The UN General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a procedural motion that blocked debate on a European Union-sponsored draft resolution expressing concern at Sudan's human rights record. The no-action motion presented by the 53-member African Group was adopted by a vote of 85 in favor, 79 against and 12 abstentions. The EU draft expressed concern at "the protracted humanitarian crisis in (Sudan's strife-torn) Darfur and the recent upsurge in violence perpetrated by all parties to the conflict. It also slammed "the continuing climate of impunity in the Darfur region, particularly in the area of violence against women and girls" and the "forced relocation of displaced people, particularly in the peri-urban settlements around Khartoum." It also condemned "continued violations" of the April 8, 2004 ceasefire accord agreed by Sudanese parties in N'djamena, Chad and the November 9 2004 Abuja accords to improve humanitarian and security conditions.
Introducing the draft on behalf of the EU, Britain's UN envoy Emyr Jones Parry said: "There can hardly be a situation of human rights in more urgent need of the world's attention than the situation in Sudan."
| But since the General Assembly gives equal representation to all the dictators and kleptocrats in Africa, nothing will ever get done about it. |