General Assembly Session 50 meeting 99

The President

The General Assembly will now consider the reports of the Third Committee on agenda items 107, 112 (a) to (e), 165 and 12.

I request the Rapporteur of the Third Committee to introduce the reports of the Third Committee in one intervention.

Mr. Mohamed (Sudan)

I have the honour to present the reports of the Third Committee on agenda items 107, 112 (a) through (e), 165 and 12.

Under agenda item 107, "Advancement of women", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 34 of document A/50/630 the adoption of seven draft resolutions and in paragraph 35 the adoption of one draft decision.

The report on agenda item 112 (a) through (e) has been issued in six parts, contained in documents A/50/635 and Add.1 to Add.5, respectively.

Under agenda item 112, "Human rights questions", the Third Committee lists in document A/50/635 the documents before the Committee at its fiftieth session.

Under sub-item (a), "Implementation of human rights instruments", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 14 of document A/50/635/Add.1 the adoption of three draft resolutions.

Under sub-item (b), "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 57 of document A/50/635/Add.2 the adoption of 16 draft resolutions.

Under sub-item (c), "Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 76 of document A/50/635/Add.3 the adoption of 13 draft resolutions and in paragraph 77 the adoption of one draft decision.

Under sub-item (d), "Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/50/635/Add.4 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item (e), "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights", document A/50/635/Add.5 contains an account of the Third Committee's consideration; it does not contain any recommendation to the General Assembly.

Under agenda item 165, "Implementation of the Outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 14 of document A/50/816 the adoption of two draft resolutions and in paragraph 15 the adoption of one draft decision.

Under agenda item 12, "Report of the Economic and Social Council", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 10 of document A/50/625 the adoption of three draft decisions.

There are some corrections arising from typographical errors to which I would like to refer.

Document A/50/635/Add.3 should list the Russian Federation as abstaining in the vote on draft resolution A/C.3/50/L.43, not draft resolution A/C.3/50/L.44. The document will be corrected to reflect this. Other corrections, by the delegation of Canada and the delegation of Japan, have also been duly noted and will be made in the reports.

I should like, in conclusion, to thank the Chairman of the Third Committee for his wisdom, guidance and diplomatic skill, which enabled the Committee's work to reach a successful conclusion. I should also like to thank the two Vice-Chairmen with whom I have had the pleasure to work, Patrick John Rata of New Zealand and Julia Tavares de Alvarez of the Dominican Republic, and all the other colleagues in the Third Committee. This was my first year in the Third Committee, and it was a pleasure for me to work with all my colleagues there. I liked it very much, and I have decided to continue to work in the Third Committee while I am here in New York.

Allow me also to thank the Secretary of the Third Committee, Kate Starr Newell, an her very able staff, particularly Vivien Pliner-Josephs and Alexandre De Barros, who worked with dedication and without complain to make these reports available to the Assembly.

I should also like to thank you, Mr. President, for allowing us to introduce the reports at two meetings, despite the problems of documentation we are now facing. I should also like, through you, to thank the secretariat of the General Assembly for their support and for the work they have done for me.

It has been a pleasure for me personally to work as Rapporteur of the Third Committee, and it has been an honour for my delegation, the delegation of the Sudan, to work in that Committee. We commit ourselves to the further improvement of the work of the General Assembly.

In conclusion, allow me to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The President

If there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the Third Committee that are before the Assembly today.

The President

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote or position.

The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Third Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records.

May I remind members that under paragraph 7 of decision 34/401, the General Assembly agreed that

"When the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, i.e., either in the Committee or in plenary meeting, unless that delegation's vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee".

May I remind delegations that, also in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the Third Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we shall take decisions in the same manner as in the Third Committee, unless notified otherwise in advance.

This means that where recorded or separate votes were taken, we will do the same.

I would also hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Third Committee.

The President

The Assembly has before it seven draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 34 of its report and one draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 35.

I shall put the seven draft resolutions and the draft decision to the Assembly one by one.

We turn first to draft resolution I, "Proposed merger of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Development Fund for Women". It corresponds to Third Committee document A/C.3/50/L.21/Rev.1.

The Third Committee adopted this draft resolution without a vote.

May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The President

Draft resolution II is entitled "International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women". It corresponds to Third Committee document A/C.3/50/L.22.

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote.

May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

Draft resolution III is entitled "Improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat". It corresponds to Third Committee document A/C.3/50/L.23.

The Third Committee adopted this draft resolution without a vote.

May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

Draft resolution IV is entitled "Improvement of the situation of women in rural areas". It corresponds to Third Committee document A/C.3/50/L.24.

I call on the representative of Spain on a point of order.