Today the UN Human Rights Council will begin voting on the draft resolutions below. Look for our regularly updated results and comments.
Condemnatory Resolutions
This council session will conclude with one resolution condemning North Korea; one resolution criticizing but also praising Burma (Myanmar); one resolution importantly renewing the mandate of an investigator on Iran but, unlike the UNGA, neither mentioning nor condemning Iran’s violations; two resolutions condemning Syria; and five resolutions condemning Israel. It is unfortunate that although Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and Kofi Annan before him, urged the council to end its selectivity, 50 percent of this session’s condemnatory resolutions are on Israel.
In other, non-condemnatory resolutions on countries, the council adopted a welcome but watered-down text on Sri Lanka, and will pass a series of resolutions praising Libya, Haiti, DR Congo and others. Despite UN Watch’s submission to the UNHRC of proposed resolutions on China, Cuba, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zimbabwe, these and many other of the world’s worst abusers are to go ignored.
Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in Syria (A/HRC/19/L.1/Rev.1)
Submitted on 28.02.2012 by Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey
Vote Result: Adopted on March 1, 2012 by a vote of 37 in favour, 3 against (China, Cuba, Russia), and 3 abstentions (Ecuador, India, Philippines).
Situation of Human Rights in Iran (A/HRC/19/L.22)
Submitted on 15.03.2012 by Sweden
Vote Result: Adopted on March 22, 2012 by a vote of 22 in favour, 5 against (Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Qatar, Russia), and 20 abstentions (Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Uganda, Uruguay).
Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar (A/HRC/19/L.30)
Submitted on 15.03.2012 by Denmark on behalf of the EU
The resolution was Orally Revised.
The resolution was adopted on March 23, 2012 without a vote.
Situation of Human Rights in North Korea (A/HRC/19/L.29)
Submitted on 15.03.2012 by Denmark on behalf of the EU, Japan
The resolution was adopted on March 22, 2012 without a vote.
Situation of Human Rights in Syria (A/HRC/19/L.38)
Submitted on 16.03.2012 by Denmark on behalf of the EU
Russia proposed an oral amendment, but it was rejected by a vote of 33 against, 4 in favour (China, Cuba, Ecuador, Russia), and 9 abstentions.
Vote Result: Adopted on March 23, 2012 by a vote of 40 in favour (EU, USA), 3 against (China, Cuba, Russia), and 3 abstentions (Ecuador, India, Uganda).
Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (A/HRC/19/L.34)
Submitted on 16.03.2012 by Palestine
The resolution was Orally Revised.
Vote Result: Adopted on March 22, 2012 by a vote of 44 in favour, 1 against (USA), and two abstentions (Cameroon, Guatemala). Continue reading ‘Resolutions & Voting Results of UNHRC 19th Session’
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