Global plan on child labour adopted.

Adoption of a Programme of Action for the Elimination of the Exploitation of Child Labour was a highlight of the forty-ninth session of the Commission on Human Rights (1 February-12 March, G The new 39-paragraph global plan of action calls for special attention for the most vulnerable categories of children--street children and children of immigrants, refugees minorities or indigenous groups.

Formulated by the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities--a subsidiary body of the Commission--the document calls for increased bilateral and multilateral resources to address "one of the prime causes of exploitation of child labour, which is poverty".

In adopting 114 texts--98 resolutions and 16 decisions--the 53-member body continued its work towards monitoring the implementation of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other important international instruments dealing with civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

Four newly-appointed Special Rapporteurs--Alejandro Artucio Rodriguez of Uruguay, Gaspar Biro of Hungary, Rene Felber of Switzerland and Abid Hussain of India--will report on the human rights situations in Equatorial Guinea, Sudan and the occupied Arab territories, respectively, and on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. A fifth appointee--Robert Dossou of Benin--will report on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

The Commission also proposed that a Special Representative of the Secretary-General be named for Cambodia to, among other things, assist the Government in the promotion and protection of human rights.

A third UN Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination was called for, to begin in 1993. Two previous Decades had been declared--the first was launched in 1973. The Commission also recommended that the General Assembly declare a decade for human rights education.

An independent expert is to be named to assist the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia in re-establishing human rights and the rule of law in that country, including creating a democratic constitution and holding periodic and general elections by secret ballot.

The Commission expressed its views on the deteriorating Yugoslav situation and decided to send human rights monitors to Iraq.

The International Year for the World's Indigenous People, being celebrated this year, was commemorated on 17 February. Rigoberta Menchu, a member of the Quiche tribe of Guatemala who won the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize, called on the Commission and the UN to take practical measures to support the human rights and cultures of indigenous people, and to provide them greater official access to UN bodies and activities.

Work proceeded on draft declarations on indigenous rights and on the right and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Further negotiations took place on a draft optional protocol to the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, based on a Costa Rican proposal aimed at facilitating visits to places of detention to prevent torture from taking place.

The Commission also established a 15-member working group to identify obstacles to the realization of the 1986 Declaration on the Right to Development.

On 8 March--International Women's Day--the Commission condemned all acts of violence and violations of human rights directed specifically against women, including those occurring in situations of armed conflict. It decided to consider in 1994 the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on violence against women.

A potpourri of action

In a resolution on human rights and bioethics, the Commission invited Governments and international bodies to report on activities being conducted "to ensure that the life sciences develop in a manner respectful of human rights", and on the possible establishment of national consultative bodies, with a view to promoting exchanges of experience between such institutions.

States were called upon to ensure that their laws, policies and practices, introduced in the context of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), respected human rights standards and also ensure the full enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights by people with human immune deficiency virus (HIV) or AIDS, their families and those in any way associated with them, and people presumed to be at risk of infection. States were urged to include in their AIDS programmes measures to combat social stigmatization and discrimination, and take steps to develop the supportive social environment necessary for effective AIDS prevention and care.

Governments were urged to eliminate the practice of forced evictions, confer legal security of tenure to all persons currently threatened with forced eviction, and provide immediate compensation or alternative accommodation or land to persons and communities that had been forcibly evicted.

The importance of alleviating the debt and debt-service burdens of developing countries in the framework of the realization of economic, social and cultural rights was stressed. Debt payments should not take precedence over the basic rights of the people of debtor countries to food, shelter, clothing, employment, health services and a healthy environment.

Country situations

The Commission reviewed specific human rights situations in more than 20 countries and territories, and dealt with alleged violations in southern Africa and the Middle East. Action was taken on Afghanistan, Albania, Cambodia, China, Cuba, East Timor, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Western Sahara, former Yugoslavia and Zaire. Statements were issued on Latvia, Estonia, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka.

Among other things, the Commission passed a "no-action" motion, proposed by China, on a draft critical of the human rights situation in that country. Under the draft text, the Commission would have expressed concern over continuing reports of violations of human rights, and China would have been called upon to ensure the observance of human rights and improve the administration of justice. China said the text was an attempt to interfere in its internal affairs. There was no excuse for Western countries to accuse China on human rights.

Cuba was called upon to permit the Special Rapporteur to carry out his mandate in full, in particular by allowing him to visit Cuba. Particular concern was expressed over Cuba's "mounting intolerance" for freedom of speech and assembly. Cuba said the Commission had grossly distorted principles for examining human rights, based on the United States' attitude towards Cuba.

The Commission urged the Government of Georgia and the authorities in Abkhazia to intensify efforts to ensure that the human rights of all inhabitants of Georgia were fully respected. The Government was encouraged to continue the democratization process and to guarantee and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights.

The Commission expressed deep concern at continuing reports of human rights violations in Iran, including increased use of the death penalty. Iran should comply with international human rights instruments. Iran said its cooperation with the Commission had reached the highest stage, adding that Western sponsors of the text had been incited by what they believed to be an increase in the number of executions.

The Commission strongly condemned massive violations of human rights by Iraq, which should release immediately all persons arbitrarily arrested and detained. It urged an independent commission of inquiry to look into the fate of disappeared persons. Special alarm was expressed at the repressive policies and practices directed against Kurds, the Shia communities and the civilian population in southern Iraq. Iraq should remove existing embargoes and help provide relief to those in need throughout Iraq.

Iraq said the text was a political document aimed at dividing the country into small provinces based on religion, and its basic character was one of colonialism. The real crime was the blockade imposed on all Iraqis by the West, a blockade denying Iraqis the very right to life.

The Commission deplored the continued seriousness of the human rights situation in Myanmar, particularly that some political leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, remained deprived of their liberty. Myanmar said the text was one-sided and failed to meet the standards of impartiality and non-selectivity subscribed to by the Commission.

The Commission expressed deep concern at the serious human rights violations in the Sudan and the Government was urged to respect human rights fully. The Special Rapporteur was asked to establish direct contact with the Government and the Sudanese people and report to the Commission in 1994 on the human rights situation. Sudan said the decision to adjourn debate under the confidential review procedure had greatly harmed Sudan and could reflect negatively on the peace process already under way.

The Commission deplored the serious obstacles standing in the way of the democratic transition in Togo and encouraged full respect for human rights. It deplored the use of violence by the armed forces against peaceful demonstrators.

The Commission condemned in the strongest terms all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the former Yugoslavia by al sides to the conflict. It recognized that the primary responsibility those violations was borne by the leadership in the territory under the control of Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, the commanders of Serb paramilitary forces, and political and military leaders in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). Attacks on the UN Protection Force, resulting in casualties and deaths of UN personnel, were condemned.

The Security Council was invited to consider establishing a UN observer mission to investigate and report on alleged human rights violations in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina. Concern was expressed at the Special Rapporteur's report on the human rights situation in Croatia, with respect to cases of minorities who had been refused citizenship and to instances of strict control by the Government over radio and television.

The Commission strongly condemned the abhorrent practice of rape and abuse of women and children in the former Yugoslavia, which constituted a war crime. UN Member States were urged to take action to bring about an end to that despicable practice and exert every effort to bring to justice all those individuals directly or indirectly involved.

The Commission deplored the continuing serious violations of human rights in Zaire, particularly the practice of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary detention and incommunicado detention.

The representative of the Zairean transitional Government congratulated the Commission for the text, which took off the cloak of secrecy and would advance the cause of human rights. Citizens were living under a dictatorial Government and the situation had been made much worse by pillaging and looting and economic collapse. A country once rich had been reduced to being an international beggar. Democratization must be allowed to take place; pressure must be applied until a favourable solution was found.

Other action

In other action, the Commission:

* Decided that Judith Sefi Attah will report annually on the transition to democracy in South Africa.

* Welcomed the creation of an international mechanism to promote cooperation with respect to the status of persons with disabilities, and encouraged implementation of standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for disabled persons.

* Invited States to introduce into their rules and practices regarding human rights and forensic science the international standards set forth in the Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, as well as the model autopsy protocol set forth in the Manual on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal Arbitrary and Summary Executions; and

* Invited Governments to take measures to prevent illegal international traffic in toxic and dangerous products, and urged support for African and other developing countries in implementing existing instruments governing the transboundary movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes.

Children: Their Rights

The new Programme of Action states that child labour is exploited worldwide and poverty is often the main culprit. Action should first be directed against the most dangerous form of child labour and work by children under 10 years of age, with a view to the total elimination of child labour. High priority should be given to eliminate the "most odious or degrading" forms of child exploitation, such as prostitution, the sale of children, enforced begging and debt bondage, it states.

Specifically, the Programme suggests:

* Information campaigns to raise awareness of the problem, targeting public sectors using child labour, such as agriculture and domestic service, as well as children themselves to inform them of their rights;

* Education, as "one of the most effective measures to prevent child labour", and literacy programmes;

* National legislation to prohibit dangerous or high-risk employment, and to prescribe penalties for offending employers, which should concentrate on cases of "flagrant crime", such as the sale of children, child prostitution and under-age maidservants in a position of servitude;

* Ratification of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 1973 Minimum Age Convention of the International Labour Organisation;

* Availability of a sufficient number of work inspectors to deal with exploitation of child labour; and

* Creation of an international child welfare fund. In other texts on children, the Commission:

* Urged States parties to take immediate steps to ensure strict compliance with their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child;

* Called on Governments to investigate and punish all offences against street children, stating its deep concern over the "growing number of street children worldwide and the squalid conditions in which these children are forced to live";

* Urged an effective multidisciplinary approach to the problems of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The business sector should adopt a code of conduct for child protection with a view to preventing those problems: and

* Expressed deep concern and indignation at the serious consequences of armed conflicts on children, who were often among the main victims of the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel mines.