A United Nations (UN) has adopted a resolution renewing the global commitment to the principle of self-determination for peoples still subjected to colonial, foreign and alien occupation, with Pakistan underlining that the UN places that right at the heart of its purposes and principles.
The resolution, which Pakistan has been sponsoring since 1981, serves to focus the world’s attention on the peoples still struggling for their inalienable right to self-determination, including those in Palestine and Kashmir.
The text is expected to come up for General Assembly’s endorsement next month.
The resolution, submitted by Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, was adopted without a vote in the General Assembly’s Third Committee, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural issues.
Introducing the resolution, Ambassador Asim Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, said that there were people still living under foreign occupation who are still denied this fundamental freedom. “Their legitimate aspirations are often met with excessive use of force, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, communication blockades, and attempts at demographic engineering, including illegal settlements.”
The right of self-determination, as a fundamental principle enshrined in the UN Charter, has been codified in many international documents, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Social and Cultural Rights, the Pakistani envoy said.
The resolution urges the Human Rights Council to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation. It also requests the Secretary-General to report to the next Session of the General Assembly on this question.
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