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Mandate of the working group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination

266. At the 41st meeting, on 28 March 2008, the representative of Cuba introduced draft resolution A/HRC/7/L.7/Rev.1, sponsored by Cuba and co-sponsored by Algeria, Bolivia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Qatar, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zimbabwe. Subsequently, Belarus, Guinea, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and the United Republic of Tanzania joined the sponsors.

267. In accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, the attention of the Council was drawn to the estimated administrative and programme budget implications of the draft resolution (see annex II).

268. Statements in explanation of vote before the vote were made by the representatives of Slovenia (on behalf of States members of the European Union that are members of the Council) and Sri Lanka.

269. At the request of the representative of Slovenia (on behalf of States members of the European Union that are members of the Council), a recorded vote was taken on the draft resolution. The draft resolution was adopted, by 32 votes to 11, with 2 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Zambia;

Against: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovenia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;

Abstaining: Switzerland, Ukraine.

270. For the text as adopted, see part one, chapter I, resolution 7/21.