General Assembly Session 54 meeting 83

The President

This morning, the General Assembly will consider the reports of the Third Committee on agenda items 106 to 116 and 12.

I request the Rapporteur of the Third Committee, Mr. Naif Bin Bandar Al-Sudairy of Saudi Arabia, to introduce in one intervention the reports of the Third Committee.

Mr. Al-Sudairy (Saudi Arabia)

I have the honour to present for consideration the following reports of the Third Committee on the agenda items allocated to it by the General Assembly.

Under agenda item 106, entitled "Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family", the Third Committee recommends in document A/54/595, paragraph 27, the adoption of five draft resolutions and, in paragraph 28, the adoption of one draft decision.

Under agenda item 107, entitled "Crime prevention and criminal justice", the Third Committee recommends in document A/54/596, paragraph 31, the adoption of seven draft resolutions and, in paragraph 32, the adoption of one draft decision.

Under agenda item 108, entitled "International drug control", the Committee recommends in document A/54/597, paragraph 7, the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 109, entitled "Advancement of women", the Committee recommends in document A/54/598 and Corr. 1 and 2, paragraph 34, the adoption of eight draft resolutions.

Under agenda item 110, entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women", the Third Committee recommends in document A/54/599 and Corr. 1, paragraph 11, the adoption of two draft resolutions.

Under agenda item 111, entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions", the Committee recommends in document A/54/600, paragraph 19, the adoption of five draft resolutions.

I would like to draw the attention of the Assembly to paragraph 7 of the report, which concerns draft resolution A/C.3/54/L.91, 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". The name of Georgia should be deleted from the list of sponsors.

Under agenda item 112, entitled "Promotion and protection of the rights of children", the Third Committee recommends in document A/54/601, paragraph 12, the adoption of two draft resolutions and, in paragraph 13, the adoption of one draft decision.

Regarding agenda item 113, there is a correction to page 7 of the Arabic text of document A/54/602.

Under this agenda item, entitled "Programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People", the Third Committee recommends in document A/54/602, paragraph 9, the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 114, entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination", the Committee recommends in document A/54/603, paragraph 16, the adoption of two draft resolutions and, in paragraph 17, the adoption of one draft decision.

Under agenda item 115, entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination", the Third Committee recommends in document A/54/604, paragraph 17, the adoption of three draft resolutions.

Under agenda item 116 (c), entitled "Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives", the Third Committee recommends in document A/54/605/Add.3, paragraph 62, the adoption of 10 draft resolutions.

Under agenda item 116 (d), entitled "Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action", the Third Committee indicates in its report (A/54/605/Add.4) that no proposals were submitted and no action was taken under the sub-item.

Under agenda item 116 (e), entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights", the Third Committee indicates in its report (A/54/605/Add.5) that no proposals were submitted and no action was taken under the sub-item.

Under agenda item 12, entitled "Report of the Economic and Social Council", the Third Committee recommends in document A/54/606, paragraph 8, the adoption of two draft resolutions.

In conclusion, I wish to thank the members of the Asian Group, who have given me the honour of representing them as a member of the Bureau. I would also like to thank the Chairman of the Committee, the Vice-Chairmen, the Secretariat and the interpreters for their efforts to ensure the success of our work.

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 it 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 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 recorded votes and separate votes were taken, 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.

The President

The Assembly has before it five draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 27 of its report and one draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 28 of the same report.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the five draft resolutions and the draft decision one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will again have the opportunity to explain their votes or positions.

We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled "Policies and programmes involving youth".

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II, entitled "Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons: towards a society for all in the twenty-first century", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The President

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III, entitled " A United Nations literacy decade: education for all", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV, entitled "Cooperatives in social development", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution V, entitled "Follow-up to the International Year of the Family", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision, entitled "Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond", which the Third Committee recommended for adoption. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt the draft decision?

The President

I call on the representative of the United States of America for an explanation of position.

Mr. Rabby (United States)

The United States regrets not having been able to co-sponsor resolution 54/121 on the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons. We joined in the consensus, but we would like to note that the United States cannot support the language in the third preambular paragraph, which amounts to a reaffirmation by all of the States supporting this resolution of obligations which they have not all, in fact, undertaken.

We would like to emphasize, however, our Government's commitment to the advancement and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.

The President

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 106.

The President

The Assembly has before it seven draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 31 of its report and one draft decision, recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 32 of the same report. The Assembly will take a decision on the seven draft resolutions and the draft decision 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 "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 President

Draft resolution II, entitled "Draft United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the draft protocols thereto", was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly too wishes to adopt the draft resolution?

The President

Draft resolution III is entitled "Activities of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Organized Crime: illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, as well as consideration of the need to develop an instrument on the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in explosives". Draft resolution III was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft resolution?

The President

Draft resolution IV, entitled "Action against corruption", was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly too wishes to adopt the draft resolution?

The President

Draft resolution V is entitled "High-level Political Signing Conference for the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime". The Third Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

Draft resolution VI, entitled "African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders", was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft resolution?

The President

Draft resolution VII is entitled "Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity". Draft resolution VII was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes also to adopt the draft resolution?

The President

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision, entitled "Report of the Secretary-General on the elimination of violence against women", recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 32 of its report. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt the draft decision?

The President

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

Ms. Otiti (Uganda)

With respect to draft resolution VI, just adopted as resolution 54/130, I wish to recall that, as indicated in the Third Committee by the Chairman of the African Group, the correct name of the institution to which the draft resolution refers is the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. I would request that this correction be reflected in the final text of resolution 54/130.

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 107?

The President

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 7 of its report.

The draft resolution, entitled "International cooperation against the world drug problem", was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly too wishes to adopt the draft resolution?

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 108?

The President

The Assembly has before it eight draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 34 of its report.

I call on the representative of the Philippines.

Mrs. Austria-Garcia (Philippines)

I wish to make a correction to draft resolution VI, to reflect agreement that was reached in the Third Committee. Paragraph 11 of that draft resolution should read as follows:

"Also encourages concerned Governments, particularly those of the countries of origin and destination, to adopt measures or strengthen existing ones to regulate the recruitment and deployment of women migrant workers, including considering the adoption of appropriate legal measures against intermediaries who deliberately encourage the clandestine movement of workers and who exploit women migrant workers".

I thank the delegation of Finland in connection with this correction.

The President

The Assembly will now take a decision on all eight draft resolutions, one by one, after which members will have an opportunity to explain their positions.

We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled "Traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls", which was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft resolution?

The President

Draft resolution II, entitled "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women", was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly too wishes to adopt the draft resolution?

The President

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III, entitled "Improvement of the situation of women in rural areas", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV, entitled "United Nations Development Fund for Women", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution V, 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 President

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VI, entitled "Violence against women migrant workers", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VII, 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 President

The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VIII, entitled "Revitalization and strengthening of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women", without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The President

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

Mrs. Nicodemus (Brazil)

I would request the Secretariat to note in document A/54/598 that Brazil is an original co-sponsor of resolution 54/134 on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The President

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

Mrs. Afifi (Morocco)

I would like it to be noted that my delegation wishes to join the sponsors of resolution 54/133 on traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls.

The President

I call on the representative of the Russian Federation on a point of order.

Mr. Rogov (Russia)

The delegation of the Russian Federation would refer to resolution 54/140 on revitalization and strengthening of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women. In operative paragraph 10, following the words "in the Web site of the Institute", the words "should be ensured" should be added so that the resolution is fully consistent with the draft as adopted by the Third Committee in document A/C.3/54/L.89.

The President

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