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Press Releases

2-6 March 1998 - Resolution of the March 1998 World Council of Whalers' First General Assembly

Resolution

WHEREAS, whaling and the sustainable use of whales by peoples around the world contribute significantly to community identity and integrity by satisfying socio-economic, cultural, religious and dietary needs;

WHEREAS, high seas whale resources are important natural resources for the benefit of all mankind;

WHEREAS, the current majority of members of the International Whaling Commission have failed to meet their legal obligations under the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling by:

a) maintaining the moratorium on commercial whaling and adopting a sanctuary in the Antarctic Ocean without regard to "scientific findings" as required by the Convention and by

b) ignoring the requirement that regulations on whaling "take account of the interests of the consumers of whale products and the whaling industry"; and that these actions have, caused severe socio-economic and cultural distress to whaling communities.

The World Council of Whalers:

1. Affirms its conviction that the sustainable use of whales is essential for the food security, culture and health of peoples, and that commercial activities related to the sustainable use of whales are appropriate and as such, is acknowledged by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25) and the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 11); and recognized by the Kyoto Declaration of 1995 regarding food security;

2. Emphasizes that, in accordance with Article 1 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and Article 1 of the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, no people may be deprived of its own means of subsistence;

3. Underscores the consensus of the international community, as reflected in Agenda 21 and the Convention on Biological Diversity, that indigenous peoples and local communities should continue to be sustainable users and stewards of the living resources upon which they have traditionally depended for their livelihood;

4. Concludes that Regional organizations involving resource users are the most appropriate bodies to responsibly manage renewable marine resources and that the use of international institutions or the use or threat of unilateral trade measures to prevent resource users from harvesting whales in a sustainable manner is a violation of universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as a violation of the legal obligations of states under the above noted instruments.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

1. That the World Council of Whalers is united in the cause of sustainable use and human rights to natural resource use and committed to continue their cooperation in furthering the objectives of the organization;

2. That the World Council of Whalers supports the aspirations of those, particularly, the Nuu-Chah-Nulth First Nations, Iceland and the small-type whaling communities in Japan, wishing to exercise their right to sustainably use whales;

3. That the World Council of Whalers recognizes the sovereign prerogatives of nations to utilize resources on a sustainable basis; and

4. That the World Council of Whalers encourages its members to ensure that national representation to appropriate international fora includes members of their communities involved in the sustainable use of whales.

AND URGES:

1. That the World Council of Whalers submit a copy of this Resolution to their respective legislative assembly and appropriate administrator of their government;

2. That the World Council of Whalers transmit a copy of this Resolution to each Commissioner of the International Whaling Commission, to the secretariats of the International Whaling Commission, the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations International Year of the Ocean, the United Nations Decade of Indigenous Peoples of the World, the United Nations Decade of Education in Human Rights and, other appropriate international organizations;

3. That the International Whaling Commission recognize and accept its legal obligations under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling;

4. That the Parties to CITES acknowledge their legal obligations under that Convention; and

5. That National Governments be responsive to the petitions from and rights of aboriginal and coastal peoples related to the sustainable use of renewable marine resources.