Human rights situation in the OPT – Report to ECOSOC on CHR 58th session (excerpts)

REPORT TO THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ON THE

FIFTY-EIGHTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

Draft report of the Commission 

Rapporteur: Mr. Frederico S. DUQUE ESTRADA MEYER

CONTENTS*

Chapter

V.   THE RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND ITS APPLICATION TO PEOPLES UNDER COLONIAL OR ALIEN  DOMINATION OR FOREIGN OCCUPATION

1.   The Commission considered agenda item 5 at its 6th meeting, on 20 March, at its 7th and 8th meetings, on 21 March, and at its 37th meeting, on 12 April 2002.

2.   For the documents issued under agenda item 5, see annex VI to the present report. For a list of all resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission and Chairperson’s statements, by agenda item, see annex V to the present report.

3.   At the 6th meeting, on 20 March 2002, a statement was read out by a member of the secretariat on behalf of Mr. Enrique Bernales Ballesteros, Special Rapporteur on the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, in connection with the Special Rapporteur’s report (E/CN.4/2002/20).

4.   In the general debate on agenda item 5, statements were made by members of the Commission, observers and non-governmental organizations. For a detailed list of speakers, see annex III to the present report.

Situation in occupied Palestine 

5.   At the 37th meeting, the representative of Saudi Arabia introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/2002/L.4, sponsored by Algeria, Bahrain, China, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam and Yemen. Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Turkey and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland subsequently joined the sponsors.

6.   The representative of Saudi Arabia orally revised the last preambular paragraph.

7.   Statements in connection with the draft resolution were made by Spain (on behalf of the States members of the European Union that are members of the Commission – Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; the associated countries that are members of the Commission – the Czech Republic and Poland – aligned themselves with the statement), and the observers for Israel and Palestine.

8.   A statement in explanation of vote before the vote was made by the representative of Guatemala.

9.   At the request of the representative of Guatemala, a recorded vote was taken on the draft resolution, as orally revised, which was adopted by 52 votes to 1. The voting was as follows:

In favour:   Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia.

Against:  Guatemala.

Abstaining:  None.

10.   For the text of the resolution, see chapter II, section A, resolution 2002/3.

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*  Documents E/CN.4/2002/L.10 and addenda will contain the chapters of the report relating to the organization of the session and the various items on the agenda.  Resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission, as well as draft resolutions and decisions for action by, and other matters of concern to, the Economic and Social Council, will be contained in documents E/CN.4/2002/L.11 and addenda.