unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (09/04/89)
HUMAN RIGHTS SUB-COMMISSION CONCLUDES DISCUSSION
ON NEW ECONOMIC ORDER AND HUMAN RIGHTS
(Received from the UN Information Service.)
GENEVA, 25 August -- This morning, the Sub-Commission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities concluded its debate on the
question of a new international economic order and the promotion of human
rights: The role and equal participation of women in development.
Taking the floor in the debate were the observers for the World
University Service, Habitat International Coalition, International Movement
for Fraternal Union among Races and Peoples, British Romanni Union as well as
observers for Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, German Democratic Republic, Brazil,
and an expert from Yugoslavia.
The Sub-Commission then turned to the question of communications
concerning human rights: report of the Working Group established under
Sub-Commission resolution 2 (XXIV) in accordance with Economic and Social
Council resolution 1503 (XLVIII) (item 8), which it considers in private.
It will resume its public meetings upon consideration of agenda item 8,
on Monday 28 August.
Discussion
FERNANDO LAKSIRI, representing the World University Service, said that
education was crucial to the realization of human rights in general and
economic, social and cultural rights in particular. Article 13 of the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which dealt
with the right to education, was too general in nature and limited in scope.
Academic freedom was not a privilege of a small elite, he said. It was a
human right that had special relevance in relation to the right to education.
It was a concept that combined the right to education with freedom of opinion
and expression. The setting of further standards in the area of education
would require close co-operation between the Sub-Commission and UNESCO, in
order to ensure an adequate human rights approach to the questions of academic
freedom and education.
SCOTT LECKIE, speaking for the Habitat International Coalition, stated
that his organization felt strongly that many issues affecting the realization
of housing rights had been overlooked by the human rights organs of the United
Nations and other regional organizations. Many of these issues, acts and
omissions arguably constituted infringements on the right to adequate
housing. He said, a few themes, which contributed to housing rights, remained
unfulfilled, including the phenomenon of mass and forced evictions.
C.M. EYA-NCHAMA, representing the International Movement for Fraternal
Union among Races and Peoples, referred to the possibility of a United Nations
approach to economic, social and cultural rights discussed in the report, and
said that it was important to deal with the right of self-determination in
this context.
Two aspects of self-determination remained to be studied: free internal
determination and free personal determination. In this respect, he alluded to
the problems imposed by neo-colonialism. Referring to international financial
institutions, he said they had done the most to divide human rights and
fundamental freedoms. Less than five years ago, at meetings of those
institutions, it was not allowed to bring up situations involving human rights
violations. He said this resulted in human rights violators being able to
fill their pockets without taking care of the needs of their country. It was
important, he said, that human rights bodies work in close co-operation with
financial institutions. He stressed the need for economic development as a
prerequisite for the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights.
TOM ODLEY, speaking for the British Romanni Union, expressed profound
concern at the lack of attention given to the conditions of a million and a
half of Gypsies whom he represented. Genocide continued against his people,
he said, although in a more sophisticated form. There was hypocrisy in the
implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with regard to
Gypsies. It was not the fault of the Sub-Commission, many States bore guilt
for years of persecutions to which Gypsies had been subjected. In effect,
they had lived in a condition of slavery. They had never been regarded as
equal human beings, and their contribution to world civilization was
disregarded. Even now, he said, more than four decades after the creation of
the United Nations, the Gypsies were often considered, not as human beings,
but as scapegoats. He urged the Sub-Commission to show interest in the fate
of the Gypsy people whose only wish was to exercise the right to life in
conditions of freedom, together with other peoples.
CESAR MAYORAL (Argentina) said that a democratically elected Government
had just come into power in Argentina. The same process was taking place in
other Latin American countries, demonstrating that they had overcome military
dictatorship. These countries should now affirm their democratic position by
achieving economic and social development. This would enable the realization
of economic, social and cultural rights. His delegation fully agreed with the
report saying that all categories of human rights were of equal importance.
He said the right to development was part of new international law and should
be respected as such. In Argentina, large numbers of people were living in
dire social and economic conditions.
The international community knew best the economic solutions to the
problems being faced by countries scourged by foreign debt burdens. The
financial institutions' conditions were too rigid, he said, and did not take
the humanitarian side into consideration.
ADOLFO TAYLHARDAT (Venezuela) commenting on the methodology suggested by
the Special Rapporteur, noted that his plan was logical and its basic starting
point, based on the indivisibility of human rights, was correct. The Special
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