UN General Assembly
2001

implementation. Despite some progress, challenges remain in ensuring universal respect for human rights. The Republic of Vanuatu is a party to nearly all core human rights treaties. We feel there is a continuing need for human and institutional capacity-building in developing countries in order to ensure the implementation of human rights conventions and treaties they have signed. This is an area where the United Nations should follow a needs-based approach and make a realistic assessment of the existing mechanisms. 36 The East Timorese people, who have already elected their Constituent Assembly, will democratically elect their President and soon exercise full sovereignty over their entire territory; this positive development is a big leap. It affirms the outstanding commitment of the Committee of 24 in deliberating on the right of peoples to self-determination. However, there are those who are still waiting to exercise this right. At this session’s general debate, I am pleased to note that the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization gives special mention to West Papua. The Secretary-General intends to enhance our efforts to