| A United Nations committee has approved resolutions | | | | machinery. |
| criticizing human rights conditions in Iran and | | | | "It was revealing that countries that spoke in favor |
| Burma.The measures were similar to one passed | | | | of Iran, like Zimbabwe and Venezuela and Cuba, |
| earlier against North Korea. | | | | Sudan, other major human rights violators, but we're |
| The General Assembly committee dealing with human | | | | gratified with the results and we hope the Iranian |
| rights issues approved two measures Friday. One, a | | | | people get the message that the international |
| Canadian-sponsored resolution expressing concern | | | | community is with them and support free expression |
| about rights abuses in Iran, was adopted by a | | | | and the observance of their human rights," she said. |
| narrow margin. | | | | An Iranian delegate called the measure "politically |
| Seventy-seven of the 191 U.N. member states voted | | | | motivated" and out of touch with reality. |
| in favor, 51 against, and 46 abstained. | | | | The committee later adopted a similar measure |
| The outcome had been in doubt until the end. Several | | | | censuring Burma for systematic human rights |
| countries opposed to the measure argued that | | | | violations. That resolution also criticized the continued |
| singling out Iran for censure was evidence of a | | | | detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. |
| double standard on human rights, and would stiffen | | | | The measure was approved by consensus after a |
| Tehran's resolve to resist international pressure. | | | | Cuban motion to prevent a vote was defeated by a |
| Canadian Ambassador Allan Rock said he worked | | | | 77 to 54 margin, with 35 abstentions. |
| hard to overcome those objections, pointing to Iran's | | | | A day earlier, the U.N. committee also criticized what |
| use of torture and the execution of children. | | | | was described as the "precarious human rights |
| "We appealed to countries that in the government of | | | | situation" in North Korea. That resolution received 82 |
| Iran, we have an actor that is complicit in the human | | | | votes from the 191 member states. Twenty-two |
| rights abuses and if only for the sake of the | | | | countries voted no and 62 abstained. |
| courageous people in Iran who are working against | | | | The resolutions are non-binding and have no legal |
| that government, we should encourage those people | | | | force. They are likely to come before the full general |
| and reward their courage by expressing our | | | | assembly as early as next month, where committee |
| condemnation," he said. | | | | actions are routinely approved. |
| Washington's deputy U.N. Ambassador Anne | | | | The committee is scheduled to take up the records |
| Patterson called the narrow margin of approval "too | | | | of three other countries, Sudan, Turkmenistan and |
| close for comfort". She said the vote makes clear | | | | Uzbekistan, next week. |
| the need for urgent reform of the U.N. human rights | | | | |