Geneva, 21 August 1998

SUBCOMMISSION ISSUES CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT ON KOSOVO

Subcommission Approves Resolutions on Human Rights of Women,

The Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities expressed serious concern this afternoon over what it called a deteriorating human-rights situation in Kosovo which had caused displacement of 10 per cent of the population. In a Chairman's statement, it condemned all acts of violence in Kosovo, including killings and beatings of civilians, hostage-taking, and violations committed by persons who were or were not affiliated with the State, and urged negotiations leading to a peaceful and equitable solution to the conflict in the region.

Populations at its seventeenth session and to the Subcommission at its fifty-first session; and recommended a draft decision to that effect to the Commission on Human Rights for adoption.

In a measure (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/L.33) on a study on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and indigenous populations, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission decided to request the Special Rapporteur on the topic to submit, not later than 31 March 1999, a new version of his final report, including any revisions that might be introduced to the present unedited English version in light of the debates held at 1998 sessions of the relevant bodies.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/L.34) on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission recommended that celebration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People be held on the first day of the seventeenth session of the Working Group on indigenous populations in order to ensure as great a participation of indigenous people as possible; recommended that the Coordinator for the Decade consider holding a special fund-raising meeting with interested permanent missions and others to encourage financial contributions to the relevant Voluntary Fund; urged Governments and inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the Fund, and invited indigenous organizations to do likewise; recommended that attention continue to be given to improving the extent of participation of indigenous peoples in planning and implementing the activities of the Decade; recommended that the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples be

adopted as early as possible during the Decade; recommended that a permanent forum for indigenous peoples within the United Nations system be established as soon as possible with functions that did not duplicate those already conferred on the Working Group, and be financed through the regular budget of the United Nations; recommended that a three-day technical meeting be held immediately prior to the seventeenth session of the Working Group to undertake a mid-point review of the Decade; and recommended a draft decision encompassing these matters to the Commission on Human Rights for adoption.

In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/L.35) on the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, adopted without a vote, the Subcommission recommended that the group cooperate as a body of experts in any conceptual clarifications or analysis which might assist the Working Group established by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 1995/32 to elaborate further the draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples; endorsed the decision taken by the Working Group not to take a final decision on the invitation to hold the next session of the Group in Paris at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization until it received information on the results of consultations with indigenous communities on the issue; recommended that the Group adopt as its principle theme at its seventeenth session 'indigenous peoples and their relationship to land'; requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to encourage studies with respect to the rights to food and adequate nutrition of

indigenous peoples as they related to their access to land, cultural heritage and health, and, as appropriate, to call for an international workshop on the theme with wide participation; requested that the Working Group be authorized to meet for five working days prior to the fifty-first session of the Subcommission; and recommended for adoption to the Commission on Human Rights a draft decision encompassing these matters.

In a Chairman's Statement, the Subcommission expressed serious concern over the rapidly deteriorating human-rights situation in Kosovo, where ethnic hostilities had caused the deaths of hundreds and had caused the displacement of 10 per cent of the population; the burning of villages and towns, destruction of property and the continuing threat of violence against the civilian population had forced almost 250,000 people to leave their homes, resulting in a serious refugee crisis in the region; the Subcommission expressed hope of joining in efforts leading to peace and human-rights protection in Kosovo; it condemned firmly all acts of violence, including killings and beatings of civilians, hostage-taking, and violations committed persons who were or were not affiliated with the State; and it supported all negotiations which could lead to a peaceful and equitable solution for the protection of the human rights of the people of Kosovo.