UN committee criticizes human rights abuses in Iran, NKorea and Myanmar

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Separate resolutions approved by the UN General Assembly's human rights committee Friday expressed serious concern at human rights violations ranging from attacks on peaceful demonstrators in Myanmar to public executions in North Korea and torture, flogging and amputations in Iran. The resolutions now go to the 192-member General Assembly for final votes, expected next month. The resolutions are not legally binding but carry moral weight and reflect the majority view of world opinion. Iran tried to block the committee from taking up the draft resolution criticizing its rights record, but lost by 10 votes, a margin the United States called a major victory. The committee then approved the resolution expressing "deep concern at serious human rights violations" by a vote of 70 to 51 with 60 abstentions.