Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination – GA vote – Press release (excerpts)

Plenary

70^th & 71^st Meetings (AM & PM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS 52 RESOLUTIONS, 6 DECISIONS RECOMMENDED BY THIRD COMMITTEE

ON WIDE RANGE OF HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL, HUMANITARIAN ISSUES

Texts Address, Among Others, Death Penalty Moratorium, Right to Development,

Religious Defamation, Human Rights in Iran, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

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Background

The General Assembly met this morning to consider a resolution on the election of seven members to the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission (document A/63/L.58).  It was then expected to take action on reports of its Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), listed below.

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Right of Peoples to Self-Determination

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Draft resolution III on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, approved by a vote of 175 in favour to 5 against (Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States), with 5 abstentions (Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji), on 20 November, would have the Assembly reaffirm the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to an independent State of Palestine.  It would further urge all States and United Nations entities to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination.  (Press Release GA/SHC/3939)

Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

The Committee’s report on the promotion and protection of human rights (document A/63/430) contains one draft decision, which would have the Assembly take note of the following reports:

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…  a note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 (document A/63/236); …  .

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Action on Third Committee Texts

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Right of Peoples to Self-Determination

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Draft resolution III on “the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination” was adopted by a recorded vote of 173 in favour to 5 against (Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States), with 7 abstentions (Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Fiji, Nauru, Tonga, Vanuatu).  (annex IV)

The representative of Peru explained that his delegation had missed the round of voting, but would have voted in favour.

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ANNEX IV

Vote on Self-Determination of Palestinian People

The draft resolution on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination (document A/63/429) was adopted by a recorded vote of 173 in favour to 5 against, with 7 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States.

Abstain:  Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Fiji, Nauru, Tonga, Vanuatu.

Absent:  Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kiribati, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles.

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For information media • not an official record