NEW YORK: Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Munir Akram introduced a draft resolution on the “Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination” in the committee of UN General Assembly.
Speaking on the occasion, he expressed the hope that due to universal character of this right and its continued applicability in situations of foreign occupation and intervention, the third committee and the General Assembly will reaffirm the global commitment to the principle of self-determination by adopting the resolution by consensus.
Ambassador Munir Akram said, “I have the privilege to introduce, on behalf of my delegation and the co-sponsors, the draft resolution entitled Universal Realization of the Right of Peoples to Self Determination.”
He said one the primary ‘Purposes and Principles’ of the UN Charter is ‘to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of people.
The right to self-determination of peoples provides a formidable foundation on which the edifice of human rights and fundamental freedoms is built for all.
Over the years, the peremptory norm of the right to self-determination has been codified in various human rights conventions, declarations and resolutions, including the Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The scope, modalities and conduct of the right to Self-Determination has been also elaborated by the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, judgments of International Court of Justice and numerous prominent jurists.
“Almost all former colonies and subjugated peoples, who are represented in this August Committee today as sovereign nations, secured their independence by exercising their right to self-determination.”
There are, however, situations where occupied peoples are still systematically denied this right and are obliged to continue their valiant struggle for its realization.
He said means and methods by which occupying powers continue to suppress the legitimate struggles for self-determination are brutal and oppressive, including use of naked military force, egregious human rights violations, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Comments are closed.