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U.N. Fails to Censure Sudan's Slavery NewsMax.com WiresGENEVA, Switzerland (UPI) - The United Nations' top human rights body adopted a resolution Friday citing Sudan for violations of human rights, but the United States criticized the text for its failure to censure Sudan for slavery and attacks on religious freedom. The resolution, sponsored by the European Union and resulting from negotiations with Sudan, was misleading and failed to accurately draw attention to the Sudanese government's "deplorable policies and overall poor human rights record," the United States said. As a result, the United States broke ranks and insisted on a vote rather than go along with the text being adopted by consensus. The resolution passed by 28 in favor, zero against, and 25 abstentions, which included the United States. "Specifically, the resolution fails to condemn the continued practice of slavery in Sudan. Slavery occurs in areas under government control and is practiced by militias allied to the government," U.S. Ambassador George Moose Jr. told delegates to the 53-member country body. Moose also said the resolution did not adequately reflect the severity of violations of religious freedom and the Sudanese government's regular denial of relief flight access to southern Sudan. U.S. officials told United Press International that bombing of Christian religious sites and forced conversions to Islam were not adequately reflected in the draft. "Freedom from religious persecution is a universal right. The denial of religious freedom is also one of the causes of the tragic war in Sudan," Moose said. The ambassador of Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, claimed that the move by the United States to call for a vote was "a clear politicization and misuse of the commission for obvious foreign policy purposes that have nothing to do with genuine human right concerns." In other business, the commission adopted a resolution by 22 to 12, with 19 abstentions, on the grave situation in Chechnya and expressed its concern over continued reports of widespread abuses, in particular forced disappearances, extrajudicial and summary executions by Russian state agents. The resolution initialed by the EU, and co-sponsored by the United States also condemned abuses and terrorist acts committed against civilians by Chechen fighters. Moreover, the commission adopted resolutions critical of human rights violations in Iran by 21 to 17 with 15 abstentions, and in Rwanda by 30 to 22 with 1 abstention. It also adopted resolutions, without a vote, condemning continuing gross abuses, including massacres and atrocities, in the Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone. See more articles on the atrocities in Sudan. Copyright 2001 by United Press International. All rights reserved.
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