A/75/PV.43 General Assembly

Before giving the floor to representatives who wish to speak in explanation of vote or position on the resolutions adopted this morning (see A/75/PV.42), I would like to remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

The United States is pleased to join consensus on resolution 75/124 and reaffirms the vital function of the United Nations in responding to natural disasters around the world. With regard to paragraph 62 of the resolution, the United States supports victims of gender-based violence and condemns the exploitation of women and girls during emergencies. However, we would like to emphasize that sexual and reproductive health should focus on health promotion and prevention consistent with national legislation and policies, and not on abortion, as contextualized in the Geneva Consensus Declaration on Promoting Women’s Health and Strengthening the Family. We therefore dissociate ourselves from paragraph 62 of the resolution. The United States is also pleased to join consensus on resolution 75/127 and reaffirms the vital function of the United Nations in responding to humanitarian needs around the globe. We thank other Member States and key organs of the United Nations for their partnership in reaching the most vulnerable populations with life-saving assistance. It is necessary for the United States to emphasize that health care should focus on health promotion and prevention as well as treatment and recovery consistent with national legislation and policies, and not on abortion, as consistent with the Geneva Consensus Declaration. While we remain firm in our support for survivors of gender-based violence and exploitation of women and girls during emergencies, we must dissociate ourselves from paragraphs 58 and 59, owing to the unfortunate references to sexual and reproductive health and health-care services, as adopted. We have expressed our positions on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, technology transfer and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in our statements delivered earlier today (see A/75/PV.42) and in the Third Committee, on 13 November, and the Second Committee, on 11 November. The United States submitted a notice of withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), which would become effective on 6 July 2021, and as such, we dissociate ourselves from references to the WHO in these resolutions. The United States understands any references to internationally agreed development goals, long-term development goals and universal and transformative sustainable development goals to be referring to the non-binding 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Hungary wishes to make a statement with regard to resolution 75/124, entitled “International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development”. Hungary aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the European Union (see A/75/PV.42). Hungary joined the consensus on resolution 75/124 and would like to convey its appreciation to the facilitator, Morocco, and the Secretariat, for their work in preparing the text of the resolution. Hungary remains concerned about the increasing impact of natural disasters resulting in massive losses of life worldwide, food insecurity, water- and sanitation-oriented challenges, property and infrastructure losses, as well as displacement. At the same time, we would like to take this opportunity to put on record our position with respect to the thirteenth preambular paragraph, recall that Hungary voted against the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in the General Assembly (resolution 73/195) in December 2018 (see A/73/PV.60) and will not take part in the implementation of the Compact. Therefore, Hungary cannot accept any reference to the Compact in international documents and dissociates itself from the aforementioned preambular paragraph. The Hungarian Government remains committed to prioritizing development projects in the countries of origin, which can contribute to establishing lasting solutions for those in need and improving their living conditions.

Allow me at the outset to extend our sincere appreciation to the delegations that took the responsibility of facilitating the four resolutions adopted this morning by consensus (resolutions 75/124, 75/125, 75/126 and 75/127). My delegation supported the amendments made by the delegation of the United States on paragraph 62 of resolution 75/124 and paragraphs 58 and 59 of resolution 75/127. Voting against these three paragraphs does not mean opposition of my delegation to the resolutions in which they are incorporated. On the contrary, with the exception of the three cited paragraphs, my delegation has supported and will continue to support these resolutions and appreciate the work and efforts made with regard to the agenda item under which the four resolutions were adopted this morning, and my delegation joined consensus on both resolutions 75/124 and 75/127.

The Russian Federation has traditionally joined consensus in the adoption of resolutions on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, including this year’s resolution 75/125. At the same time, our position with respect to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is well known. Russia withdrew as a signatory of the Rome Statute in 2016 after it became evident that the Court did not meet the expectations and hopes placed upon it and did not become a truly independent authoritative international legal organ. The ineffective and one-sided work of the ICC in the cases it investigates has repeatedly been noted in various forums, including in the General Assembly and the Security Council. In the light of the foregoing, our delegation dissociates itself with the twenty-ninth preambular paragraph and paragraph 7 of resolution 75/125, adopted this morning (see A/75/PV.42) and does not consider itself to be bound by the resolution’s provisions with respect to the International Criminal Court.

I would like to thank the delegations that introduced the four resolutions adopted this morning under agenda item 73 (resolutions 75/124, 75/125, 75/126 and 75/127) (see A/75/PV.42). My delegation joined the consensus on resolution 75/124, entitled “International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development”, out of our deep commitment to and support for the consensus adoption of the resolutions adopted under 73 on strengthening the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance. This issue is of particular importance for my delegation, and it is important for the work of the Organization, especially in the context of a global pandemic that has worsened and deepened the needs of forcibly displaced people, whose numbers may reach as many as 235 million. Turning to the resolution itself, my delegation reiterates its reservation on the thirteenth preambular paragraph, which refers to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (resolution 73/195), on the adoption of which Algeria had abstained (see A/73/PV.60), and we would like to stress the following. First, the text of the Global Compact does not distinguish between legal and illegal migrants. The lack of distinction between those two categories is not appropriate in a text of international character because it renders the text ineffective for combating illegal migration. Secondly, Algeria has always supported all migrants, regardless of their status, out of solidarity with them and for humanitarian considerations. However, resolution 75/124 does not sufficiently refer to practical procedures that could be used to prevent illegal immigration or to tackle armed conflict, political crises, famine or drought. We cannot effectively address illegal migration without countering or uprooting its real causes. Thirdly, Algeria does support the goal of the Global Compact — to address the structural problems driving people to leave their countries of origin, as well as the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation. We also agree with the Compact’s aim of enhancing the control mechanism for preventing the smuggling of migrants and the eradication of trafficking in persons. Fourthly, Algeria believes that it is appropriate to support the overall multidimensional and united nature of the Global Compact and its guidelines, based on the humanitarian dimension of migration and the sovereign right of States to improve their national policies in this area. Fifthly, we support the principle of respect for the sovereignty of States, their recognized fundamental role in the implementation and follow-up of the Compact and the Compact’s non-binding nature. However, we believe that the Compact’s implementation and follow- up mechanism should be subject to the prior consent of the States concerned. Furthermore, we must bear in mind the specificity of migration in each State and the need to reframe from exploiting a State’s migration use as a means for interfering in its internal affairs. Finally, I also call for the fair sharing of responsibilities and burdens when it comes to humanitarian assistance and for respecting human rights and supporting international cooperation in that regard.

Brazil thanks the delegations that presented the draft resolutions considered under this agenda item, and delivers this statement with regard to resolution 75/124, entitled “International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development”. Brazil believes that an effective international response to the humanitarian challenges posed by natural disasters is an abiding duty of the international community and a pressing necessity, especially in the context of the current pandemic. This resolution constitutes an important tool for establishing priorities and guidelines in that regard. Nevertheless, as it did in 2019 (see A/74/PV.49), Brazil must dissociate itself from the thirteenth preambular paragraph, which addresses the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Brazil is a not a signatory of the Compact and considers that migratory issues should be dealt with on the basis of national sovereignty.

The Philippines dissociates itself from the thirty-ninth preambular paragraph and operative paragraph 7 of resolution 75/125, on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and the protection of United Nations personnel, which references the International Criminal Court. The Philippines stresses that it withdrew from the Rome Statute effective 17 March 2019 and does not recognize the Court’s jurisdiction. Notwithstanding our withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the Philippines reaffirms its commitment to protecting humanitarian personnel and to applying the full force of the law against persons who attack humanitarian personnel.

My delegation joins consensus on these important resolutions (resolutions 75/124, 75/125, 75/126 and 75/127), but we voted for the deletion of the paragraph on sexual and reproductive health. These concepts do not enjoy international consensus. Our position today is in keeping with our long-standing position on these concepts, which run counter to our Constitution and Islam.

The Government of Chile joined consensus on resolution 75/124, entitled “International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development”, introduced by the Group of 77 and China. Nevertheless, we dissociate ourselves from the thirteenth preambular paragraph, as my country decided not to participate in the intergovernmental conference in which the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was adopted. The Compact was later adopted by the General Assembly (resolution 73/195). The reason Chile did not participate is that it is currently updating its migratory policies in order to lay the foundation for the proper management of migration in order to ensure that it is safe, orderly and regularly.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote. We will now hear a statement after the adoption of the resolution.

My delegation supports the important content of resolution A/75/124, entitled “International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development”. As a member of the Group of 77 and China, we seek to preserve consensus within the Group and, more broadly, within the United Nations. We therefore supported the adoption of the resolution. However, with regard to the reference to sexual and reproductive health, I wish to state that my country considers that matter in accordance with its legislation and religious and cultural values. On resolution 75/127, entitled “Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations”, we wish to thank Sweden for its co-sponsorship and for its efforts during the negotiations on the text, whose adoption we welcome. Qatar is pleased to be one of the sponsors of this important resolution, whose essential human values we promote. We also support the need to strengthen United Nations humanitarian assistance. In that context, we welcome and underscore the central role of the United Nations in providing humanitarian assistance around the world. With regard to the reference to sexual and reproductive health and health services, as contained in operative paragraphs 58 and 59, my country treats these matters in accordance with our national legislation and our cultural and religious values.

We have heard the last speaker for this item. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 73 and its sub-items (a) to (d). Programme of work

I should like to inform members that the consideration of sub-item (i) of agenda item 120, entitled “Appointment of members of the Board of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns”, originally scheduled for Monday, 14 December, has been postponed to a later date to be announced.