A/62/PV.116 General Assembly
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United Nations A/62/PV.116 General Assembly Official Records Sixty-second session 116 th plenary meeting Monday, 28 July 2008, 10 a.m. New York President : Mr. Kerim .............................. (The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) In the absence of the President, Mr. Soborun “In the 2005 World Summit Outcome, our (Mauritius), Vice-President, took the Chair. leaders emphasized that ‘sports can foster peace and development’, and encouraged the General The meeting was called to order at 10.20 a.m. Assembly to foster a dialogue and agreed proposals for a plan of action on sport and Agenda item 45 ( continued ) development. Sport for peace and development “On 3 November 2005, the General Assembly held a plenary debate on the agenda (b) Building a peaceful and better world through item ‘Sport for peace and development’, and also sport and the Olympic ideal adopted, with universal support, resolution 60/8, Solemn appeal made by the President of the entitled ‘Building a peaceful and better world General Assembly on 28 July 2008 in through sport and the Olympic Ideal’, deciding to connection with the observance of the Olympic consider this item every two years in advance of Truce (A/62/912) each Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The Acting President : On behalf of the President “To this end, on 31 October 2007, the of the General Assembly, I will now read out the General Assembly adopted resolution 62/4. In solemn appeal contained in document A/62/912: that resolution, the Assembly urged Member States to observe, within the framework of the “The ancient Greek tradition of the ekecheiria , or Charter of the United Nations, the Olympic ‘Olympic Truce’, born in the eighth century B.C., Truce, individually and collectively, during the serves as a hallowed principle of the Olympic Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, from 8 Games. In 1992, the International Olympic Committee renewed this tradition by calling upon to 24 August 2008, and the Paralympic Games, all nations to observe the Truce. from 6 to 17 September 2008, the vision of which is based on the slogan ‘One world, one dream’. “Through its resolution 48/11 of 25 October 1993, the General Assembly urged Member States “The Olympic movement aspires to to observe the Olympic Truce from the seventh contribute to a peaceful future for all humankind day before the opening to the seventh day through the educational value of sport. The following the closing of each Olympic Games. Games will bring together athletes from all parts This appeal was renewed in the Millennium of the world in the greatest of international sports Declaration. events as a means to promote peace, mutual understanding and goodwill among nations and This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of speeches delivered in the other languages. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room C-154A. Corrections will be issued after the end of the session in a consolidated corrigendum. 08-44049 (E) *0844049* A/62/PV.116 peoples — goals that are also part of the founding Ms. Navanethem Pillay of South Africa as United values of the United Nations. Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for a term of office of four years beginning on 1 September “As an expression of these common 2008 and expiring on 31 August 2012. objectives, in 1998 the International Olympic Committee decided to fly the United Nations flag May I take it that it is the wish of the General at all competition sites of the Olympic Games. Assembly to approve the proposal of the Secretary- The United Nations system and the International General to appoint Ms. Navanethem Pillay of South Olympic Committee have subsequently Africa as United Nations High Commissioner for strengthened their mutual cooperation and Human Rights for a term of office of four years support through joint endeavours in fields such as beginning on 1 September 2008 and expiring on poverty alleviation, human and economic 31 August 2012? development, humanitarian assistance, education, It is so decided . health promotion and HIV/AIDS prevention, gender equality and environmental protection. The Acting President : I call now on the representative of France, who will speak on behalf of “As President of the General Assembly at the Group of Western European and other States. its sixty-second session, I solemnly appeal to all Member States to demonstrate their commitment Mr. Lacroix (France) ( spoke in French ): I have to the Olympic Truce for the 2008 Beijing the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of Western Olympic Games, and to undertake concrete European and other States. actions at the local, national, regional and world The Group of Western European and other States levels to promote and strengthen a culture of welcomes the appointment by the Secretary-General of peace and harmony based on the spirit of the Ms. Navanethem Pillay to the post of United Nations Truce.” High Commissioner for Human Rights. We welcome May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to the fact that this high responsibility is being entrusted take note of the solemn appeal in connection with the to a woman from a country of the South and, in observance of the Olympic Truce? particular, from Africa. In this year, when we celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of It was so decided . Human Rights, it is vital to reaffirm the universality The Acting President : May I take it that it is the and the indivisibility of human rights in all their wish of the General Assembly to conclude its aspects. consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 45 and of We are confident that Ms. Navanethem Pillay, agenda item 45 as a whole? who has especially distinguished herself in combating It was so decided . impunity in the past as President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and now as a judge of Agenda item 114 ( continued ) the International Criminal Court, will be particularly attentive to the need for universality, which is at the Appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs heart of her mandate. In that vital mission, the new and other appointments High Commissioner can count on the full support of (i) Approval of the appointment of the United the Group of Western European and other States. Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights The Group of Western European and other States Note by the Secretary-General (A/62/913) would also like to pay hearty tribute to the work done by Ms. Louise Arbour at the head of the Office of the The Acting President : By its resolution 48/141 United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. of 20 December 1993, the General Assembly decided With a great sense of dialogue and exceptional to create the post of the United Nations High determination, Ms. Arbour was able throughout her Commissioner for Human Rights. The Secretary- tenure to develop a relationship of trust with the new General proposes, in the light of the provisions of Human Rights Council. We welcome her unflagging resolution 48/141 set out in his note, to appoint commitment and convey to her our gratitude. 2 08-44049 A/62/PV.116 The Acting President : I call next on the contributions to the struggle to end the apartheid representative of Ethiopia, who will speak on behalf of regime, her achievements as a successful lawyer of the Group of African States. human rights and as the first female attorney in her province, and her work at the International Criminal Mr. Botora (Ethiopia): It is my distinct honour Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal and pleasure to speak on behalf of the African Group of Court bear witness to that. We believe that her States in this special meeting of the General Assembly appointment will afford her another great opportunity convened to consider, among other things, the approval to bring the weight of her experience to bear on the of the appointment of a distinguished African efforts being employed by the international community daughter — Judge Navanethem Pillay — to one of the to bring about a world of peace, justice and equality. high posts of the United Nations — High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is indeed an Today, we witness with agony the many human important appointment, which recognizes the rights violations that gravely affect the fabric of significant role played by Judge Pillay in the international society. Despite the fact that we have international legal and human rights arena. The succeeded in putting in place institutions and appointment is also a concrete expression of the fact mechanisms to defend and promote human rights, at that Africa has continued to become, more than ever both the international and the national levels, human before, a decisive force in international affairs. In that beings throughout the world, to varying degrees, have regard, I wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to continued to suffer from violations of their dignity, the Secretary-General for his recognition of Judge basic rights and freedoms. In view of that grave peril, Pillay’s important work in upholding the principles of the world community should take concrete measures to the rule of law and in the defence of human rights and, guarantee the full protection, respect and enjoyment of through her, the importance of Africa’s contribution to human rights and freedoms for all. This is the time to the protection, respect and promotion of human rights renew our commitment and to redouble our efforts on and fundamental freedoms.