News: US, Canada vote against UN resolution to condemn Nazism

Scandal & Media

Quote:

US, Canada & Ukraine vote against Russia’s anti-Nazism resolution at UN

UN General Assembly’s Third Committee passed a Russia-proposed resolution condemning attempts to glorify Nazism ideology and denial of German Nazi war crimes. The US, Canada and Ukraine were the only countries to vote against it.

The resolution was passed on Friday by the committee, which is tasked with tackling social and humanitarian issues and human rights abuses, by 115 votes against three, with 55 nations abstaining, Tass news agency reported.

The document voiced concern over the rise of racism-driven crimes around the world and the influence that parties with extremist agendas are gaining.

It called for a universal adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Many nations including the US, the UK, China and India, signed the convention but did not recognize a mechanism resolving individual complaints it establishes, which makes the convention unenforceable in their jurisdictions.

The resolution also decried attempts to whitewash Nazi collaborators by depicting them as fighters of nationalist resistance movements and honoring them as such.

It condemned any form of denial of Nazi war crimes, including the Jewish Holocaust.

Russia, which submitted the draft resolution, said it regretted that it could not be adopted [unanimously].

“The fact that the US, Canada and Ukraine voted against, while delegations from EU member states abstained in the vote on this draft resolution, which was supported by an overwhelming majority of the UN member states, is extremely regrettable,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The resolution is to be formally adopted by the UN General Assembly as a body in December.

Full article here: http://rt.com/news/207899-un-anti-nazism-resolution/

I get they're against Putin, but really...?

Am especially embarrassed for Canada.

IBeMe

Wow with Canada...this didn't reflect us the ppm of Canada though..dear God what kind of a terrible move

Tropez

The US hates Russia so much that they disagree with everything they say

Bang Up

Quote:

The resolution also decried attempts to whitewash Nazi collaborators by depicting them as fighters of nationalist resistance movements and honoring them as such.

It condemned any form of denial of Nazi war crimes, including the Jewish Holocaust.

Unfortunately, this type of thinking is protected under freedom of speech/expression in America. If I'm not mistake, European countries have a different definition of "freedom of speech". For example, hate speech is illegal while in America it is protected.

Mezter

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Originally posted by CoolestPerson12

The US hates Russia so much that they disagree with everything they say

Ressti

Amerikkka

Rockyalen

Was? :x Okay, I kind of get it, but still...

RomanNavy

General-Assembly resolutions are not legally binding except when it comes to rules of international customary law*. The effect of a resolution like this one is legally limited, even if it was adopted unanimously...
*To speak of customary law there must be an opinio iuris and general practice which isn't the case here

beautiful player

Welp. USA ha decline is real. It's getting embarrassing at this point

Magniterrain

Quote:

Originally posted by CoolestPerson12

The US hates Russia so much that they disagree with everything they say

Quote:

Originally posted by Ressti

Amerikkka

Diarrhoea

Fascism I don't think should be condemned but the fact they're willing to allow Nazism in particular

Taste of Honey

Quote:

Originally posted by RomanNavy

General-Assembly resolutions are not legally binding except when it comes to rules of international customary law*. The effect of a resolution like this one is legally limited, even if it was adopted unanimously...
*To speak of customary law there must be an opinio iuris and general practice which isn't the case here

Exactly. If this were the Security Council it would be different cause if the U.S. vetoed it the resolution wouldn't pass. But then U.S. would be put in a very uncomfortable position.

Giliap

Was the proposal not good enough? I know the U.S. is ****ed but maybe they saw cracks in the proposal that no one else saw. I wouldn't be surprised if Russia tried to fool everyone so..

Giliap

Quote:

Originally posted by hello_world

Fascism I don't think should be condemned but the fact they're willing to allow Nazism in particular

You don't think Fascism should be condemned?

RihannasVeryOwn

Quote:

Originally posted by CoolestPerson12

The US hates Russia so much that they disagree with everything they say

But why Canada though? Like the US I'm not surprised since the KKK is protected by the government but even then protecting Nazis? Really?
Freedom of speech is one thing but hate speech and supporting an ideology which is committed to the annihilation of the Jewish race is something completely different

RihannasVeryOwn

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Originally posted by Giliap

You don't think Fascism should be condemned?

They're a Margaret Thatcher stan lmao don't be surprised

Stitches.

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United States and Ukraine

Of course. Not surprised.

KillingYourCareer

Unexpected countries voting against a Russian proposition

Dollas n Diamonds

wth Canada

Quote:

Originally posted by RihannasVeryOwn

But why Canada though? Like the US I'm not surprised since the KKK is protected by the government but even then protecting Nazis? Really?
Freedom of speech is one thing but hate speech and supporting an ideology which is committed to the annihilation of the Jewish race is something completely different

cause Putin dragged our PM by his weave

Goosey

Good

Quote:

Foreign Affairs spokesperson François Lasalle told The Huffington Post Canada via email Wednesday that while Canada has a "longstanding and consistent record" of protecting the rights of all persons, the resolution contains references "counterproductive" to that goal.

Lasalle said the resolution seeks to "limit freedom of expression, assembly and opinion," but did not elaborate on those infringements.

The resolution calls on countries to "improve national legislation aimed at the prevention of hate speech" and expresses concern about the use of the Internet to propagate racism. It also cautions against advertising "aimed at exploiting the suffering of victims" of the Nazi regime during the Second World War.

Lasalle also said Canada did not support the resolution because it referred to the "highly politicized and anti-Semitic outcomes" of the 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa.

"Given its narrow focus and these concerns, Canada did not vote in favour of the resolution," Lasalle concluded.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/11...n_6228152.html