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Call to back UN genocide reform
Oxfam has urged the US, Russia, India and Brazil to support a UN
reform that would require the organisation to act quickly to prevent
genocide. The international charity accuses the four countries of
blocking UN plans designed to stop atrocities such as the 1994 Rwanda
genocide happening again. Oxfam says the proposal would oblige the
international community to take action if governments failed to do so.
Its statement comes ahead of a UN summit next month to discuss
reforms. Oxfam says that while US officials publicly back the planned
reform, in principle they are seeking to water it down.
Other countries opposing the move include Syria, Iran, Cuba, Pakistan,
Egypt and Algeria, the charity said.
'New standard'
The current draft statement says the UN has a "shared responsibility
to take collective action, in a timely and decisive manner" to "help
protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and
crimes against humanity".
Oxfam says it is essential the agreement remains this strongly worded,
if UN members are to prevent future genocides happening.
Such a reform would establish a new standard, the charity says, and
oblige the international community to act when required.
Oxfam's spokeswoman in New York, Nicola Reindorp, said: "We've taken
the step of exposing the governments blocking the agreement so people
around the world can call on them to change their minds.
"We urge these governments to urgently reconsider their position and
agree to protect civilians from mass murder and atrocities.
"The international community must never again allow genocide or mass
murder to go unchecked."
Governments supporting the call for strong language in the draft
statement include Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya,
Chile, Peru, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea,
Singapore, Canada and the EU.
However, opposition from the would-be blockers could still dilute the
commitment and so make it meaningless, Oxfam warned.
"Those supporting the responsibility of states to protect civilians
must stick to their principles and those opposing it must think
again," Ms Reindorp said.
"Brazil, India, Russia and the US must play their part in helping to
stop the slaughter of thousands of innocent civilians."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4150002.stm
Published: 2005/08/14 02:37:35 GMT
Oxfam has urged the US, Russia, India and Brazil to support a UN
reform that would require the organisation to act quickly to prevent
genocide. The international charity accuses the four countries of
blocking UN plans designed to stop atrocities such as the 1994 Rwanda
genocide happening again. Oxfam says the proposal would oblige the
international community to take action if governments failed to do so.
Its statement comes ahead of a UN summit next month to discuss
reforms. Oxfam says that while US officials publicly back the planned
reform, in principle they are seeking to water it down.
Other countries opposing the move include Syria, Iran, Cuba, Pakistan,
Egypt and Algeria, the charity said.
'New standard'
The current draft statement says the UN has a "shared responsibility
to take collective action, in a timely and decisive manner" to "help
protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and
crimes against humanity".
Oxfam says it is essential the agreement remains this strongly worded,
if UN members are to prevent future genocides happening.
Such a reform would establish a new standard, the charity says, and
oblige the international community to act when required.
Oxfam's spokeswoman in New York, Nicola Reindorp, said: "We've taken
the step of exposing the governments blocking the agreement so people
around the world can call on them to change their minds.
"We urge these governments to urgently reconsider their position and
agree to protect civilians from mass murder and atrocities.
"The international community must never again allow genocide or mass
murder to go unchecked."
Governments supporting the call for strong language in the draft
statement include Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya,
Chile, Peru, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea,
Singapore, Canada and the EU.
However, opposition from the would-be blockers could still dilute the
commitment and so make it meaningless, Oxfam warned.
"Those supporting the responsibility of states to protect civilians
must stick to their principles and those opposing it must think
again," Ms Reindorp said.
"Brazil, India, Russia and the US must play their part in helping to
stop the slaughter of thousands of innocent civilians."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4150002.stm
Published: 2005/08/14 02:37:35 GMT