Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK1092
2009-12-03 15:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

THIRD COMMITTEE TAKES ACTION ON THE RIGHT OF THE

Tags:  PHUM PREL PGOV UNGA 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1092 3371538
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031538Z DEC 09 ZDK
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7747
INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3966
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001092 

DEPT FOR IO/HR, DRL/MLGA, PRM/PIP

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV UNGA
SUBJECT: THIRD COMMITTEE TAKES ACTION ON THE RIGHT OF THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE TO SELF-DETERMINATION, COMBATING DEFAMATION OF
RELIGION, AND OTHERS

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001092

DEPT FOR IO/HR, DRL/MLGA, PRM/PIP

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV UNGA
SUBJECT: THIRD COMMITTEE TAKES ACTION ON THE RIGHT OF THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE TO SELF-DETERMINATION, COMBATING DEFAMATION OF
RELIGION, AND OTHERS


1. SUMMARY: On November 12, the UNGA Third Committee took action on
16 draft resolutions, adopting 10 by consensus and 6 by vote.
Despite efforts to persuade the OIC to reconsider running their
resolution on Defamation of Religion, the OIC moved the resolution
quickly to a vote, which was adopted despite a large number of
abstentions and no votes (81-55(U.S.)-43). The African Group's
attempts to delete two indirect references to gay/lesbian rights
prevailed by one vote on the first occasion, followed immediately by
a loss by one vote on the second occasion. END SUMMARY.


2. The action in the UN's Third Committee on thematic human rights
issues was marked by a close vote on a gay rights' related issue, a
divided approach to Islamophobia, and overwhelming support for
Palestinian self-determination. The resolution on International
Covenants on Human Rights contained two references to "General
Comments" of treaty bodies, the second of which advocated
non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Zambia, on
behalf of the African Group, introduced amendments to resolution
A/C.3/64/L.22 (International Covenants on Human Rights) to delete
these two references to General Comments. Finland, the main
sponsor, called for a vote on those two amendments. The first
amendment passed with 70-69(U.S.)-25. The second amendment failed
with 71-72(U.S.)-23. Since one amendment had passed, the resolution
would require a vote, which it passed with 111(U.S.)-0-66.
Delegates from the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Chile, U.K., Switzerland,
and New Zealand, in an explanation of vote, supported the main text
of the resolution but were disappointed that the Zambia amendment
had passed. Iran and Pakistan did not vote in favor of the
resolution because both amendments were not passed.


3. Israel called a recorded vote on resolution A/C.3/64/L.56 (The
right of the Palestinian people to self-determination). It was
adopted by 171-6(U.S.)-5. The U.S., Israel, and Micronesia gave an
EOV against the resolution, while Argentina, Australia, Iran, and
Palestine gave an EOV in favor of the resolution.


4. Resolutions A/C.3/64/L.27 (Combating defamation of religions);
A/C.3/64/L.31 (Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of
all human rights); A/C.3/64/L.45 (Human rights and unilateral
coercive measures); and A/C.3/64/L.48 (Promotion of equitable
geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights
treaty bodies) were adopted by vote. Resolution L.27 was adopted
with 81-55(U.S.)-43. The EU and U.S. EOV before the vote stressed
that the resolution actually went against freedom of religion.
Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, and Albania also spoke in EOV for their
abstention. Resolution L.31 was adopted with 125-54(U.S.)-3.
Resolution L.45 was called to a vote by the U.S. and it was adopted
with 128-52(U.S.)-0. In the EOV, the U.S. delegate said that the
text had no basis in international law and did not serve the cause
of advancing human rights. Resolution L.48 was called to a vote by
the U.S. and was adopted with 125-51(U.S.)-3.


5. In a general statement before action on resolution L.41/Rev.1
(Protection of migrants),acting ECOSOC representative John Sammis
said the U.S. had joined consensus given the well-established
principle that States could regulate the flow of migrants into their
territory.


6. The Third Committee adopted the following resolutions by
consensus: A/C.3/64/l.52*, (Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugee); A/C.3/64/L.58 (Enlargement of the
Executive Committee of the Program of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees); A/C.3/64/L.51 (Universal realization of
the right of peoples to self-determination); A/C.3/64/L.24
(Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities and
operational Protocol thereto); A/C.3/64/L.32 (National institutions
for the promotion and protection of human rights);
A/C.3/64/L.33/Rev.1 (Follow-up to the International Year of Human
Rights Learning); A/C.3/64/L.34/Rev.1 (Protection of and assistance
to internally displaced persons); A/C.3/64/L.41/ Rev.1 (Protection
of migrants); A/C.3/64/L.46 (Enhancement of international
cooperation in the field of human rights); A/C.3/64/L.11/Rev.1
(Improving the coordination of efforts against trafficking in
persons). Cuba requested that A/C.3/64/L.28 (Promotion of a
democratic and equitable international order); A/C.3/64/L.29
(Strengthening UN actions in the field of human rights through the
promotions of international cooperation and the importance of
non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity); and
A/C.3/64/L.30/Rev.1 (The right to food) be postponed until the next
week.

RICE