United nations a

E. Consideration and action on draft proposals

Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

328. At the 40th meeting, on 27 March 2008, the representative of Slovenia (on behalf of States members of the European Union that are members of the Council and on behalf of Japan) introduced draft resolution A/HRC/7/L.28, sponsored by Japan and Slovenia (on behalf of States members of the European Union that are members of the Council) and co-sponsored by Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. Subsequently, Australia, Iceland and Ireland joined the sponsors.

329. At the same meeting, the representative of Slovenia orally revised the draft resolution by deleting the fourth preambular paragraph and replacing it.

330. 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).

331. Statements in connection with the draft resolution were made by the representatives of Canada and Japan.

332. The observer for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as the concerned country, made a statement in relation to the draft resolution.

333. Statements in explanation of vote before the vote were made by the representatives of China, Cuba, Indonesia, the Philippines and the Russian Federation.

334. At the request of the representative of Cuba, a recorded vote was taken on the draft resolution. The draft resolution was adopted, by 22 votes to 7, with 18 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour: Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Madagascar, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay;

Against: China, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Russian Federation;

Abstaining: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,⁵ Cameroon, Djibouti, Gabon, Guatemala, India, Mali, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zambia.

335. Statements in explanation of vote after the vote were made by the representatives of Egypt, Pakistan and Malaysia.

336. At the 43rd meeting, on 1 April 2008, a general comment was made by the representative of the United States of America in connection with the adoption of the resolution (for the text as adopted, see part one, chapter I, resolution 7/15).