HC Deb 10 July 2001 vol 371 cc475-6W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the recorded outcome of the vote was, how his vote was cast, and which other states voted with him at the UN Commission on Human Rights in March and April on(a) statement 2001/3 submitted by Cuba on mercenaries, (b) statement 2001/16 submitted by the Czech Republic on Cuba, (c) statement 2001/26 submitted by South Africa on human rights unilateral coercive measures and (d) statement 2001/36 submitted by Cuba on popular participation and democracy. [2315]

Peter Hain

The Commission on Human Rights is one of the main forums in which international human rights standards are drawn up and monitored. We are committed to playing a major role at CHR, and ensuring that human rights violations, wherever they take place, are brought to the attention of the international community.

The UK voted against the Cuban resolution on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination (2001/3). It was adopted by 35 votes to 11 with six abstentions. Japan, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Norway and the US also voted against.

The UK voted for the Czech resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in Cuba (2001/16). It was adopted by 22 votes to 20 with 10 abstentions. Cameroon, Madagascar, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Uruguay, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the US voted with the UK.

The UK voted against the South African resolution on Human Rights and Unilateral Coercive Measures (2001/26). The resolution was adopted by 37 votes to seven with eight abstentions. (Japan, Latvia, Poland, Germany, Norway and the US also voted against).

The UK voted against the Cuban resolution on Strengthening of Popular Participation, Equity, Social Justice and Non-discrimination as Essential Foundations of Democracy (2001/36). The resolution was adopted by 28 votes to four with 21 abstentions. (Germany, Japan, and the USA also voted against).

I will send my hon. Friend a full voting record, which shows how each CHR member voted on each resolution. A copy will also be placed in the House of Commons Library.