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ENB:14:19 [Next] . [Previous] . [Contents]

MAIN COMMITTEE

The Main Committee, chaired by Patricia Licuanan (Philippines), met through the night to consider agreements reached by the working groups and hear reservations.

Working Group I Chair Amma Yeboaa (Ghana) introduced Chapter I (Mission Statement), as contained in Non-Paper 1. The G77/China proposed a new sentence and Latvia requested a review of resource issues. The Chair ruled that changes could not be accepted for agreed text, but adoption was postponed.

Chair Amma Yeboaa presented Non-Paper 2 on Chapter II (Global Framework). The text was adopted. The Chair also presented Non-Paper 3 on Chapter III (Critical Areas of Concern), which was adopted.

Working Group II Chair, Irene Freudenschuss, reported on the cleared paragraphs in Non-Paper 6, Section B (education). The Russian Federation issued an interpretation on 85 (b) (mutual respect and equality). The document was recommended for adoption.

Chair Amma Yeboaa presented Non-Paper 7, Section C (health), and noted corrections to the text. Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Bahrain, Japan and Iran stated their intention to submit interpretive notes. Many countries reserved the right to reserve, depending on the fate of a footnote referencing implementation with respect for cultural and religious values. The following delegations reserved the right to reserve: Venezuela; Malta; Mauritania; Libya; Ecuador; Sudan; Morocco; Yemen; Iran; UAE; Kuwait; Syria; Tunisia; Bangladesh; and Indonesia. Oman reserved on 97 and 107k. Kuwait reserved on 95, 96, 97 and 107k. The Chair declared the paper adopted.

Chair Freudenschuss introduced the cleared paragraphs in Sections D (violence), I (human rights) F (economic structures), and K (environment) as contained in Non-Papers 8, 13 (plus corrections), 10 (plus corrections), and 15, respectively. All were adopted as corrected.

The Committee then considered approved text in Section L (girl child) in Non-Paper 16 from Working Group I. A number of Islamic States, including Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Iran, expressed difficulties in accepting 274(d) (inheritance rights).

The Committee then considered and adopted corrections to Section A (poverty) in Non-Paper 5. Amendments to Chapter VI (Financial Arrangements), in Non Paper 18, were introduced by Chair Amma Yeboaa and adopted. The Chair of Working Group II presented Non-Paper 12 and corrections to the Main Committee, which adopted them.

The US made interpretive statements on 19 (radical transformation of the relationship between women and men), 27 (NGOs), 97 (sexual rights) and 168 (l) (workers' rights). Nepal made an interpretive statement on 25(bis) (freedom of religion).

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