unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (09/12/89)
HUMAN RIGHTS SUB-COMMISSION ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS ON PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS AND SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA GENEVA, 31 August -- The Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, today adopted two resolutions relating to the protection of journalists and the situation in South Africa. Also today, an extended debate on procedural matters was held on a proposal made by Louis Joinet, expert from France. By a roll-call vote of 14 in favour to 6 against, with 3 abstentions, the Sub-Commission then proceeded to a roll-call vote by which it decided to vote by secret ballot on questions falling under item 6 of the agenda: question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including policies of racial discrimination and segregation and of apartheid, in all countries, with particular reference to colonial and other dependent countries and territories The resolution was adopted by a roll-call vote with 14 in favour to 6 against, with 3 abstentions. In favour: Mrs. Bautista, Mr. Van Boven, Mrs. Daes, Mr. Despouy, Mr. Eide, Mr. Hatano, Mr. Joinet, Ms. Palley, Mr. Monroy, Mr. Zamudio, Mr. Treat, Mr. Turk, Mr. Varela and Mrs. Warzazi. Against: Mr. Martinez, Mr. Bhandare, Mr. Chernichenko, Mr. Diaconu, Mr. Ilkahanaf and Mr. Tian Jin. Abstentions: Mr. Assouma, Mr. Sadi and Mrs. Mbonu. Action on Resolutions Under a resolution on protection of journalists, the Sub-Commission called upon journalists and other mass media personnel to carry out their mission to expose gross human rights violations; it requested all Governments to provide journalists and mass media personnel with maximum protection of their human rights and support in their endeavours to reveal gross human rights violations. It requested Mr. Sadi to prepare, without financial implications, for the use of the Sub-Commission at its forty-second session a report on the feasibility study of ways and means to extend additional protection and assistance to journalists and mass media personnel while they carried out their duties with objectivity and fairness. The resolution was adopted by secret ballot, as follows: 15 in favour, 6 against, with 2 abstentions. In a resolution on the situation in South Africa (L.26), adopted without a vote, the Sub-Commission reaffirmed that apartheid was a crime against humanity and demanded once again the immediate lifting of the state of emergency, immediate cessation of all acts of brutality by the South African army and security forces and the immediate release of all political prisoners; it urged the Government of South Africa to lift promptly the ban of anti-apartheid organizations; and reaffirmed the right to all persons to refuse service in military or police forces which are used to enforce apartheid. The resolution called upon the international community to assist the front-line States to safeguard their independence and territorial integrity against the aggression and destabilization carried out by the Government of South Africa, and urged all States to provide, both individually and collectively, moral and material assistance to the oppressed people of South Africa and Namibia. The Sub-Commission called upon the international community to continue its efforts towards total economic, cultural and political isolation of the apartheid regime of South Africa until that country abandoned its policy of apartheid. It called for immediate and complete disinvestment by foreign companies in a manner that all their links with the South African apartheid economy were cut off, including, inter alia, licensing and management contracts. * Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501) --- Patt Haring | UNITEX : United Nations patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange -=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-