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"A draft resolution that would have the General Assembly declare 15 October of each year as the International Day of Rural Women was approved as orally revised without a vote today by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), as Member States stepped up collective efforts to better the lot of women living in rural areas.

 

Besides establishing an international day, the text approved today would have the Assembly urge Member States, along with the United Nations and civil society, to attach greater importance to the improvement of the situation of rural women, including indigenous women, in national, regional and global development strategies."

 

FULL TEXT LINK:

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/gashc3903.doc.htm

 

8 November 2007

General Assembly

GA/SHC/3903

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Sixty-second General Assembly

Third Committee

39th & 40th Meetings (AM & PM)

 

THIRD COMMITTEE APPROVES TEXT ASKING UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO DECLARE 15 OCTOBER OF EACH YEAR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF RURAL WOMEN

 

Refugee Figures Rise to Nearly 10 Million

After Several Years of Decrease, High Commissioner Tells Committee

 

A draft resolution that would have the General Assembly declare 15 October of each year as the International Day of Rural Women was approved as orally revised without a vote today by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), as Member States stepped up collective efforts to better the lot of women living in rural areas.

 

The Committee also began its discussion on refugees, returnees and displaced persons, with António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, presenting a report on his Office’s (UNHCR) activities.  He said that at the end of 2006, after several years of steady decrease, the number of refugees worldwide rose to nearly 10 million.  That upward trend had continued this year, with crises in Iraq and the Horn of Africa swelling the ranks of the displaced.  Iraqis, both inside and outside their country, were the biggest single group of displaced; they also represented the largest urban refugee group dealt with by the United Nations agency.

 

Besides establishing an international day, the text approved today would have the Assembly urge Member States, along with the United Nations and civil society, to attach greater importance to the improvement of the situation of rural women, including indigenous women, in national, regional and global development strategies.

 

The representative of Mongolia, the main sponsor of the resolution, pointed out that the text would highlight the vital role played by international organizations in the improvement of the situation of rural women, particularly in promoting education for all.  Particular attention would also be attached to improving the economic and social conditions of older rural women, and would highlight the importance of decent work for all, among other initiatives.

 

In his statement that opened the afternoon session, Mr. Guterres underscored that, while UNHCR was “not a migration agency”, it was concerned by the mixed nature of contemporary population flows.  “In the midst of migrants in search of a better life, there are people in need of protection,” he said.  “The ability to detect them, assure them of physical access, namely to asylum procedures, and to a fair consideration of their claims, is a key element of our mission.”

 

He drew attention to early success in efforts by UNHCR to reform its operations, with a view to spending less on administration and more on refugees.  Cost control efforts, “coupled with favourable exchange rates”, had put the agency on a more solid financial footing this year.  With strong backing from donors, he added, “we should be able to deliver an unprecedented level of protection and assistance to the people in our care”.

 

In other business today, the Committee heard the introduction of six draft resolutions that addressed a moratorium on the death penalty; the promotion and protection of human rights; internally displaced persons; the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief; the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa; and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.

 

Action on a draft resolution on eliminating rape and other forms of sexual violence in all their manifestations, including as instruments to achieve political or military objectives, was deferred at the request of its main sponsor, the United States.

 

The Committee also concluded its discussion on the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, hearing statements from the representatives of Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, India and Syria.

 

The Observer of Palestine also spoke on the right to self-determination.

 

The Observer of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies made a statement as well.

 

The representatives of Algeria, Kuwait, Pakistan, Morocco and India spoke in exercise of the right of reply at the end of the morning session.

 

Following the High Commissioner’s presentation, statements on refugee issues were made by the representatives of Portugal (on behalf of the European Union), Democratic Republic of the Congo (on behalf of the Southern African Development Community), Japan, Sudan, Columbia, China, Egypt, Russian Federation, United States, Switzerland, Norway and Afghanistan.

 

The Observer of the Holy See also made a statement.

 

The representative of Sudan spoke in exercise of the right of reply.

 

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Friday, 9 November, to hear the introduction of more draft resolutions, take action on other texts, and conclude its discussion on refugee issues.

 

Background

 

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met today to hear the introduction of draft resolutions on:  Moratorium on the use of the death penalty (document A/C.3/62/L.29); Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (document A/C.3/62/L.33); Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons (document A/C.3/62/L.34); Elimination on all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief (document A/C.3/62/L.42); Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa (document A/C.3/62/L.44); and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (document A/C.3/62/L.36).

 

The Committee was then expected to take action on two resolutions on the advancement of women.

 

A draft resolution on Eliminating the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence as instruments to achieve political or military objectives (document A/C.3/62/L.16/Rev.1), would have the General Assembly urge States to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence.  It would also urge States to end impunity by investigating, prosecuting and punishing those responsible for rape and other forms of sexual violence, including members of Government, State or other armed forces, and call upon States to raise awareness about the causes and consequences of rape and other forms of sexual violence.

 

The draft resolution entitled Improvement of the situation of women in rural areas (document A/C.3/62/L.19/Rev.1) would have the Assembly urge Member States, along with the United Nations and civil society, to continue their efforts to implement the outcome of and ensure follow-up to the Organization’s conferences and summits, and to attach greater importance to the improvement of the situation of rural women, including indigenous women, in their national, regional and global development strategies.  The draft would also have the Assembly declare that 15 October of each year be proclaimed and observed as the International Day of Rural Women.

 

The Committee was then scheduled to conclude its discussion on the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.  (For more background, please see Press Release GA/SHC/3902 of 7 November 2007.)

 

The Committee was also slated to begin its discussion on refugees, returnees and displaced persons.

 

Before the Committee was the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (document A/62/12), an account of the work carried out by the agency, between January 2006 and mid-2007, in response to the needs of 32.9 million people of concern, including an estimated 9.9 million refugees.  For the first time since 2002, a downward trend in worldwide refugee numbers has been reversed, primarily due to an influx of 1.2 million Iraqi refugees into neighbouring countries.  By the end of 2006, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was providing humanitarian assistance, either as the lead agency or as a partner, to 12.8 million internally displaced people.  Currently, the number of persons who have been internally displaced due to armed conflict is some 25 million.  There were also 5.8 million stateless persons in 2006, more than double the figure from the previous year, although that number fails to capture the full scale or magnitude of statelessness.  The global number of asylum-seekers stood at 738,000 at the end of 2006, or 35,000 fewer than the year before, while some 734,000 refugees repatriated voluntarily during 2006 –- one third less than for the previous year.

 

The report then sets out major challenges to protection and operations.  Reviewing the situation in the Middle East, UNHCR states that in Iraq, constant insecurity is spurring massive population displacement; by early 2007, more than 1.9 million people had been displaced within that country, while up to 2 million had fled abroad.  In Lebanon, despite massive returns when hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah ceased, up to 200,000 people were still displaced at the end of 2006, their return hampered by the need for reconstruction and demining. 

 

Highlighting developments in Africa, according to the report, armed elements mixing with refugees present complex protection challenges in Chad, while fighting restricts humanitarian access to camps and many displaced people.  Further protection issues surfaced when rebels were found to be recruiting refugees in camps.  According to the report, the plight of 2.1 million internally displaced Sudanese continues to be precarious, while armed confrontation in Somalia has led to continuous outflows of that country’s population into Ethiopia, Kenya and across the Gulf of Aden into Yemen, as well as an increase in internal displacement.

 

Reviewing the scenario in Asia, UNHCR states that an additional 200,000 people have been displaced in Sri Lanka, where the security situation has deteriorated dramatically.  But even though the situation continues to be volatile in parts of that country, some 100,000 refugees have returned home to eastern Sri Lanka.  In Timor-Leste, the eruption of violence caused the displacement of some 100,000 people in and around the capital Dili.  UNHCR notes that in the absence of political solutions to the complex crisis in Timor-Leste, around 25,000 people are still in emergency shelters in camps.

 

The report notes that the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol have been strengthened by the adoption in December 2006 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, with the latter introducing a new non-refoulement obligation.  Respect for the principle of non-refoulement is critical, yet in a number of situations, asylum-seekers and even recognized refugees have been unable to gain access to safe territory or have been refouled.  Such violations occur for various reasons, including concerns that those seeking entry pose a threat to national security.  More and more people have been losing their lives whilst taking dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Aden and other maritime areas; UNHCR has been collaborating with the International Maritime Organization to explain to ships’ masters the measures to be taken vis-à-vis such migrants and refugees.

 

The report reviews a number of global priorities and responses for UNHCR, in such areas as health, nutrition, HIV and AIDS, sexual and gender-based violence, education, employment opportunities, access to basic services, and mainstreaming age, gender and diversity considerations in the agency’s operations.  Turning to durable solutions, it noted that after four years of exceptionally high levels of repatriation, the number of people returning to Afghanistan declined considerably in 2006, leading to renewed pressure to accelerate the reparation of Afghans in Pakistan and Iran.  In Liberia, more than 600,000 refugees and internally displaced persons have returned home; in Mauritania, the Government has invited refugees to return home and asked UNHCR to be part of the return and reintegration process.  Progress has been made on negotiations with several African Governments on local integration opportunities for long-staying refugees unlikely to return to their countries of origin, notably refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Angola; Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees in West Africa; and Angolan refugees in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia. 

 

The report goes to say that internal reforms at UNHCR continue, with the aim of freeing up more resources for field operations and to improve protection and assistance to refugees and other persons of concern.

 

Also before the Committee were the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (document A/62/12/Add.1) and the report of the Secretary-General on Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa (document A/62/316).

 

Introduction of Draft Resolutions

 

The representative of Gabon introduced a draft resolution entitled Moratorium on the use of the death penalty (document A/C.3/62/L.29).  He said that when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948, eight countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes; today, 130 countries had done so in law or in practice, and only 25 countries had carried out executions in 2006.  The death penalty essentially involved human life; it therefore had to be seen as a matter of human rights.  The draft was addressing the right of everyone to life.  It was not a matter of unwarranted interference in the domestic jurisdiction of any State, but rather an appeal to enhance human rights and human dignity.  The resolution would reinforce and encourage a growing trend to phase out the death penalty.  The irreversible and irreparable nature of capital punishment could not be forgotten, and no country or judicial system was immune to miscarriages of justice.

 

The representative of Norway introduced a draft resolution entitled Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (document A/C.3/62/L.33).

 

If adopted, the draft resolution would have the Assembly reiterate the importance of the Declaration by the same name as the draft that was adopted by consensus by the General Assembly on 9 December 1998, almost 10 years ago.  Norway would continue consulting on the draft with interested delegations to reach consensus.  It was the hope of co-sponsors that the text would be adopted without a vote, as in the past.

 

The representative of Norway introduced a draft resolution entitled Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons (document A/C.3/62/L.34).

 

If adopted, he said, the draft would stress that the State had the prime responsibility to protect and assist displaced persons.  It would also underline the need for inter-agency coordination in the field, particularly on the connection between the human rights and humanitarian aspects of internal displacement.  It was his hope, together with the co-sponsors, that the Third Committee would be able to adopt the resolution without a vote.

 

A draft resolution on Elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief (document A/C.3/62/L.42) was then introduced by the representative of Portugal on behalf of the European Union.  She said the draft condemned all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief.  It would call for full implementation of the 1981 Declaration on the elimination of those issues; it would also support the work of the Special Rapporteur in that area.  States would be urged to take action to ensure that freedom of religion or belief was protected and respected, while the undeniable role of education and dialogue at all levels of society in responding to intolerance and discrimination would be stressed.  While the draft was based on last year’s consensus text, it had been streamlined compared to those that preceded it in previous years.  Concerns expressed in the Special Rapporteur’s report about the rights of non-believers had been included in the text, and the link between freedom of speech and freedom of religion reflected.

 

The representative of Democratic Republic of the Congo introduced a draft resolution entitled Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa (document A/C.3/62/L.44).

 

Speaking on behalf of the Economic Community of Central Africa (ECCAS), the representative said that if adopted, the draft would support the work of the Centre, which in turn sought to reinforce regional capacities to promote and protect human rights, as well as to contribute towards a culture of democracy.  The Centre also sought to prevent conflict and promote sustainable peace in the region, and had become a crucial institution for an area with many challenges.  The text was nearly identical to last year’s draft, he said, except for a few key paragraphs on the implementation of resolutions already passed on funding.  He hoped that the Committee would adopt the draft by consensus and send a strong message on the importance of human rights.

 

The representative of Mexico then introduced the draft resolution on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (document A/C.3/62/L.36), saying it was a procedural text and therefore concise.  The text would have the Assembly welcome the fact that only seven months after the Convention was opened for signing, almost two-thirds of Member States had signed up to it.  That was unprecedented, and sent a clear political message.  To maintain that positive momentum, the draft would urge all States that had yet to sign up to the Convention to do so as a matter of priority.  He hoped that the draft would be approved by consensus.

 

The representative of Kuwait drew attention to the fact that his delegation had requested to exercise the right of reply under agenda item 67 (indigenous issues).  The Chairman, RAYMOND WOLFE ( Jamaica), said that all rights of reply would be exercised at the end of the meeting.

 

Action on Draft Resolutions

 

The Committee then began to take action on a draft resolution on Eliminating the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence as instruments to achieve political or military objectives (document A/C.3/62/L.16/Rev.1, with amendments A/C.3/62/L.58 and A/C.3/62/L.59).

 

The Secretary Moncef Khane said, at this stage, there was no information on programme budget implications.  He would revert to that matter at a later date.

 

The representative of the United States then asked that action on the draft resolution be deferred until the following day, if possible.

 

The Chairman, with the agreement of the Committee, then deferred the draft to a later date.

 

The representative of Mongolia then introduced a draft resolution entitled Improvement of the situation of women in rural areas (document A/C.3/62.L.19.Rev.1).

 

He said that the text contained a number of changes as a result of consultations and listed them.  The draft would highlight the vital role played by international organizations in the improvement of the situation of rural women, particularly in promoting education for all.  It would also focus particular attention on the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of older rural women, and highlight the importance of decent work for all, among other initiatives.  A new subparagraph had been inserted which addressed the issues of sexual and reproductive health, as well as family planning, among other health care issues.

 

The representative of the United States then took the floor to say his delegation understood that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and their five- and ten-year reviews, did not create or recognize a right to abortion.  His country’s position, therefore, could not be interpreted as one that supported, endorsed or promoted abortion.  Also, the United States understood there was international consensus that the term “sexual and reproductive health” did not include abortion or support, endorsement or promotion of it or the use of “abortifacients.”

 

The Committee then approved the resolution, without a vote.

 

The representative of Colombia said a paragraph in the draft resolution did not include an explicit reference to the situation of indigenous women in rural areas.  The Colombian delegation therefore interpreted the paragraph vis-à-vis the general need to pay attention to the improvement of the situation of indigenous, rural women.

 

Oral Decisions

 

The Committee then took note of two notes from the Secretary-General.  The first note (document A/62/286/Corr.1) made a minor correction to the Secretary-General’s report on The situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people (document A/62/286); the other note (document A/62/84) transmitted to the Assembly the report of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime on its third session, held in Vienna from 9 to 18 October 2006 (document CTOC/COP/2006/14).





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