Despite US veto, resolution condeming Nazi 'glorification' passes UN committee vote

The UN Social, Humanitarianism and Culture committee passed the vote, 131 states voted in favor, while 48 states abstained, most of which were European Union countries.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
The United Nations headquarters (photo credit: REUTERS)
The United Nations headquarters
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Despite the United States voting against it, a resolution that condemns the glorification of Nazis passed a UN General Assembly committee vote Thursday night, according to Russian News Agency Tass. 
The UN Social, Humanitarianism and Culture committee passed the vote, 131 states voted in favor, while 48 states abstained, most of which were European Union countries.
The United States, Ukraine and a Palau- a small Island country in the Pacific, were the only three to vote against the resolution.
Anatoly Viktorov, the Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry Department for Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights spoke, stressing the importance of the resolution.
Viktorov stated that there are countries that have made "national heros" out of pro-Nazi forces.
The resolution speaks of the concern in the "glorification" of the Nazi movement and of neo-Nazism such as the erecting of monuments or memorials and public demonstrations that glorify anything to do with the Nazi and neo-Nazi movement.
Co-authored by 55 states including Russia, the resolution is set to be brought to the UN General Assembly by the end of the year.
The vote, which happens for the same resolution annually, was vetoed by the US in 2014 and 2015 as well.
In 2014 Terri Robl, who was at the time the US deputy representative to the UN Economic and Social Council, explained her opposition to the resolution, stating that the Russian government had thrown around terms such as Nazi and fascist for its own political ends.
“We believe Russia’s efforts at the General Assembly, via this resolution, are aimed at its opponents, rather than at promoting or protecting human rights,” she said.
Sam Sokol contributed to this report.