GA/9046

ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS ARBITRARY EXECUTION OF KEN SARO-WIWA AND EIGHT CO-DEFENDANTS IN NIGERIA BY VOTE OF 101-14-47

22 December 1995


Press Release
GA/9046


ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS ARBITRARY EXECUTION OF KEN SARO-WIWA AND EIGHT CO-DEFENDANTS IN NIGERIA BY VOTE OF 101-14-47

19951222 Adopts 42 Resolutions on Issues Of Human Rights, Advancement of Women, Electoral Assistance

The General Assembly condemned the arbitrary execution, after a flawed judicial process, of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his eight co-defendants in Nigeria by a resolution adopted this afternoon on the recommendation of its Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural).

The resolution, adopted by a vote of 101 in favour to 14 against, with 47 abstentions, expressed deep concern about other violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria, and called on its Government to urgently ensure their observance, in particular by restoring habeas corpus, releasing all political prisoners, guaranteeing freedom of the press and ensuring full respect for the rights of all individuals, including trade unionists and persons belonging to minorities. (For details of voting, see Annex XIV.)

In rejecting the resolution, the representative of Nigeria said the Assembly had been manipulated by some powerful Members.

Statements on the resolution were also made by the representatives of Nigeria, Mozambique, Iraq and Burundi.

On recommendations of the Third Committee, the Assembly this afternoon adopted 42 resolutions, 10 with recorded votes, on such issues as the advancement of women, human rights questions and the implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women. It also adopted 6 decisions.

Among texts on human rights, the Assembly called upon the Government of the Sudan to comply with applicable international human rights instruments to which it was a party, in particular the International Covenants on Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The vote was 94 in favour to 15 against, with 54 abstentions (Annex XII).

General Assembly Plenary - 1a - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

In a separate earlier vote, operative paragraph 2 which urged the Government of the Sudan to investigate cases of slavery, servitude, slave trade and forced labour, was adopted by 87 votes in favour to 15 against, with 50 abstentions (Annex IX).

Operative paragraph 4 which called for the placement of human rights monitors, was adopted by a vote of 85 in favour to 17 against, with 49 abstentions (Annex X). Operative paragraph 12 which deplored the Government of the Sudan's continuing refusal to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur, was adopted by a vote of 85 in favour to 14 against, with 50 abstentions (Annex XI).

The representative of the Sudan said those parts of the resolution amounted to blatant interference in her country's affairs.

By the terms of another draft resolution, adopted by a vote of 115 in favour to 2 against (Russian Federation and India), with 43 abstentions, the Assembly strongly condemned the measures and practices of discrimination and the violations of human rights of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo committed by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) (Annex V).

The representatives of Croatia, China, India and Swaziland made statements on that text.

By a text on the situation of human rights in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) the Assembly condemned, in the strongest terms, all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by the parties to the conflict there, recognizing that the leadership in territories under the control of Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and formerly Serb-held areas of Croatia, the commanders of Serb paramilitary forces and political and military leaders in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) bore primary responsibility for most of those violations. That text was adopted by a vote of 144 in favour to 1 against (Russian Federation), with 10 abstentions (Annex VIII).

A draft on rape and abuse of women in areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia was adopted by the Assembly without a vote. Preambular paragraph 6 of that resolution, stating that the heinous practice of ethnic cleansing by Serbian forces was an act of genocide, was adopted by a vote of 146 in favour to 1 against (Russian Federation), with 20 abstentions (Annex VII).

Another resolution condemned "massive and extremely grave violations of human rights for which the Government of Iraq is responsible". By a vote of 111 in favour to 3 against (Sudan, Nigeria and Libya), with 53 abstentions,

General Assembly Plenary - 1b - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

the Assembly also strongly condemned the continued refusal of the Government of Iraq to take advantage of resources available to alleviate the suffering of the people, and expressed special alarm at policies which discriminate between regions (Annex VI).

The Assembly also expressed concern at violations of human rights in Iran, in particular the high number of executions. By that text, adopted by a vote of 78 in favour to 27 against, with 58 abstentions, the Assembly called upon the Government to take the necessary steps so that a visit of the Special Representative of the Human Rights Commission could take place as soon as possible and without conditions (Annex IV).

By a resolution adopted by a vote of 66 in favour to 22 against, with 78 abstentions, the Assembly once again called upon the Cuban Government to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur for that country by permitting him full and free access to establish contact with the Government and the citizens (Annex XIII).

The representative of Cuba said that resolution had been imposed by a super-Power.

The representative of Colombia also made a statement.

In other action on country specific resolutions, the Assembly adopted texts on the situation of human rights in Rwanda, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti and Cambodia.

The representative of Yemen made a statement on country specific texts.

Acting on a text on respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in the international affairs of States in their electoral process, the Assembly strongly appealed to all States to refrain from financing or providing, directly or indirectly, any form of overt or covert support for political parties or groups and to refrain from taking actions to undermine the electoral processes in any country. That text was adopted by a vote of 91 in favour to 57 against, with 21 abstentions (Annex I).

The representative of Mexico made a statement on that draft.

By a vote of 156 votes in favour, to none against, with 15 abstentions, the Assembly requested the United Nations to continue efforts to ensure, before undertaking to provide electoral assistance, that there is adequate time to organize an effective mission for providing such assistance, that conditions exist to allow a free and fair election and that provisions can be made for comprehensive reporting (Annex III).

General Assembly Plenary - 1c - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

Also this afternoon, the Assembly adopted, by a vote of 86 in favour to 4 against (United States, Israel, Japan and Canada), with 80 abstentions a resolution calling for respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification (Annex II).

Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted seven resolutions relating to the advancement of women. They referred to the proposed merger of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and UNIFEM; the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women; improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat; improvement of the situation of women in rural areas; role of UNIFEM in eliminating violence against women; traffic in women and girls; and violence against women migrant workers.

A decision on documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with the question of the advancement of women was adopted without a vote.

On human rights instruments, the Assembly, without a vote, adopted resolutions relating to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations; and International Covenants on Human Rights.

In other action, the Assembly, without a vote, adopted eight resolutions relating to human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

They included texts on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education; strengthening of action in the human rights field through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity; national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights; and the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education.

Other texts dealt with strengthening the rule of law; effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities; human rights in the administration of justice; human rights and mass exoduses; elimination of all forms of religious intolerance; right to development; human rights and terrorism; and strengthening of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights/Centre for Human Rights.

Under human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives, the Assembly adopted a resolution on the protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons without a vote.

General Assembly Plenary - 1d - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

Also without a vote, the Assembly adopted a decision on documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with human rights questions, and a resolution on comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.

The Assembly further took note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

On implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Assembly adopted two draft resolutions without a vote. One was on amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the other was on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

The Assembly took note of the report of the Fifth Committee on the programme budget implications of the second draft resolution relating to that Conference, and took note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the outcome of the Conference.

The Assembly also acted without a vote in adopting three decisions on the report of the Economic and Social Council. They dealt with the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; organization of work of the Third Committee and the biennial programme of work of the Committee for 1996-1997 and report of the Economic and Social Council.

Also this afternoon, the Assembly decided to postpone consideration of the item on the launching of global negotiations on international cooperation for development until its next session.

The General Assembly will meet again at 11 a.m. tomorrow, 23 December, to take action on the remaining reports of the Fifth Committee.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this afternoon to take up the remaining reports of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) and the related draft resolutions and decisions.

The Assembly will first take up the Third Committee report concerning the advancement of women (document A/50/630) which contains seven draft resolutions and one draft decision, all approved without a vote.

By draft resolution I of the report on the proposed merger of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, the Assembly would regret that, owing to the absence of sufficient information on the legal, technical and administrative implications of the proposed merger, it is currently unable to decide on the proposed merger. The Assembly would also recommend that any proposal dealing with the institutional structure and the mandates of the different United Nations bodies dealing with the advancement of women must be considered part of the general restructuring exercise of the United Nations.

By draft resolution II on the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, the Assembly would reiterate the importance of maintaining the level of resources devoted to independent research and training activities which are crucial for the situation of women. Also, Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations would be invited to contribute to the United Nations Trust Fund for the Institute.

The General Assembly would urge the Secretary-General to continue his work on improving the work practices and environment within the United Nations system to increase flexibility and remove direct or indirect discrimination, including against staff members with family responsibilities, under the terms of draft resolution III on the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat.

The Assembly would invite Member States to attach greater importance to the improvement of the situation of rural women in their national development strategies, paying special attention to both their practical and their strategic needs, under the terms of draft resolution IV of the report. Also, the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) would be invited to consider the gender aspects of rural-urban migration and its impact on the situation of rural women.

By the terms of draft resolution V, on strengthening the role of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in eliminating violence against women, the Assembly would request UNIFEM, as one of the operational bodies of the United Nations, to take into account the need to strengthen its

General Assembly Plenary - 7 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

activities to eliminate violence against women as part of system-wide efforts of the United Nations towards this goal.

By draft resolution VI, on traffic in women and girls, the Assembly would urge concerned governments to support comprehensive, practical approaches by the international community to assist women and children victims of transnational trafficking to return home and reintegrate into their home societies. It would also decide to focus the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December 1996, on the problem of trafficking in human persons, especially women and children, and to devote one meeting of the fifty-first session of the General Assembly to the discussion of this problem.

By the terms of draft resolution VII, the Assembly would request that the issue of violence against women migrant workers be included in the agenda of the inter-agency meeting that preceded the regular session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Also, the Assembly would establish an expert group, including the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, to submit recommendations for improving coordination of the various efforts of the United Nations agencies on the issue of violence against women migrant workers.

A draft decision would have the General Assembly take note of reports of the Secretary-General on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and on the Activities of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women.

The report on human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms (document A/50/635/Add.2) has 16 related draft resolutions.

Part I of the report on Human Rights Questions (document A/50/635) contains the documents before the Committee for its consideration of the item.

In connection with that report, a draft resolution on respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in the international affairs of States in their electoral process would have the Assembly strongly appeal to all States to refrain from financing or providing, directly or indirectly, any form of overt or covert support for political parties or groups and to refrain from taking actions to undermine the electoral processes in any country. It would also condemn any act of armed aggression or threat or use of force against peoples, their elected governments or their legitimate leaders.

It would also reaffirm that electoral assistance to Member States should be provided by the United Nations only at the request and with the consent of specific sovereign States. It would reaffirm that all countries have the

General Assembly Plenary - 8 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

obligation to respect the rights of others to self-determination and to determine freely their political status.

The draft was approved by the Committee in a recorded vote of 78 in favour to 56 against, with 19 abstentions.

A draft resolution on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Eduction: culture of peace, approved in the Committee without a vote, would have the Assembly encourage countries, regional organizations, non- governmental organizations and the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to take all necessary action to ensure education for peace, human rights, democracy, international understanding and tolerance.

By the terms of a draft on strengthening of United Nations action in the human rights field through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity the Assembly would call upon Member States to base their activities for the protection and promotion of human rights on the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other relevant international instruments. Also by that text, all human rights bodies within the United Nations system as well as the special rapporteurs and representatives, independent experts and working groups, would be requested to take duly into account the contents of the present resolution in carrying out their mandates. The Commission on Human Rights would be requested to give due consideration to the present resolution and to formulate concrete proposals for its implementation. The draft was approved without a vote.

By the draft resolution on the respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and vital importance of family reunification, the Assembly would call upon all States to allow, in conformity with national legislation, the free flow of financial remittances by foreign nationals residing in their territory to their relatives in the country of origin. Also, States would be called upon to refrain from enacting, and to repeal if it already exists, legislation intended as a coercive measure against another State which discriminates against individuals or groups of legal migrants by adversely affecting family reunification and the rights to send financial remittances to their relatives in the country of origin.

The draft was approved by the Committee, as orally revised, by a recorded vote of 75 in favour to 4 against, with 74 abstentions.

By the terms of another human rights related draft resolution also approved without a vote, the Secretary-General would be requested to give a high priority to requests from Member States for assistance in the establishment and strengthening of national institutions for the promotion and

General Assembly Plenary - 9 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

protection of human rights as part of the programme of human rights advisory services and technical assistance.

Another draft approved without a vote, on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, would have the Assembly request the High Commissioner for Human Rights to coordinate the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Decade. It would also have the Assembly call upon international, regional and national non-governmental organizations to increase their involvement in formal and non-formal education in human rights.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Assembly would call upon all Member States to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Convention as a matter of priority, and would express the hope that it will enter into force at an early date. The text was approved without a vote.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations under international instruments on human rights, approved without a vote, the Assembly would urge States parties to notify the Secretary-General of their acceptance of the amendments approved by the States parties and the General Assembly in its resolution 48/120. [The amendments concern a change in financing -- from assessments on States parties to funding from the regular United Nations budget.] Also, it would call upon all States parties to fulfil without delay and in full their financial obligations, including their arrears, under the Conventions on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment until the amendments enter into force.

By a draft resolution, approved without a vote, on the International Covenants on Human Rights, the Assembly would appeal strongly to all States that had not yet done so to become parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as to accede to the Optional Protocols to the Civil and Political Rights Covenant and to make the declaration provided for in the Covenant's article 41 which says in part that "A State party to the present Covenant may at any time decide under this article that it recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications to the effect that a State party claims that another State party is not fulfilling its obligations under the Covenant".

Under the terms of draft resolution 7, on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, the Assembly would request the Special Representative on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, in collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights office in that country, to continue his evaluation of the extent to which his recommendations are followed up and implemented. The draft was approved without a vote.

General Assembly Plenary - 10 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

By the terms of draft resolution 8, on strengthening the rule of law, approved without a vote, the High Commissioner for Human Rights would be requested to continue to explore the possibilities of obtaining from all relevant institutions of the United Nations system, including financial institutions, technical and financial means to strengthen the capacity of the Centre to assist national projects aiming at the realization of human rights and the maintenance of the rule of law.

By draft resolution 9, entitled effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the Assembly would call upon the Secretary-General to make available, at the request of governments concerned, expertise on minority issues. It would also request the Secretary-General to provide human and financial resources for such advisory services and technical assistance of the Centre for Human Rights, within existing resources. The draft was approved by the Committee without a vote.

Also approved without a vote, draft resolution 10, on human rights in the administration of justice, would have the Assembly urge the Secretary- General to consider favourably requests by States for assistance in the administration of justice field and to strengthen system-wide coordination in that field, in particular between the United Nations programme of human rights advisory services and technical assistance and the technical cooperation and advisory services of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme.

By the terms of draft resolution 11, on importance of human rights in the early warning and prevention of mass exoduses and in the emergency operations of the United Nations, the Assembly would request all United Nations bodies and governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to cooperate fully with all mechanisms of the Commission for Human Rights and, in particular, to provide them with all pertinent information in their possession on the human rights situations creating or affecting refugees and displaced persons. It would invite the Secretary- General to attach high priority and to make available the necessary resources within the regular budget of the United Nations for the consolidation and strengthening of emergency preparedness and response mechanisms. The draft was approved by the Committee without a vote.

By the terms of draft resolution 12, approved without a vote, on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance, the Assembly would urge all States to prevent and combat all instances of hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious extremism and intolerance of religion or belief.

By the terms of draft resolution 13, approved without a vote, on the right to development, the Assembly would call upon the Commission on Human

General Assembly Plenary - 11 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

Rights to consider carefully the reports of the Working Group on the Right to Development to assess whether it had completed its mandate. The Secretary- General would also be requested to ask the Centre for Human Rights to provide a programmatic follow-up on the implementation of the development Declaration as part of efforts to implement the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.

By the terms of draft resolution 14, on strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization, the Assembly would request that the United Nations continue efforts to ensure, before undertaking to provide electoral assistance, that there is adequate time to organize an effective mission for providing such assistance, that conditions exist to allow a free and fair election and that provisions can be made for comprehensive reporting.

The draft was approved by the Committee on 13 December, as orally revised, by a vote of 143 in favour to none against, with 14 abstentions.

By the terms of draft resolution 15, on human rights and terrorism, approved without a vote, the Assembly would call upon States to take all necessary measures in accordance with international standards of human rights to prevent, combat and eliminate all acts of terrorism wherever and by whomever committed. It would request the Secretary-General to continue to seek the views of Member States on the possible establishment of a United Nations voluntary fund for victims of terrorism, as well as ways to rehabilitate the victims of terrorism and to reintegrate them into society.

By the terms of draft resolution 16, on strengthening of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights/Centre for Human Rights, approved without a vote, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to make available additional human and financial resources to enhance the capability of the High Commissioner and of the Centre to fulfil effectively their respective mandates and their ability to carry out mandated operational activities.

The report on human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives (document A/50/635/Add.3) contains 13 draft resolutions.

The draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran would have the Assembly express its concern at violations of human rights in Iran, in particular the high number of executions. It would have the Assembly call upon the Government to implement existing agreements with international humanitarian organizations and to take the necessary steps so that the visit of the Special Representative of the Human Rights Commission could take place as soon as possible and without conditions. In addition, it would have the Assembly express its grave concern that there were continuing

General Assembly Plenary - 12 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

threats to the life of Salman Rushdie, as well as to individuals associated with his work, which appeared to have the support of the Government of Iran. The draft was approved by the Committee by a recorded vote of 74 in favour to 26 against, with 49 abstentions.

Under the terms of a draft resolution, submitted by the Chairman, on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and approved without a vote, the Assembly would urge all Afghan parties to work with the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan to achieve a comprehensive political solution leading to the cessation of armed confrontation and the eventual establishment of a democratic government. The parties would also be urged to respect accepted humanitarian rules, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

By the terms of draft resolution 3, entitled the situation of human rights in Kosovo the Assembly would urgently demand that the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) take all necessary measures to bring to an immediate end all human rights violations against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

The draft was approved by the Committee, as orally revised, by a vote of 107 in favour to two against (India, Russian Federation), with 35 abstentions.

By the terms of draft resolution 4, on the situation of human rights in Iraq, the Assembly would condemn "massive and extremely grave violations of human rights for which the Government of Iraq is responsible". It would also strongly condemn the continued refusal of the Government of Iraq to take advantage of resources available to alleviate the suffering of the people, and would express special alarm at policies which discriminate between regions.

The Committee approved the draft, as orally revised, by a vote of 104 in favour to 4 against (Libya, Gambia, Nigeria, Sudan), with 49 abstentions.

By the terms of draft resolution 5, on rape and abuse of women in areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia, approved without a vote as orally revised, the Assembly would strongly condemn the "abhorrent practice of rape and abuse of women and children" in areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia. It would express outrage that rape has been used as a weapon of war and an instrument of ethnic cleansing, and would reaffirm that rape in armed conflict constitutes a war crime.

Prior to approval of the text as a whole, its sixth preambular paragraph, which reads as follows: "Convinced that this heinous practice constitutes a deliberate weapon of war in fulfilling the policy of ethnic cleansing carried out by Serbian forces in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and noting General Assembly resolution 47/121 of 18 December 1992, in which the Assembly stated, inter alia, that the abhorrent policy of ethnic cleansing was a form of genocide" was approved by 133 votes in favour to 1 against (Russian Federation), with 11 abstentions.

General Assembly Plenary - 13 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

Under draft resolution 6, on the situation of human rights in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), the Assembly would condemn, in the strongest terms, all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by the parties to the conflict there, recognizing that the leadership in territories under the control of Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and formerly Serb-held areas of Croatia, the commanders of Serb paramilitary forces and political and military leaders in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) bore primary responsibility for most of those violations, and that persons who committed such acts would be held personally responsible and accountable.

The draft was approved by the Committee on 14 December, as orally revised, by a vote of 124 in favour to one against (Russian Federation), with 18 abstentions.

Under the terms of draft resolution 7, on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the Assembly would welcome the release without conditions of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other prominent political leaders and strongly urge the Government to immediately release other detained political prisoners. The Assembly would urge the Government of Myanmar to engage in political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders, including representatives of ethnic groups, as the best means of promoting national reconciliation and the restoration of democracy. The Government should take all necessary steps towards restoring democracy in accordance with the will of the people as expressed in the democratic elections held in 1990 and to ensure that political parties can function freely. The draft was approved by the Committee without a vote.

Also approved without a vote, draft 8 on the protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons would have the Assembly commend the efforts made by the representative of the Secretary-General to develop a legal framework and promote strategies for better protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons. The representative would be encouraged to pay specific attention to the needs of women and children. The Assembly would call upon the Human Rights Commission to consider establishing a framework for the question, such as a declaration for internally displaced persons, on the basis of the representative's report.

By the terms of draft resolution 9, on human rights in Haiti, approved without a vote, the Assembly would express its concern about the recent incidents of violence, in particular the assassination of a member of the Haitian Parliament, and hope that such acts and other incidents of violence would not impede continued progress in human rights and the consolidation of constitutional democracy. It would also express its support for the work currently undertaken under the National Commission of Truth and Justice in its investigation of past human rights abuses.

General Assembly Plenary - 14 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

Under the terms of draft resolution 10, on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, the Assembly would call upon the Government of Sudan to comply with and implement applicable international human rights instruments, in particular the International Covenants on Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Slavery Convention, as amended, and the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery.

The draft was approved by the Committee by a vote of 93 in favour to 15 against, with 47 abstentions.

Prior to approval of the whole text, its operative paragraphs 2,4 and 12 were approved by separate votes.

Operative paragraph 2, by which the Assembly "Urges the Government of Sudan to investigate without delay the cases of slavery, servitude, slave trade, forced labour and similar practices brought to its attention and to take all appropriate measures to put an immediate end to these practices", was approved by 83 votes in favour to 14 against, with 44 abstentions.

Operative paragraph 4, by which the Assembly "Welcomes the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur that human rights monitors be placed at the earliest possible date in such locations as will facilitate improved information flow and assessment and independent verification of reports on the situation of human rights in the Sudan", was approved by a vote of 86 in favour to 16 against, with 40 abstentions.

Operative paragraph 12, by which the Assembly "Deplores the Government of the Sudan's continuing refusal to cooperate in any manner with the Special Rapporteur and the unacceptable threats against his person", was approved by a vote of 87 in favour to 15 against, with 40 abstentions.

By the terms of draft resolution 11, on the situation of human rights in Cuba, the Assembly would once again call upon the Cuban Government to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cuba by permitting him full and free access to establish contact with the Government and the citizens of that country so that he might fulfil the mandate entrusted to him. It would call upon the Government to release the numerous persons detained for activities of a political nature.

The draft was approved by the Committee by a vote of 62 in favour to 23 against, with 73 abstentions.

By draft resolution 12, on the situation of human rights in Nigeria, the Assembly would condemn the arbitrary execution, after a flawed judicial process, of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his eight co-defendants, and emphasize that

General Assembly Plenary - 15 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial with all the guarantees necessary for defence. It would express deep concern about other violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria, and would call on the Nigerian Government urgently to ensure their observance, in particular by restoring habeas corpus, releasing all political prisoners, guaranteeing freedom of the press and ensuring full respect for the rights of all individuals, including trade unionists and persons belonging to minorities.

The draft was approved by the Committee, as orally amended, by a vote of 98 in favour to 12 against, with 42 abstentions.

Prior to approval of the entire text, the Committee rejected a proposed amendment to the fifth preambular paragraph in a vote of 18 in favour to 85 against, with 33 abstentions.

The Committee also rejected proposed amendments to the fourth and sixth preambular paragraphs as well as to operative paragraph 1, by a vote of 10 in favour to 90 against, with 35 abstentions.

A motion by Nigeria for separate votes on the operative paragraphs and on the entire draft resolution was also rejected with a vote of 32 in favour to 80 against, with 30 abstentions.

By the terms of draft resolution 13, on the situation of human rights in Rwanda, approved without a vote, the Assembly would call upon the Government of Rwanda to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel attached to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda, United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations operating in the country. It would also condemn in the strongest terms the acts of genocide that occurred in Rwanda and urge all States, pursuant to Security Council resolution 978 (1995), to exert, without delay, every effort, including arrest and detention, in order to bring those responsible to justice in accordance with international principles of due process.

The report on the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (document A/50/635/Add.4) contains one draft resolution, approved without a vote, by which the Assembly would endorse the reaffirmation in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of the importance of the promotion of universal respect for, and observance and protection of, human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Charter. It would call upon States to take further action to achieve the full realization of human rights in the light of the Conference's recommendations.

Also before the Assembly is the Committee's report on the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (document A/50/635/Add.5) which states that no action was taken by the Committee on this agenda item.

General Assembly Plenary - 16 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

The report of the Committee on the implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace (document A/50/816) contains two draft resolutions and one draft decision, both approved without a vote.

By the terms of draft resolution 1, entitled amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Assembly would take note with approval of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women adopted by the States parties to the Convention on 22 May 1995.

By the terms of draft resolution 2, submitted by the Chairman, on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Assembly would call upon States, the United Nations system and all other actors to implement the Platform for Action, particularly by promoting an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective at all levels, including in the design, monitoring and evaluation of all policies in order to ensure effective implementation of the Platform. Also, it would stress that governments have the primary responsibility for implementing the Platform for Action and that commitment at the highest level is essential for its implementation.

The report of the Fifth Committee (document A/50/838) on the programme budget implications of draft resolution II recommended by the Third Committee in its report (document A/50/816, para. 14) contains a draft decision.

By that draft, the Fifth Committee decided to inform the General Assembly that, should it adopt draft resolution II recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 14 of its report (document A/50/816), an additional appropriation not to exceed the amount of $356,600 would be required under section 7A, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997. Such appropriation would be subject to the guidelines for the use and operation of the contingency fund.

Paragraph 14 of the report states the following: "the Assembly reaffirms that, in order to implement the Platform for Action, a reformulation of policies and reallocation of resources may be needed, but that some policy changes may not necessarily have financial implications".

By the draft decision, on documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with the item "Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace", the Assembly would take note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace.

General Assembly Plenary - 17 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

The report of the Committee on the report of the Economic and Social Council (document A/50/625) contains two draft decisions on the Committee's draft biennial programme of work for 1996-1997 (document A/C.3/50/L.69).

By draft decision I, on the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Assembly would decide to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-first and subsequent sessions a sub-item entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights" to be considered under the item entitled "Human Rights questions".

The second draft decision lists the biennial items which will be before the Committee in 1996, including elimination of racism and racial discrimination; the right of people to self-determination; social development; crime prevention; advancement of women; implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women; international drug control; the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); the promotion and protection of the rights of children; the programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People; and human rights questions. The draft was approved without a vote.

AHMED YOUSIF MOHAMED (Sudan), Rapporteur, introduced the reports of the Third Committee.

The Rapporteur announced that in draft resolution IV of the report on the advancement of women, there was a correction to be made on page 23, operative paragraph 2 (d) which should read as follows:

"Undertaking necessary measures to give rural women full and equal access to productive resources, including the right to inheritance and to ownership of land and other property, credit/capital, natural resources, appropriate technologies, markets and information, and meeting their basic requirements in water and sanitation".

He added that the narrative on page 7 should be adjusted accordingly.

The General Assembly first took up the report on the advancement of women which contained seven draft resolutions and one draft decision.

Draft resolution I of the report on the proposed merger of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and UNIFEM was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution II on the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women was adopted without a vote.

The Assembly then adopted draft resolution III on the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat without a vote.

General Assembly Plenary - 18 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

Also acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted draft resolution IV of the report on the improvement of the situation of women in rural areas.

Draft resolution V on the role of UNIFEM in eliminating violence against women was also adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution VI on traffic in women and girls was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution VII on violence against women migrant workers was also adopted without a vote.

The draft decision contained in that report on documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with the question of the advancement of women was adopted without a vote.

The Assembly then turned to the Committee's reports on human rights questions.

It first took up the report on human rights instruments which contained three draft resolutions.

Draft resolution I on the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution II on the effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations under international instruments on human rights, was also adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution III on International Covenants on human rights was also adopted without a vote.

The Assembly then took up the report on human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, which had 16 related draft resolutions.

Draft resolution I on respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in the international affairs of States in their electoral process was adopted by a vote of 91 in favour to 57 against, with 21 abstentions. (For details see Annex I.)

Draft resolution II on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education: culture of peace was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution III on strengthening of United Nations action in the human rights field through the promotion of international cooperation and the

General Assembly Plenary - 19 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity was also adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution IV on the respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and vital importance of family reunification was adopted by a vote of 86 in favour to 4 against (United States, Israel, Canada and Japan), with 80 abstentions. (For details see Annex II.)

Draft resolution V on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights was also adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution VI on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution VII on the situation of human rights in Cambodia was also adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution VIII on strengthening the rule of law was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution IX entitled effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities was also adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution X on human rights in the administration of justice was also adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution XI on human and mass exoduses was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution XII on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution XIII on the right to development was also adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution XIV on strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization was adopted by 156 votes in favour to 0 against, with 15 abstentions. (For details see Annex III.)

Draft resolution XV on human rights and terrorism was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution XVI on strengthening of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights/Centre for Human Rights was also adopted without a vote.

General Assembly Plenary - 20 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

PATRICIA ESPINOSA (Mexico), speaking in explanation of vote said her Government supported the non-interference in the internal affairs of States. For that reason, she had voted in favour of draft I of the report. However, operative paragraph 4 needed to be understood within the context of other resolutions adopted by the Assembly. That paragraph stated that "electoral assistance to Member States should be provided by the United Nations only at the request and with the consent of specific sovereign States, by virtue of resolutions adopted by the Security Council or the General Assembly in each case, in strict conformity with the principles of sovereignty and non- interference in the internal affairs of State, or in special circumstances such as cases of decolonization, or in the context or regional or international peace processes". At the same time, she said that the technical assistance requested by States should not be limited.

The Assembly then turned to the report on human rights situations and reports of special rapporteur and representatives (document A/50/635/Add.3), which contained 13 draft resolutions.

AMEER SALEM ALAIDEROOS (Yemen) speaking in explanation of vote, said his Government had given political freedom to its population. It was further preparing for local elections and sought for absolute freedom of press. On an international level, his country had also acceded to most international conventions to human rights and condemned any violation of human rights. However, he noticed that a process of politicization of human rights by some States was taking place. Selective ways and means were devoid of impartiality and objectivity. Doing so was considered an interference in the internal affairs of a State. He emphasized the need to respect national sovereignty and called for the respect of the principle of non-selectivity when dealing with human rights issues. For the reasons explained, his Government would not participate in voting on draft resolutions that dealt with country specific human rights cases.

ALEJANDRO BORDA (Colombia) said that on situation of human rights in Cuba, his Government was pleased to see the positive progress made in Cuba. That progress was recognized by the Special Rapporteur in his report. The visit by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to Cuba as well as other actions by the Cuban Government were all evidence of the cooperation shown. Colombia welcomed the economic reforms by the Cuban Government. All those developments were proof that through dialogue, progress could be achieved in the area of human rights. Human rights should never be used for political purposes. For that reason, Colombia would abstain from the vote on the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Cuba.

JUAN ANTONIO FERNANDEZ PALACIOS (Cuba), also speaking on the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Cuba, said that the draft resolution was thought out and imposed by a super-Power. The United States Government was lacking in the moral authority to be the champion of human

General Assembly Plenary - 21 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

rights. How could those who continue to deny access to food and other things to the people of Cuba talk about human rights in Cuba, he asked. His country would constantly cooperate with the United Nations in the principle of non- selectivity in the area of human rights. Cuba would never accept the crude draft resolution before the Assembly. It would also never accept a rapporteur no matter how much it was disguised.

IBRAHIM GAMBARI (Nigeria), speaking on the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Nigeria, said his country was very unhappy that the General Assembly was being asked to address a domestic matter. The nine persons executed in Nigeria were executed in line with the law and the constitution of his country.

He said that by the draft resolution, the sovereign right of a Member State to enact a law was being challenged and the right to use capital punishment for serious offences was being challenged as if it were a violation of human rights. The draft resolution showed the arrogance of power by the sponsors of the draft resolution in trying to dictate to a country the form of government it should adopt. The democratic principle was not alien to his country. Much was already being done by his country on its own to restore democracy.

He said that the highly emotive reaction to his country's rejection of the pleas for clemency for the nine persons that were executed could not justify the manipulation of the General Assembly by some powerful Member States. What Nigeria needed was international understanding and cooperation to achieve its programme for return to democratic rule. His country rejected the resolution.

MOSES MATHENDELE DLAMINI (Swaziland) spoke on the draft on human rights in Kosovo and said his Government would change its position after due consideration.

PEDRO COMISSARIO AFONSO (Mozambique) said that his country deplored the events in Nigeria, especially the sentencing to death of nine defendants on 10 November. Mozambique's aim was to promote dialogue to encourage Nigeria to find political solutions to its problems. Any action the General Assembly might undertake should take into account the need to prevent the worsening of the situation. The Assembly should encourage the Nigerian forces working for democracy and human rights.

He said that an issue of the magnitude and complexity of the one in Nigeria would need time and patience before it was fully settled. Efforts should be deployed to ensure that the state of affairs did not reach uncontrollable proportions.

General Assembly Plenary - 22 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

"We should stand together and devise a common strategy which can assist that sister country in solving its problems and enable it to return back to the family of respected sons and daughters of Africa, whose contribution has been vital in the common struggle for the liberation of our continent", he said.

SHAHIRA HASSAN AHMED WAHBI (Sudan) spoke on the draft resolution on her country. She had requested a separate vote on operative paragraphs 2, 4 and 12. Such paragraphs implied a blatant interference in the internal affairs of her country. Her Government would vote against that resolution.

SAEED H. HASAN (Iraq) said the economic embargo against his country had had negative implications on its population. Had he had the opportunity to vote, he would have voted against the draft resolutions on Iraq, Cuba, Nigeria and the Sudan. Those drafts had a political nature and did more harm than good to human rights.

TERENCE NSANZE (Burundi) said his country had voted against the draft resolution on Nigeria. His Government believed in the need to safeguard and respect human rights. However, the situation in Nigeria could have been dealt with differently.

Draft resolution I the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran was adopted by a vote of 78 in favour to 27 against, with 58 abstentions. (For details see Annex IV.)

Draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution III, entitled the situation of human rights in Kosovo, was approved by a vote of 115 in favour, to 2 against (Russian Federation and India), with 43 abstentions. (For details see Annex V.)

Draft resolution IV on the situation of human rights in Iraq was adopted by a vote of 111 in favour to 3 against (Sudan, Nigeria, Libya), with 53 abstentions. (For details see Annex VI.)

The Assembly then took up draft resolution V on rape and abuse of women in areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

A separate vote was requested on the sixth preambular paragraph, which reads: "Convinced that this heinous practice constitutes a deliberate weapon of war in fulfilling the policy of ethnic cleansing carried out by Serbian forces in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and noting General Assembly resolution 47/121 of 18 December 1992, in which the Assembly stated, inter alia, that the abhorrent policy of ethnic cleansing was a form of genocide."

General Assembly Plenary - 23 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

The preambular paragraph was adopted by a vote of 146 in favour to 1 against (Russian Federation), with 10 abstentions. (For details see Annex VII.)

The draft resolution as a whole was then adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution VI on the situation of human rights in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) was adopted by a vote of 144 in favour to 1 against (Russian Federation), with 20 abstentions. (For details see Annex VIII.)

Draft resolution VII on the situation of human rights in Myanmar was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution VIII on the protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons was also adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution IX on human rights in Haiti was adopted without a vote.

The Assembly then took up draft resolution X on the situation of human rights in the Sudan.

Separate votes were requested on operative paragraphs 2, 4 and 12.

Operative paragraph 2, which "Urges the Government of Sudan to investigate without delay the cases of slavery, servitude, slave trade, forced labour and similar practices brought to its attention and to take all appropriate measures to put an immediate end to these practices", was approved by 87 votes in favour to 15 against, with 50 abstentions. (See Annex IX.)

Operative paragraph 4, which "Welcomes the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur that human rights monitors be placed at the earliest possible date in such locations as will facilitate improved information flow and assessment and independent verification of reports on the situation of human rights in the Sudan", was adopted by 85 votes in favour to 17 against, with 49 abstentions. (For details see Annex X.)

Operative paragraph 12 which, "Deplores the Government of the Sudan's continuing refusal to cooperate in any manner with the Special Rapporteur and the unacceptable threats against his person", was adopted by 85 votes in favour to 14 against, with 50 abstentions. (For details see Annex XI.)

The draft resolution as a whole was adopted by 94 votes in favour to 15 against, with 54 abstentions. (For details see Annex XII.)

General Assembly Plenary - 24 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

Draft resolution XI, on the situation of human rights in Cuba was adopted by 66 votes in favour to 22 against, with 78 abstentions. (For details see Annex XIII.)

The Assembly then took up draft resolution 12, on the situation of human rights in Nigeria.

The draft resolution as a whole was adopted by 101 votes in favour to 14 against, with 47 abstentions. (For details see Annex XIV.)

Draft resolution XIII, on the situation of human rights in Rwanda was adopted without a vote.

The representative of Rwanda said that he pressed the green button in error in the vote on the situation of human rights in Cuba. His vote should be against the draft resolution.

Also acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted a draft decision entitled documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with human rights questions: human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives. By the terms of the draft decision, the Assembly took note of the report of the Secretary-General on rape and abuse of women in areas of conflict in the former Yugoslavia, and the report of the Secretary- General on the situation of human rights in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa.

LJUBINKO MATESIC (Croatia) said he had voted in favour of the resolution despite strong reservations about the wording and placement of operative paragraph 6. The text could lead to the misinterpretation that the legitimate military action by Croatian security forces, and certain crimes committed by individuals and groups primarily after the military operation, were equivalent to the actions which were also condemned in the text and which were attributed primarily to the Serb side (such as ethnic cleansing, mass rape and indiscriminate shelling of civilians).

He said the Croatian military operation referred to in operative paragraph 6 was conducted within the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Croatia to restore the authority of the legitimate and democratically elected government. The operation liberated territory under the control of brutal and oppressive foreign proxy forces, lifted the siege of Bihac and spared tens of thousands of individuals from meeting the same fate as the unfortunate victims of Srebrenica. The Croatian Government condemned the criminal acts committed by individuals and groups in the aftermath of the operation.

He reaffirmed Croatia's commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms. He expected any consideration of Croatia's human rights record to

General Assembly Plenary - 25 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

be objective and to reflect the causes of the conflict as well as the complexity of the situation in which Croatia found itself. If there was any need for consideration of Croatia's human rights record, the proper forum within the United Nations was the Third Committee and not others, including the Security Council.

FENG CUI (China) said respect for sovereignty and integrity was a fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter. The sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia needed to be respected. For that reason, she had abstained in the vote on the draft on the situation of human rights in Kosovo.

MANIMEKALAI MURUGESAN (India) said she was opposed to resolutions which challenged the sovereignty of States and politicized United Nations consideration of human rights. The human rights situation in Kosovo should have been dealt with in the draft on "the situation of human rights in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)".

The Assembly took up the report on comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and adopted the related draft resolution, without a vote.

The Assembly then took up the report on the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, taking note of the report.

The Assembly next took up the report on the implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, which contains two draft resolutions.

Draft resolution I, entitled amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, was adopted without a vote.

Draft resolution II, submitted by the Chairman, on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, was also adopted without a vote.

The Assembly took note of the report of the Fifth Committee on the programme budget implications of draft resolution II recommended by the Third Committee in its report (A/50/816, para. 14). The budget implications involved on additional appropriation not to exceed $356,600.

Also without a vote, the Assembly adopted a draft decision recommended in the report by which it took note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women.

General Assembly Plenary - 26 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

Next, the Assembly took up the report of the Economic and Social Council which contains three draft decisions.

The Assembly adopted draft decision I on the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights without a vote.

The Assembly then took up the draft decision II on the organization of work of the Third Committee and the biennial programme of work of the Committee for 1996-1997.

OLEG SEPELEV (Russian Federation) said that an amendment proposed by his country was not reflected in the draft. He demanded an explanation.

LAMTANE LAMAMRA (Algeria), Acting President of the Assembly, said that in the absence of a decision by the Third Committee, the Assembly would take due note of the comments by the Russian Federation.

Mr. SEPELEV (Russian Federation) asked if the proposal by his country would be in the programme of work of the Committee.

Mr. LAMAMRA (Algeria), Acting Assembly President, said that that was the case.

The Assembly then adopted the draft decision without a vote.

Also acting without a vote, the Assembly approved draft decision III by which it took note of chapters I, II, V (sections B and D through I), IX and XIV of the report of the Economic and Social Council.

The Assembly then decided to conclude its consideration of chapters I, II, V (section A), VI (section N), XIII and XIV of the report of the Economic and Social Council.

(annexes follow)

General Assembly Plenary - 27 - Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX I

Vote on Non-Interference in Internal Affairs of States

The draft resolution on non-interference in internal affairs of States (document A/50/635/Add.2) was adopted by a recorded vote of 91 in favour to 57 against, with 21 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire, Zimbabwe.

Against: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Benin, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Zambia.

Absent: Congo, Guatemala, Madagascar, Malawi, Palau, San Marino, Seychelles, Turkmenistan.

(END OF ANNEX I)

General Assembly Plenary 28 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX II

Vote on Right to Universal Freedom of Travel and Family Reunification

The draft resolution on the right to universal freedom of travel and family reunification (document A/50/635/Add.2) was adopted by a recorded vote of 86 in favour to 4 against, with 80 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Canada, Israel, Japan, United States.

Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.

Absent: Bahrain, Congo, Guatemala, Madagascar, Palau, Seychelles, Turkmenistan.

(END OF ANNEX II)

General Assembly Plenary 29 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX III

Vote on Principle of Periodic and Genuine Elections

The draft resolution on the principle of periodic and genuine elections (document A/50/635/Add.2) was adopted by a recorded vote of 156 in favour to none against, with 15 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: 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, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia.

Against: None.

Abstaining: Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zaire, Zimbabwe.

Absent: Congo, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Palau, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Turkmenistan.

(END OF ANNEX III)

General Assembly Plenary 30 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX IV

Vote on Human Rights in Iran

The draft resolution on human rights in Iran (document A/50/635/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 78 in favour to 27 against, with 58 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia.

Against: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam.

Abstaining: Albania, Angola, Bahrain, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Thailand, Togo, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Zaire, Zimbabwe.

Absent: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, Croatia, Djibouti, Georgia, Madagascar, Morocco, Nicaragua, Palau, Senegal, Seychelles, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

(END OF ANNEX IV)

General Assembly Plenary 31 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX V

Vote on Human Rights in Kosovo

The draft resolution on human rights in Kosovo (document A/50/635/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 115 in favour to 2 against, with 43 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

Against: India, Russian Federation.

Abstaining: Angola, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zaire, Zimbabwe.

Absent: Armenia, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Palau, Seychelles, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia.

(END OF ANNEX V)

General Assembly Plenary 32 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX VI

Vote on Human Rights in Iraq

The draft resolution on human rights in Iraq (document A/50/615/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 111 in favour to 3 against, with 53 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia.

Against: Libya, Nigeria, Sudan.

Abstaining: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zaire, Zimbabwe.

Absent: Congo, Djibouti, Gambia, Madagascar, Oman, Palau, Qatar, Seychelles, Turkmenistan, Yemen.

(END OF ANNEX VI)

General Assembly Plenary 33 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX VII

Vote on the Sixth Preambular Paragraph on the Draft Resolution on Rape in the former Yugoslavia

The sixth preambular paragraph of the draft resolution on rape in the former Yugoslavia (document A/50/635/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 146 in favour to 1 against, with 10 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zaire.

Against: Russian Federation.

Abstaining: Angola, China, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe.

Absent: Armenia, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mozambique, Namibia, Palau, Romania, Seychelles, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Viet Nam, Zambia.

(END OF ANNEX VII)

General Assembly Plenary 34 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX VIII

Vote on Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Yugoslavia

The draft resolution on human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Yugoslavia (document A/50/635/Add.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 144 in favour to 1 against, with 20 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela.

Against: Russian Federation.

Abstaining: Angola, Belarus, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Togo, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Zaire, Zimbabwe.

Absent: Armenia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Palau, Seychelles, Turkmenistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia.

(END OF ANNEX VIII)

General Assembly Plenary 35 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX IX

Vote on Measures to End Slavery Practices in Sudan

The second paragraph, on measures to end slavery practices, in the resolution on human rights in the Sudan (document A/50/635/Add.3) was adopted by the Assembly by a recorded vote of 87 in favour to 15 against, with 50 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former Yugosalv Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Afghanistan, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Viet Nam.

Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

Absent: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mozambique, Palau, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zaire.

(END OF ANNEX IX)

General Assembly Plenary 36 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX X

Vote on Human Rights Monitors

The fourth paragraph, welcoming the recommendation for human rights monitors, in the resolution on the human rights situation in the Sudan (document A/50/635/Add.3) was adopted by the Assembly by a recorded vote of 85 in favour to 17 against, with 49 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Afghanistan, China, Cuba, Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korean, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Sudan, Syria, Viet Nam.

Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

Absent: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, El Salvador, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mozambique, Palau, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Turkmenistan, Yemen, Zaire.

(END OF ANNEX X)

General Assembly Plenary 37 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX XI

Vote on Provision Deploring Sudan's Refusal to Cooperate

The twelfth paragraph, deploring Sudan's refusal to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur, in the resolution on human rights in the Sudan (document A/50/635/Add.3) was adopted by the Assembly by a recorded vote of 85 in favour to 14 against, with 50 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Afghanistan, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Sudan, Syria, Viet Nam.

Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu.

Absent: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kuwait, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Palau, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Turkmenistan, Yemen, Zaire.

(END OF ANNEX XI)

General Assembly Plenary 38 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX XII

Vote on Human Rights in Sudan

The resolution as a whole on human rights in the Sudan (document A/50/635/Add.3) was adopted by the Assembly by a recorded vote of 94 in favour to 15 against, with 54 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Afghanistan, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Viet Nam.

Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korean, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu.

Absent: Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Palau, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Turkmenistan, Yemen, Zaire.

(END OF ANNEX XII)

General Assembly Plenary 39 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX XIII

Vote on Human Rights in Cuba

The resolution on human rights in Cuba (document A/50//635/Add.3) was adopted by the Assembly by a recorded vote of 66 in favour to 22 against, with 78 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

Against: China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libya, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Abstaining: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zaire.

Absent: Angola, Djibouti, Guatemala, Madagascar, Palau, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

(END OF ANNEX XIII)

General Assembly Plenary 40 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

ANNEX XIV

Vote on Human Rights in Nigeria

The resolution on human rights in Nigeria (document A/50/635/Add.3) was adopted by the Assembly by a recorded vote of 101 in favour to 14 against, with 47 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Burundi, Chad, China, Cyprus, Gambia, Iran, Libya, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo.

Abstaining: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania.

Absent: Azerbaijan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Maldives, Mauritania, Oman, Palau, Seychelles, Syria, Turkmenistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire.

* *** *

General Assembly Plenary 41 Press Release GA/9046 99th Meeting (PM) 22 December 1995

For information media. Not an official record.