| Date | 20 December 2004 |
|---|
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The Acting President
The Assembly has before it four draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 27 of its report and one draft decision recommended by the Committee in paragraph 28 of the same report.
Before proceeding further, I should like to inform members that action on draft resolution III, entitled "Future operation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women", is postponed to a later date to allow time for the review of its programme budget implications by the Fifth Committee. The Assembly will take action on draft resolution III as soon as the report of the Fifth Committee on its programme budget implications is available.
I now give the floor to the representative of Qatar to speak in explanation of vote before the voting.
Mr. Al-Sulaiti (Qatar)
When the Third Committee adopted the draft resolution on the future operation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, Spain joined the list of its sponsors.
As to the draft resolution in the Third Committee's report entitled "Working towards the elimination of crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour", my country accords the utmost importance to such issues. Women enjoy their full rights in the State of Qatar. The High Council for Family Affairs, created to protect and promote the rights of families and women, has always stressed equality of rights between men and women and proscribed all discrimination against women. Qatari law in particular provides for severe punishment for crimes against women. We therefore support the condemnation of violent crimes committed women in the name of honour.
Qatar therefore regrets that the delegation which submitted the draft resolution failed during informal consultations to respond to demands by some States to omit reference to paragraph 3 (i) on sexual and reproductive health. Such terminology has many interpretations, some of which are counter to our national legislation and religious beliefs. We therefore dissociate ourselves from this draft resolution and wish to have our decision be reflected in the official records of this session.
The Acting President
We will now take a decision on draft resolutions I, II and IV and on the draft decision.
Draft resolution I is entitled "Improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system". 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 "Working towards the elimination of crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour". 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 IV is entitled "Trafficking in women and girls".
The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
We now turn to the draft decision entitled "Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the work of its thirtieth and thirty-first sessions". May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee?
The Acting President
The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 98.
