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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000953 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNGA UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA/C-6: RULE OF LAW DEBATE 
 
REF: EDMONDSON/WILCOX EMAIL - 10/25/07 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Fifty delegations addressed the Sixth Committee 
during its October 25 - 26 debate on the rule of law at the 
national and international levels.  Many delegations 
underscored the importance of rule of law activities and 
their contribution to human rights and international peace 
and security.  Most delegations agreed that the annual 
selection of one or two subtopics was the best approach to 
focus and advance the Sixth Committee's work on the rule of 
law agenda.  During the debate, delegations suggested a 
variety of subtopics, ranging from criminal justice at the 
national and international levels to technical assistance and 
capacity building.  Some delegations complimented the work of 
the newly established Rule of Law Assistance Unit in the 
Secretariat and called upon the Secretary-General to request 
 
SIPDIS 
funding for the Unit from the regular budget.  Iran, 
Venezuela, Sudan, and Syria criticized the Security Council 
and its "encroachment" upon the mandate of the General 
Assembly and the practice of some States who use rule of law 
as a political tool to threaten others.  After the U.S. 
statement, Sierra Leone's representative approached USUN 
officers to express his thanks for U.S. support to the 
Special Court for Sierra Leone.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. During the October 25 - 26 debate on rule of law, fifty 
delegations spoke on the scope of rule of law at the national 
and international levels.  The following delegations 
delivered statements to the Sixth Committee: New Zealand on 
behalf of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (CANZ), Portugal 
on behalf of the European Union (EU), Cuba on behalf of the 
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Dominican Republic (on behalf 
of the Rio Group), Benin on behalf of the Africa Group, 
Liechtenstein, Switzerland, China, Burma, Libya, Guatemala, 
Sudan, Mexico, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mozambique, Egypt, 
Bangladesh, Colombia, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the 
Congo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, 
Chile, Algeria, Venezuela, Tanzania, Japan, Tunisia, Korea, 
Kenya, South Africa, the United States, Kuwait, Norway, 
Israel, Pakistan, Iran, El Salvador, the Russian Federation, 
Morocco, Albania, Syria, and Latvia.  The Holy See and the 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000953  002 OF 003 
 
 
International Development Law Organization also delivered 
statements as observers. 
 
¶3. In general, representatives restated their countries' deep 
commitment to the rule of law and its role in the maintenance 
of international peace and security, relations between 
States, and the work of the United Nations.  Several 
delegations had positive reactions to the U.S. statement 
(reftel); the representative of Sierra Leone expressed his 
particular gratitude for U.S. support of the Special Court 
for Sierra Leone.  Pakistan stated the importance of rule of 
law technical assistance for developing countries, but 
stressed that the substance of such assistance should conform 
to the request of the recipient State.  The Holy See 
commented that counter-terrorism efforts should be carried 
out through the effective enforcement of juridical 
instruments. 
 
¶4.  The majority of delegations stated that the Sixth 
Committee's discussions on rule of law should remain focused 
on concrete issues of common agreement among Member States 
without duplicating the efforts of other UN bodies.  Most 
delegations viewed the annual selection of one or two 
subtopics for consideration by the Sixth Committee as the 
best approach to advance the Committee's work on the rule of 
law agenda.  As to specific subtopics, Portugal (on behalf of 
the EU), New Zealand (on behalf of CANZ), Switzerland, Chile, 
and Korea proposed strengthening criminal justice at the 
national and international levels.  Other subtopics suggested 
by delegations were: obligations under international treaties 
(Vietnam, China, the Rio Group, and Indonesia); peaceful 
dispute settlement (Switzerland, the Rio Group); transitional 
justice (U.S., Switzerland); and technical assistance and 
capacity building (U.S., Russia, Bangladesh, Israel, 
Switzerland, Liechtenstein, CANZ, and Tunisia). 
 
¶5.  Many delegations praised the efforts of the new Rule of 
Law Coordination and Resource Group and the Rule of Law 
Assistance Unit within the Secretariat, calling these bodies 
the proper mechanism for identifying and addressing rule of 
law gaps in the UN system.  Liechtenstein noted the progress 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000953  003 OF 003 
 
 
the Unit has made in a short period of time, but was 
concerned about the Unit's sustainability without additional 
resources.  Switzerland seconded these concerns and stated 
that the Rule of Law Assistance Unit's work should be secured 
through the UN's regular budget.  Norway also called for the 
use of regular budget resources and not voluntary 
contributions to fund the Assistance Unit.  (COMMENT: EU 
countries have been lobbying USUN to accept language in the 
draft rule of law resolution that would request the 
Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources for the 
 
SIPDIS 
Unit.  USUN has responded that funding the new Unit must be 
done within existing resources. END COMMENT.) 
 
¶6. A few representatives used their statements to express 
concern that rule of law activities could be used as a 
political tool to interfere in a nation's internal affairs. 
Iran's representative stated that he lived in a region where 
"supra-regional rule of law" was imposed through the rule of 
power because the rule of law at the UN and international 
level was corrupt.  Echoing similar views, Venezuela and 
Sudan complained that the politicization of the Security 
Council frequently encroached on the mandate of the General 
Assembly, which should be the main policy-making organ of the 
UN.  Venezuela added that it would be impossible to make 
progress on rule of law at the international level until the 
UN itself was "democratized." 
Khalilzad