Statement delivered by Lara Nassau, First Secretary, Australian Mission to the UN in opposition to the no action motion on the resoluion on the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran to the General Assembly Plenary.
18 December 2008
(As delivered)
I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of Andorra, Argentina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Palau, the Republic of Korea, San Marino, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and my own country, Australia.
Our delegations are intent on ensuring that United Nations’ bodies continue to be fora for addressing serious human rights situations, wherever they occur, and we are strongly opposed to the stifling of debate on these issues. No matter their subject matter, all such resolutions should be reviewed and actioned on their merits.
A no action motion on this resolution was already presented in Third Committee and failed. The resolution was then adopted by the Committee and recommended to the General Assembly for adoption. The introduction of yet another no action motion only acts to undermine the credibility and jurisdiction of the Third Committee and of the General Assembly.
For these reasons we oppose the use of no action motions. We call on all others to join us and vote “no” on this no action motion.