United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-04-09

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Wednesday, 9 April 1997

HEADLINES

• Security Council decides to suspend the reduction of the military component of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) until 31 May 1997.
• United Nations Secretary-General calls on parties in the Zairian conflict to cease hostilities; welcomes progress in recent peace talks in South Africa.
• Sustainable development is possible when socio-economic and political rights of people are fully respected, UN Secretary-General tells Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
• The Angolan Parliament approves legislation on the status of UNITA leader, Dr. Jonas Savimbi.
• United Nations agencies call for an end to female genital mutilation.
• The Commission on Sustainable Development hears calls for clear goals and targets within the agreed framework of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
• A more comprehensive and effective response is needed for all phases of mass displacement of people, the Commission on Human Rights is told.

The Council, in a unanimous resolution, welcomed the redeployment of UNPREDEP already achieved in the light of the situation in Albania. It encouraged the Secretary-General to continue further redeployment of UNPREDEP taking into consideration the situation in the region, consistent with the mandate of the Preventive Deployment Force.

Urging the nations of the region to support the peace effort, Mr. Annan said he was encouraged that the parties reaffirmed their support for the United Nations/Organisation of African Unity (OAU) peace plan and committed themselves to transparent, fair and inclusive elections to bring about democratic change in Zaire.

He expressed the hope that the political family of Zaire would now work together to build a peaceful future.

The Secretary-General's comments come in the wake of reports that the first direct talks on the future of Zaire, held in South Africa, had established a positive working relationship between the parties, as well as the outline of a transition process to a peaceful and democratic Zaire.

In an address to the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on Tuesday, Mr. Annan said the right to development was the measure of the respect of all other human rights. He called for a situation in which all individuals were enabled to maximise their potential, and contribute to the evolution of society as a whole.

Outlining the past achievements of the Commission, the Secretary- General said he intended to ensure that the work of the Commission was further promoted and supported within the Organisation.

He said he intended to give full support to the effective exercise by the High Commissioner for Human Rights of key functions, adding that as part of the Organisation's reform process, he also planned to pursue the effort underway to enhance the functioning of the secretariat of the Centre for Human Rights in order to strengthen the services it provides to the Commission.

"This effort will encompass increased transparency and the establishment of a culture of sharing. In line with my overall policy, I am determined wherever possible to transfer to substantive programmes any savings resulting from the reform of the Centre's administration," he stated.

President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has invited Dr. Savimbi to participate in the inaugural ceremony of the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation, scheduled for Friday, the Spokesman said.

Dr. Hiroshi Nakajima of WHO, Ms. Carol Bellamy of UNICEF and Dr. Nafis Sadik of UNFPA unveiled their joint plan to bring about a major decline in female genital mutilation in 10 years and completely eliminate the practice within three generations.

The three agencies said they would emphasize a multidisciplinary approach and teamwork both within the countries in Africa where female genital mutilation is practiced, as well as the regional and global levels.

According to the interagency agreement, the teams will assist governments in developing and implementing clear national policies for the "abolition of female genital mutilation, including, where appropriate, the enactment of legislation to prohibit it".

The current session in New York will be different from previous meetings since the Commission has a mandate to assess and review everything that had not been achieved in the context of the outcome of the Rio Conference, he said.

Meanwhile, the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania told the Commission that the decline in financial aid from the developed countries showed their lack of commitment and sincerity to implementing the Rio agreements.

Speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, the Tanzanian representative said the emphasis on private capital flows was a fallacious argument, since very little of such flows was going to the countries that needed them most.

He said that lack of aid would mean the collapse of discussions on international cooperation, thus killing the dream of sustainable development, especially in the developing countries.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union and Associated States, the Minister for Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment of the Netherlands, Margaretha de Boer said the political declarations of the Assembly's special session should include a new initiative on patterns of production and consumption, where the industrialised countries had to learn to use their natural resources and energy in a sustainable way.

She said a global water initiative was required to ensure the optimal use and protection of all freshwater resources, so that the needs of everyone on the planet could be met within 10 years from now.

In addition, she called for the elaboration of a common strategy for a sustainable energy future. Such a strategy should aim to provide access to energy services for the 2 billion people worldwide currently lacking them, she said.

Speaking to the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, the Swedish delegate noted that there were gaps in existing arrangements to meet the needs of the internally displaced persons around the world.

Earlier, representatives of several national institutions for human rights described the powers and duties of their organisations as the Commission discussed advisory services and other activities to further promote fundamental rights and protections.

Officials of the national institutions of the Philippines, Indonesia and Iran spoke of procedures for enhancing human rights, fielding complaints from individuals, and carrying out training courses and educational programmes in the field.

From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

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