The Commission on Human Rights expressed concern over serious human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Southern Lebanon and West Bekaa, Myanmar, Nigeria, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea. It also approved the resolution on the situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

However, the Commission rejected, for the first time since 1991, a draft resolution criticizing Cuba.

Regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Commission pointed to arbitrary arrests and detention without trial of civilians, including journalists, opposition politicians and human-rights defenders; at the trial of civilians, and use of the death penalty, by military courts; at the temporary suspension of the activities of political parties, and at the fact that certain opposition figures had been detained or banished from Kinshasa. The Commission expressed serious concern about the circumstances which had last week obliged the Secretary-General to withdraw his Investigative Team from the country.

Concerning the situation in Southern Lebanon and West Bekaa, the Commission called upon Israel to immediatelly end such practices as air raids and the use of prohibited weapons, including fragmentation bombs. It also called on the country to implement Security Council resolution 425 requiring immediate, total and unconditional withdrawal from all Lebanese territories.

The Commission also expressed deep concern over severe restrictions on the freedoms of oppinion, expression, assembly, and association in Myanmar. It pointed to inhuman treatment of prisoners and deaths in custody, at restrictions placed on political leaders, particularly Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and at imprisonment of memebrs of the National League for Democracy, among others. It called upon the Government to take urgent measures to ensure the establishment of democracy in accordance with the will of the people as expressed in the democratic elections held in 1990.

In addition, the Commission again condemned serious abuses in Nigeria, Iraq and Sudan, renewing in all three cases the mandates of the relevant Special Rapporteurs.

A draft resolution through which the Commission would have regretted "profoundly the numerous violations of human rights" in Cuba was rejected by a vote of 16 in favour, 19 against and 19 abstaining. As a result of the vote, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Cuba was not renewed. As they voted against, or abstained on, a draft, a number of countries said the text did not take account of recent positive developments in the area of human rights on the island. Prior to the vote, the representative of Cuba said today could be a historic day for the Commission as soon the traditional, outdated resolution the United States was acted upon. States had a chance to take a stand against it and for the standards of impartiality and non-selectivity that should prevail in the Commission, he added.

In a resolution introduced by the Chairman, the Commission noted with deep concern continuing and substantiated reports of violations of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, particularly in areas under the control of the Taliban; and intensification of armed hostilities which had resulted in extensive human suffering and forced displacement and reports of mass killings and atrocities committed by combatants against civilian populations and prisoners of war. It also condemned frequent arbitrary arrests and detention and summary trials which had resulted in summary executions throughout the country. It urged all States to respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan and to refrain from interfering with its internal affairs; urged all Afghan parties to cease hostilities immediatelly.

The Commission encouraged further efforts of the Government of Rwanda to build a State based on the Guarantee of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; reiterated its strong condemnation of the crime of genocide; urged the Government to give utmost priority to the prosecution and punishment of crimes of sexual violence commited against women; strongly condemned continuing violence and genocidal activities perpetrated in Rwanda by former members of the Rwandan armed forces, Interahawe and other insurgent groups; and condemned the illegal sale and distribution of arms. It extended for a further year the madate of its Special Representative on the situation in Rwanda.

In a resolution of Equatorial Guinea, the Commission encouraged the Government to pursue the efforts to effectively integrate women into the process of the socio-economic, cultural and political development of the country, called upon the Government to take appropriate measures to avoid any form of discrimiation against ethnic groups, and ecouraged it to take necessary measures to avoid acts of torture.

The Commission also expressed its concern that human rights continue to be violated in the Islamic Republic of Iran, in particular the large number of executions in the apparent absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, cases of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including amputation, stoning and public executions, the failure to meet international standards in the administration of justice and the absence of due process of law; at the continuing threats to the life of Mr. Salman Rushdie, as well as to individuals associated with his work; at the continued harassment and intimidation of some journalists and writers, and of political and religious dissidents seeking to exercise their freedom of expression. The Commission called upon the Government to build upon its commitment to consolidate respect for the rule of law, allow greater freedom of expression and grant all the fundamental rights

to all its citizens. It also decided to extend the mandate of a Special Representative on the situation in Iran for a further year.

The Commission in its resolution on the situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, called upon the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to reverse the effects of "ethnic cleansing"; to allow freedom of movement and return of refugees to their places of origin and provide security and legislative guarantees for returnees; to strenghten free and independent media; to ensure the necessary conditions for free and fair elections to be held in 1998 under the supervision of OSCE.

Regarding the Republic of Croatia, the Commission called upon the Government to undertake greater efforts to adhere to democratic principles and to continue its efforts to attain the highest level of compliance with international norms and standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms; to respect the property rights of all, in particular returning displaced persons and refugees; to put an end to harassment of displaced Serbs, to guarantee freedom of association and of the press.

Furthemore, the Commission called upon the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to comply with its obligations to cooperate with the Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; to undertake substantially greater efforts to strenghten and implement fully democratic norms; to protect and expand opportunities for free and independent media; to put an end to torture and ill-treatment of persons in detention and bring those responsible to justice. The Commission condemned violent repression of non-violent expression of political views in Kosovo and insisted that the Government of FRY take immediate action, in view of the deteriorating situation in Kosovo and the danger of escalating violence there, to put an end to the continuing repression of and prevent violence against ethnic Albanian population, as well as other communities living in Kosovo; ensure complete withdrawal of its special police from Kosovo; release all political detainees, allow the return in safety

and dignity of Albanian refugees in Kosovo and respect fully all human rights and fundamental freedoms; allow establishment of democratic institutions in Kosovo; agree to the establishment of an office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Pristina; implement the September 1996 "Saint Egidio" memorandum of understanding on education in Kosovo immediately and without conditions.