Statements and Speeches by Ministry Representatives 2005

UNGA 60 Third Committee

Statement in opposition to a motion of no action on draft resolution A/C.3/60/L.47 - the situation of human rights in Sudan by Rosemary Banks, Permanent Representative of New Zealand on behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, 23 November 2005

Mr Chairman, 

Canada, Australia and New Zealand oppose this motion of no action.  None of us have any doubt about the need for the General Assembly to speak out against massive violations of human rights.   

The United Nations has passed an impressive body of international human rights law.  That body of law contains norms that embody the most fundamental standards of humanity, common to all cultures and religions.  But it is a body of law that has no enforcement mechanism, except for political pressure.  It is a body of law that, when breached, contains no pressures, except for shame and embarrassment. 

If we could not sponsor resolutions condemning human rights abuses in the General Assembly, there would be no other penalties against governments who terrorise their populations.  Safe in the knowledge that no international spotlight would be swinging their way, governments would feel no need to hold back when violating human rights, and no need to prevent the abuses by those who single out other races or religions for attack.  The international community would be acting in complicity if it sat in silence despite the knowledge that massive violations of human rights were occurring. 

Constructive dialogue is indeed what we would prefer.  But constructive dialogue works for governments that are genuinely trying to improve the situation of human rights in their countries.  It does not work on regimes that are brutalising their own citizens, or on those that are standing back to allow others to do it for them.  

Those delegations that have opposed country resolutions have focused on the issue from the point of view of governments.  They have failed to look at the issue from the point of view of the victims of human rights abuses.  Would women who have been gang raped as part of systematic attacks prefer that we sit silent in this room so as not to embarrass their government?  Or would they prefer the international community to condemn those who have torn apart their lives? 

Mr Chairman, there are very serious questions raised in the draft resolution before us.  This Committee needs to deal with those questions.  My delegation will be voting against this no action motion, and we hope all others can do the same. 

 

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