UN General Assembly adopts controversial resolution on torture-free trade

Source: Xinhua| 2019-06-29 00:48:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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UNITED NATIONS, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The General Assembly on Friday adopted a controversial resolution, which aims to establish common international standards for torture-free trade.

The draft resolution, introduced by Romania, was adopted with 81 votes in favor, 20 against and 44 abstentions.

The resolution requests the secretary-general to seek the views of member states on the feasibility and possible scope of a range of options to establish common international standards for the import, export and transfer of goods used for capital punishment and for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

It asks the secretary-general to submit a report on the subject to the General Assembly at its 2019-20 session.

It also requests the secretary-general to establish a group of governmental experts to examine, beginning in 2020, the feasibility and scope of the goods to be included, and draft parameters for a range of options to establish common international standards on the matter.

It asks for the transmission of the report of the group of experts to the General Assembly for consideration at its 2020-21 session.

Before and after the vote, 20 countries voiced their opposition or reservations concerning the draft resolution. The concerns concentrated on the indicated linkage between torture and the death penalty, the ambiguity in language that may have impacts on trade, as well as the lack of consultations.

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