Human Rights Commission accepts Cuba's invitation to observe its human rights situation, considers first report on mercenaries.

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Human Rights Commission accepts Cuba's invitation to observe its human rights situation, considers first report on mercenaries

An invitation from Cuba to observe its human rights situation and the first global report on the use of mercenaries highlighted the forty-fourth session of the Commission on Human Rights, held in Geneva from 1 February through 11 March. The 43-member body also called for highest priority to be given to completion, probably by 1989, of a comprehensive draft convention on the rights of the child.

New Commission Chairman Alioune Sene of Senegal, at the session's opening, said that in a few months the United Nations would celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That document, he said, reflected the aspiration that human rights would serve as a guarantee for peace, which was the natural environment for enjoyment of human rights. The Commission, a subsidiary of the Economic and Social Council, adopted a total of 79 resolutions and 7 decisions on matters ranging from alleged human rights violations in certain countries and regions, to rights of particular groups, including migrants and minorities, to realization of a wide variety of economic, social and cultural rights.

Adopting a resolution on the "Recovery of nations' assets illegally removed by violators of human rights", the Commission asked States concerned to co-operate in the speedy recovery of assets belonging to the peoples of the Philippines and Haiti that it said had been illegally removed by the Marcos and Duvalier families, respectively.

It also noted measures taken and renewed commitments made to advance the realization of the right to adequate housing during the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless in 1987, and expressed its deep concern that millions of people still did not enjoy that right.

On 10 March, the Commission decided by consensus to accept Cuba's invitation to the Commission Chairman and five members to observe first-hand its human rights situation, with unrestricted access to people and facilities. The group was then to report back to the Commission.

The United States had submitted a draft resolution asking the Commission to investigate human rights in Cuba. Cuba had then submitted a text calling for a similar human rights inquiry in the United States, but later both drafts were withdrawn.

Raul Roa-Kouri of Cuba said the decision was a "victory for Latin American unity", adding that Cuba would not be "put on the stand" by a country which had tried to overthrow its Government. The visit would take place as a result of a Cuban initiative, he declared.

Armando Valladares of the...