| Date | 9 December 1998 |
|---|---|
| Started | 15:00 |
| Ended | 18:00 |
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Reports of the Third Committee
The Acting President
The General Assembly will now consider the reports of the Third Committee on agenda items 100 to 110 and 12.
I request the Rapporteur of the Third Committee, Mr. Hassan Kassem Najem of Lebanon, to introduce the reports of the Third Committee in one intervention.
Mr. Najem (Lebanon)
I have the honour to present the reports of the Third Committee on the agenda items allocated to it by the General Assembly for consideration.
On agenda item 12, entitled "Report of the Economic and Social Council", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/53/614 the adoption of two draft decisions.
On agenda item 100, entitled "Social development, including questions related to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 7 of document A/53/615 the adoption of a draft resolution.
On agenda item 101, entitled "Crime prevention and criminal justice", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 18 of document A/53/616 the adoption of five draft resolutions.
On agenda item 102, entitled "International drug control". the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 7 of document A/53/617 the adoption of a draft resolution.
On agenda item 103, entitled "Advancement of women", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 18 of document A/53/618 the adoption of four draft resolutions.
On agenda item 104, entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 10 of document A/53/619 the adoption of a draft resolution.
On agenda item 105, entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 22 of document A/53/620 the adoption of six draft resolutions.
On agenda item 106, entitled "Promotion and protection of the rights of children", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 13 of document A/53/621 the adoption of two draft resolutions and in paragraph 14 the adoption of one draft decision.
I should like in this respect to draw the attention of the Assembly to two corrections to be made to the text of draft resolution II, entitled "The rights of the child". In section IV, the beginning of operative paragraph 15 should read:
"Underlines the importance that relevant measures to ensure respect for the rights of the child".
The rest of the sentence should remain as it is.
Also in section IV, operative paragraph 17, the last sentence should read:
"which will contribute towards making it possible to end impunity for the perpetrators of such crimes".
On agenda item 107, entitled "Programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People", the Third Committee recommends in paragraph 10 of document A/53/622 the adoption of two draft resolutions and in paragraph 11 the adoption of one draft decision.
Under agenda item 108, entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination", the Third Committee recommends, in document A/53/623, paragraph 17, the adoption of three draft resolutions.
I wish to draw the attention of the Assembly to paragraph 7 of the report contained in document A/53/624, which refers to the discussion in the Committee of draft resolution A/C.3/53/L.17, entitled "Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination". In that paragraph, the appearance of Brunei Darussalam among the list of sponsors is a technical error. Brunei Darussalam should be deleted from the list of sponsors of the draft resolution.
Under agenda item 110, entitled "Human rights questions", the Third Committee recommends in document A/53/625, paragraph 4, the adoption of a draft decision.
Under agenda item 110 (a), entitled "Human rights questions: Implementation of human rights instruments", the Third Committee recommends in document A/53/625/Add.1, paragraph 21, the adoption of three draft resolutions.
Under agenda item 110 (b), entitled "Human rights questions: Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms", the Third Committee recommends in document A/53/625/Add.2, paragraph 49, the adoption of 16 draft resolutions.
Under agenda item 110 (c), entitled "Human rights questions: Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives", the Third Committee recommends in document A/53/625/Add.3, paragraph 55, the adoption of 10 draft resolutions. In this respect, I would like to draw the attention of the Assembly to paragraph 8 of the report, in which the following sentence should be inserted at the end of the paragraph:
"At the same meeting, it was announced that the text, as orally revised, would be tabled as a Chairman's text."
Under agenda item 110 (d), entitled "Human rights questions: Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action", the Third Committee recommends in document A/53/625/Add.4, paragraph 7, the adoption of one draft resolution.
Under agenda item 110 (e), entitled "Human rights questions: Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights", the Third Committee recommends in document A/53/625/Add.5, paragraph 10, the adoption of one draft resolution.
This year the Third Committee adopted 59 draft resolutions, only nine of which were adopted by recorded vote. This means there has been important progress towards finding understanding and improving coordination for the adoption by consensus of the majority of draft resolutions in the future.
The Acting 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 Acting President
Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote.
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 are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Third Committee, unless the Secretariat is notified otherwise in advance.
This means that where the Committee took recorded votes and separate votes, we will do the same.
I should also hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Third Committee.
Agenda item 100
Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family
Report of the Third Committee (A/53/615)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 7 of its report.
The Third Committee adopted the draft resolution, entitled "International Year of Older Persons, 1999", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 100?
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the five draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 18 of its report.
We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled "Preparations for the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II, entitled "Transnational organized crime", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
Draft resolution III is entitled "Mutual assistance and international cooperation in criminal matters".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV, entitled "United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
Draft resolution V is entitled "Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution V without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 101?
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 7 of its report.
The Third Committee adopted the draft resolution, entitled "International cooperation against the world drug problem", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 102?
The Acting President
The Assembly has before it four draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 18 of its report.
We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled "Traffic in women and girls", which the Third Committee adopted without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II, entitled "Traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III, entitled "Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV, entitled "Improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 103?
Agenda item 104
Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women
Report of the Third Committee (A/53/619)
Amendment (A/53/L.69)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 10 of its report. In this connection, the General Assembly also has before it an amendment thereto contained in document A/53/L.69.
In accordance with rule 90 of the rules of procedure, the amendment is voted on first. The Assembly will therefore take a decision first on the amendment contained in document A/53/L.69. The additional sponsors of the amendment are Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Lesotho, Malaysia, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, the Sudan, Swaziland, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to adopt the amendment contained in document A/53/L.69?
The Acting President
The draft resolution, entitled "Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action", was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft resolution, as amended?
The Acting President
I call on the representative of the Russian Federation, who wishes to speak in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted.
Mr. Zmeevski (Russia)
The delegation of the Russian Federation is compelled to speak on document A/53/L.69, issued today, which contains an amendment to the draft resolution of the Third Committee contained in paragraph 10 of document A/53/619.
While we have no objection to the substantive change contained in the document, we believe that it is necessary to discuss and coordinate amendments in advance with all regional groups, particularly when we are considering the introduction of changes into a draft resolution that has already been endorsed by the Third Committee. We hope that the Bureau and the Secretariat will take the necessary steps so that in the future we may avoid similar situations, which do not promote consensus positions.
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 104?
Agenda item 105
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions
Report of the Third Committee (A/53/620)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the six draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 22 of its report.
We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled "Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees", which the Third Committee adopted without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II, entitled "Assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III, entitled "Follow-up to the Regional Conference to Address the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Other Forms of Involuntary Displacement and Returnees in the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Relevant Neighbouring States", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV, entitled "New international humanitarian order", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution V, entitled "Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VI, entitled "Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
I call on the representative of Armenia point of order.
Mr. Abelian (Armenia)
I would like to make the following points in reference to the report contained in document A/53/620.
On page 2 of the document, the list of documents that were before the Third Committee for consideration refers, under sub-item (j), to a letter dated 17 November 1998 from the Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, contained in document A/C.3/53/16. That letter and its annex were published in violation of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and of the provisions of relevant General Assembly resolutions, particularly those on the pattern of conferences.
I wish to draw to the attention of the General Assembly the fact that no undelivered statement can be published in the six official languages of the General Assembly. The secretariat of the Third Committee should at least have consulted the Bureau and elicited a decision of the General Assembly or the Third Committee. The provisions for publishing undelivered statements were only for the Special Political Committee and were discouraged by General Committee recommendation to the General Assembly.
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 105?
Agenda item 106
Promotion and protection of the rights of children
Report of the Third Committee (A/53/621)
The Acting President
The Assembly now has before it two draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 13 of the report and one draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 14 of the same report.
I call on the representative of the Russian Federation on a point of order.
Mr. Zmeevski (Russia)
I would like to express the wish of our delegation to become a sponsor of draft resolution II, contained in document A/53/621.
The Acting President
I call on the representative of Argentina on a point of order.
Mr. Bocalandro (Argentina)
The Argentine Republic cosponsored draft resolution A/C.3/53/L.15 in the Third Committee, but our name is not included in the list of sponsors of draft resolution I, now before the Assembly. I would be most grateful to have our country's name included.
The Acting President
I call on the representative of Cuba on a point of order.
Mr. Reyes Rodríguez (Cuba)
This same problem is going to involve all the Latin American countries. The Chairman of the regional group at that time signed the draft resolution on the rights of the child on behalf of all the countries of the Latin American Group. Yet Cuba and many other Latin American countries do not appear as sponsors of the draft resolution on the rights of the child. The names of all the members of the Latin American Group should be included among the sponsors.
The Acting President
I call on the representative of El Salvador on a point of order.
The Acting President
I call on the representative of the Sudan on a point of order.
Mrs. Ahmed (Sudan)
I wish to request that the name of my country be added to the list of sponsors of draft resolution II, on the rights of the child.
The Acting President
The requests of delegations will be reflected in the record.
The Assembly has before it two draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 13 of its report (A/53/621) and one draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 14 of the same report.
We turn first to draft resolution I, which is entitled "The girl child".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
Draft resolution II is entitled "The rights of the child".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft resolution II, as orally corrected by the Rapporteur?
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision entitled "Report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child".
May I consider that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 106?
Agenda item 107
Programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People
Report of the Third Committee (A/53/622)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the two draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 10 of its report and the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 11 of the same report.
We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled "International Decade of the World's Indigenous People".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II, entitled "United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations", without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision, entitled "Report of the Secretary-General on the status of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations".
May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to adopt the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 107?
Agenda item 108
Elimination of racism and racial discrimination
Report of the Third Committee (A/53/623)
Report of the Fifth Committee (A/53/727)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the three draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 17 of its report.
The report of the Fifth Committee on the programme budget implications of draft resolution I is contained in document A/53/727.
We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled "International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination", which the Third Committee adopted without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
Draft resolution II is entitled "Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and the convening of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
Draft resolution III is entitled "Measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 108.
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the three draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 14 of its report.
We turn first to Draft resolution I, entitled "Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
Draft resolution II is entitled "Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination".
| favour |
| against |
| abstain |
| absent |
Draft resolution II was adopted by 115 votes to 18, with 35 abstentions (resolution 53/135).
favour=115 against=18 abstain=35 absent=17
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
I now call on the representative of Australia, who wishes to make a statement in explanation of vote on the resolution just adopted.
Ms. Kerr (Australia)
Australia is deeply concerned about the activities of mercenaries and at the potential for instability brought about by their use. Australia has already taken steps to legislate against mercenaries in its Crimes, Foreign Incursions and Recruitment Act, which prohibits the training, financing and use of mercenaries in Australia.
Given the nature of the problem of mercenaries, Australia also considers that international cooperation is required to address this significant global issue. The Australian Government is therefore taking steps to accede to the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, and urges other countries to do likewise. When it enters into force, the Convention will provide an effective legal regime to enhance international cooperation for the prevention of recruitment and use of mercenaries.
Australia therefore supports strongly the call, in operative paragraph 4 of the resolution, on all States that have not yet done so to consider taking the necessary action to become parties to the Convention.
However, Australia is unable to support the resolution as a whole, because of the language used in other operative paragraphs, which divert the focus of the resolution from the use of mercenaries to extraneous issues.
The Acting President
Draft resolution III is entitled "The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination".
| favour |
| against |
| abstain |
| absent |
Draft resolution III was adopted by 162 votes to 2, with 6 abstentions (resolution 53/136).
favour=162 against=2 abstain=6 absent=15
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 109?
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 4 of its report.
The draft decision is entitled "Documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with the question of human rights".
May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee?
(a) Implementation of human rights instruments
Report of the Third Committee (A/53/625/Add.1)
Report of the Fifth Committee (A/53/728)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now proceed to take a decision on the three draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 21 of its report.
The report of the Fifth Committee on the programme budget implications of draft resolution III is contained in document A/53/728.
I call on the representative of the Sudan, who wishes to speak in explanation of vote before the voting.
Mrs. Ahmed (Sudan)
My delegation wishes to explain its vote on paragraph 26 of draft resolution II, contained in document A/53/625/Add.1. My delegation believes that the human rights treaty bodies have specific legal obligations and a direct relationship with the parties to them, while the Commission on Human Rights and its bodies are political or diplomatic in character, having their own functions in this respect. Therefore, in order to maintain the special character of these bodies and to prevent any confusion about their functions and characters, my delegation will vote against paragraph 26.
The Acting President
We shall now take action on draft resolution I, entitled "International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
Draft resolution II is entitled "Effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations under international instruments on human rights".
A separate vote has been requested on operative paragraph 26 of draft resolution II.
I see no objection to that request.
I shall therefore first put to the vote operative paragraph 26.
| favour |
| against |
| abstain |
| absent |
Operative paragraph 26 was retained by 104 votes to 7, with 44 abstentions.
favour=104 against=7 abstain=44 absent=30
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II, as a whole, without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
We shall now turn to draft resolution III, entitled "Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 110?
(b) Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms
Report of the Third Committee (A/53/625/Add.2)
Amendment (A/53/L.70)
The Acting President
The Assembly has before it 16 draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 49 of its report and an amendment to draft resolution XV, contained in document A/53/L.70.
I now call on the representative of South Africa to introduce the amendment contained in document A/53/L.70.
Mr. Mofokeng (South Africa)
In addition to introducing the amendment, I should like to orally revise the written amendment in accordance with agreement reached in informal consultations.
I invite the attention of the Assembly to the new paragraph 1 as it appears in document A/53/L.70. The oral revision is to delete all the words from "Recalls" in the first line to "and" in the second line, so that the new paragraph 1 would read:
"Welcomes the decision of the Commission to continue the consideration of this question at its fifty-fifth session".
The Acting President
I call on the representative of Egypt, who wishes to speak in explanation of position before action is taken.
Ms. Mekhemar (Egypt)
With regard to draft resolution V, entitled "Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms", under agenda item 110 (b), we would like to draw the attention of the Assembly to the joint declaration contained in document A/53/679, which reflects the position of the countries listed in paragraph 16 of document A/53/625/Add.2 on the draft resolution and the Declaration annexed to it.
The Acting President
I shall put the 16 draft resolutions and the amendment, which has been orally revised, to the Assembly one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will again have the opportunity to explain their vote.
We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled "Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
We turn now to draft resolution II, entitled "Human rights and unilateral coercive measures".
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Draft resolution II was adopted by 110 votes to 45, with 10 abstentions (resolution 53/141).
favour=110 against=45 abstain=10 absent=20
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
We turn now to draft resolution III, entitled "Strengthening of the rule of law".
The Third Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
Draft resolution IV is entitled "Respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification".
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Draft resolution IV was adopted by 103 votes to 2, with 66 abstentions (resolution 53/143).
favour=103 against=2 abstain=66 absent=14
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
We turn now to draft resolution V, entitled, "Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms".
Draft resolution V was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly too wishes to adopt the draft resolution?
The Acting President
Draft resolution VI is entitled "Situation of human rights in Cambodia".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VI without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
Draft resolution VII is entitled "Human rights and extreme poverty".
The Third Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
We now turn to draft resolution VIII, entitled "Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VIII without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
Draft resolution IX is entitled "Regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IX without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
Draft resolution X is entitled "Strengthening of United Nations actions in the human rights field through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution X without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
Draft resolution XI is entitled "Question of enforced or involuntary disappearances".
Draft resolution XI was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes also to adopt the draft resolution?
The Acting President
Draft resolution XII is entitled "Follow-up to the United Nations Year for Tolerance".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution XII without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
Draft resolution XIII is entitled "The human genome and human rights".
Draft resolution XIII was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft resolution?
The Acting President
Draft resolution XIV is entitled "United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and public information activities in the field of human rights".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution XIV without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
The Assembly will now turn to draft resolution XV, entitled "Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights", and to the amendment to that draft resolution contained in document A/53/L.70, as orally revised.
Under rule 90 of the rules of procedure, the amendment is voted on first. The Assembly will therefore take a decision first on the amendment contained in document A/53/L.70, as orally revised.
May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to adopt the amendment to draft resolution XV contained in document A/53/L.70, as orally revised?
The Acting President
Draft resolution XV was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote.
May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft resolution XV, as amended, reflecting the oral revision of the amendment?
The Acting President
Draft resolution XVI is entitled "Right to development".
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Draft resolution XVI was adopted by 125 votes to 1, with 42 abstentions (resolution 53/155).
favour=125 against=1 abstain=42 absent=17
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in explanation of vote or position on the resolutions just adopted.
Ms. King (United States)
In the Third Committee, the United States delegation voted against draft resolution XVI, on the right to development, and did so again here in plenary meeting. We had hoped until the final stages of consultations before the Committee took action that we would be able to negotiate compromises that would have allowed us to join consensus. We believe that the effort failed because the draft resolution was not circulated in time for all of the contentious issues to be worked out. As members know, this draft resolution was the last to be addressed by the Third Committee, and the session was extended several times because of it.
While there is much in the resolution that we support, the United States voted against it because of profound disagreement on the following points. We do not agree that international macroeconomic policy-making, globalization and debt relief are proper subjects for consideration in the various United Nations human rights forums. Other United Nations forums exist with responsibility for these issues.
We believe it is wrong, and dangerously misleading, to pin the blame for long-standing problems of food, health, education and unemployment on the current international financial difficulties. These problems existed long before the global financial crisis and will continue long after the crisis has passed, unless we confront them squarely, understand their fundamental roots and deal with them through the fundamental structural measures that we all know are required.
We do not support a convention on the right to development. There are many United Nations agencies devoted to development activities, and we believe that promotion of development appropriately belongs with them. By the same token, we do not support adding to the mandate of the High Commissioner for Human Rights burdensome new mandates in the field of development, which are already being pursued by the appropriate United Nations development agencies. Apart from being wasteful and duplicative, this will divert scarce resources from human rights activities for which the High Commissioner has an exclusive mandate.
We also regret that the resolution fails to note an essential point agreed upon at the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights: that the lack of development cannot be invoked to justify an abridgement of internationally recognized human rights.
Five years after the first consensus statement in Vienna on this subject, and after a consensus resolution at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, we believed developing and developed countries alike would be able to proceed another step towards a more complete understanding of what the right to development means and how to work together towards its realization. We are disappointed that consensus was broken. We hope that all delegations will take time to reflect on how we can retain the spirit of cooperation that prevails on development issues when we return to the Commission on Human Rights next March in Geneva.
Mr. Felten (Germany)
With regard to resolution 53/152, entitled "The human genome and human rights", I would like to draw the attention of the Assembly to the explanation of vote that the German delegation made on the occasion of the adoption of this draft resolution in the Third Committee.
For the reasons set out in that explanation, Germany is not yet in a position to decide upon the implementation of the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights.
The Acting President
We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 110?
(c) Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives
Report of the Third Committee (A/53/625/Add.3)
The Acting President
The Assembly has before it 10 draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 55 of its report. I shall put the 10 draft resolutions to the Assembly one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will again have the opportunity to explain their vote.
I shall now call on those representatives who wish to explain their votes or positions before the voting on the 10 draft resolutions contained in document A/53/625/Add.3.
Mr. Al-Ethary (Yemen)
My delegation wishes to explain its vote on the draft resolutions before the Assembly.
The democratic process that began in my country after unification in 1990 has consecrated human rights in Yemen, constitutionally, legally and in practice. This process has also been conducive to a widespread climate of political freedom and freedom of the press -- there are more than 100 newspapers and party bulletins and over