Posts Tagged ‘Minister of Foreign Affairs’
June 4, 2015
Having just posted about the call by UN and others to free human rights defenders before the start of the Baku Games [https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2015/06/04/un-council-of-europe-and-osce-ask-azerbaijan-to-free-human-rights-defenders-ahead-of-2015-baku-games/] , I feel I should also share what was written in response by Sara Rajabova on the site of the government’s news agency AzerNews:
“Azerbaijan‘s Foreign Ministry has accused some officials of international organizations of abusing their status to discredit Azerbaijan. Hikmet Hajiyev, Azerbaijani foreign ministry spokesperson, said on June 4 that officials of some international organizations abuse their status and act as the elements of a sponsored campaign to discredit Azerbaijan on the eve of the First European Games.”
Who is ‘sponsoring’ and with what inducements remains unstated except that they serve “the interests of certain political circles”.
He noted that the first European Games in Baku will serve to the development of intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, friendship, partnership and peace, which is topical in the European continent nowadays. All true, but human rights are not topical? Yes, but only when it comes to the “infringed rights of over a million Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons as a result of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan.”
via Some foreign diplomats run sponsored campaign to discredit Azerbaijan – AzerNews.
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders, UN | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Azerbaijan, AzerNews, Baku Games, Council of Europe, Dunja Mijatović, European Games, Human Rights Defenders, Michel Forst, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nils Muižnieks, OSCE, selectivity, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
November 18, 2013
(Minister Eamon Gilmore at the 13th annual NGO Forum on Human Rights, on 13 November)
Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore, announced at the 13th annual NGO Forum on Human Rights in Dublin [this year’s forum was on “Ideals and Interests: the place of human rights in foreign policy”] that he had initiated a complete review of Ireland’s foreign policy and external relations – the first such audit to be carried out in nearly two decades. This is important as Ireland – although a small nation – is one of the few with an explicit policy to support human rights defenders.
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Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Arab spring, Eamon Gilmore, Foreign Policy, foreign policy of Ireland, Human right, human rights, human rights and development, international human rights, Ireland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, NGO Forum, Non-governmental organization, reprisals, UN, United Nations
October 18, 2013
The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Mauritius to the UN in Geneva does something special: it organises a side event on its own human rights record in preparation of the Universal Periodic Review. Would other countries please follow?
“The promotion and protection of human rights in Mauritius” on Tuesday 22 October 2013 from 16.00 to 18.00 hours at Palais des Nations Room XXII in Geneva.
Programme
- Opening Remarks by A. Boolell, Minister of Foreign Affairs
– Presentation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights for Mauritius
– Presentation on the UPR Preparation Process for Mauritius
- Role of national institutions in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, by Mr Brian Glover, Chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission.
Posted in human rights, UN | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Action plan, Africa, Arvin Boolell, Brian Glover, Equal Opportunities Commission, good practices, Government, human rights record, Mauritius, Minister of Foreign Affairs, side event, UN in Geneva, Universal Periodic Review, UPR
March 1, 2013
It is well-known that the Netherlands give a high priority to support of human rights defenders and their organisations. In his address to the high-level segment of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva on 25 February, the new foreign minister Frans Timmermans confirmed that this is indeed one of his main priorities.‘Human rights defenders and organisations are having to deal with more and more obstruction and being treated as criminals,’ Mr Timmermans said. ‘In many more parts of the world, repression directed against bloggers, journalists and members of the public is increasing. This is simply unacceptable.’ Women’s rights are another of Mr Timmermans’ priorities. The Netherlands takes a stand against every form of violence against women – from rape to honour killing and human trafficking. It is also actively promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights and the participation of women in society. ‘Men must be less self-centred and give women more rights,’ Mr Timmermans continued. ‘This helps the world to move forward – and men benefit from it.’ A third Dutch priority is to promote the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders LGBT. In about 80 countries, same-sex relations are a criminal offence and in seven countries, punishable by death. ‘There are three things we need to do,’ said Mr Timmermans. ‘Promote acceptance, fight discrimination and stop the criminalisation of gay people.’ Mr Timmermans also met with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navanetham Pillay and discussed ways of opposing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition the Minister had talks with NGOs actively involved in promoting LGBT rights.
via Top priority for the Netherlands: supporting human rights defenders | News item | Government.nl.
Posted in human rights | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Foreign Policy, Frans Timmermans, Geneva, harassment, Human rights defender, Human Rights Defenders, legal restrictions, LGBT, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Navanethem Pillay, Netherlands, Non-governmental organization, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Human Rights Council, Women Human Rights
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 