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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 001197 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNGA PHUM
SUBJECT: UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TAKES ACTION ON THIRD 
COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS 
 
REF: A. USUN NEW YORK 01082 
 
     ¶B. USUN NEW YORK 01112 
 
USUN NEW Y 00001197  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  The UN General Assembly took action on 
Third Committee resolutions in a plenary meeting on November 
18, including the adoption of the contentious resolutions on 
the situation of human rights in the DPRK, Iran, and Belarus. 
 The General Assembly rejected a no-action motion on the Iran 
resolution, the only no-action motion put forth in the 
plenary meeting. In addition, it rejected an amendment 
proposed by Venezuela on the Iran resolution to delete the 
request for a report by the UN Secretary-General on the 
situation of human rights in Iran.  The General Assembly also 
took action on all other Third Committee resolutions with the 
exception of those containing program budget implications. 
These remaining resolutions are expected to be considered on 
December 21, except for the resolution on the Durban Review 
Conference which may be deferred until March.  End Summary 
 
Country-Specific Human Rights Resolutions 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) The resolution on the DPRK was adopted 101(US)-22-59. 
 Laos delivered the only explanation of vote, calling for 
non-selective treatment of human rights issues but also 
expressing sympathy for the families of abductees. 
 
¶3.  (U) When the General Assembly began consideration of the 
Iran resolution, Iran immediately put forth a no-action 
motion.  As he did in the Third Committee, the Iranian 
delegate argued that the Human Rights Council (HRC) is the 
most competent U.N. institution to deal with human rights 
issues.  He called the resolution "categorically unwarranted 
and unjustified" and said it should be excluded from the 
agenda.  Portugal and San Marino spoke against no-action, 
noting that human rights are part of the mandate of the GA, 
which must consider all issues within its mandate when 
brought forth by member states.  They expressed regret that 
the no-action motion was proposed even after a no-action 
motion was rejected in the Third Committee and said adoption 
of the motion would undermine the work of the Third 
Committee.  The United States endorsed the statement made by 
San Marino. 
 
¶4.  (U) Venezuela spoke in favor of the no-action motion, 
criticizing the use of country specific human rights 
resolutions for political purposes and arguing that such 
resolutions are selective and do not benefit the victims of 
human rights.  Venezuela argued in favor of the Universal 
Periodic Review mechanism of the HRC to address human rights 
issues in a non-selective, objective way.  Pakistan also 
spoke in favor of the no-action motion.  The no-action motion 
failed 80-84(US)-19. 
 
¶5. (U) Venezuela then unexpectedly offered an amendment to 
delete part of operative paragraph 5 of the resolution, which 
calls for a comprehensive report by the UN Secretary-General 
on the human rights situation in Iran.  Again, Venezuela 
stated that such a report would undermine the HRC and should 
be handled by the UPR mechanism.  Iran supported Venezuela's 
proposal and accused Canada (the resolution's original 
sponsor) of using the GA for a "misinformation campaign 
against Iran."  Canada expressed disappointment that these 
concerns were never raised in the Third Committee and noted 
the irregularity of introducing a last minute amendment in 
the GA.  The Canadian Deputy Permanent Representative also 
questioned whether the report could be such a cause for 
 
USUN NEW Y 00001197  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
concern, noting that Iran's principal criticism regarding the 
resolution was that the information in it was out of date and 
that a report would address those concerns.  Canada also 
called attention to the fact that a report was also requested 
in the DPRK resolution the GA had just adopted.  The 
amendment was rejected 57-70(US)-45.  The committee then 
adopted the resolution by a vote of 73(US)-53-55. 
 
¶6. (U) The General Assembly then took action on the 
resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus, 
without a no-action motion.  Belarus reiterated its Third 
Committee claim that the resolution was "unjustified" and 
"politically motivated" and argued that it undermined the 
HRC, which had eliminated the mandate of the UN special 
rapporteur on human rights in Belarus.  The resolution was 
nonetheless adopted by a vote of 72(US)-33-78.  After the 
adoption, Belarus said the resolution was "not in keeping 
with reality" and had no legal, political, or moral force. 
He said Belarus cooperates internationally on human rights 
and is willing to engage in a dialogue with all countries, 
without exception, on human rights issues. 
 
¶7.  (U) Action on the resolution on the situation of human 
rights in Burma was postponed to allow for review of its 
financial implications.  The resolution includes provisions 
for funding of the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for 
Myanmar. 
 
Other Third Committee Resolutions 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) The General Assembly took action on all but four of 
the remaining Third Committee resolutions.  Most were adopted 
by consensus, as in the Third Committee, including the U.S. 
resolution entitled "Eliminating rape and other forms of 
sexual violence in all their manifestations, including in 
conflict and related situations." 
 
¶8. (U) Actions on other individual items from Third Committee 
were as follows: 
 
Agenda Item 63:  Advancement of Women 
 
"Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination 
against women" was postponed for review of the program budget 
implications (PBI). 
 
Agenda Item 65:  Report of the Human Rights Council 
 
"Institution building of the UN Human Rights Council" was 
postponed for review of the PBI. 
 
"The Human Rights Council Report" was adopted by consensus, 
but as in the Third Committee, the U.S. and Israel 
disassociated from consensus. 
 
Agenda Item 66:  Promotion and Protection of the Rights of 
Children 
 
"The Rights of the Child" was adopted 183-1(US)-0. 
 
Agenda Item 68:  Elimination of racism and racial 
discrimination 
 
"Inadmissibility of Practices Fueling Contemporary Forms of 
Racism" was adopted 130-2(US)-53.  The Marshall Islands 
joined the U.S. in voting against the resolution. 
 
USUN NEW Y 00001197  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
"Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial 
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the 
comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban 
Declaration and Programmed of Action" was postponed for 
review of the PBI. 
 
Agenda Item 69:  Rights of peoples to self-determination 
 
"The Use of Mercenaries as a means of violating human rights 
and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self 
determination" was adopted 127-52(US)-6. 
 
"The Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination" 
was adopted 176-5(US)-4.  Israel, the Marshall Islands, 
Micronesia and Palau joined the United States in voting 
against.  Australia, Cameroon, Canada and Nauru abstained. 
 
Agenda Item 70b:  Human Rights Questions, including 
alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment 
of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 
 
"Moratorium on the use of the death penalty" was adopted 
104-54(US)-29.  Antigua-Barbuda, Barbados, Singapore, 
Nigeria, Egypt, Malaysia, China, Bangladesh, Syria, and the 
Bahamas all spoke against the resolution, generally arguing 
that states have the sovereign right to determine their own 
criminal justice systems, that the death penalty is not 
prohibited under international law, and that capital 
punishment is applied only for the most serious crimes only 
after due process of law.  Egypt reiterated the value it 
places on the lives of unborn children. 
 
"Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing 
the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine 
elections and the promotion of democratization," sponsored by 
the United States, was adopted after a paragraph vote on PP5, 
as in the Third Committee.  The paragraph was adopted 
168(US)-0-13.  The resolution as a whole was adopted 
182(US)-0-2. 
 
"Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all 
human rights" was adopted 129-54(US)-4. 
 
"Combating defamation of religions" was adopted 108-51(US)-25 
 
"The Right to Development" was adopted 136-53(US)-0 
 
"Human rights and unilateral coercive measures" was adopted 
132-54(US)-0 
 
"Promotion of peace as a vital requirement for the full 
enjoyment of human rights by all" was adopted 126-54(US)-6. 
 
"The Right to Food" was adopted 186-1(US)-1 with the DPRK 
abstaining. 
 
"Respect for the purposes and principles contained in the 
Charter of the United Nations to achieve international 
cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human 
rights and for fundamental freedoms and in solving 
international problems of a humanitarian character" was 
adopted 120-55(US)-10. 
Khalilzad