VOTE RESULTS OF UN,S THIRD COMMITTEE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002172 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM SOCI PTER SMIG SCUL UNGA SUBJECT: VOTE RESULTS OF UN,S THIRD COMMITTEE ¶1. SUMMARY: On November 16, Member States voted on 17 resolutions in the UN's Third Committee (Human Rights). The resolutions that passed over objections of the USG received a plurality of support from non-aligned nations. A resolution sponsored by Egypt on the Right of the Palestinian People to Self-Determination received overwhelming support from the body. Four resolutions sponsored by Cuba on Composition of the Staff of the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),Right to Travel and Family Reunification, Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order and Right to Food passed in the committee by comfortable margins. END SUMMARY. Voting Results ¶2. Below are the voting results to date of resolutions considered by the UN's Third Committee. L.51 Right of the Palestinian People to Self-Determination - Egypt sponsored - Resolution adopted 162-4-4 - U.S., Israel, Micronesia and Palau voted against - Australia, Canada, Georgia and Haiti abstained - 115 cosponsors - USG called for a recorded vote and delivered an Explanation of Vote (EOV). - Israel gave EOV encouraging Palestinian leadership to respect the right of Israel to exist, to disavow terrorism and to continue with peace negotiation process. - Finland, on behalf of EU, stated support of the Palestinians right to self-determination and called for the re-launching of the peace process to secure a two state solution. Finland expressed concern about "settlement activities in and around East Jerusalem as well as in the Jordan Valley, " and stated the EU "will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders other than those agreed (to) by both parties." - Australia and Canada expressed concern regarding unbalanced language in the resolution and called for a two state solution. L.23 Composition of the Staff of the OHCHR - Cuba sponsored - Adopted 112-6-54 - U.S., Australia, Israel, Canada, Japan and Micronesia voted against - 48 cosponsors - Cuban representative offered extensive oral changes to resolution from the floor. USG raised concerns on the deviation from normal committee procedures and questioned whether this resolution belonged in the UN's Fifth Committee due its financial implications. Committee chair decided to proceed with resolution. - Cuban representative stated USG did not participate in consultations and the questions regarding procedures are "a waste of time" and the attempts to offer "constructive criticism is a fallacy" and "delaying tactic." - Finland, on behalf of EU, stated support "to improve the gender balance and geophraphical distribution" in the OHCHR. However, the adoption of the resolution "violates the UN's own rules and regulations." EU members abstained from the vote. - Canada, Australia and Japan called for respect of the UN rules and procedures regarding committee jurisdiction. L.48 Racial Discrimination - Russia sponsored - Resolution adopted 108-3-53 - U.S., Japan and Israel voted against - 15 cosponsors - USG requested a recorded vote - Japan delivered EOV, raising concerns about freedom of speech and the effect the resolution would have on this liberty. L.20 Globalization and Human Rights - Egypt sponsored - Adopted 113-53-4 - U.S. voted against - 49 cosponsors - Finland, on behalf of EU, called for a recorded vote L.24 Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order - Cuba sponsored - Adopted 117-56-3 - U.S. voted against - 46 cosponsors - Finland, on behalf of EU, issued EOV and stated the intent of resolution "moves beyond the scope of Third Committee" and the body is not a "suitable forum to address issue." L.26 Right to Travel and Family Reunification - Cuba sponsored - Adopted 116-3-58 - U.S., Israel and Palau voted against - 10 cosponsors - USG issued EOV stating there is no right to family reunification under international law and noted more than 1 million legal permanent residents entered the U.S. last year, of which 60 percent was family reunification. L.27 Right to Food - Cuba sponsored - Adopted 175-1-0 - U.S. voted against - 127 cosponsors - All resources and funding fall under UN L.31, Revision 1 Promotion of Dialogue - Belarus sponsored - Adopted 77-63-26 - U.S. voted against - PBI of more than $400,000 - 14 cosponsors - USG requested a recorded vote and delivered EOV stating two of the main sponsors of the resolution have histories of human rights abuses. - Finland, on behalf of EU, voted against measure and noted Belarus has not engaged in human rights discussions at the UN and questioned the true objective of its sponsorship. - Mexico voted no and also queried about the motive of the resolution and stated implementation of the resolution would worsen human rights violations in the world. - Canada voted no and called for country specific resolution to highlight human rights violations rather than the Belarus resolution that is "politically motivated." - Brazil abstained from the vote and called for comprehensive study before the resolution is addressed by the General Assembly. L.36, Revision 1 Human Rights and Terrorism - Mexico sponsored - Adopted by consensus - 71 cosponsors including U.S. L.59, Amendment to OP4 of L.45, Revision 1 of Summary Executions - Azerbaijan sponsored - Rejected 62-71-23 - U.S. abstained - 3 cosponsors - Egypt and Kuwait wanted adoption by general consensus and inclusion of Islamic group in discussions. - Sweden, sponsor of L.45, Revision 1, opposed amendment and requested a recorded vote. L.59, Amendment to PP5 (B) of L.45, Revision 1 of Summary Executions - Azerbaijan sponsored - Rejected 57-69-25 - U.S. voted against - Sweden, sponsor of L.45, Revision 1, opposed amendment and requested a recorded vote. L.45, Revision 1, Summary Executions, PP4 of Draft Resolution - Sweden sponsored - Adopted 89-38-26 - U.S. abstained - Sweden issued EOV expressing support for resolution L.45, Revision 1, Summary Executions, OP5 (B) of Draft Resolution - Sweden sponsored - Adopted 93-30-28 - U.S. supported L.45, Revision 1, Summary Executions of Draft Resolution - Sweden sponsored - Adopted 129-0-42 - U.S. abstained - 47 cosponsors - USG requested a recorded vote and reiterated foreign policy stance promoting human rights and due process with procedural protection. L.46 Right to Self Determination - Pakistan sponsored - Adopted by consensus - 30 cosponsors L.19 Missing Person - Azerbaijan sponsored - Adopted by consensus - 53 cosponsors L.25 Religious Intolerance - EU sponsored - Adopted by consensus - 95 cosponsors BOLTON