YouSaid · the spoken record

Grant-Woodham

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS GRANT-WOODHAM

lines on the record

57

first

1987-09-24

most recent

1988-09-24

sittings or episodes

2

sources

un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

1. “During those years we have seen the inhuman situation which is the result of this abhorrent system grow steadily worse as it claims the lives of thousands of innocent victims, including children; as it allows thousands, including children, to languish in jail without trial·, as it leaves further countless thousands, including children, both physically and emotionally maimed as it denies 2 5 million persons who constitute the black population some of their most fundamental human rights - thus seeking to impose on the majority population a kind of modern-day serfdom for which Pretoria's only justification is the colour of a person's skin. We have seen the growing resentment and anger of an oppressed population. We have watched with deep concern as the situation has developed with a frightening inevitability to the point of explosion.”

   1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)

2. “Since 1962 much work has been undertaken in the United Nations system, resulting in the adoption and entry into force of several very important conventions for the promotion and protection of human rights. My delegation notes with satisfaction the work of the several committees established under the various human rights instruments and of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Nevertheless, flagrant violations of human rights continue in many regions of the world. How can the world continue to tolerate the vicious system of apartheid - a gross example of human rights denied? For our 25 years as an independent country despite several changes of Government, our people have supported the Government's stance against the apartheid system.”

   1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)

3. “Yet the failure to deal with them rests squarely on those countries whose policies have prevented the implementation of the enforcement measures possible under Chapter VII of the Charter. Jamaica reiterates its call for Security Council action under Chapter VII to ensure the implementation of resolution 435 (1978). We reaffirm our total rejection of the concept of linkage and restate our firm belief in the legitimacy of the struggle of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) , the sole authentic representative of the Namibian people. In 1962 Jamaica proposed to the General Assembly that an international year for human rights be declared. This was observed by the international community in 1968.”

   1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)

4. “Whether defined in political, economic, social, cultural or technological terms, they are all fundamentally related to the basic question: how do we cope or how are we coping? Today, after 2 5 years, the United Nations can proudly point to its record on decolonisation. Since 1962, when Jamaica and five other countries took their seats as States Members of this Organization, 4 9 others have broken the shackles of colonialism. This is a great achievement) yet we still have a little way to go. South Africa's continued defiance with respect to the independence of Namibia is a major blot on the record. South Africa has maintained its oppressive rule over Namibia the better to facilitate its plundering of Namibia's resources, in defiance of the international community. South Africa's policies are as unconscionable today as they ever were.”

   1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)

5. “In fact situations which demonstrate the persistence in the international community of a lack of respect for the principles of the Charter concerning the peaceful resolution of conflicts, non-aggression and the non-use of force or the threat of force continue to abound. Nevertheless there have been improvements. The world has also experienced vast political, economic, scientific and technological changes, some of which today challenge man to cope adequately with the accelerating pace of the convulsions surrounding him. Today we contemplate a General Assembly agenda which is much larger than the one we looked at 25 years ago. Some of the items are new, but all concern the persistent effort to use this Organization and the forum it affords to deal with living on this planet.”

   1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)

6. “We anticipate that under your guidance there will be marked progress in the search for effective, durable solutions to some of the issues which confront us. The forty-first session of the General Assembly benefited from the expert leadership of Foreign Minister Choudhury of Bangladesh. We cannot overstate the value of his contribution to the achievements of that session and we commend him for it. When we look at the statement we made at this rostrum 25 years ago we see that much the same issues remain. Of course, it would be too much to expect that within this arbitrary 25-year period, this quarter-century, human nature would have been so altered as to make conflicts and wars and social and economic problems disappear.”

   1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)

7. “Twenty-five years ago, following the attainment of its independence, Jamaica's first policy statement was made at the seventeenth session of the United Nations General Assembly, under the presidency of an illustrious citizens of Pakistan, Sir Zafrulla Khan, from the Group of Asian Countries. Today the presidency is in the able hands of a most distinguished representative of the German Democratic Republic. This is indeed testimony to the important contribution which the varying political, economic and cultural systems can bring to the global search for peace, development and stability. My delegation congratulates you, Mr. President, and all the other officers on your election to the leadership of this Assembly.”

   1987-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 42 (1987)