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Fifty-eighth General
Assembly
12 December 2003 Press Release
For
convenience and quick reference only parts related to the I.R. Iran
are quoted here -
click here to download the complete text.
ADDRESSED, AS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS 70 THIRD COMMITTEE TEXTS Acting on the recommendations of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Cultural), the General Assembly today adopted 70 resolutions and a number of decisions, of which nearly half addressed human rights questions related to a host of issues ranging from terrorism and country-specific human rights conditions, to the impact of globalization and the rights to food, development and the highest standards of health. Responding to heightened concerns about terrorism in the wake of the August 19 attack on the United Nations headquarters in Iraq, the Assembly passed resolutions deploring the increasing number of innocent persons killed by terrorist attacks and condemning terrorism as a violation of human rights. *** Also adopted unanimously was a resolution on the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which encourages States to ensure an environment conducive to the work of human rights defenders, and urging States to ensure that any measures to combat terrorism do not hinder the work and safety of human rights defenders. The resolution also urges States to take appropriate measures to combat impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders. *** On country-specific human rights issues, the Assembly adopted resolutions on the situation of human rights in Cambodia (without vote), Turkmenistan (73-42-56, Annex XXIV) and Iran (68-54-51, Annex XXV). *** Draft resolution III on human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran would have the Assembly welcome the open invitation extended by the Government of Iran to all human rights thematic monitoring mechanisms in April 2002, the opening of human rights dialogue with a number of countries, and the efforts by the elected Government to foster the growth of civil society. However, the Assembly would express its serious concern at the continuing violations of human rights in Iran, the continued deterioration of the situation with regard to freedom of opinion and expression and the continuing executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards. Concern would also be expressed at the use of torture and other forms of cruel punishment, in particular the practice of amputation and public executions, as well as the systematic discrimination against women and girls in the law. The Assembly would call upon the Government of Iran to abide by its obligations freely undertaken under the International Covenants on Human Rights, to expedite judicial reform, to guarantee the dignity of the individual and to ensure the full application of due process of law and fair and transparent procedures by an independent and impartial judiciary, and to eliminate all forms of discrimination based on religious grounds or against persons belonging to minorities. *** Resolution III on human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, was adopted by a vote of 68 in favour, to 54 against, with 51 abstentions (Annex XXV). *** On the text on the situation of human rights in Iran, the representative of Chile said her delegation supported the work of the Commission on Human Rights’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which had visited Iran. But authorities should ensure that upcoming visits were undertaken in full transparency. Her Government would be watching the situation closely. *** _____ ANNEX XXV _____ The draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran (document A/58/508/Add.3–III) was adopted by a recorded vote of 68 in favour to 54 against, with 51 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States. Against: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe. Abstain: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Dominica, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia. Absent: Armenia, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Republic of Moldova, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tonga, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu. |