4/12/2005 - Depleted Uranium UN Resolutions

UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities Resolution 1996/16, August 29, 1996, E/CN.4/SUB.2/RES/1996/16

Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities concludes forty-eighth session - Press release HR/CN/755 , September 4, 1996

UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities Resolution 1997/36, August 28, 1997, E/CN.4/SUB.2/RES/1997/36

The Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities,

Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 42/99 of 7 December 1987 and 43/111 of 8 December 1988 reaffirming that all people have an inherent right to life,

Concerned at the alleged use of weapons of mass or indiscriminate destruction both against members of the armed forces and against civilian populations, resulting in death, misery and disability,

Concerned also at repeated reports on the long-term consequences of the use of such weapons upon human life and health and upon the environment,

Concerned further that the physical effects on the environment, the debris from the use of such weapons, either alone or in combination, and abandoned contaminated equipment constitute a serious danger to life,

Convinced that the production, sale and use of such weapons are incompatible with international human rights and humanitarian law,

Believing that continued efforts must be undertaken to sensitize public opinion to the inhuman and indiscriminate effects of such weapons and to the need for their complete elimination,

Convinced that the production, sale and use of such weapons are incompatible with the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security,

1. Urges all States to be guided in their national policies by the need to curb the production and the spread of weapons of mass destruction or with indiscriminate effect, in particular nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, fuel-air bombs, napalm, cluster bombs, biological weaponry and weaponry containing depleted uranium;

2. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To collect information from Governments, the competent United Nations bodies and agencies and non-governmental organizations on the use of nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, fuel-air bombs, napalm, cluster bombs, biological weaponry and weaponry containing depleted uranium, on their consequential and cumulative effects, and on the danger they represent to life, physical security and other human rights;

(b) To submit a report on the information gathered to the Sub-Commission at its forty-ninth session, together with any recommendations and views which he may have received on effective ways and means of eliminating such weapons;

3. Decides to give further consideration to this matter at its forty-ninth session, on the basis of any additional information which may be contained in reports of the Secretary-General to the Sub-Commission or to other United Nations bodies, or which may be submitted to the Sub-Commission by Governments or non-governmental organizations.

34th meeting
29 August 1996
[Adopted by 15 votes to 1, with 8 abstentions.]

Source:
http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/E/SUBCOM/resolutions/E-CN_4-SUB_2-RES-1996-16.doc

Copyright 1999
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva, Switzerland

9 - Press Release HR/CN/755 4 September 1996

-- Affirmed that weapons of mass destruction and, in particular, nuclear weapons should have no role to play in international relations and thus should be eliminated;

-- Further reaffirmed its support for a total ban on the production, marketing and use of such weapons; urged States that had not yet done so to sign and ratify the Convention on Conventional Weapons and Protocols thereto;

-- Urged all States to be guided in their national policies by the need to curb production and spread of weapons of mass destruction or with indiscriminate effect, in particular nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, fuel-air bombs, napalm, cluster bombs, biological weaponry and weaponry containing depleted uranium;

-- Requested the Secretary-General to collect information from governments and other relevant sources on the use of such weapons and on their consequential and cumulative effects, and to submit a report on the matter to the Subcommission at its forty-ninth session.
Source:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/1996/19960904.hrcn755.html
UN Information Service,
SUBCOMMISSION ON PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECTION OF MINORITIES

The Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 42/99 of 7 December 1987 and 43/111 of 8 December 1988 reaffirming that all people have an inherent right to life,

Recalling also its resolution 1992/39 of 28 August 1992 on arms production and trade and human rights violations,

Recalling further its resolution 1996/16 of 29 August 1996, in which it requested the Secretary-General to submit a report on information gathered on the use of nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, fuel-air bombs, napalm, cluster bombs, biological weaponry and weaponry containing depleted uranium and their consequential and cumulative effects and the danger they represent to life, physical security and other human rights,

Concerned at the use of weapons of mass or indiscriminate destruction or of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering, both against members of the armed forces and against civilian populations, resulting in death, pain, misery and disability,

Concerned also at repeated reports of the long-term consequences of the use of such weapons upon human life and health,

Concerned further that the physical effects on the environment of testing, storage or disposal of or debris from such weapons, either alone or in combination, and abandoned contaminated equipment constitute a serious danger to life and health,

Convinced that the use of or threat of use of weapons of mass or indiscriminate destruction and, in certain circumstances, the production and sale of such weapons are incompatible with international human rights and/or humanitarian law,

Convinced also that the production, sale, use or threat of use of chemical and biological weapons are incompatible with international law, as well as the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security,

Convinced further that the use on civilian populations of napalm and fuel-air bombs violates the Protocol on Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III) to the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons,

Believing that the production, sale, use or threat of use of nuclear weapons has serious consequences for the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security,

Believing further that continued efforts must be undertaken to sensitize public opinion to the inhuman and indiscriminate effects of all such weapons and to the need for their complete elimination,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/27) and the many serious questions raised therein,

1. Urges all States to be guided in their national policies by the need to curb the testing, the production and the spread of weapons of mass destruction, or with indiscriminate effect, or of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering;

2. Decides to authorize Ms. Clemencia Forero Ucros to prepare, without financial implications, a working paper, in the context of human rights and humanitarian norms, assessing the utility, scope and structure of a study on weapons of mass destruction or with indiscriminate effect, or of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering.

37th meeting ; 28 August 1997 ; [Adopted without a vote. See chap. XIV.]

The Resolution available also at: http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/21a4acb0f1b289ed80256633004ce147?Opendocument
� Copyright 1996-2000
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

The following resolution does not state nor imply D U is officially a weapon of mass destruction but the first two articles (the resolution and the press release) do.
I added the following Resolution 2003/61 because it also concerns the atrocities committed by the American insurgents, the use of depleted uranium, officially a weapon of mass-destruction,  because it stresses "rejecting the use of violence in pursuit of political aims".

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Recalling all previous resolutions on this issue,

Recalling also resolutions 1996/16 of 29 August 1996 and 1997/36 of 28 August 1997 of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, entitled "International peace and security as an essential condition for the enjoyment of human rights, above all the right to life",

Noting General Assembly resolution 39/11 of 12 November 1984, entitled "Declaration of the Right of Peoples to Peace", and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,

Bearing in mind the fundamental principles of international law set forth in the Charter of the United Nations,

Underlining, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, its full and active support for the United Nations and for the enhancement of its role and effectiveness in strengthening international peace, security and justice and in promoting the solution of international problems, as well as the development of friendly relations and cooperation among States,

Reaffirming the obligation of all States to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice are not endangered,

Emphasizing its objective of promoting better relations among all States and contributing to setting up conditions in which their people can live in true and lasting peace, free from any threat to or attempt against their security,

Reaffirming the obligation of all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations,

Reaffirming also its commitment to peace, security and justice and the continuing development of friendly relations and cooperation among States,

Rejecting the use of violence in pursuit of political aims and stressing that only peaceful political solutions can assure a stable and democratic future for all peoples around the world,

Reaffirming the importance of ensuring respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and non-intervention in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law,

Reaffirming also that all peoples have the right to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development,

Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,

Underlining that the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental rights, is contrary to the Charter and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and cooperation,

Recalling that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights can be fully realized,

Convinced of the aim of the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples,

Convinced also that life without war is the primary international prerequisite for the material well-being, development and progress of countries, and for the full implementation of the rights and fundamental human freedoms proclaimed by the United Nations,

1. Stresses that peace is a vital requirement for the promotion and protection of all human rights for all;

2. Solemnly declares that the preservation of peace and its promotion constitute a fundamental obligation of each State;

3. Emphasizes that the preservation of peace and its promotion demand that the policies of States be directed towards the elimination of the threat of war, particularly nuclear war, the renunciation of the use or threat of use of force in international relations and the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations;

4. Affirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and an international system based on respect of the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development and the right of peoples to self-determination;

5. Urges all States to respect and to put into practice the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations in their relations with all other States, irrespective of their political, economic or social systems, as well as of their size, geographical location or level of economic development;

6. Decides to continue considering the issue at its sixtieth session under the same agenda item.

The only weapons of mass destruction supposedly found by the americans where sold to the Iraqi's by the Americans, various sources say.
If there where weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq, where are they now?