UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001140
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, PREL, KIRF, AORC, UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE TAKES ACTION ON RELIGIOUS
INTOLERANCE AND MORE
1. On November 25, the UN General Assembly Third Committee
passed the following draft resolutions by consensus:
A/C.3/63/L.34/Revision 1, entitled "Elimination of all forms
of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or
belief;" A/C.3/63/L.39/Revision 1, entitled "Protection of
human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering
terrorism;" and A/C.3/63/L.46/Revision 1, entitled "Committee
on the Rights of the Child." The United States disassociated
from consensus on A/C.3/63/L.46/Revision 1. The United
States is a co-sponsor of A/C.3/63/L.39/Revision 1. The
United States issued an Explanation of Position on
A/C.3/L.46, Revision 1; the complete text of this and all
other U.S. statements can be found at
www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov.
2. The Committee also adopted three draft resolutions by
vote. Draft resolution A/C.3/63/L.3/Revision 1, entitled
"Realizing the Millennium Development Goals for persons with
disabilities through the implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,"
passed in a vote of 176 in favor (U.S.), none against, and no
abstentions. An amendment proposed by Uganda on behalf of
the Organization of the Islamic Conference, inserting a
Preambular Paragraph with a reference to foreign occupation,
passed in a vote of 67 in favor, 41 against (U.S.), and 52
abstentions. Draft resolution A/C.3/63/L.57*, entitled
"Report of the Human Rights Council," passed in a vote of 117
in favor, five against (U.S.), and 55 abstentions. Draft
resolution A/C.3/63/L.51/Revision 1, entitled "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
Programme of Action," passed in a vote of 130 in favor, 11
against (U.S.), and 35 abstentions. The United States issued
Explanations of Vote (EOVs) on all three draft resolutions
adopted by vote.
3. During the discussion on draft resolution A/C.3/63/L.57*,
Israel noted its regret over the Human Rights Council's
(HRC's) biased treatment of Israel, stating that when Israel
cannot be blamed, the Council "remains silent." France
explained that the European Union would abstain on the vote
because of a number of problems with the text, and said that
the co-sponsors' meetings on the draft resolution had not
been open and transparent. The United States reiterated its
concerns regarding the HRC, including its failure to address
some of the world's most pressing human rights situations,
prompting strong responses from Zimbabwe and Cuba. During a
general statement, Zimbabwe expressed its concern that the
United States was "consistently obsessed" with Zimbabwe, and
said that the United States would not become an HRC member
out of fear of "being exposed" for its human rights
violations. In a Right of Reply statement, Cuba accused the
United States of illegally occupying Cuban territory, called
the U.S. detention facility in Guantanamo Bay a
"concentration camp" where serious human rights violations
were taking place, and said that the United States was feared
but not respected in the world because it had "killed
millions," "told lies" and "institutionalized torture." Cuba
also said the United States would not submit to the HRC's
Universal Periodic Review because it lacked the "prestigious
moral authority," to undergo the process.
4. During the discussion on draft resolution
A/C.3/63/L.51/Revision 1, Israel and the United States
expressed strong concern regarding the Durban Review
Conference's biased treatment of Israel. The Israeli
delegate noted her government's regret that the Conference
had been "hijacked" from its original purpose, and was now
focused on "demonizing" Israel. Her government would not
participate in another "carnival of hatred," she said. The
United States noted its disappointment that the Conference
continued to single out Israel, and said that it did not
expect this year's conference to be any different than the
first.
Wolff