Human rights situation in the OPT – Third Cttee debate – Summary record (excerpts)

Third Committee

Summary record of the 39th meeting

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Friday, 27 October 2000, at 3 p.m.

Chairperson:  Ms. Gittens-Joseph …………………………………(Trinidad and Tobago)

Contents

Agenda item 114: Human rights questions (continued)

(a) Implementation of human rights instruments (continued)

(b) Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms (continued)

(c) Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives (continued)

(d) Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (continued)

(e) Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (continued)

The meeting was called to order at 3.10 p.m.

Agenda item 114: Human rights questions (continued)

(a) Implementation of human rights instruments (continued) (A/C.3/55/L.30)

Introduction of draft resolution A/C.3/55/L.30

1. Mr. Iversen (Denmark), introducing draft resolution A/C.3/55/L.30 entitled “Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”, announced that Australia, El Salvador, Georgia, Hungary, Uganda and Ukraine had joined the sponsors. After summarizing the main elements of the draft resolution, he made special reference to the annex containing the principles on the effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and indicated that, although the principles did not introduce any innovations, they comprised important criteria for research and documentation in that area. Since the text of the draft resolution was the result of consultations open to all delegations, he hoped that it would be adopted without a vote.

(b) Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms (continued) (A/55/177, A/55/213 and Add.1, A/55/214 and Add.1, A/55/275 and Add.1, A/55/279, A/55/280 and Add. 1 and 2, A/55/283, A/55/288, A/55/289, A/55/291, A/55/292, A/55/296 and Add.1, A/55/302, A/55/306, A/55/328, A/55/342, A/55/360, A/55/395-S/2000/880, A/55/404-S/2000/889, A/55/408 and A/C.3/55/52)

(c) Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives (continued) (A/55/269, A/55/282* and Corr.1, A/55/294, A/55/318, A/55/335, A/55/346, A/55/358, A/55/359, A/55/363, A/55/374, A/55/400, A/55/403, A/55/509 and A/55/426-S/2000/913)

(d) Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (continued) (A/55/36 and A/55/438-S/2000/93)

(e) Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (continued) (A/55/36)

/…

44. Mr. Al Haj Ali (Syrian Arab Republic) …

46. The General Assembly had adopted a praiseworthy resolution at its tenth emergency special session calling for an inquiry into the serious human rights violations committed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. At the same time, the position taken towards a resolution by some States was disappointing, and Israel should not be allowed under any pretext to continue killing Palestinians, or destroying the cities and infrastructure that the Palestinian people had built with the support of the international community and the sacrifice of the people.

/…

The meeting rose at 6.10 p.m.