UN Human Rights Treaties

UNITED NATIONS
General Assembly
FORTY-SEVENTH SESSION Official Records

THIRD COMMITTEE
25th meeting
held on
Monday, 2 November 1992
at 3 p.m.
New York

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 25th MEETING

Chairman:

Mr. KRENKEL

(Austria)

CONTENTS AGENDA ITEM 91: ELIMINATION OF RACISM AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION (continued) AGENDA ITEM 92: RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION (continued) AGENDA ITEM 93: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (continued)
(a) QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE WORLD SOCIAL SITUATION AND TO YOUTH,
AGEING, DISABLED PERSONS AND THE FAMILY
(b) CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
AGENDA ITEM 94: ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN (continued)

This record is subject to correction
Corrections should be sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned
within one week of the date of publication to the Chief of the Official Records Editing Section. Room DC2-750.
2 United Nations Plaza, and incorporated in a copy of the record
Corrections will be issued after the end of the session, in a separate corrigendum for each Committee
92-57405 6331S (E)

Distr. GENERAL A/C.3/47/SR.25 27 November 1992 ENGLISH
ORIGINAL: SPANISH /. . .

A/C.3/47/SR.25
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The meeting was called to order at 3.15 p.m.
1. After a discussion in which Mr. MORA (Cuba), Mr. RAVEN (United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Mr. KUEHL (United States of America),
Mr. Yuan (China), Mr. BABADOUDOU (Benin) and Mrs. ARIAS (Colombia) took part, the CHAIRMAN said that he would study the programme of work in order to set a date for a meeting at which delegations which wished to do so could state their views on item 105.
AGENDA ITEM 91: ELIMINATION OF RACISM AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION (continued) (A/C.3/47/L.3/Rev.l, A/C.3/47/L.9/Rev.1, A/C.3/47/L.10 and A/C.3/47/L.12)
2. The CHAIRMAN said that draft resolutions A/C.3/47/L.3/Rev.1,
A/C.3/47/L.9/Rev.1 and A/C.3/47/L.10 had no programme budget implications.
Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.3/Rev.1
3. Mr. CURE (Mauritius) introduced the revised draft resolution entitled
"Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination"
(A/C.3/47/L.3/Rev.1) on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that were members of the Group of African States. The revised version included the changes made in preambular paragraphs 9 and 16 and in operative paragraphs 6 and 17.
4. Mr. KUEHL (United States of America) said that for some years the United
States had not taken part in the consideration of the draft resolutions on the
item but had changed its attitude following the withdrawal of the resolution
equating Zionism with racism. However, since the negotiations with
representatives of the Group of African States had still not been concluded,
it had been agreed with the Chairman of the Group, the representative of
Mauritius, that the adoption of the draft resolution might be deferred for
24 hours.
5. Mr. SAHRAOUI (Algeria) said that in paragraph 2 of the French version the words "en adoptant" should be replaced by "en adaptant".
6. The CHAIRMAN said that the Commission would resume its consideration of the draft resolution at a later stage.
Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.9/Rev.1
7. The CHAIRMAN said that at the time of the introduction of the draft
resolution entitled "'Ethnic cleansing' and racial hatred"
(A/C.3/47/L.9/Rev.l) it had been announced that Albania and Paraguay had become sponsors. It had later been announced that Panama, Sweden, Ecuador, Costa Rica and India had also become sponsors. The Commission had before it the amendments proposed by Turkey in document A/C.3/47/L.12.

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8. Mr. RAVEN (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) said that other changes had been made in the draft resolution. In the seventh preambular paragraph the word "protecting" should be replaced by "respecting". In the eighth paragraph the word "Recalling" should be replaced by "Reaffirming", and the following language should be added at the end of the paragraph: "which stated that the abhorrent practice of 'ethnic cleansing' constituted a grave and serious violation of international humanitarian law". In paragraph 4 the word "personally" should be replaced by "individually".
9. The CHAIRMAN said that, if there were no objections, he would take it that the delegation of Turkey would withdraw its proposed amendments contained in document A/C.3/47/L.12.
10. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.9/Rev.l. as orally amended, was adopted without a vote.
11. Mr. RAMISHVILI (Russian Federation), speaking in explanation of vote, said that his delegation had wanted from the outset to join in the consensus on the draft resolution as a sponsor because it believed that the policy of "ethnic cleansing", no matter where or by whom it was applied, warranted unconditional condemnation. Unfortunately, since the text endorsed resolution 46/242 which, in his delegation's view, condemned a concrete situation which at first glance could also be inferred from the draft resolution just adopted, it had not been able to join the sponsors. However, it did not think that the reference linked the whole of the draft resolution to that concrete situation or reduced all forms of "ethnic cleansing" and racial hatred to one, i.e. its concrete manifestation in one of the countries. On the basis of that interpretation the Russian Federation had been able to vote for the draft resolution.
Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.10
12. The CHAIRMAN said that a recorded vote had been requested on the draft resolution entitled "Status of the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid" (A/C.3/47/L.10).
13. A recorded vote was taken on draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.10.
In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'lvoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar,

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Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: United States of America.
Abstaining: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
14. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.10 was adopted by 93 votes to 1. with 42 abstentions.
15. Mr. BRITO (Brazil) said that his delegation had voted for the draft resolution because it reaffirmed the efforts of the international community to eradicate the system of apartheid. However, Brazil was not a party to the Convention and had reservations about some parts of the draft resolution.
16. Mr. FENN (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), speaking on behalf of the States members of the European Community, said that their votes were not connected with their views on apartheid, for they had not only condemned it but had also taken practical measures to hasten its abolition, to help combat the violence in South Africa, and to redress its socio-economic situation. Although no State member of the European Community was a party to the Convention, they all supported its aims but had reservations about the means envisaged in it and about the formulation of certain paragraphs of the draft resolution, on which they had abstained.
17. Miss TERANISHI (Japan) said that her delegation had abstained, as in the previous year, because it had reservations about the legal aspects of the Convention.
18. Mr. RATA (New Zealand), explaining his delegation's abstention, said that for legal reasons New Zealand was not a party to the Convention, but that did not affect its concern for the building of a democratic and non-racial South Africa. New Zealand had always taken every opportunity to encourage South African leaders to reach a just and peaceful settlement.
19. Mr. URTASUN (Spain) and Mr. SMAGULON (Kazakhstan) said that, if they had been present, they would have abstained in the vote.

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20. Mrs. ARUNGU-OLENDE (Kenya) and Mrs. LIMJUCO (Philippines) said that, if they had been present, they would have voted in favour of the draft resolution.
21. The CHAIRMAN suggested that the Committee should recommend that the General Assembly should take note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Special Rapporteur on the adverse consequences for the enjoyment of human rights of political, military, economic and other forms of assistance given to the racist and colonialist regime of South Africa (A/47/480 and ).
22. It was so decided.
AGENDA ITEM 92: RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION (continued) (A/C.3/47/L.4 and A/C.3/47/L.7)
Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.4
23. The CHAIRMAN said that draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.4, entitled "Importance of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination and of the speedy granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights", did not have programme budget implications.
24. Mr. CORE (Mauritius) introduced amendments to the draft resolution. In the seventh preambular paragraph, the word "intervention" should be replaced by the word "action"; in paragraph 10, the word "regime" should be replaced by the word "Government"; and in paragraph 25, the phrase "organizations which are struggling against apartheid and" should be inserted after the word "through".
25. Mr. SAHRAOUI (Algeria) said that in the tenth preambular paragraph of the French text, the word "October" should be replaced by the word "September".
26. Mr. MELAMED (Israel), speaking in explanation of vote before the vote, said that the draft resolution to be voted on was full of anachronisms, especially the paragraphs regarding the Palestinians. The world had entered a new era and at the current time the States of the region were talking directly to each other and trying to negotiate peace in a civilized manner. The paragraphs in question did not take into account the tremendous developments that had taken place during the past year. Israel's proposal for interim self-governing arrangements for the Palestinians was being discussed at the peace talks in Washington. For those reasons, his delegation would vote against the draft resolution and called upon all delegations which supported the current peace-making process in the Middle East to join it and prevent the adoption of the draft resolution.

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27. A recorded vote was taken on draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.4.
In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'lvoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against; Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechoslovakia,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.
Abstaining: Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Costa Rica,
Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Grenada, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of). New Zealand, Panama, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay.

28. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.4. as orally amended. to 22, with 30 abstentions.

was adopted by 90 votes

29. Mr. THOMPSON (Jamaica), speaking in explanation of vote after the vote, said that his country had abstained because it felt that the language used in the draft resolution with regard to the situation in the Middle East could not promote the peace process under way.
30. Ms. LISSIDINI (Uruguay) said that, in spite of its unconditional support for the right to self-determination, her country had abstained in the vote owing to the language used and because the negotiation process under way was not suitably reflected.
31. Miss TERANISHI (Japan) said that her country had abstained in the vote because the draft resolution did not take account of recent events and, therefore, lacked balance.

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32. Mr. SHARP (Australia) said that his country had abstained in the vote because the language used in the draft resolution was, on the whole, outmoded, particularly with regard to paragraphs 5 and 6, which were not in accordance with his country's policy in the Middle East. With regard to the situation in Angola, Australia encouraged all parties to continue making progress towards a democratic settlement. Referring to South Africa, he called upon all parties to act with moderation so that the peace talks could speedily resume.
33. Ms. RAMIREZ (Panama) said that she supported the comments made by the representative of Australia on the paragraphs of the draft resolution referring to the Middle East and added that while the peace process was under way, the parties concerned should refrain from any action which might affect it.
34. Mr. BRITO (Brazil) said that his country had voted in favour of the draft resolution to demonstrate its support for efforts to eliminate apartheid and promote the exercise of the right to self-determination. Nevertheless, he considered that the wording of the draft resolution could have been more up-to-date and balanced without any detriment to the text.
35. Mr. FENN (United Kingdom), speaking on behalf of the member States of the European Community, expressed regret that the sponsors of the draft resolution had not taken a fresh approach and attempted to reach consensus. That would have involved recognition of the fact that problems associated with the right to self-determination existed world wide and that developments, many of them positive, had occurred in the two regions on which the draft resolution concentrated, namely, southern Africa and the Middle East. The member States of the European Community had indicated at an early stage that they would welcome a thoroughgoing revision. Unfortunately, the text adopted did not reflect the importance of the current negotiation process in South Africa and did not take sufficient account of the peace process under way in the Middle East.
36. Mr. RAMISHVILI (Russian Federation) said that his country had voted against the draft resolution because the text did not reflect the changes that had occurred in the world. Nevertheless, he welcomed the fact that the sponsors had demonstrated a certain spirit of conciliation, which encouraged the hope that in future a more balanced text could be drawn up.
37. Mr. KUEHL (United States of America) said that, during the general debate on the agenda item under consideration, his delegation had already foreseen that the draft resolution would be unbalanced, as indeed it was, because it did not take account of the developments in South Africa or the Middle East. For that reason, his delegation had voted against the draft resolution.
3B. Miss ZINDOGA (Zimbabwe), speaking as a representative of one of the countries sponsoring the draft resolution, said that she wished to remind the speakers which had described as outmoded the language used with regard to South Africa that most of the population of that country had been deprived of

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(Miss Zindoqa, Zimbabwe)
their right to vote. It would therefore have been correct to use stronger language so that the text reflected the real situation more accurately.
Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.7
39. The CHAIRMAN said that Angola, Liberia, Uganda and Zambia had joined the sponsors of draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.7, entitled "Use of mercenaries as a means to violate human rights and to impede the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination".
40. Mr. FERNANDEZ (Cuba) made an oral amendment to the draft resolution. In paragraph 4 the phrase "racist South African regime" should be replaced by the words "South African Government".
41. A recorded vote was taken on draft A/C.3/47/L.7.
In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'lvoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.
Abstaining: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Canada, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine.

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42. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.7 was adopted by 96 votes to 10. with 36 abstentions.
43. Mr. FENN (United Kingdom), speaking on behalf of the States members of the European Community in explanation of vote, said that the sponsors of the draft resolution had once again introduced into the text political considerations inconsistent with the International Convention on the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, which had prevented the Twelve from voting for the resolution. Furthermore, the States members of the European Community wished to reiterate their objections to the context in which the issue of mercenaries was being debated. In their view, relations between States was the proper context for that matter.
44. Mrs. TERANISHI (Japan) said that her delegation had abstained because it had reservations about considering the question of mercenaries in the context of human rights.
45. Mr. BRITO (Brazil) said that his delegation had voted for the draft resolution because it agreed by and large with its content. None the less, he wished to note that some of the statements in the text were excessively broad in scope and could have been more precise.
46. The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee had thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 92. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.3/Rev.1, introduced under agenda item 91, would be considered as soon as possible.
AGENDA ITEM 93: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (continued)
(a) QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE WORLD SOCIAL SITUATION AND TO YOUTH, AGEING, DISABLED PERSONS AND THE FAMILY (A/C.3/47/L.11, L.13, L.15 and L.17)
47. The CHAIRMAN invited the Committee to consider draft resolutions
A/C.3/47/L.11, L.13, L.15 and L.17, none of which had any programme budget implications.
Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.11
48. The CHAIRMAN said that the following countries had joined the sponsors of draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.11 entitled "Policies and programmes involving youth": Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Egypt, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Malawi, Malta, Morocco, the Russian Federation, Togo and the United Republic of Tanzania.
49. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.11 was adopted without a vote. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.13
50. The CHAIRMAN said that the sponsors of draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.13 entitled "Implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing:

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(The Chairman)
integration of older persons in development" had been joined by the following countries: the Bahamas, Chile, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Mali, Panama, Paraguay, Senegal and Suriname. He announced that Angola, Honduras, the Sudan and Togo had also joined the list of sponsors.
51. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.13 was adopted without a vote. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.15
52. The CHAIRMAN invited the Committee to consider draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.15 entitled "Towards full integration of persons with disabilities in society: a continuing world programme of action". He recalled that the sponsors had been joined by Australia, Belarus, Costa Rica, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Greece, Iceland, Japan, Mali, Mongolia, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Russian Federation, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey and Ukraine. He announced that the sponsors had also been joined by Angola, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cote d'lvoire, Cyprus, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Namibia, Pakistan, Poland and Zambia.
53. He recalled that the oral amendments to the draft resolution, as presented by the representative of the Philippines had been the following: in the last line of the sixth preambular paragraph, the words "during the Decade" should be deleted; in paragraph 3 (b), the words "and providing preventive care and rehabilitation and monitoring equality of opportunities" should be inserted after "socio-economic issues"; in paragraph 8 (e), the words "the review of" should be inserted after "Finalizing"; in paragraph 8 (h), the words "close collaboration with the United Nations Office at Vienna/Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs and the relevant bodies of the United Nations" should be inserted after "to continue its"; in paragraph 11, the words "decides to continue, in response to General Assembly resolution 46/91 and decision 1992/276 of the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability and" should be inserted before "encourages"; in the next reference in that same paragraph, the title could be shortened simply to the "Fund".
54. Mr. HONG Yongan (China) said that there was an error in paragraph 4: it was the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific not the Economic and Social Council which had proclaimed the Asia and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons.
55. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.15. as orally amended, was adopted without a vote.
Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.17
56. The CHAIRMAN said that the following States had joined the sponsors of
draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.17, entitled "The role of cooperatives in the
light of new economic and social trends": Belarus, Canada, Cote d'lvoire,

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(The Chairman)
Honduras, Kenya, Micronesia (Federated States of), the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.
57. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.17 was adopted without a vote.
AGENDA ITEM 93: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (continued)
(b) CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.14
58. The CHAIRMAN said that draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.14 entitled "International cooperation in combating organized crime" did not have any programme budget implications and that the following States had joined the list of sponsors: Albania, Lithuania, Slovenia and Trinidad and Tobago. He reminded the members that Colombia was no longer a sponsor of the draft resolution.
59. Mr. TSEPOV (Russian Federation) said that certain errors in the draft resolution should be corrected. In the tenth preambular paragraph, the words "of the United Nations", following "International Scientific and Professional Advisory Council", should be deleted. In paragraph 5, the word "monitoring" should be replaced by "reviewing". In the French version of the draft resolution, in the penultimate preambular paragraph, the word "illicit" had been omitted as the qualifying adjective for traffic in narcotic drugs.
60. Draft resolution A/C.3/47/L.14. as orally amended, was adopted without a vote.
61. Mr. KUEHL (United States of America) said that while it endorsed the substance of the resolution just adopted, his delegation considered the resolution to be redundant since it reproduced the text of resolutions of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, in his delegation's view, that was not appropriate.
AGENDA ITEM 94: ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN (continued) (A/47/38, A/47/82-S/23512, A/47/88-S/23563, A/47/340, 368, 377, 391, 508 and 564)
62. Ms. DA ROSA (Guinea-Bissau) said that, despite the important measures adopted by the United Nations over the years, including the proclamation of the International Women's Year and the United Nations Decade for Women, the situation of women had continued to deteriorate in some parts of the world, particularly in Africa.
63. Her delegation called on the international community and non-governmental organizations to cooperate more closely with developing countries in executing projects and programmes designed to improve the health, education and employment situation of women.

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(Ms. Da Rosa. Guinea-Bissau)
64. The Constitution of Guinea-Bissau guaranteed equal rights for men and women. Women were an important factor in the economic and social development of the country and had participated in the armed struggle on an equal footing with men. Since the declaration of independence, women had occupied responsible positions in the Government and public administration. The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Advancement of Women implemented programmes to meet the aspirations and needs of women in health, nutrition and family planning, in cooperation with international organizations and agencies.
65. However, many still believed that the place of women was in the home with the children. It was therefore necessary to continue education in order to affirm the equal status of both sexes and to improve the situation of women in Guinea-Bissau. In addition to heavy daily chores, and in rural areas, all types of agricultural, craft and trade activities, their burdens included frequent and sometimes unwanted pregnancies, violence and female circumcision. Thus, much remained to be done.
66. Since the Fourth World Conference on Women would be held in Beijing in 1995, the Division for the Advancement of Women must receive the necessary resources in order to make appropriate preparations. In that connection, her delegation approved of the proposals of the Commission on the Status of Women regarding the agenda for the Conference.
67. The question of equal rights for women should also be included on the agenda of the World Conference on Human Rights planned for 1993. Guinea-Bissau would participate actively in the preparations for that Conference both on the national and interregional levels, and hoped that it would give renewed impetus to the cause of the advancement of women and would contribute to the effective integration of women in development.
68. Her delegation condemned all forms of violence against women and welcomed the progress made in formulating a draft declaration on that subject.
69. Guinea-Bissau had signed and ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and was pleased that the current number of States parties to that instrument had reached 119. It urged those States which had not yet done so to ratify that Convention, which was the most valuable of all legal instruments for the promotion of true equality of the sexes.
70. Finally, her delegation took note with satisfaction of the significant increase in the percentage of women in the Secretariat between July 1991 and June 1992. That trend should be maintained in order to reach the objective of 35 per cent by 1995.
71. Mr. KIM Jae Hon (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) said that, for over 40 years, the United Nations had made efforts to promote the advancement of women. Despite the important contributions of the United Nations

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(Mr. Kim Jae Hon. Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
Development Fund for Women (UKIFEM) and the Commission on the Status of Women, however, the objectives of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies, the United Nations Decade for Women and relevant General Assembly resolutions had not yet been achieved. Thus, the convening of the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 was welcome, since it would offer the international community another opportunity to formulate clear guidelines for future efforts and activities to improve the situation of women at the global level.
72. In 1946, the People's Democratic Republic of Korea had passed the law on the equality of men and women and had since taken important measures to improve their political, economic and social position. Women accounted for 20.1 per cent of deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly and held high positions in the Government. Women played a significant role in the economy, science, technology, education and culture, and in the management of enterprises and institutions of all types. Furthermore, they enjoyed free medical care and education and had the right to 150 days of maternity leave.
73. His delegation would continue to cooperate closely with other Member States to bring about equality for women at the global level.
74. Ms. AL-MAJALI (Jordan) said that Jordan attached great importance to the enjoyment of equal rights and the participation of women at all levels without any form of discrimination. Her delegation welcomed the increase in the number of signatories to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and urged those countries which had not yet done so to sign it.
75. Measures to resolve the problem of violence against women, one of the obstacles to their equal participation in development, must be adopted. The World Conference on Human Rights and the World Conference on Women would provide an opportunity to address that problem and to put an end to the violation of the human rights of women.
76. Referring to Palestinian women, she noted that they were deprived of the exercise of their rights in violation of the fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, and mentioned the psychological trauma caused by their situation.
77. With regard to the report of the Secretary-General contained in document
A/47/377, she reiterated the importance of accelerating the implementation of
the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies to guarantee fundamental rights and
freedoms to women and to achieve equality between the sexes. It was essential
to establish a mechanism for formulating plans and policies designed to
integrate women into social progress, policy formulation and development
planning. It was also very important to create education and training
programmes designed for women. Guidelines should be offered to the mass media
to enable them to assist in raising women's awareness of their rights and of
the social, political and economic role which they could play.

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(Ms. Al-Majali, Jordan)
78. Jordan recognized that its society could not progress and develop if half of its population remained uninvolved. All citizens had equal rights and duties and citizenship was not limited to one sex alone. For that reason, it was crucially important that all should receive equal education. Likewise, women played a major role in the rearing of future generations.
79. In Jordan, a great deal of attention was being paid to rural and poor women. Women's organizations and non-governmental organizations fulfilled an important function in that area. In cooperation with the Government and international organizations, they created employment and production opportunities offering women the possibility of paid work at home and of establishing small businesses.
80. Her delegation had read with attention the report in document A/47/340, and commended the efforts of UNIFEM in developing countries in general and in Jordan in particular to promote the advancement of women.
81. In conclusion, she noted that recent events on the international scene and in the United Nations had resulted in major progress in cooperation and social and economic development, which would enable structures to be rebuilt. In that respect, the increase in the number of women in the United Nations and the improvement of the situation of women in the Secretariat was a favourable indicator of the revitalization of the United Nations and of prospects for a better world for all.
82. Mr. EL-DEEB (Egypt) said that women played an outstanding part in human development and that it was consequently very important that their fundamental rights should be respected and that they should participate on an equal footing. He endorsed the view expressed in the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization (A/47/1) that it was necessary to promote the full participation of women in the development process and address the factors that adversely affected their situation, especially poverty and discrimination. With regard to the Fourth World Conference on Women to be held in Beijing in 1995, it was very important to make adequate preparations for it by holding consultations with all delegations and organizing regional meetings to ensure effective participation by all. Interaction between the United Nations system and national mechanisms for the advancement of women was also needed, since such regional and international cooperation would no doubt have a positive impact on the results of the Conference.
83. He welcomed the Secretary-General's report on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (A/47/368) announcing that another eight States had signed the Convention, bringing the number of States parties up to 119. With regard to the report in document A/47/340, he hoped that more attention would be given to programmes for women in the developing countries as part of national development plans and that further international assistance would be forthcoming for that purpose. He urged the

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(Mr. El-Deeb, Egypt)
international community to protect groups most in need, such as refugee, immigrant and disabled women, and drew attention to the particularly difficult living conditions of Palestinian women in the occupied territories.
84. With reference to the promotion of women, his delegation believed that a start must be made with the United Nations itself, and drew attention in that regard to the Secretary-General's report on the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat (A/47/508) in which it was reported that the proportion of women in senior posts had increased. It was also important to increase the number of women from developing countries, having due regard for geographical distribution.
85. In Egyptian society, there were no restrictions on the role of women, who could take part in all activities relating to public life. Women occupied managerial positions and there was no discrimination. Women'S organizations worked with organizations in other countries and regions and were concerned with regional and international cooperation.
86. Miss SELJUKI (Afghanistan) said that, owing to the 14 years of war in her country, many obstacles had impeded the achievement of the objectives of development, equality and peace of the United Nations Decade for Women. As part of its national economic reconstruction and rehabilitation programme, the Government of Afghanistan had spared no efforts in alleviating the consequences of the war, which had seriously affected the situation of women in the country. However, that objective could be achieved only with international and United Nations assistance.

87. In Afghanistan, laws were being prepared that would contribute to the integration and participation of women in social and cultural activities, and to the protection of their civil rights. Particular attention would be given to mitigating the adverse effects of the war, such as the problems of child care, especially the care of orphans, the situation of low-income single mothers and that of disabled women. The incidence of disability had risen dramatically as a result of the war and not just the most visible forms of disability but also mental suffering and traumatic stress syndrome. Women were now in the majority in Afghanistan, and yet it was one of the few countries in which the life expectancy of women was shorter than that of men.
88. She requested the United Nations and its relevant bodies to provide support for her country's programmes and projects aimed at improving the living conditions of women who were living in poverty, those who were heads of families and those who were disabled. They were further requested to help with training programmes, income-generating activities, literacy programmes and health education. Finally, she thanked the organizations that had assisted in improving the status of women in Afghanistan, namely ILO, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNFPA and the Office of the United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian and Economic Assistance Programmes Relating to Afghanistan (UNOCA).

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89. Mrs. BARGHOUTI (Observer for Palestine) said that, despite some progress, many problems still stood in the way of the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women to the Year 2000. A prerequisite for overcoming them was to recognize the length between international peace and security, the struggle against colonialism and foreign occupation and the achievement of social development and equality.
90. The Palestinian women in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, were subjected to the harshest forms of discrimination and oppression. The reality of their situation should be seen from a twofold perspective: their struggle for national liberation and for social equality. Since the 1920s, Palestinian women had been actively participating in the national liberation movement and in the quest for social liberation. As part of that effort, they had succeeded in establishing associations comprising women from all sectors of society, especially in the villages and refugee camps. The various programmes offered by the women's associations, had enabled women to become more aware of their situation and more active in the national political movement. As a result, despite the harsh reality of their lives under foreign occupation, Palestinian women had raised a whole generation of young people who had attained the highest level of education in the region. The first half of the 1980s had also witnessed an increased level of education and development among women: women completing secondary education had accounted for 48 per cent of all pupils, while those enrolled at universities had represented 40 per cent.
91. However, Palestinian women continued to be faced with various problems resulting from Israeli occupation practices, such as land confiscation and control of water resources, which contributed to the paralysis of the national economy, since many factories and businesses were forced to close. That had led to a rise in unemployment among women, which in turn had increased women's resistance to the Israeli military authorities.
92. Women had played a significant part in the Palestinian resistance movement. They also took part in political decision-making, as was demonstrated by their role in the current peace process. In addition, at the grass-roots level, women had organized cooperatives and other economic associations which had opened up further opportunities for training women in such areas as social work, nursing and teaching. Such activity had increased since the beginning of the intifadah, with women now accounting for 60 per cent of the work force. Women's organizations also now offered classes in private homes in view of the closure of schools, one of the oppressive practices resorted to by the Israeli authorities. During the intifadah. between 40 per cent and 60 per cent of school days had been lost in each academic year. That was not, unfortunately, the only harm suffered by children and young people in the occupied Palestinian territories. Many studies indicated that there was an abnormally high number of disturbed children as a result of the terror in which they lived.
93. The severe living conditions of the Palestinian people made it necessary for the international community to bring pressure to bear on Israel to cease

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(Mrs. Barqhouti, Observer, Palestine)
its illegal and cruel practices. The United Nations had an inherent responsibility towards the Palestinian question in general and towards Palestinian women in particular. Furthermore, regardless of any new developments, that responsibility should continue to be assumed until the Palestinian people was able to exercise its inalienable rights and a comprehensive solution to the conflict was reached.
94. Finally, she welcomed the decision to convene the Fourth World Conference on Women, which was to be held in 1995.
The meeting rose at 6.05 p.m.