From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:AFRICA: REPRESENTATIVES OF 39 NATIONS STRESS RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 02:12:58 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: AFRICA: REPRESENTATIVES OF 39 NATIONS STRESS RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT



tunis, nov 4 (ips) -- participants in a five-day human rights
meeting here stressed that the opportunity to develop is an
''inalienable human right,'' in a draft resolution of which ips
obtained a copy wednesday.

the draft places development at the head of peoples' rights
which need to be guaranteed.

if approved, it will figure among a body of recommendations
which africa's representatives will take to the international
conference on human rights to be held in vienna in 1993.

the nov. 2-6 encounter, attended by delegates representing
governments and non-governmental organizations (ngos) from 39
african countries, is one of a series of preparatory meetings for
the vienna conference.

the draft resolution warns that the ''inability'' of the
international community to meet the challenge of development
contributes to the social unrest and religious and ideological
extremism that motivate massive violations of human rights.

it draws attention to the ''threat'' presented by political
movements based on religious intolerance and extremism and
declares as ''inadmissible'' the use of religion for purposes
incompatible with human rights.

the text also denounces all terrorism and extremism based on
ethnic or religious pretexts since these negate the fundamental
moral values and freedoms of peoples.

africa is the scene of various armed ethnic conflicts caused
mainly by the imposition of artificial borders during the
colonial era.

the continent, especially north africa, is also affected by
religious extremism, due to the absence of other forms of
political opposition.

the draft resolution calls for the mobilisation of
humanitarian aid for the some 18 million people who have been
displaced or made refugees by civil war or natural disasters in
africa.

it calls on the international community to take ''concrete
measures'' to combat and eradicate mounting xenophobia against
foreign immigrants and workers in industrialised countries.
(more)
----


the document also reaffirms support for the ''legitimate
struggle'' of the south african people to totally eliminate
apatheid and create a ''non-racial'' south africa.

it urges the south african authorities to eliminate still
existent discriminatory laws, to adhere to international human
rights conventions, and to abolish all forms of racial
discrimination.

it also calls on governments to fulfill their responsibility
to guarantee the economic, social, cultural and political rights
of their populations.

delegates addressing wednesday's sessions all highlighted the
need to safeguard the cultural rights of peoples.

in this regard, the draft resolution calls on the
international community to adopt adequate ''legal measures'' to
protect not only the political and economic rights of peoples but
also their social and cultural rights.

throughout the discussions, delegates demanded ''greater
democracy'' on an international level, in order to safeguard the
development of the world's peoples and, thereby, their enjoyment
of their rights. (end/ips/trd/so/bk/cs/eli-kb/92)
----