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EXPLANATION OF VOTE : "INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR ACCESS TO JUSTICE, REMEDIES AND ASSISTANCE FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE", 2 SEPTEMBER 2022
EXPLANATION OF VOTE BY MALAYSIA
DURING THE ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT RESOLUTION A/76/L.80
“INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR ACCESS TO JUSTICE, REMEDIES AND ASSISTANCE FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE”
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK
2 SEPTEMBER 2022
Mr. President,
Malaysia recognises and supports efforts to ensure that victims and survivors of sexual violence are accorded proper access to justice, remedies and assistance. There should absolutely be no room for impunity for perpetrators of such heinous acts. While we appreciate the effort by Sierra Leone and Japan in introducing the draft text, we regret that the process leading up to the draft resolution has done a great disservice to such an important issue.
Mr. President,
2. Many delegations, including my own, entered the negotiations of this draft resolution in good faith, with a goal of achieving a consensual text, as envisioned by the co-facilitators. However, the approach undertaken was paradoxical to their desire. After the many rounds of consultations and tireless reasoning, it appeared to some of us, including my delegation, that there was no genuine interest in finding the lowest common denominator in which all delegations can agree to. The numerous concerns of delegations, including my own, regrettably fell into deaf ears.
3. We regret that contentious terms such as “multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination”, “diverse situations and conditions” and “the right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality” are featured in the text despite clear and repeated opposition from a number of delegations, on the grounds that they are “consensual language”. It is extremely irresponsible to assert that such terminologies, although featured in resolutions adopted without a vote, constitute consensual language, as a number of Member States, including Malaysia, have consistently expressed reservations towards such terminologies. The deliberate mischaracterisation of consensual language by certain delegations to promulgate contentious terminologies must stop. As such, Malaysia disassociates itself from these terminologies as contained in PP8, OP2(a), OP2(k) and OP6.
4. Despite the dissatisfactory conduct of the negotiations of the draft resolution, the issue at hand is of great importance and deserves the attention of this Assembly. Had the resolution been put to a vote, my delegation would have exercised an abstention. We hope that the co-facilitators would adopt a more inclusive approach in the future towards achieving a text that can be supported unanimously by all delegations. I request that this statement be included in the official records of the meeting.
I thank you, Mr. President.