Posts Tagged ‘appointment’
January 18, 2020
Khin Myat Myat Wai of the
Myanmar Times reported on
16 January 2020: “Reconstituted Myanmar Human Rights Commission more of the same“.
Human rights defenders blasted the newly reconstituted Human Rights Commission as comprised of a bunch of retirees who have little experience in protecting and promoting human rights. President U Win Myint has appointed U Hla Myint, Myanmar representative at the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, as the chair of the 11-member reconstituted body. Daw Nanda Hmun, retired permanent secretary of Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture was appointed as his deputy chair.
Critics expressed doubt on the capacity of the commission to perform its functions independently, especially in investigating cases, which involved police or military personnel as well as other government officials. Daw Nyo Nyo Thin, a former legislator who now heads an anti-corruption watch group in Yangon, said that one good thing about the newly formed commission is it has four female members. But she observed that since most of them are retired civil servants with little experience in human rights-related works, they might not be the right persons for the commission. ..“One of the main functions of the commission is to challenge the government if they received complaints of abuses.” The former legislator bewailed the lack of an active human rights advocate appointed in the body, commenting that the new commission seemed to be comprised of people close to President U Win Myint.
Ko Aung Zaw Oo, a member of the Myanmar Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Association, noted the lack of consultation and transparency on the appointment of the new commissioners. “I don’t want to criticize people but the selection process,” he said. “I want to ask if being a retired person is a requirement to be a member of Human Rights Commission.” For U Aung Myo Min, director of local resource centre Equality Myanmar, the lack of human rights expert in the commission is disturbing. The new commission does not have human rights subject experts or experienced people from ethnic regions where human rights violations mainly occurred and so, there are doubts in its capacity to discharge its function well, he said.
“The previous commission does not have transparency and was criticized not only locally but also by the international community. The new Commission follows the same steps and I want to question that,” U Aung Myo Min said.
In December last year, 20 local civil society organizations called on the government to respect and ensure the independence of the commission and most of them felt frustrated their call went unheeded as evidenced by the appointment of the members of new commission. The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission was established in September 2011, under the administration of former president U Thein Sein.
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/reconstituted-myanmar-human-rights-commission-more-same.html
Posted in human rights | Leave a Comment »
Tags: appointment, Human Rights Defenders, independence, Ko Aung Zaw Oo, Myanmar, Myanmar Times, National Human Rights Commission, U Aung Myo Min
September 11, 2019
Michael Forst (l) with the UN Secretary General
An exceptionally large group of 131 national and international NGOs (for list see: http://www.ishr.ch/sites/default/files/documents/190909_criteria_jt_letter_sr_on_hrds_signatories.pdf) have set out the criteria that should be at the heart of the selection of the next UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. As Michel Forst’s term as mandate holder comes to an end, candidates have until 17 October 2019 to submit their applications for the position. (If your organisation would like to endorse the criteria, please sign on here)
The document sets out the skills and expertise that should be taken into account in the appointment of the next expert in March 2020. These fit under 4 priorities:
- qualifications and skills;
- relevant expertise
- established competence;
- and flexibility/ readiness and availability
The document also provides information on the application process, and underlines the importance of independence and impartiality, as well as experience or knowledge of the realities faced by human rights defenders.
ISHR’s Programme Manager Helen Nolan stated: ‘Human rights defenders who are most at risk around the world are often persons with discriminated identities or from communities that are marginalised, so the Special Rapporteur should be able to consider the particular contexts and challenges faced by these individuals and groups with the benefit of insights from the mandate holder’s personal experience’.
The checklist is available here.
http://www.ishr.ch/news/special-procedures-what-skills-do-we-need-next-un-expert-human-rights-defenders-rapporteur
Posted in Human Rights Defenders, ISHR, UN | 1 Comment »
Tags: appointment, Candidate, Helen Nolan, ISHR, job opportunity, joint statement, Michel Forst, NGOs, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
May 21, 2019
On 16 May 2019 the NGO EuroMed Rights announced that it has appointed Rasmus Alenius Boserup as its new Executive Director. He will assume the position on 1 June, 2019, succeeding Marc Schade-Poulsen, who will take up a position as consultant and research fellow at the University of Roskilde.
A Danish national, Rasmus Alenius Boserup has a background in social science research and organisation management. Until 2019, he worked as Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies focusing on power and politics in the Middle East and North Africa. Prior to this, he served as Executive Director of the Danish-Egyptian Dialogue Institute in Cairo from 2008 to 2011. An expert and opinion writer in Danish and international media, Boserup holds a doctoral degree in culture and civilisation from École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris and a PhD degree in Arabic Studies from the University of Copenhagen.
Boserup said: “I look forward to take up the position with EuroMed Rights. I have followed the network since its creation in 1997 and have collaborated with several of its outstanding member organisations in the South and in the North.” “Today we face numerous worrying trends in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The crumbling of the liberal order and rise of international authoritarianism add fuel to populism and illiberalism in Europe. And it further emboldens repressive and autocratic leaders in the Middle East and North African. Under these urgent conditions, I look forward to engage fully in promoting and defending human rights and democracy as a part of a prestigious organisation like EuroMed Rights.”
EuroMed Rights President Wadih Al-Asmaradded: “We are pleased to have Rasmus on board and look forward to leveraging his expertise in steering EuroMed Rights forward. Our network has grown to occupy a strategically important position while Marc Schade-Poulsen held the position of Executive Director and we are eager to capitalise on this with Rasmus Alenius Boserup”.
https://mailchi.mp/euromedrights/euromed-rights-appoints-new-executive-director?e=1209ebd6d8
Posted in EMHRN | 1 Comment »
Tags: appointment, Brussels, Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for support to Human Rights Defenders, euroMed Rights, Marc Schade-Poulsen, Mediterranean, NGO, Rasmus Alenius Boserup, Wadih Al-Asmar
April 24, 2019
Anne Gallagher
The Commonwealth Foundation, which supports civil society organisations throughout the Commonwealth, has appointed Anne Gallagher as its next director general. Gallagher, president of the International Catholic Migration Commission, will relocate from Australia to take up the London-based role for an initial four-year term from June. She will succeed Vijay Krishnarayan, who is stepping down after completing the maximum of two terms.
Before joining the ICMG, Gallagher, a lawyer by training, worked at the United Nations in roles including special adviser to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She has also held positions including co-chair of the International Bar Association’s Presidential Task Force Against Human Trafficking and been a member of the Asia Dialogue on Forced Migration.
Gallagher said in a statement “As the civil society voice of the Commonwealth, the foundation has played a vital role in advancing core Commonwealth values of democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law…That role will continue to be critical as we move into a future where truly inclusive multilateral cooperation is becoming ever more urgent.”
https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/anne-gallagher-appointed-director-general-commonwealth-foundation/management/article/1582715
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Tags: Anne Gallagher, appointment, Australia, Civil society, Commonwealth Foundation, human trafficking, International Catholic Migration Commission, migration, UK
January 25, 2019
Two personalities well-known in human rights circles have joined the Elders [see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elders_(organization)]
- Former UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
Former UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. AP Photo
After four years as an outspoken defender of human rights for the United Nations, Jordanian royal Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is set to continue his work as a member of The Elders, the group of statesmen formed by Nelson Mandela in 2007 to promote equality and world peace. Mr Al Hussein stepped down as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights last September after a four-year term in which he became became increasingly at odds with world powers he accused of failing to uphold the ideals of the very international system they created. His refusal to stand for a second term, because he expected to be opposed by these same countries, ended a stellar career of more than two decades in the United Nations. [see: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/tag/zeid-raad-al-hussein/]
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was Africa’s first female Head of State and former Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Also joined former Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos, also a Nobel Peace prize winner.
The Elders Group is chair by former president of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson.
Posted in human rights | 1 Comment »
Tags: appointment, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Juan Manuel Santos, Mary Robinson, NGO, The Elders, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid, Zeid Bin Raad al-Husseini
September 19, 2018
In September 2018, Florian Irminger joined PRI as its Executive Director. He was previously the Head of Advocacy at Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) in Geneva. Before joining HRHF, Florian co-founded ‘Stop Suicide’, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the prevention of suicide among young people in Switzerland. Florian has been Chair of the Board of the House of NGOs in Geneva for four years. From 2009 to 2012, he was a member of the editorial team responsible for revising Geneva’s constitution, adopted in 2012, and was also a member of the young leaders’ programme of the World Economic Forum.
In his inaugural blog in PRI Newsletter, Florian reflects upon the organisation’s practical approach to penal reform, which has enabled PRI to play a key role in implementing international standards and provide effective and tailored solutions to criminal justice problems worldwide.
For my earlier posts on Florian: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/tag/florian-irminger/
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https://www.penalreform.org/blog/pris-approach-as-needed-as-ever/
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Tags: appointment, Florian Irminger, Human Rights House Foundation, Penal Reform International, PRI
April 30, 2018
After 20 years with the APT, Barbara Bernath will be the new Secretary General on 1 July.
The Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) has appointed Barbara Bernath as it’s new Secretary General, as of 1 July 2018. [see: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2017/12/15/mark-thompson-old-hand-in-apt-leaves-in-2018/] Ms. Bernath has extensive experience in torture prevention with the APT over the last twenty years, including as Chief of Operations since 2009. She has worked in all regions of the world and is very much appreciated by the broad variety of governmental and non-governmental partners of the APT.
“Barbara Bernath is the right person to implement APT’s Strategic Plan and pursue the Agenda for Change adopted by the Board. She is aware of the new challenges regarding the prevention of torture and will know which measures to take in the future to address them, taking into consideration the expectations from our partners in the field,” stated APT President, Martine Brunschwig Graf.
“We must propose concrete steps that can address the root causes of torture and ill-treatment, facilitate dialogue among all actors and accompany them in their national efforts towards societies free of torture.” said Barbara Bernath.
A Swiss/French national, Barbara Bernath holds a Master’s Degree in international law from the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID). Before joining the APT, she worked as a Delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross and held several posts in the human rights field including with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. She speaks French, English, Spanish and German.
https://www.apt.ch/en/news_on_prevention/apt-appoints-new-secretary-general/
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Tags: anti -torture, appointment, Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), Barbara Bernath, Geneva, Mark Thomson, Martine Brunschwig Graf, prevention
April 3, 2018
On 3 April, 2018, Dunja Mijatović has taken up the post of Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.
She was elected last January [https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2018/01/25/dunja-mijatovic-new-council-of-europe-commissioner-for-human-rights/] as the first woman to hold this post, succeeding Nils Muižnieks (2012-2018).
“I intend to keep the legacy of the previous Commissioners’ work and maintain the ability of this institution to react rapidly and effectively to protect people’s human rights. My view is that human rights are indeed universal and that no country is beyond scrutiny.
In terms of priorities, my vision is simple. In a word, it is: implementation. Norms, resolutions, treaties are there to guide us. Yes, we do need political will to make sure they are realised. But this is not a matter only for governments. We must engage our societies at large in their implementation and involve everyone in a dialogue on human rights. It is paramount that we achieve a recommitment to and a reaffirmation of human rights for all, and bring back trust in their importance for the well-being of each and every person.
I look forward to cooperating with governments, national authorities, international organisations, human rights defenders, journalists, NGOs, and human rights structures.”
https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner
Posted in human rights | 1 Comment »
Tags: appointment, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Council of Europe, Dunja Mijatović, Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 