DATE=4/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / HUMAN RIGHTS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261777
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Human rights groups have praised the United
Nations Human Rights Commission for its condemnation
of Russia's military action in Chechnya. But as Lisa
Schlein reports from Geneva, the rights groups
strongly criticized the commission for refusing to
censure alleged human rights violations in China.
TEXT: The U-N Human Rights Commission ends its annual
meeting Friday. And human rights groups are already
giving their assessments.
Two rights groups, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty
International, praised the commission for criticizing
one of its more powerful members -- Russia.
During its six-week meeting, the commission adopted a
resolution criticizing Russia for what it called
disproportionate and indiscriminate use of military
force in Chechnya, including attacks against
civilians. This makes Russia the first permanent
member of the U-N Security Council to be formally
censured by the Human Rights Commission.
But another permanent member of the Security Council,
China, evaded rebuke of its human rights record. With
the support of developing countries, China blocked a
commission vote on a U-S sponsored resolution
condemning it for alleged political and religious
persecution.
The chairman of the commission, Nepalese Ambassador,
Shambu Ram Sinkhada, diplomatically deflected critical
questions from the media that the commission hurt its
credibility by failing to censure China.
/// SINKHADA ACT ///
The commission is a body of members and we have
the rules of procedure to conduct our business.
So, the important thing is for the membership to
act according to the rules of procedure.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Sinkhada said the 53-member commission
accomplished much during its annual meeting. It
appointed a special envoy to monitor the treatment of
human rights activists around the world. It appointed
new investigators on the right to food and the right
to adequate housing.
He also said the commission approved two proposed
additions to the treaty on the Rights of the Child to
combat the use of child soldiers and to deal with
child pornography and prostitution.
/// SINKHADA ACT ///
As we continue our common endeavor of
translating the ideals of freedom from fear and
want, I believe there is reason for us to take
some satisfaction for what we have achieved
during these last six weeks, fully aware that a
lot more still remains to be done.
/// END ACT ///
The commission adopted resolutions condemning the
human rights records of many countries, including
Afghanistan, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Burma, Congo-
Kinshasa, Yugoslavia and Cuba. (Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/JP
27-Apr-2000 13:02 PM EDT (27-Apr-2000 1702 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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