UN Human Rights Treaties

UNITED NATIONS
E
Economic and Social
Council
Distr.
LIMITED
E/CN.4/1998/L.10/Add.15
22 April 1998
Original: ENGLISH
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Fiftyfourth
session
Agenda item 26
REPORT TO THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ON THE
FIFTYFOURTH
SESSION OF THE COMMISSION
DRAFT REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
Rapporteur: Mr. Roman KUZNIAR
CONTENTS*
Chapter Page
XV. REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMISSION ON PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION
AND PROTECTION OF MINORITIES ON ITS FORTYNINTH
SESSION
* Documents E/CN.4/1998/L.10 and addenda will contain the chapters of
the report relating to the organization of the session and the various items
on the agenda. Resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission, as well
as draft resolutions and decisions for action by, and other matters of concern
to, the Economic and Social Council, will be contained in documents
E/CN.4/1998/L.11 and addenda.
GE.9812501
(E)
E/CN.4/1998/L.10/Add.15
page 2
XV. REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMISSION ON PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION
AND PROTECTION OF MINORITIES ON ITS FORTY-NINTH SESSION
1. The Commission considered agenda item 15 at its 24th to 26th meetings,
from 31 March to 1 April, at its 51st meeting, on 17 April, and at its 56th
meeting, on 21 April 1998. 1/
2. For the documents issued under agenda item 15, see annex IV to the
present report. For a list of all resolutions and decisions adopted by the
Commission and Chairman's statements, by agenda item, see annex V to the
present report.
3. At the 24th meeting, on 31 March 1998, the Chairman of the
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities
at its forty-ninth session, Mr. José Bengoa, introduced his report
(E/CN.4/1998/88). At the 26th meeting, on 1 April 1998, the Chairman of the
Sub-Commission made his concluding remarks.
4. At the 25th and 26th meetings, on 31 March and 1 April 1998,
respectively, the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for
Social Development, Mr. Bengt Lindqvist, made statements to the Commission.
5. In the general debate on agenda item 15, statements 2/ were made by
the following members of the Commission: Brazil (26th), China (26th),
Congo (26th), Denmark (25th), Guatemala (26th), India (25th), Ireland (25th),
Pakistan (26th), Philippines (26th), Poland (25th), South Africa (25th),
Ukraine (26th).
6. The Commission heard statements by the observers for: Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya (25th), Norway (on behalf of the Nordic countries) (26th),
Sweden (25th). The observer for Switzerland also made a statement (26th).
7. Statements were also made by the observers for the International
Committee of the Red Cross (26th) and the World Health Organization (26th).
8. The Commission also heard statements by the following non-governmental
organizations: African Commission of Health and Human Rights
Promoters (25th), American Association of Jurists (25th), Association for
Religious Freedom (25th), Coalition against Trafficking in Women (25th),
European Union of Public Relations (26th), Inclusion International (26th),
International Indian Treaty Council (26th), International Movement against All
Forms of Discrimination and Racism (25th), Latin American Federation of
E/CN.4/1998/L.10/Add.15
page 3
Associations of Relatives of Disappeared Detainees (26th), North South XXI
(25th), World Blind Union (26th), World Federation for Mental Health (26th),
World Movement of Mothers (25th), World Muslim Congress (26th).
Work of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities
9. At the 51st meeting, on 17 April 1998, the representative of Germany
introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/1998/L.45, sponsored by Bulgaria,
the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal,
Slovenia, Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
and the United States of America. Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic,
El Salvador, Estonia, India, Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovakia,
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, and Uruguay subsequently
joined the sponsors.
10. The draft resolution was adopted without a vote.
11. For the text of the resolution as adopted, see chapter II, section A,
resolution 1998/28.
12. The representative of Uruguay made a statement in connection with the
resolution after its adoption.
13. In view of the adoption of resolution 1998/28, the Commission took no
action on the draft resolution recommended by the Sub-Commission on Prevention
of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities for adoption by the Commission
(see E/CN.4/1998/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/50, chap. I).
Human rights and scientific and technological development
14. At the 51st meeting, on 17 April 1998, the observer for the Netherlands
introduced draft decision E/CN.4/1998/L.46, sponsored by Denmark, Germany and
the Netherlands. Canada, Japan and Portugal subsequently joined the sponsors.
15. The draft decision was adopted without a vote. For the text of the
decision as adopted, see chapter II, section A, decision 1998/... .
16. In view of the adoption of decision 1998/..., the Commission took no
action on draft decision 10 recommended by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities for adoption by the Commission
(see E/CN.4/1998/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/50, chap. I).
E/CN.4/1998/L.10/Add.15
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Question of human rights and states of emergency
17. At the 51st meeting, on 17 April 1998, the observer for the Netherlands
introduced draft decision E/CN.4/1998/L.47, sponsored by Denmark, Germany and
the Netherlands. Canada, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland subsequently joined the sponsors.
18. A statement in connection with the draft decision was made by the
representative of India.
19. At the request of the representative of India and the observer for
the Netherlands, consideration of the draft decision was postponed.
20. At its 56th meeting, on 21 April 1998, the Commission resumed
consideration of draft decision E/CN.4/1998/L.47.
21. The operative part of the draft decision was orally revised by the
observer for the Netherlands.
22. The draft decision, as orally revised, was adopted without a vote. For
the text of the decision as adopted, see chapter II, section B,
decision 1998/... .
23. In view of the adoption of decision 1998/..., the Commission took no
action on draft decision 6 recommended by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities for adoption by the Commission
(see E/CN.4/1998/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/50, chap. I).
Study concerning the right to freedom of movement
24. At the 51st meeting, on 17 April 1998, the observer for the Netherlands
introduced draft decision E/CN.4/1998/L.48, sponsored by Denmark, Germany and
the Netherlands. Canada, Japan and Portugal subsequently joined the sponsors.
25. Operative paragraph 2 of the draft decision was orally revised by the
observer for the Netherlands.
26. The draft decision, as orally revised, was adopted without a vote.
For the text of the decision as adopted, see chapter II, section B,
decision 1998/... .
27. In view of the adoption of decision 1998/..., the Commission took no
action on draft decision 8 (Item 9) recommended by the SubCommission
on
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities for adoption by the
Commission (see E/CN.4/1998/2E/
CN.4/Sub.2/1997/50, chap. I).
Minimum humanitarian standards
28. At the 51st meeting, on 17 April 1998, the observer for Norway
introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/1998/L.50, sponsored by Argentina,
E/CN.4/1998/L.10/Add.15
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Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Germany,
Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Madagascar,
Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and Uruguay. Austria
subsequently joined the sponsors.
29. The draft resolution was adopted without a vote. For the text of the
resolution as adopted, see chapter II, section A, resolution 1998/29.
Traffic in women and girls
30. At the 51st meeting, on 17 April 1998, the representative of
the Philippines introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/1998/L.57, sponsored by
Argentina, Belgium, Bhutan, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iraq,
Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Norway,
Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, the Republic of Korea,
South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Togo and Uruguay. Angola, Bangladesh,
Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Greece, Nepal, Nigeria, Spain,
Thailand and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia subsequently joined the
sponsors.
31. The draft resolution was adopted without a vote. For the text of
the resolution as adopted, see chapter II, section A, resolution 1998/30.
Human rights of persons with disabilities
32. At the 51st meeting, on 17 April 1998, the representative of Ireland
introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/1998/L.59, sponsored by Afghanistan,
Argentina, Austria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia,
Congo, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, Greece,
Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,
the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal,
Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa,
Spain, Sweden, Uganda, Uruguay and Venezuela. Algeria, Angola, Australia,
Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Malta,
the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sudan, Togo and Tunisia subsequently
joined the sponsors.
33. The draft resolution was adopted without a vote. For the text of the
resolution as adopted, see chapter II, section A, resolution 1998/31.
E/CN.4/1998/L.10/Add.15
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Privatization of prisons
34. At the 51st meeting, on 17 April 1998, the representative of
the United States of America introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/1998/L.79,
sponsored by the Netherlands and the United States of America. Japan
subsequently joined the sponsors.
35. The draft resolution was proposed as a replacement for draft decision 5
recommended by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and
Protection of Minorities for adoption by the Commission (see E/CN.4/1998/2-
E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/50, chap. I).
36. Statements in connection with the draft resolution were made by the
representatives of Cuba and the United States of America.
37. The draft resolution was adopted without a vote.
38. The representative of the United States of America made a statement in
connection with the resolution after its adoption.
39. For the text of the resolution as adopted, see chapter II, section A,
resolution 1998/32.
40. In view of the adoption of resolution 1998/32, the Commission took no
action on draft resolution 5 (item 8) recommended by the Sub-Commission on
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities for adoption by the
Commission (see E/CN.4/1998/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/50, chap. I).
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