E/2003/23
E/CN.4/2003/135

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

REPORT ON THE FIFTY-NINTH SESSION

(17 March-24 April 2003)

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

OFFICIAL RECORDS, 2003

SUPPLEMENT No. 3

UNITED NATIONS

Human rights and sexual orientation

575. At the 61st meeting, the representative of Brazil introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/2003/L.92, sponsored by Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Croatia, Cyprus, New Zealand, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, and Switzerland subsequently joined the sponsors.

576. Under rule 65, paragraph 2, of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council, the representative of Pakistan moved that the Commission take no decision on the draft resolution.

577. Statements in connection with that motion were made by the representatives of Canada and Ireland (on behalf of the European Union and acceding and associated countries).

578. At the request of the representative of Brazil, a recorded vote was taken on the motion, which was defeated by 24 votes to 22, with 6 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, India, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Against: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Abstaining: Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Russian Federation, South Africa, Thailand.

579. At the same meeting, a procedural debate took place in connection with which statements were made by the representatives of Algeria, Bahrain, Brazil, Guatemala, Ireland, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Sierra Leone.

580. As a result of the discussion, a recorded vote was taken on a motion by the Chairperson to adjourn the debate, in accordance with rule 49 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council, which was carried by 26 votes to 21, with 6 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, India, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Against: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, France, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Japan, Paraguay, Poland, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Viet Nam.

581. At the 63rd meeting, a debate on a procedural issue in relation to draft resolution E/CN.4/2003/L.92 took place, in connection with which statements were made by the representatives of Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Malaysia, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

582. At the same meeting, the Chairperson made a proposal to postpone consideration of the draft resolution and the amendments thereto (E/CN.4/2003/L.106-110) to the sixtieth session of the Commission.

583. Also at the same meeting, the representative of Canada proposed to request the Economic and Social Council to authorize a resumed session of the Commission for a maximum of two days in order for the Commission to complete its agenda.

584. The proposal by the Chairperson was adopted by 24 votes to 17, with 10 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, India, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.

Against: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Abstaining: Armenia, Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ireland, Paraguay, Peru, Russian Federation, South Africa, United States of America.