§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resolutions on mercenaries were put before the 57th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in 2001; which were adopted; and what position the EU delegation took on each. [980]
§ Peter HainThe 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR) adopted a resolution proposed by Cuba on "The use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination" by 35 votes to 11, with six abstentions. The UK, with Belgium and Germany, voted against the resolution. The other Eli members of the CHR, (Spain, France, Italy and Portugal) abstained. While fully recognising the numerous dangers caused by mercenary activity, the UK does not believe that the CHR is the appropriate forum to address the issue. This was the only resolution on mercenaries tabled at the CHR.