Nigeria, Russia, China, others vote against UN resolution to protect human rights defenders
UN General Assembly on Wednesday, November 25, adopted a resolution
which seeks to protect those who face risks and attacks for their work
to defend and promote human rights.
The
resolution includes a number of new, important and substantive
provisions, including as to the vital role of advocacy and the work of
human rights defenders in contributing to sustainable
development and
the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights, and as to the
responsibilities of business enterprises with respect to engaging,
consulting and protecting defenders.
Russia, China, Nigeria, Kenya,Myanmar and South Africa were among countries that voted against the resolution. Nigeria
said that they saw 'no need' for the resolution, effectively denying
the importance of independent civil society and dissent to democracy and
development. China
explained that it had ‘no choice’ but to vote against it as 'certain
western countries' use the protection of defenders as an excuse to
'interfere in the internal affairs of developing countries and disrupt
their social stability'.
While congratulating the 144 countries that stood with human rights
defenders, International Service for Human Rights, Programme Manager and
Legal Counsel. Madeleine Sinclair said they are disappointed with the
14 countries that voted against the resolution and those who declined.
"We
are extremely disappointed that 14 countries voted against
the text and that a further 40 States took the cowardly position of
abstaining. We agree with the Norwegian sponsors of the
text who stated that both votes against the resolution and abstentions
amount to a failure to recognise the important role of defenders and the
need for their protection."
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