Citation
UNCLASSIFfeb
ti:dir 9412417
United States Department of State
RELEASED IN FULL
Washington, D. C. 20520
May 26, 1994
DECAL:OADR
TO:
The Secretary
FROM:
DRL - John Shattuck
SUBJECT:
UN Human Rights Commission - Special Session
on Rwanda
J..
AS
IO- Douglas J. Bennet
A-ct
43
SUMMARY
1
11 7
In a major victory for U.S multilateral human rights
policy, a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Commission
adopted by consensus a resolution on the situation in Rwanda
The resolution calls for the establishment of a Special
Rapporteur; the deployment of human rights field officers; and
incorporates the U.S. view that acts of genocide may have
occurred. The outcome of the Special Session is a boost for
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights who visited Rwanda
and presented a report to the Session with his recommendations.
DISCUSSION
The UN Human Rights Commission concluded yesterday a
two-day Special Session on the human rights situation in
Rwanda. The session was called by Canada, which worked closely
with Cameroon and Nigeria to develop a consensus resolution.
With strong U.S. support, the Commission decided to establish a
Special Rapporteur, and appointed Rene Degni Segui, Dean of the
Law Faculty at the University of Abidjan, who will make
recommendations to the Commission within four weeks. He will
be assisted by field officers and by an existing network of UN
special rapporteurs responsible for monitoring torture,
disappearances, detention, the internally displaced, and
summary and arbitrary executions. His findings will be made
available, through the Secretary General, to the Security
Council.
CONFTDENTIAL
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: CHARLES L DARIS
DATE/CASE ID: 12 APR 2006 200103014
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
CONFIDENTIAL
-2-
The resolution is an important first step in establishing
the role of the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and
moves toward greater coordination of UN human rights activities
by involving the efforts of existing special rapporteurs and
human rights mechanisms, as well as field officers. It sets a
precedent by requesting the Special Rapporteur to gather
information on acts which may constitute breaches of
international humanitarian law, "including acts of genocide."
In the past, special rapporteurs have been asked only to
report on human rights violations, although recently in regard
to Bosnia and Iraq they have incidentally included material in
their reports on certain war crimes. This is thus the first
time that the UN Human Rights Commission formally has assumed
authority for investigating war crimes, an action which has
implications for future conflicts.
The UN Human Rights Commission reacted promptly and swiftly
to the Rwandan crisis. The resolution adopted by consensus is
a victory for multilateral diplomacy, the UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights, and the special rapporteur mechanisms of the
UN Human Rights Commission. It is also a solid achievement for
the United States; we worked behind the scenes to ensure that
the session was called and worked closely with the Canadians
and the Africans to obtain a constructive outcome that would
not be perceived as "made in the USA."
CONFIDENTIAI.
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