Posts Tagged ‘United Nations’
June 14, 2013
The next thematic report of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, to the General Assembly in October 2013 will focus on the links between large-scale development projects and a safe and enabling
- environment for human rights defenders, with a particular emphasis on the challenges of the human rights-based approach to development and the role of human rights defenders. This is indeed – as also shown in this blog – a growing area of concern with many HRDs working on e.g. land grabbing, forced evictions, environmental issues or the protection of indigenous minorities under constant threats and many having been killed .
To this end, the Special Rapporteur is requesting Member States, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and regional human rights mechanisms to answer a questionnaire. If you would like to contribute to this exercise, kindly complete the questionnaire and send it to defenders@ohchr.org. Deadline: 24 June 2013!. Should you have any question, please send an e-mail to the same address. Questionnaire to be found via Questionnaire on large-scale development.
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders, UN | Leave a Comment »
Tags: climate, development projects, Environmental issue, environmental issues, forced evictions, General Assembly, Human right, Human Rights and Liberties, Human Rights Defenders, human rights institutions, human rights mechanisms, indigenous minorities, indigenous peoples, Land issues, Margaret Sekaggya, Non-governmental organization, Special Rapporteur, UN, United Nations, United Nations Human Rights Council, United Nations Special Rapporteur
June 10, 2013
It has been 3 years since Floribert Chebeya and Fidèle Bazana were killed at the hands of the Police of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after been summoned by the Head of the Police, General John 
Numbi. To date, the Congolese Military Justice, who deals with this matter, has refused to prosecute General Numbi and has merely judged his accomplices even though it knows the truth, thereby showing total allegiance to the political and military regime. Specific and detailed revelations of one of the protagonists on this case, Commander Paul Mwilambwe, leaves no doubt about on the subject. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in human rights, Protection International | 1 Comment »
Tags: African Union, Avocats Sans Frontières, Congo, Democratic Republic Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Fidèle Bazana, Floribert Chebeya, human rights, human rights organizations, independence of the judiciary, Jean Marie Kabengela, Lawyers without Borders, murder, Observatory for the Protection of HRDs, Protection International, Protection on Line, threats, United Nations, Voix de Sans Voix
June 7, 2013
For those who missed it or did not want to read the whole report, Carly Nyst wrote on 4 June 2013 an excellent summary of the recent landmark report by the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and the Right to Privacy, Frank la Rue.
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Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders, UN | 2 Comments »
Tags: Carly Nyst, electronic surveillance, Frank La Rue, Freedom of speech, Geneva, Human right, human rights, information technology, internet, Martin Scheinin, privacy, Privacy International, right to privacy, Surveillance, United Nations, United Nations Human Rights Council, United Nations Special Rapporteur
June 7, 2013
At the end of a 10-day fact-finding mission to South Korea
UN special rapporteur on human rights Defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, said Friday that South Korea’s 65-year-old national security act posed a “seriously problematic” challenge to freedom of expression. It prohibits the printing, distribution and ownership of any material deemed “anti-state” and outlaws any organisation advocating overthrow of the government.
“
I have been acquainted with the national security act which, despite the fact that it has been amended on several occasions, still appears seriously problematic for the exercise of freedom of expression,”
Sekaggya said.
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Posted in human rights, UN | Leave a Comment »
Tags: country visit, environmental issues, freedom of expression, Government, Human Rights Defenders, human rights groups, labour rights, Margaret Sekaggya, National Human Rights Commission of Korea, National Security Act, self censorship, South Korea, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, United Nations, United Nations Special Rapporteur
June 3, 2013
With regard to the defectors sent back from Laos via China to North Korea – on which I reported a few days ago – it is interesting to note the reaction by China which has expressed anger at the criticism by two UN High Commissioners (for human rights and refugee): “We hope that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the UN does not make irresponsible remarks based on unspecified news,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei, but also appeared to distance itself from the repatriation by saying the refugees had passed through the country with “valid documents and visas”. “In the whole process, China has not received a request by any party to assist in the repatriation of these persons“.
via China rebukes UN agency over North Korean refugees – Yahoo!7.
Posted in human rights | Leave a Comment »
Tags: China, defectors, Hong Lei, Laos, non-refoulement, North Korea, North Korean defectors, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, refugees, UNHCR, United Nations, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
May 27, 2013
When North Korea, Iran and Kazakhstan start praising your human rights records, it may be time to change tactics. Turkmenistan came under fire at a recent session of the United Nations Human Rights Council where it was questioned by its peers for its torture programs, systematic suppression of free speech and persecution of human rights defenders. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Berdymukhamedov, European Union, freedom of expression, Human right, human rights, Iran, North Korea, torture, Turkmen people, Turkmenistan, United Nations, United Nations Human Rights Council, Zawya
May 24, 2013
The Bangkok Post of 24 May 2013 contains a nice little item that should give heart to those who work on UN special procedures and of wonder about the impact of all this advocacy work: It seems that Thailand has conceded a bit on issues raised by a UN special rapporteurs regarding freedom of expression and migrant labour, and to the fatal harassment of human rights defenders.The ‘admission’ is in a document included in 108 pages of communications involving special rapporteurs of the United Nations recently made available ahead of the 23rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.
via Thai government concedes abuses raised by a UN special rapporteur as abuses of human rights | Bangkok Post: news.
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders, UN | 1 Comment »
Tags: advocacy work, Bangkok Post, enforcement, freedom of expression, Government of Thailand, Human right, Human Rights Defenders, lese majeste, migrant labour, migrants, rapporteurs, Special Rapporteur, thai government, Thailand, UN Special Rapporteur, United Nations, United Nations Human Rights Council, United Nations Special Rapporteur
May 22, 2013
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon met on 21 May 2013 with the newly elected members of Mozambique‘s National Human Rights Commission and stressed the need to communicate with human rights defenders:
“Good governance, justice, human rights and anticorruption are central to the Government’s plans to reduce poverty and accelerate development. You have an essential role to play. Mozambique is faced with a number of human rights challenges. The Universal Periodic Review of Mozambique two years ago highlighted several, including arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killings, access to justice and conditions in places of detention. Another major issue is discrimination and violence against women, especially in rural areas. …… The people of Mozambique expect this new institution to play a critical role in combating corruption and guaranteeing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. You will have the power to investigate alleged human rights violations and issue recommendations. I commend the inclusive nature of the membership of the Commission, and especially that it includes representation from civil society. Your decision to hold periodic open sessions with civil society is commendable and wise, and I encourage you to pursue regular communication with human rights defenders….”
via United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons Statements.
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders, UN | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Ban Ki-moon, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, Mozambique, National Human Rights Commission, United Nations, United Nations Secretary General, Universal Periodic Review, Universal Periodic Review of Mozambique
May 13, 2013
The prize, which is awarded to individuals or organizations every five years was first given out 45 years ago on the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders, UN | Leave a Comment »
Tags: awards, deadline, human rights, Human Rights and Liberties, Human Rights Defenders, New York, Non-governmental organization, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Human Rights Prize, United Nations, Universal Declaration, Universal Declaration Human Rights
April 26, 2013
Bahrain’s state news agency reported earlier this week that Juan Méndez, the UNs special rapporteur for torture, had “put off his visit” scheduled for early May following a letter from Salah bin Ali Abdulrahman, Bahrain’s human rights affairs minister. The letter outlined “reasons for the request to postpone the visit”, the agency said. However, Mr Méndez said on Wednesday 24 April (according to the National) that there was no choice in the matter, calling the refusal to play host to his visit “a unilateral decision by the [Bahraini] authorities“. “This is the second time that my visit has been postponed, at very short notice. It is effectively a cancellation, as no alternative dates were proposed, nor is there a future road map to discuss“.
So much for the much-touted Government-commissioned report of 2011 in which the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry found evidence of torture committed by the country’s security forces during a pro-reform uprising and the subsequent Government’s promise to coöperate with the UN to address the issues. Refusal to coöperate may pay again!
via Bahrain shuts out UN torture probe – The National.
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Bahrain, Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, cooperation with UN, Government, human rights, Juan Mendez, Middle East, torture, United Nations, United Nations Special Rapporteur, visit
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 