INTRODUCTION OF AMENDMENT (A/C.3/75/L.54) BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE, IN THE THIRD COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS, 18 NOVEMBER 2024

Mr Chairman,

1 I take the floor to introduce an amendment on behalf of 40 countries as contained in document A/C.3/79/L.54. The amendment will be inserted as the new operative paragraph one and reads as follows: 

“Reaffirms the sovereign rights of all countries to develop their own legal systems, including determining appropriate legal penalties, in accordance with their international law obligations.”

2 The text of the amendment is simple, neutral and constructive and
it is entirely consistent with international law, and also fully aligned with the principles of the UN Charter.

3 This amendment is very well known to all members of this committee because it has been adopted by a majority in 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022. Again and again, a majority of members have sent a clear message that this amendment is an integral part of the moratorium resolution.  

4 We do not understand why an amendment previously adopted is repeatedly deleted by the proponents of the resolution.  It seems to me that the proponents attach no importance to the views held by an overwhelming majority of countries.  I would like to ask the proponents: what exactly is your conception of a multilateral rules-based system? 
Do you only support multilateralism when the decisions are in your favour?   Unfortunately, this seems to be the case. 

5 It is very disturbing, Mr Chairman, that a group of countries have arrogated to themselves the right to delete and dismiss the views of a large majority of countries.  And they have done this repeatedly without any explanation, without any accountability and, most of all, without a modicum of respect for the diversity of views in this Committee.  

Mr Chairman,

6 Let me say that Singapore takes no pleasure at all in presenting this amendment. By putting forward this amendment, we and the co-sponsors are simply seeking to re-instate OP1 to its rightful place in the moratorium resolution. We are simply defending our rights under international law and defending the principles of the UN Charter.  We are asking for no more and no less than what has been adopted in this Committee for many years.  

7 I would like to conclude by asking all members to vote YES for the amendment, in order to uphold international law and the UN Charter. 

8 I thank you very much for your attention.  

  . . . . .