An international round table, with the participation of the organs of the United Nations (UN) and state institutions and civil societies, should focus on identify “the difficulties posed”Eradicate the heritage of colonialism in human rights.
The High Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, will have to report the debate to the Human Rights Council, to take action.
By 27 votes in favor, 20 abstentions and none against, the aforementioned Council has just decided in Geneva resume deliberations on “the negative consequences of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights”. The 9 countries, representative of the 27 in the European Union, abstained. The United States did not participate in the vote, having resigned its seat in 2018, but the microstate of the Marshall Islands, which generally votes aligned with Washington, also abstained.
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They stood out in the presentation of the resolution, China, Cuba, Russia and Venezuela. The United Kingdom, which is known to have left the European Union, joined in the abstentions, despite the fact that its two amendments to the original text were accepted. In turn, China radicalized its arguments with another amendment, also accepted. The 8 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean that are part of the 47 member states of the aforementioned Council, unanimously supported the final project, despite the differences that they usually face on other issues (Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela).
The approved document regrets that “measures to eliminate colonialism by 2020 … have not had any effect”, Recalling the call made in 2019 by the United Nations General Assembly, its parliament, which brings together all 193 member states. However, with a comfortable majority of 27 votes out of 47, the signatories now contribute a particular and different approach to that of the UN Committee that monitors the Application of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, dedicated exclusively to “Issues relating to decolonization”, From the 60s of the century before the date.
Indeed, the novelty inherent in the brand-new initiative reinforces “the primary importance of eradicating colonialism”, provided that it is accompanied by “concern” for its consequences in all its manifestations, “such as the economic exploitation, inequalities within and between states, systemic racism, violations of the rights of indigenous peoples, contemporary forms of slavery and damage to cultural heritage ”, which have harmful effects on“ all human rights ”.
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“Colonialism has led to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”
China went even further and convinced those who were willing to sign the resolution to incorporate the complementary reflection “that colonialism has led to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and Afro-descendants, Asians and indigenous peoples were victims of colonialism and continue to be victims of its consequences ”.
China also reached consensus among the drafters of the resolution to clarify the “deep concern over the violations of human rights of indigenous peoples committed in colonial contexts.” It added “the need for States to adopt all necessary measures to protect the rights and guarantee the safety of indigenous peoples, especially indigenous women and children, restore truth and justice, and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
The United Kingdom, in alleged and implicit allusion to the complaints about the situations in Xinjiang and Tibet, linked to China, He proposed two paragraphs, which were inserted in the final wording.
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The first “reaffirms the persecution against members of any identifiable group, collective or community for racial, national, ethnic or other reasons that are universally recognized as inadmissible under international law, as well as the crime of apartheid, constitute serious violations of human rights and, in some cases, are considered crimes against humanity ”.
The second paragraph incorporated into the proclamation of the will of the United Kingdom “urges states to refrain from forced assimilation of persons belonging to minorities, including indigenous populations, to work to ensure that curricula and other educational materials do not stereotype minorities and indigenous populations on the basis of their ethnic origin ”.
With the approval of the 46 remaining states of the UN Human Rights Council to incorporate their two amendments into the original document, the United Kingdom abstained from voting positively when the time came to do so.
From Geneva for PROFILE
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