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Introductory Statement by Mr. Farukh Amil, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan regarding the Third Committee Resolution "Universal Realization of the Rights of the Peoples to Self-determination", November 09, 2007
Mr. Chairman,
The Pakistan delegation has the privilege, on behalf of the co-sponsors, to introduce the draft resolution “Universal Realization of the Right of Peoples to Self-determination” contained in document A/C.3/62/L56.
The right of self-determination, contained in Article 1 of the UN Charter, is a cardinal principle on which the whole system of international relations is based. It is the most basic collective right of peoples and nations and is the indispensable foundation of all individual human rights.
The realization of the right to self-determination is an essential condition to guarantee the observance and promotion and protection of individual human rights. The right of self-determination, therefore, is included as Article 1 of the two Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The 1993 World Conference on Human rights in Vienna, the 1994 Social Summit in Copenhagen, the Millennium Summit 2000 and the UN World Summit 2005 have all affirmed the right of peoples to self-determination in situations of foreign occupation and alien domination.
The international law accords centrality to the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination. It signifies that the realization of this right is a sine qua non for the enjoyment of all other rights, civil, political and economic, social and cultural rights.
The exercise of this right has enabled millions of peoples suppressed and disenfranchised by racist regimes to achieve equality before law, in society, and state politics. The realization of the right to self-determination helped millions of people across the world in seeking liberation from colonialism, apartheid, foreign occupation and alien domination.
Mr. Chairman
The draft resolution L 56 is similar to the one adopted by consensus during the 61st session. In its operative paragraph 1, the resolutions reaffirms that the universal realization of the right of all peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to self-determination is a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights and for the preservation and promotion of such rights.
Due to the universal character of this right and its continued and wide applicability to numerous situations in the world, the resolution on universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination has traditionally been a consensus resolution. We hope that this year too, we would reaffirm our position to the principle to self-determination by adopting this resolution by consensus.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.