Senior UN human rights official visits Liberia

Senior UN human rights official visits Liberia

GENEVA (31 July 2017) – UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour will visit Liberia from 1 to 3 August, seeking to mobilise support for the establishment of a UN Human Rights Office in the country following the forthcoming closure of the UN Mission in Liberia in March 2018. During his visit, Gilmour will meet with Government and civil society representatives on key human rights issues Liberia faces.
While Liberia has made significant progress since the 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and enjoyed peace and security, serious human rights challenges remain. With the upcoming presidential and legislative elections on 10 October this year, Gilmour will reinforce the call by the UN in Liberia on all stakeholders to work towards peaceful and transparent elections. He will discuss with the Government and partners the need to closely monitor the human rights situation in the pre-electoral context, and to ensure preventive steps are taken to avoid any outbreaks of violence.
During his visit, Gilmour is scheduled to meet senior Government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Internal Affairs, as well as political leaders across the spectrum. He will also engage in discussions with representatives of the diplomatic community, civil society and the United Nations.
ENDS
The UN Human Rights Office has been present in Liberia through the Human Rights and Protection Section of UNMIL, the UN Mission in Liberia, since 2004.

For more information and media requests, please contact Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 /rshamdasani@ohchr.org) or Liz Throssell (+41 22 917 9466 / ethrossell@ohchr.org)
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NEWS RELEASE - Philippines needs urgent action to reverse spiralling rightsviolations, UN experts say

Philippines needs urgent action to reverse spiralling rights violations, UN experts say

GENEVA (31 July 2017) – The Government of the Philippines must urgently address growing reports of human rights violations, including murder, threats against indigenous peoples and the summary execution of children, a group of United Nations experts* has said. 

“Attacks are spiralling against many groups in society and we are making an urgent appeal for Government action,” the experts said in a joint call for action.   

“We are witnessing severe, multiple human rights violations, especially against indigenous peoples and human rights defenders,” they stressed. “Children are not being spared and continue to be at high risk in a climate of prevailing violence”. 

“We are shocked by the increasing levels of violence, killings, intimidation and harassment being suffered by human rights defenders – including those protecting indigenous peoples - trade union organizers, farmers and their family members.” 

The experts added: “Allegations of summary executions, including of children, are also on the rise. All these cases must be investigated thoroughly and perpetrators should be brought to justice.” 

They also highlighted that some of those being attacked were defending the rights of Lumad indigenous peoples, who are reported to have suffered particularly severe threats on the island of Mindanao, often with the acquiescence or direct support of the security forces, while defending their ancestral land against businesses. 

Numerous killings and extra-judicial executions of villagers, farmers and human rights defenders working with them have been reliably reported, the experts noted. 

Last week, the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, speaking in a televised news conference on 24 July, threatened to bomb Lumad schools on Mindanao. 

“We urge the Government to ensure effective protection of individuals and groups who may be subject to extra-legal, arbitrary or summary executions, or those who received death threats,” the experts said. 

“The Government must also prevent incitement to violence or killings against indigenous communities, human rights defenders and farmers,” they concluded. 

The group of UN human rights experts has been in contact with the Government of the Philippines regarding these concerns. 

(*) The experts: Ms. Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Mr. Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and Ms. Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children. 

ENDS 

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. 

UN Human Rights, country page – Philippines 

For further information and media requests, please contact Vanessa Asensio ( +41 22 917 9001 /vasensioperez@ohchr.org ) or write to eje@ohchr.org   

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts: 
Xabier Celaya – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)   

You can access this news release online 

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NEWS RELEASE - Senior UN human rights official urges increased protectionof human rights defenders after his visit to Honduras

 

        
Senior UN human rights official urges increased protection of human rights defenders after his visit to Honduras 

TEGUCIGALPA/GENEVA (28 July 2017) – At the end of a three-day visit to Honduras, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Andrew Gilmour, underlined “the paramount need to increase protection for human rights defenders in Honduras.” Gilmour welcomed the strengthened cooperation between the newly-established UN Human Rights Office in Tegucigalpa and State institutions, adding that the goal of the Office is to support the Government in extending the protection of human rights in a highly challenging security environment and with upcoming elections.

In Honduras, Gilmour had meetings with State officials at the highest level, civil society representatives, as well as foreign ambassadors and the UN Country Team. After seeing the Head of the Organization of American States’ Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH), as well as the National Commissioner for Human Rights, Gilmour underlined the essential work they are both doing and their key partnerships with the UN Human Rights Office.

“We are glad that the direct link between corruption and human rights abuses is increasingly recognized – for example, when concessions for land or natural resources are wrongfully granted and without consulting indigenous communities,” he said.

Gilmour welcomed recent steps taken by the Honduran Government such as the creation of a National Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and the announced upgrading of the Vice-Ministry for Human Rights to a full-fledged Ministry. After meeting NGO leaders, Gilmour said he was particularly troubled by the violence faced by courageous human rights defenders: women, LGBTI, land defenders and indigenous peoples.  

“They are doing a tremendous service for the long-term future of Honduras and should never be attacked, punished or stigmatized,” he said.

Widespread impunity, horrific levels of violence, increased militarization of public security, restrictive access to family planning, as well as a disturbing increase in femicide and violence against women, were some of the issues brought to Gilmour’s attention during his visit. In his meetings, Gilmour reiterated that opening space for dialogue, access to information and meaningful participation in policy-making are key elements of a democratic society. He encouraged State officials to see human rights defenders as allies and useful agents of change.

He also warned against a reliance on harsh penal policies for juveniles and security-only approaches.

"Social investment and rehabilitation options would be far more likely to address the root causes of violence in Honduras,” Gilmour said.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact:

In Tegucigalpa: Fernando Neda on +504 9441 2869 / fnedacastro@ohchr.org 
In Geneva: Rupert Colville on +41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org or Ravina Shamdasani on +41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org or Liz Throssell on +41 22 917 9466 / ethrossell@ohchr.org  

UN Human Rights Office country page on Honduras: 
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/LACRegion/Pages/HNIndex.aspx

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OHCHR PRESS BRIEFING NOTES - (1) Vietnam, (2) Venezuela

 

28 July 2017

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Liz Throssell 

Location:      Geneva

Subject:        (1) Vietnam 
                (2) Venezuela 

(1) Vietnam

We are concerned about the intensifying crackdown against human rights defenders in Vietnam who have questioned or criticised the Government and its policies.

On Tuesday, a well-known activist, Tran Thi Nga, was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment and five years’ house arrest for so-called “anti-State propaganda” over comments posted online. We have serious concerns about the severity of the sentence and the conduct of the trial, which does not appear to have met due process standards. In accordance with provisions of article 88 of the Penal Code, Tran was kept in incommunicado detention for some six months, from her arrest in January until a few days before the trial. Tran was not allowed adequate time to prepare her defence, the trial lasted just one day and her family and friends were denied entry to the courtroom.

Tran Thi Nga’s sentence comes less than a month after another prominent blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, a.k.a Mother Mushroom, was jailed for 10 years, also under article 88, following similarly flawed judicial proceedings.

Over the last six months, at least seven other human rights defenders have been arrested and face prosecution, several dozen are currently detained, and two have been deported or sent into exile abroad. Many others have been intimidated, harassed and brutally beaten. Human rights defenders should never be treated as criminals who are a threat to national security.

The UN Human Rights Office and international human rights mechanisms have repeatedly denounced article 88 of the Penal Code, along with several other provisions of the Code, as being in breach of international human rights law. The Vietnamese Government’s failure to address the concerns of the international community about restrictions on fundamental freedoms raises doubts about its commitment to protect and promote human rights.

We urge the Vietnamese authorities to immediately release all those detained in connection with their exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, and to amend the overly broad ill-defined laws that are used – under the pretext of national security – to crack down on dissent.

(2) Venezuela

We are deeply concerned at the risk of further violence in Venezuela, where elections for the Constituent Assembly convened by President Nicolas Maduro are due to be held on Sunday.

The wishes of the Venezuelan people to participate or not in this election need to be respected. No one should be obliged to vote, while those willing to take part should be able to do so freely. 

We urge the authorities to manage any protests against the Constituent Assembly in line with international human rights norms and standards, and we are thereforeconcerned that demonstrations the authorities regard as disturbing the elections  have been banned from today until 1 August. We also call on those opposing the election and the Assembly to do so peacefully.

We hope that the poll scheduled for Sunday, if it goes ahead, will proceed peacefully and in full respect of human rights. To that end, we renew our appeal to the authorities to guarantee people’s rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and call on all in Venezuela to use only peaceful means to make themselves heard. 

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 /rcolville@ohchr.org) or Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org) or Liz Throssell (+41 22 917 9466/ ethrossell@ohchr.org)

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Concerned about the world we live in? Then STAND UP for someone’s rights today.#Standup4humanrights and visit the web page at http://www.standup4humanrights.org 

WORLD WILDLIFE FUND &ME:Tigers also have their right

Anjan, I'm excited to share with you the first high-resolution camera trap image of a wild tiger in Bhutan. Today is Global Tiger Day—the perfect day to celebrate the work that you make possible as a dedicated supporter and activist.  Home to an estimated 103 wild tigers, Bhutan is a model of conservation, working to ensure tiger safety and natural breeding in the wild against the backdrop of poachers and illegal wildlife traders. Bhutan may be the smallest country where wild tigers live, but it is fast becoming one of the biggest conservation champions. Read about five ways that WWF—with you by our side—helps countries like Bhutan protect tigers from poaching and habitat loss. "The fight to save tigers is our collective responsibility. Human beings are the answer to saving tigers. You and I are the answer." Singye Wangmo is one of the few female forestry officers protecting tigers in Bhutan from poachers. With World Ranger Day on July 31, we're also recognizing the heroes like Wangmo, who put their lives on the line for wildlife. Read Singye Wangmo's story. Thank you for being a hero for tigers and other species, Anjan. We look forward to sharing more conservation success stories with you.   Sincerely, Jessica Fraser Sotelo Director, Online Membership World Wildlife Fund

NEWS RELEASE - UN Human Rights Committee publishes findings on Honduras, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Mongolia, Pakistan, Switzerlandand Swaziland

        

UN Human Rights Committee publishes findings on Honduras, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Mongolia, Pakistan, Switzerland and Swaziland

GENEVA (27 July 2017) – The UN Human Rights Committee has published its findings on the civil and political rights record of countries it examined during its latest session:  Honduras, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Mongolia, Pakistan Switzerland and Swaziland.

The findings, officially termed concluding observations, contain positive aspects of the respective State’s implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and also main matters of concern and recommendations.

The concluding observations are now available here.

The UN Human Rights Committee will next meet from to 2017 to review the following countries: Australia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Mauritius and Romania.

ENDS

For media requests please contact:

Nicoleta Panta, +41(0) 22 9179310/npanta@ohchr.org

Background

Human Rights Committee members are independent human rights experts drawn from around the world, who serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. The Committee’s concluding observations are an independent assessment of States’ compliance with their human rights obligations under the treaty. Find more information about HRC here and watch HRC stories of impact here

London market closure plan threatens “dynamic cultural centre” - UN rights experts

        

London market closure plan threatens “dynamic cultural centre” - UN rights experts  

GENEVA (27 July 2017) – Plans to close a London market as part of a gentrification project represent a threat to cultural life, a group of United Nations human rights experts* has warned today. 

Seven Sisters Indoor Market in the London Borough of Haringey faces closure under the redevelopment plans, and the UK authorities should be mindful of the consequences on the economic, social and cultural rights of the people living and working in the market, the experts say. 

“If granted, the Compulsory Purchase Order under review would result in the expulsion of the current residents and shop owners from the place where they live and earn their livelihoods, and would have a deleterious impact on the dynamic cultural life of the diverse people in the area,” the experts added. 

The market comprises around 120 small shops, most of them family-run and with a few employees. “More than 55% of the business owners are of Latin American or Hispanic origin or descent, with the remaining portion representing 21 different origins,” they said. 

“The regeneration project would force their activities to stop or relocate. This has a disproportionate impact on people belonging to minorities and their right to equal participation in economic, social and cultural rights,” the experts added. 

Also called the “Latin village”, the market is a renowned space for social and cultural interactions among the shop owners and their families, the people of the area and the wider Latin American London community. It operates in effect as a cultural centre, regularly hosting cultural activities and providing space for intercultural gatherings, and is particularly important for women. 

“The market provides a dynamic cultural space, inclusive of people from a diversity of places and from different generations, that is a great example of London’s cultural diversity,” they noted. 

“The destruction of the market and scattering of the small businesses to other premises would not only seriously affect the economic situation of the people working there, but it would also make this cultural life simply disappear.” 

Since 2008, local residents and shop owners have been part of a legal battle to preserve the market and the area, challenging planning applications, organizing protests and raising awareness about the importance of the site. 

“We are concerned that, despite the continuous engagement of the civil society coalition around this site, no suitable alternative to expulsion and the destruction of the market has been identified or meaningfully discussed with the affected people,” the experts said. 

The experts also noted that, according to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the private investment firms involved in the regeneration project –which have been contacted by the experts- should conduct effective human rights due diligence in meaningful consultation with affected individuals and groups. 

“In addition to the duty of State to protect individuals from violations of their human rights by third parties, all business enterprises have an independent responsibility to respect all internationally recognized human rights and address adverse human rights impacts,” the experts concluded. 

The group of UN human rights experts has been in contact with the Government of the United Kingdom regarding their concerns. 

(*) The experts: Ms. Karima Bennoune, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights; Mr. Surya Deva, current Chairperson of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights; and Ms. Rita Izsak-Ndiaye, Special Rapporteur on minority issues. 

ENDS 

The Special Rapporteurs and Working are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Human Rights Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work 

UN Human Rights, country page: United Kingdom 

For more information and media requests, please contact: Ms. Johanne Bouchard (+41 22 91 79 630 /jbouchard@ohchr.org) or write to srculturalrights@ohchr.org 

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts: 
Xabier Celaya – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)   

You can access this news release online     

Concerned about the world we live in? Then STAND UP for someone’s rights today.#Standup4humanrights and visit the web page at http://www.standup4humanrights.org

NEWS RELEASE - Poland must safeguard judicial independence – UN Special Rapporteur

                

        Poland must safeguard judicial independence – UN Special Rapporteur

GENEVA (26 July 2017) – A United Nations human rights expert has welcomed the Polish President’s recent decision to veto two bills that would have threatened the independence of the judiciary, urging the Government to ensure that judicial independence is safeguarded. 

“I welcome the President’s veto of the two bills, which together would have severely undermined the independence of the judiciary in Poland,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of the judiciary, Diego García-Sayán. 

“However, I remain concerned with the state of independence of the judiciary in the country,” the Special Rapporteur added. 

The first bill, adopted by the Parliament on 12 July 2017, stipulated that all members of the National Council of the Judiciary would be appointed by the Parliament. The second bill, adopted less than two weeks later, would have forced all Supreme Court judges to resign except those selected by the Minister of Justice.   

Both bills would have increased the power of the executive and legislative branches over the judiciary, the Special Rapporteur noted. 

“It is the State’s duty to respect and observe the independence of the judiciary, by allowing judges to decide cases impartially, without any improper influences, pressure, threats or interference, as well as by guaranteeing that any method of judicial selection safeguards against judicial appointments for improper motives,” Mr. García-Sayán said. 

A third bill, giving the Minister of Justice the power to appoint presidents and vice-presidents of local regional courts (known as common courts), has now been approved by the President. 

“My concerns have been heightened by the adoption of this third bill, in the context of ongoing challenges to the independence of the judiciary over the past two years,” Mr. García-Sayán added. 

Tensions began in 2015, when the newly elected President refused to swear into office judges appointed to the Constitutional Tribunal by the previous Parliament. 

A series of bills relating to the judiciary had since been adopted, including the merging of the functions of the formerly independent Prosecutor with those of the Justice Minister, and amendments to the law on the Constitutional Tribunal which undermine its effectiveness and independence. 

“The independence of the judiciary, as enshrined in the Polish Constitution, as well as in several international human rights instruments, must be guaranteed by the State,” stressed the Special Rapporteur. 

The UN Special Rapporteur has been in contact with the Government of Poland regarding his concerns. 

ENDS 

Mr. Diego García-Sayán (Peru) has been Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyerssince December 2016.  As Special Rapporteur, Mr. García-Sayán is part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. 

UN Human Rights, country page: Poland 

For more information and media requests, please contact Ms. Dragana Korljan (+41 22 917 9721 /dkorljan@ohchr.org)
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts: 
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)   

This news release can be accessed online 

Concerned about the world we live in? Then STAND UP for someone’s rights today. 
#Standup4humanrights and visit the web page at http://www.standup4humanrights.org