and in the outcome of the World Conference; and that the situations of women and children be given special attention in the outcome of the Conference.

In a decision on the question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine, the Council approved the Commission's request to the relevant Special Rapporteur to follow up on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and those contained in the report of the relevant Human Rights Inquiry Commission.

In a measure on the right to development, the Council, among other things, decided to extend the mandate of the open-ended working group on the subject for a further year and to extend the mandate of the independent expert on the topic for a further three years.

In a measure on the human rights situation of the Lebanese detainees in Israel, the Council approved the Commission's request to bring Commission resolution 2001/10 to the attention of the Government of Israel and to call upon it to comply with its provisions.

In a decision on the situation of human rights in parts of South-Eastern Europe, the Council, among other things, requested the Chairperson of the Commission to appoint for one year a Special Representative of the Commission with a mandate to examine the situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

In a decision on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, the Council, among other things, endorsed the Commission's decision to extend the mandate of the relevant Special Rapporteur for a further year.

In a decision on the situation of human rights in Iraq, the Council, among other things, extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Iraq for a further year, and requested the Secretary-General to approve allocation of sufficient resources for the sending of human rights monitors to such locations as would facilitate improved information flow and assessment and help in the independent verification of reports on the situation in the country.

In a decision on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the Council, among other things, extended the mandate of the relevant Special Rapporteur for a further year.

In a decision on the situation of human rights in Iran, the Council, among other things, extended the mandate of the relevant Special Representative for a further year.

In a decision on the situation of human rights in Sudan, the Council, among other things, extended the mandate of the relevant Special Rapporteur for a further year.

In a decision on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council, among other things, extended the mandate of the relevant Special Rapporteur for a further year; and requested that the Special Rapporteur, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, and a member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances carry out in cooperation with the National Commission of Inquiry an investigation of alleged human rights violations and breaches of international law in the country with a view to bringing to justice those responsible.

In a decision on the situation of human rights in Sierra Leone, the Council, among other things, requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the international community to make relevant technical assistance available to personnel of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, in particular to judicial, prosecutorial and protection personnel; and requested the Secretary-General, the High Commissioner and the international community to give necessary assistance to the Human Rights Section of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone to enable it to fulfil its mandate.

In a decision on the situation of human rights in Burundi, the Council, among other things, extended the mandate of the relevant Special Rapporteur for a further year.

In a decision on the situation in Equatorial Guinea and assistance in the field of human rights, the Council, among other things, extended the mandate of the relevant Special Representative for a further year.

In a decision on the situation in the Republic of Chechnya of the Russian Federation, approved by a roll-call vote of 24 in favour to four opposed, with 20 abstentions, the Council requested the High Commissioner to report to the Commission at its fifty-eighth session on implementation of Commission resolution 2000/24.

In favour: Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, Honduras, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Suriname, United Kingdom, United States.

Against: China, Cuba, Russian Federation and Venezuela.

Abstentions: Angola, Argentina, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Faso, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Sudan, Syria, and Uganda.

In a decision on the right to food, the Council, among other things, requested the Special Rapporteur on the topic to pay attention to the issue of drinking water and to contribute effectively to the medium-term review of the implementation of the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the Plan of Action of the World Food Summit.

In a decision on the effects of structural adjustment policies and foreign debt on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, the Council, among other things, authorized the open-ended working group on the subject to meet for two weeks well in advance of, and at least four weeks prior to, the fifty-eighth session of the Commission.

In a decision on the right to education, the Council, among other things, endorsed the Commission's decision to renew, for a period of three years, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the topic.

In a decision on the question of the realization in all countries of the economic, social and cultural rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and study of special problems which the developing countries faced in their efforts to achieve these rights, the Council, among other things, endorsed the Commission's decision to appoint an Independent Expert to examine the question of a draft optional protocol to the Covenant for the consideration of communications in relation to the treaty.

In a decision on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights, the Council endorsed the decision of the Commission to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the topic for another three years.

In a decision on continuing dialogue on measures to promote and consolidate democracy, the Council approved the Commission's request to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to organize an expert seminar to examine the interdependence between democracy and human rights.

In a decision on elimination of all forms of religious intolerance, the Council endorsed the Commission's decision to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the topic for a further three years, with the new title of Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.

In a decision on a draft optional protocol to the Convention against Torture, the Council, among other things, authorized the open-ended working group on the subject to meet for a period of two weeks prior to the fifty-eighth session of the Commission.

In a decision on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Council endorsed the Commission's decision to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the topic for three years.

In a decision on the question of enforced or involuntary disappearances, the Council renewed for a period of three years the mandate of the working group of five independent experts entrusted with the task of investigating such disappearances; requested the Chairperson of the fifty-seventh session of the Commission to appoint an independent expert to examine the existing international criminal and human rights framework relating to such disappearances; and endorsed the decision of the Commission to establish, at its fifty-eighth session, an inter-sessional open-ended working group to elaborate a draft legally binding normative instrument to protect all persons from such disappearances.

In a decision on integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system, the Council approved the Commission's request to all special procedures and other human rights mechanisms of the Commission and Subcommission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights regularly and systematically to take a gender perspective into account in implementing their mandates.

In a decision on protection of human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS, the Council approved the Commission's request to all Special Representatives, Special Rapporteurs and working groups of the Commission to integrate the protection of HIV/related human rights within their respective mandates.

In a decision on internally displaced persons, the Council endorsed the Commission's decision to extend the mandate of the representative of the Secretary-General on the topic for a further three years.

In a decision on human rights and indigenous issues, the Council, among other things, endorsed the Commission's decision to appoint a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people.

In a decision on the Working Group of the Commission on Human Rights to elaborate a draft declaration in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the Council, among other things, authorized the working group to meet for a period of 10 working days prior to the fifty-eighth session of the Commission.

In a decision on the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, the Council authorized the working group to meet for five working days prior to the fifty-third session of the Subcommission.

In a decision on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Council endorsed the Commission's decision to renew for three years the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the subject; and approved its request to the Special Rapporteur to present an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on overall trends and developments with regard to his mandate.

In a decision on human rights and bioethics, the Council approved the Commission's request to the Secretary-General to draw up proposals concerning ways to ensure proper coordination of activities and thinking on bioethics throughout the United Nations system and to consider establishing a working group of independent experts which would reflect on possible follow-up to the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights.

In a decision on rights of the child, the Council approved the Commission's request to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations mechanisms, and all relevant organs of the United Nations system to regularly and systematically include a child rights perspective in the fulfilment of their mandates; and endorsed the Commission's decision to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography for a further three years.

In a decision on equitable geographical distribution of the membership of the human rights treaty bodies, the Council endorsed the Commission's decision to recommend that the General Assembly encourage States parties to the United Nations human rights instruments to establish quota distribution systems by geographical region for the election of the members of the treaty bodies.

In a decision on national institutions for human rights, the Council endorsed the Commission's requests to the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary assistance for holding meetings of the International Coordinating Committee during the sessions of the Commission; and to continue to provide necessary assistance for international and regional meetings of national institutions.

In a decision on assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights, the Council endorsed the Commission's decision to extend the mandate of the independent expert on the topic for a further year; and approved the Commission's request to the High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide for the translation of Commission resolution 2001/81 into the Somali language and for its wide dissemination within the country.

In a decision on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, the Council approved the Commission's request to the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative for human rights in Cambodia, to assist the Government of Cambodia in ensuring the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and to ensure adequate resources for the continued functioning of the operational presence in Cambodia of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In a decision on the right to restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Council endorsed the Commission's request to the High Commissioner for Human Rights to hold a consultative meeting in Geneva with a view to finalizing the "Basic principles and guidelines on the right to a remedy and reparation for victims of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law”.

In a decision on traditional practices affecting the health of women and the girl child, the Council endorsed the decision of the Subcommission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the topic for two more years.

In a decision on systematic rape, sexual slavery and slavery-like practices during armed conflicts, the Council endorsed the Commission's decision to request the Secretary-General to publish, in all official languages, the report and updated report of the Special Rapporteur on the topic of the Subcommission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

In a decision on the report of the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery of the Subcommission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, the Council decided that the updated report submitted to the Subcommission on the topic should be compiled into a single report in all official languages.

In a decision on the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, the Council authorized the former Chairperson-Rapporteur of the working group to continue to participate in all meetings in preparation for the World Conference against Racism, and also authorized the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the eighteenth session of the working group to participate in the world conference.

In a decision on science and the environment, the Council endorsed the Commission's decision to invite the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to consider the organization of a joint seminar to review and assess progress achieved since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development of June 1992 in promoting and protecting human rights in relation to environmental questions.

In a decision on human rights and human responsibilities, the Council authorized the Subcommission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to appoint Miguel Alfonso Martinez to undertake a study on the topic.

In a decision on the dates of the fifty-eighth session of the Commission on Human Rights, the Council approved the Commission's recommendation that the session be scheduled from 18 March to 26 April 2002.

In a decision on organization of the work of the fifty-eighth session of the Commission on Human Rights, the Council authorized, if possible from within existing financial resources, 35 fully serviced additional meetings for the session; and approved the Commission's request to the Chairperson of the session to make every effort to organize work within the times normally allotted.

In a decision on the question of resources for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Council endorsed the Commission's decision to renew its appeal to the Council and the General Assembly that additional resources be allocated to the Office in order to ensure that there were sufficient resources commensurate with its increasing tasks.

In a decision on the situation of human rights in East Timor, the Council approved the Commission's request to the High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the topic and to report to the Commission at its fifty-eighth session.

In a decision on technical cooperation and the situation of human rights in Haiti, the Council approved the Commission's request that a new independent expert report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the topic and report to the Commission at its fifty-eighth session.

Statements

MARY ROBINSON, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, introducing the report on the Commission of Human Rights, said much had already happened this year at the international level.  Major United Nations events had focused on the rights and needs of the most vulnerable.  This year had already seen the Commission on Human Rights, the Conference on Least Developed Countries and the General Assembly's Special Session on HIV/AIDS, and the World Conference against Racism would be held next month, but what remained to be seen was how those events would impact the lives and rights of people.  This was a challenge that had to be faced.  There had to be assurances that international cooperation in the areas of human rights would lead to tangible improvements in the lives of individuals in their own societies.

She said issues such as the rights of indigenous peoples, the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, the rights of persons with disabilities, and the rights of persons living in the least developed countries were on the international agenda.  But what needed to be seen was that they were firmly placed on national agendas.  This was why the report emphasized the role of independent national human rights institutions.  There needed to be concrete action, national policies and plans, programmes, and institutions that could bring about change.  The barometer of success of international action in the field of human rights lay precisely in how much it could bring about improvement in peoples lives -- it did not lie in the solemn words of declarations and statements. 

RUUD LUBBERS, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, introducing the annual report of his office (E/2001/46), said among other things that the governance of refugees was a global responsibility that demanded multilateral action and support.  It included dealing with the strains that huge refugee populations imposed on social stability, security and the environment, particularly in less-developed countries.  Good governance also meant managing effective asylum systems, providing a decent quality of protection, and offering people real solutions.  Refugees given respect and real options were less likely to fall prey to criminal trafficking and smuggling networks in a desperate bid to improve their lot.

There was a great gap between these profound responsibilities and the funding UNHCR received to carry them out, he said.  The UNHCR had for several years faced chronic, serious funding shortfalls.  Stringent efforts at reform and efficiency had reduced the office's budget for 2001 by more than 10 per cent and would discontinue 760 staff posts between now and the middle of next year; although staffing in some key areas would be increased, the net decrease would exceed 10 per cent.  The process had been difficult and painful but it ultimately would make UNHCR stronger and have a positive impact on refugees.  The next challenge was to prepare a budget for 2002 that struck a balance between what was needed to operate in a credible manner and what was realistically fundable.  He was working intensively with major donors and had suggested one dollar or one Euro per citizen as a benchmark minimum; a number of countries, notably the Nordic nations, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland already far exceeded this level of support.

MARY ROBINSON, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that at the beginning of the new century, the continuing existence of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance constituted a fundamental human rights challenge.  The Durban World Conference against Racism would be nothing less than a conference to discuss the core principles that should underpin this new century.  It was an important opportunity for the world community to commit, for the first time in the post-apartheid era, to a truly global effort to address the ancient and the modern manifestations of this evil.  The world conference was also special in the way that it engaged individuals and civil society as much as it did States.  Looking at the enormous response from non-governmental organizations, it was clear that Durban would not be a dry political gathering, but a rich coming together of peoples and cultures -- an exchange of ideas and experiences.  Only 37 days away from the opening ceremony, much remained to be done, but much had already been achieved.  The regional preparatory meetings had recognized that racism was a problem in every country and every region.  The profile of racism as a global issue had been raised to an unprecedented level.  But to a large extent, the success of Durban would be measured according to the formal outcomes adopted by national delegations.  This was the main problem facing States.

The Durban objectives would be threefold -- a Declaration that solemnly acknowledged the wrongs of the past, noted the current manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and committed States and peoples to moving forward together in the fight against racism; a concrete, forward-looking Programme of Action that identified practical steps for fulfilling this commitment; and an alliance forged between governments and civil society that would enable the struggle against racism to be carried beyond Durban.

LEANDRO DESPOUY (Argentina) said he spoke both on behalf of his country and as Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights.  The current Commission Bureau would carry out a series of activities aimed at, among other things, improvement of the functioning of the Commission's work.  He would be appointing Special Rapporteurs and Independent Experts to four new posts and would be filling two posts that had been vacated; consultations on these appointments already had been carried out with all regional groups and consensus had been attained.  Meetings had been held already with, among other things, Special Rapporteurs and other appointees of the Commission; with the President of the Economic and Social Council; and with NGOs.

It was the Bureau's intention to introduce methods and proposals to improve the Commission's functioning, including its relations with the press, something that had great promise.  More extended contacts with the media had been made during the Commission's last session, and these would be expanded upon; the Commission was one of the most high-profile activities of the United Nations.  It was worth noting that the Commission Bureau had a vast majority of women among its members; their representation not only made valuable contributions to the Bureau's work but set a good example.

FAYSAL HAMOUI (Syria) said his country supported the resolution on Palestinian women that was voted upon this morning

RUIZ DE ANGULO (Costa Rica) said the delegation had reservations about the terminology used for reproductive health in the draft resolution but would not break consensus.

F. NORDMANN (Switzerland) said his country was pleased with the creation of a permanent forum for indigenous peoples within the United Nations system.  It would meet for the first time next year, and Switzerland was hoping that it would be meeting in Geneva.  Indigenous peoples had gotten to know Geneva in the discussions over the years.  If the permanent secretariat of the forum were to be established here, Switzerland would be willing to help in setting it up.  The history and experience of Geneva's relationship with indigenous issues required that the forum be set up in Geneva.  It was important that everyone was represented in an appropriate manner.  Switzerland hoped that there the forum would be able to adopt a substantial declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.

JEAN PAUL CHARNIER (Belgium), speaking on behalf of the European Union and countries associated with the Union, said the European Union thanked Argentina for tabling an agenda item and a draft resolution on discrimination and genetic privacy; genetic discrimination warranted special consideration because it came at the intersection between two basic human rights:  the right to privacy and the right to protection from any form of discrimination.

The European Union itself had legal instruments already extensively protecting individuals' rights in this area, such as the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine.  The European Union welcomed the ease with which consensus had been arrived at on the draft resolution, and it would remain attentive to maintaining a balance and institutional consistency with other bioethics processes under way.

SAAD A.O. HUSSAIN (Iraq) said his country wanted to comment on the unfair resolution adopted by the Commission on Human Rights against Iraq.  The Commission for some years had adopted a resolution that was usually tabled by the European Union regarding the situation of human rights in Iraq.  At this year's session, the same resolution was offered.  It was a political resolution that was critical, and it contained errors and was meant to inflame international opinion.  It was backed by the United States, United Kingdom and the Zionist entity, and others who led the economic sanctions against Iraq in 1990.  The resolution ignored the daily bombings by the United States and the United Kingdom against Iraq.  It also ignored the tragic situation of the Iraqi people.  This was adopted despite what the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iraq had said.  He had voiced support for the lifting of the sanctions.  The Government of Iraq rejected this resolution.  It was not balanced, and was based on selectivity and allegations that were not precise.

SAEED AL FAIHANI (Bahrain) said his country was proud of its efforts to protect human rights and felt they were exemplary for a developing country and could serve as an example to other countries.  Bahrain's extensive experience with human rights and its situation at the crossroads of different cultures had led it to take laudable measures that had led to an awareness of the international dimension of human rights while conserving the cultural standards and heritage of the country.  Bahrain sought to respect human rights entirely as part of constructing a viable and prosperous future.

Women were now allowed to vote; human rights had been affirmed; a High Commissioner's office had been set up to ensure that was so; women now held high positions in Government and the diplomatic corps; and ambitious measures had been taken to implement a National Council for Women's Affairs.  The National Council included representatives of a number of minority groups, which attested to the country's tolerance of diversity and freedom of religion.  Amnesty measures had been promulgated to allow the return of citizens living abroad.  A Supreme Justice Council had been set up to guarantee the independence of judges and other measures had been taken to enhance realization of human rights, education, and employment.

JORGE FERRER (Cuba) said the promotion and protection of human rights depended on objectivity and non-selectivity; however, the materialization of these principles were still a mere chimera.  Year in and year out, various United Nations forums, in particular the Commission on Human Rights and its mechanisms, were hostage to selectivity, politicization, lack of transparency, and double standards as part of the efforts of a group of countries led by a demonic super-Power to unfairly enforce a certain limited model of human rights on developing countries.

Resolutions almost always targeted countries of the South while not a word was said of colonialism, slavery, neo-colonialism, despoiling of the land of indigenous populations, racism, exploitation of natural resources by transnationals, and consistent denial of the right to development.  Those responsible for these offences were never mentioned.  Everyone knew, furthermore, that racism, denial of migrant rights, police violence, and other violations of human rights regularly occurred in the developed countries, but these things were never mentioned.  Cuba had again been subject to a spurious resolution at the behest of the United States; it was a politicized, demagogic manoeuvre, an example of the wish of the United States to denigrate the Cuban Revolution.  But nothing and no one would stop Cuban freedom.

KHALED ABDEL HAMID (Egypt) said it was clear that the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees continued to play a constructive role in the service of one of humanitarian's greatest causes.  Egypt attached special importance to the process of aiding refugees.  It hoped that these efforts would help strengthen the activities of the High Commissioner, especially in Africa, which had the highest number of refugees in the world and which had the greatest need of support.  The Swiss Government should be thanked for hosting the Ministerial Conference on Refugees in December.  Egypt had played an important role in organizing the Conference. 

There was a lack of financial resources to help refugees, and that had led to a reduction in the budgets of many bodies.  The international community had to carry out its responsibilities concerning refugees.  Egypt was willing to extend technical assistance and expertise.  The High Commissioner had been able to carry out his important role.  His office was responsible for more than 20 million refugees throughout the world who needed the international community's help.  Donor countries should continue to extend financial and technical assistant to UNHCR. 

GUY O'BRIEN (Australia) said action on human rights measures was made possible by the ongoing day-to-day functioning of the human-rights system, and it was this work that constituted the bulk of the work of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and her office.  Support provided to the Secretariat and the human rights treaty bodies was vital and had the highest priority for the office; more resources should be dedicated to the treaty bodies to account for their increasing workloads and to allow them to function more effectively.  Australia advocated increased funding for the Office of the High Commissioner from the core budget of the United Nations to ensure increased funding for the work of the treaty bodies.

Australia strongly supported the recent reforms carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees; reforms had been necessary to deal with the conflict between increasing demands on the office and limited resources.  More adequate and predictable funding would be needed for the reform process to be completely successful, and the office had done its part in making significant cuts to its budget.  Meanwhile a set of strategies was needed to deal with displacement in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries and Australia supported efforts under way to deal with this matter.

QIAO ZONGHUAI (China) said the World Conference against Racism should achieve the formulation of effective strategies to combat racism through a serious analysis of the past history, distilling from it useful experiences and lessons, while taking duly into account the new features of today.  For a long time, especially since the inception of the United Nations, the international community had waged an unrelenting war against racism.  The United Nations had launched successively three decades to combat racism.  The total elimination of apartheid marked an enormous victory for the world's fight; however, the influences and evil residuals reminiscent of racism and racial discrimination were far from gone.  Western countries showed typical manifestations of new forms of racism.  The international community should remain vigilant when faced with these new problems and stark challenges in combatting racism.  Emphasis should be placed on the strengthening of national efforts and international cooperation and the formulation of objectives, strategies and measures to combat new forms of racism commensurate with today's environment.  The second aim of the Conference should be to take effective actions, while giving priorities to the urgent problems facing the international community, particularly the developing countries. 

It was evident, he said, from the two previous sessions and the relevant working groups of the Preparatory Committee for the world conference that progress was sluggish.  There was only about one month before the opening of the world conference.  It was hoped that during the third session of the Preparatory Committee, all sides would display adequate political will and flexibility and increase cooperation, so as to achieve substantive progress in the drafting of the final document.

SERGEI ANOSHKO (Belarus) said his country continued to believe that human rights were indivisible and that human rights protection was the highest purpose of the State.  Belarus sought to protect such rights to the fullest as the country completed its transition to a market economy.  The process had been difficult, and Belarus had opted for a consistent, gradual approach aimed at maintaining harmony in society.  There was no conflict in Belarus on social, national or religious grounds.  In guaranteeing citizens the most crucial right, the right to life, the Government continued to spend 10 per cent of its annual budget on minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Transparent Parliamentary elections had been held last November.  Belarus was firmly determined to conduct the forthcoming presidential election on the basis of international standards of fairness and transparency.  The country saw itself as part of Europe and was fully involved in implementing European principles on human rights.  It sought to join the Council of Europe as soon as possible.  In international conduct, progress on human rights should be based on solidarity and should focus on roots causes; double standards and politicization should be avoided.

OMAR BASHIR MANIS (Sudan) said the High Commissioner for Human Rights had done an excellent job.  Sudan intended to help Mrs. Robinson carry out her mandate by providing complete transparency and clarity.  Sudan, however, did not agree with an interpretation included in her report that related to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  Article 2 of the Covenant, which mentioned "sex" in view of discrimination, was not how Sudan interpreted it.

GEORGES MALEMPRE, of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said UNESCO was pleased at the tabling by Argentina of a draft resolution on genetic privacy; UNESCO had long had a working group to evaluate the ethics of research on the human genome; it had long been concerned about genetic privacy and the confidentiality of genetic information.  The Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights was the first international instrument to deal with the principles and problems posed by challenges to human dignity in this field.

Immense potential existed in genetic research for improving human life, but such work had to be carried out on a balanced, suitable basis that respected individual dignity, freedom, and human rights, and that avoided any form of discrimination based on a person's genetic characteristics.  There should be an instrument on collection, treatment, stockpiling and use of genetic information, and the possibility of establishing such an instrument would be considered by next year's UNESCO general conference.

LARS TILLFORS, of the World Health Organization (WHO), said WHO had given a lot of attention to the issue of human genetics.  In the last 20 years, there had been an explosion of knowledge on the role that genes played in health.  Research on human genetics had an enormous potential to achieve better health for all, and to hold back major killers.  Doctors could give better lifestyle advice.  Among the new techniques was gene therapy -- the introduction of a gene sequence into a cell to modify its behaviour, whether it was to address cystic fibrosis or cancer or another disease.  There were ethical issues, such as cloning.  The medical community was debating issues about people who underwent genetic testing.  The medical community was arguing that the results of such testing should be confidential.  The role of WHO was multi-fold -- it fostered international cooperation with genetic testing and it supported Member States in managing national genetic programmes.  There should be no compulsory genetic testing for adult populations -- people should be free to choose.  Genetic counselling was essential.

IRMA L. TOBING-KLEIN (Suriname) said the fight to protect human rights was a struggle for dignity for all.  In the case of human rights and HIV/AIDS, Suriname had participated in the special round table held during the special session on HIV/AIDS and afterward had promulgated an instrument to protect the rights of persons with HIV/AIDS.

Suriname had indigenous peoples and was pleased with the special attention being given to the human rights of indigenous peoples.  It looked forward to the World Conference against Racism as an opportunity for further protecting indigenous peoples from discrimination.  The country approved of the reform efforts being carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees.  And it fully embraced the approach of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in establishing human rights education as the key for development.  Support was requested for a draft resolution on human rights education tabled before the Economic and Social Council.

HORACIO EMILIO SOLARI (Argentina) said there was a document about genetics and non-discrimination.  With regard to the document, there were advances in scientific progress.  Such advances could help combat disease.  But it must be remembered that such information could be abused to set new ways of classifying individuals by the way they were made up genetically.  Individuals could be prevented from having a certain type of education or work, or could be turned down for medical insurance.  Of great concern was the fact that people who were not even born could be affected by arbitrary decisions.  There was information that could affect millions of people.  The most important resolution on human rights and bioethics was adopted this year by the Commission on Human Rights.  Argentina felt that there was a gap that had to be filled by the United Nations and Member States.  It was time to call for an item on genetic privacy before the Council.

WILTON LITTLECHILD, of the International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development, said the Economic and Social Council should be thanked for its decision to establish a permanent forum for indigenous peoples issues in July 2000.  Since then, the indigenous caucus members had been very active with regional discussions and consultations on the permanent forum.  Delegations of the caucus had met with High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson since the Secretary-General had requested her office to be the lead agency for the implementation of the Economic and Social Council resolution.  There were some concerns, however.  One was the permanent forum's support and ability to function.  There was also concern about the possible termination of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Peoples.  It had not yet exhausted its mandate, which was different from the permanent forum, nor had it completed its work.  The permanent forum was not a trade-off for the working group.  The work of the working group should continue.  And there was concern about the proposed method of selection of the permanent forum.  The method now posed potential regional stacking, and the organization respectfully recommended that indigenous regions be recognized.

BIRGIT STEVENS (Belgium), on behalf of the European Union, said the promotion and protection of human rights were priorities for the European Union. 

The Union endorsed the adoption of the matters in the report of the Commission on Human Rights.  This was a procedural matter.

V. BOICHENKO (Russian Federation) said the Russian Federation was ready to cooperate with a special mechanism concerning the situation in Chechnya.  It would vote against the recommendation to adopt the resolution of the Commission on Human Rights on Chechnya.

JORGE FERRER (Cuba) said this resolution referred only to some part of the Russian Federation territory.  Cuba was concerned with the politicized issues that were also discriminatory and often did not cover the concerns of human rights.

SHEN YONGYIANG (China) said it had always held the view that Chechnya was part of the Russian Federation.  China believed that the Government of the Russian Federation had the ability to solve its relevant issues.  Other countries had no right to intervene.  In the Commission, China had voted against this resolution, and it would continue to hold this position.

CHERYL SIM (United States) said it was disappointed with the human rights resolution on Sudan.  Specifically, it was wrong that it failed to condemn the practice of slavery in Sudan.  The Government of Sudan knew the critical steps it had to take to eradicate the problem.  The United States also did not support the resolution on Palestine and Israel, for resolutions like this did not improve the prospects for peace in the Middle East.

BIRGIT STEVENS (Belgium), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the Union had expressed the wish that all delegations would consider the adoption of the decisions of the Commission on Human Rights as a matter of procedure; it regretted that had not occurred.  The European Union wished to underscore that the positions on substance that it had described during the Commission’s session remained unchanged.

OMAR BASHIR MANIS (Sudan) said although the delegation had remarks to make about the resolution on the situation in Sudan, it had not wished to take the floor.  It had been ready to accept this as a matter of procedure.  However, some delegations had taken the floor.  In the last three years, Sudan had held a dialogue and talks with the European Union concerning the situation in the country so that the resolution could be adopted by consensus.  However, it had been put to a vote in the last three years.  It was hoped that open and constructive talks with partners would ensure that when the Third Committee took up the situation, it would take this dialogue into account.

JORGE FERRER (Cuba) said his country was pleased to see that all thematic draft resolutions had been adopted without a vote; Cuba further hoped that this spirit of consensus and cooperation, as opposed to confrontation and politicization, would continue at next year's Commission session.

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