HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DISCUSSES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN RIGHTS
The Human Rights Council this morning heard presentations on technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and from the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights, before holding a general debate on technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights. It also concluded its general debate on the annual report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General.
Kate Gilmore, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, presented an overview of results, best practices, challenges and lessons learned in the implementation of the technical assistance and capacity building support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to Member States. She focused on examples of initiatives under the Office’s six thematic strategies supporting national development objectives: integrating the recommendations of international human rights mechanisms into national developments plans; enhancing equality and countering discrimination; integrating human rights in development and in the economic sphere; widening the democratic space; combatting impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law; and early warning and protection of human rights in situations of conflict, violence and insecurity.
Lin Lim, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights, said that the Board remained deeply concerned that the lack of resources had negatively impacted the response to urgent human rights needs on the ground as requested by States. In her view, it was critical to ensure that technical cooperation activities reflected the realities of mass movement and displacement of people. She also noted that technical assistance requests in the field of economic, social and cultural rights continued to grow. The Chairperson also referred to the Board’s Ukraine mission, and expressed hope that the Government and the Office of the High Commissioner could agree on a longer-term plan to meet ongoing expectations for technical assistance and to support more sustained and realistic fundraising possibilities.
In the ensuing general debate, speakers underscored the importance of technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights, and called for increased financial support to the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation. Some speakers raised human rights concerns in countries benefiting from technical assistance and capacity building, focusing particularly on restrictions against civil society organizations and political space. Other speakers insisted that debates on this issue should not be politicized. States were primarily responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights, and international cooperation should be provided at the request of receiving States only, they added.
Speaking in the general debate were Maldives, also on behalf of Australia, Bahamas and Morocco, Netherlands on behalf of the European Union, Qatar on behalf of the Arab Group, France, Maldives, Morocco, Paraguay, Namibia, United Kingdom, China, India, Egypt, Thailand, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Belize, Australia, Sudan, Japan, Marshall Islands, Bahrain, Ukraine, Cambodia and United States.
Also speaking were the following non-governmental organizations: Federacion de Asociaciones de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos, Liberation, World Federation of Democratic Youth, American Association of Jurists, Indigenous People for Africa Coordination Committee, United Nations Watch, Iraqi Development Organization, Conseil international pour le soutien à des procès équitables et aux droits de l’homme, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain, Alsalam Foundation, World Barua Organization, Rencontre Africaine pour la défense des droits de l’homme, Arab Commission for Human Rights, Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture, Prahar, France Libertés: Fondation Danielle Mitterrand, International Service for Human Rights, International Federation of Journalists.
Earlier this morning, the Council concluded its general debate on the annual report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General, hearing representatives of non-governmental organizations raising concerns about the human rights situation in a number of countries. This general debate was started yesterday, and a summary can be read here.
Speaking were World Barua Organization, Association Solidarité Internationale pour l’Afrique, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, Arab Commission for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, United Nations Watch, Association des étudiants Tamouls de France, Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association, Integrated Youth Empowerment – Common initiative Group and Centre Independent de Recherches et d’Initiatives pour le Dialogue.
Bahrain spoke in a right of reply.
The Human Rights Council will reconvene its work this afternoon at 2.30 p.m., when it will start to take action on draft resolutions and decisions before concluding its thirty-second session on Friday, 1 July.
General Debate on the Annual Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
World Barua Organization commended the newly elected civilian-led Government of Myanmar for its strong commitment to address the situation in Rakhine State as a matter of priority, and supported the steps taken by Myanmar to protect minorities, including the recent establishment of the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs. It also welcomed the formation of the Central Committee on Implementation of Peace, Stability and Development of Rakhine State.
Association Solidarité Internationale pour l’Afrique drew attention to the sexual violence against Tamil women by the Sri Lankan security forces. Torture and harassment of Tamils in their homeland continued and Tamils could not live in peace as long as the armed forces were present in their land. The Sri Lankan Government had not prepared a roadmap for the demilitarization of the north and east of the country as suggested by the High Commissioner.
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development remained concerned about continuing incidents, particularly in the north and east. It echoed the High Commissioner’s call that continuing allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture, sexual violence, military surveillance, and harassment needed to be addressed swiftly. It also concurred with the High Commissioner’s assessment on accountability mechanisms and the importance of the inclusion of international judges in a judicial mechanism for accountability.
Arab Commission for Human Rights said the suffering of the Rohingya was a crime of genocide, and Myanmar was responsible for this crime. Rohingya were subject to sexual torture and rape and their land was confiscated. The Special Rapporteur on genocide was called on to visit Myanmar and enact all international mechanisms, including referring the situation to the Security Council and the International Criminal Court.
Human Rights Watch said that growing ultra-nationalism in Myanmar had spurred discrimination and threats against Rohingya and other Muslims that the authorities had been unwilling to address. Regarding Sri Lanka, several of the Government’s key commitments to the Council remained unfulfilled, especially on judicial issues such as investigating war crimes. The Council was urged to sustain its close engagement to work with Sri Lanka until all resolution commitments were fully met.
United Nations Watch said that while progress in Sri Lanka was welcomed, little had been done to provide justice for the victims of the conflict. Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, arrests of civil society actors continued. Resolution 30/1 had called for international judges to investigate alleged war crimes, but the country had only allowed a domestic inquiry mechanism to be established. Those responsible for atrocities must not escape justice.
Association des étudiants Tamouls de France said that the Government of Sri Lanka had been backtracking on its commitment to allow the participation of international judges and lawyers, which was a fundamental aspect of a credible accountability process. Consecutive Sri Lankan Governments had been consistent in ensuring complete impunity with regard to the crimes committed against the Tamil people.
Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association welcomed efforts by the Myanmar Government for peace and reconciliation, and called on the international community to provide cooperation and technical assistance in support of these efforts.
Integrated Youth Empowerment – Common Initiative Group raised concerns about the occupation of and genocide against the Tamil people by the Sinhala regime, and called for an appropriate political solution addressing the root causes of the conflict. Negotiations had to start as soon as possible, under the mediation of the European Union and the United Nations. The international community should support a Tamil referendum.
Centre Independent de Recherches et d’Initiatives pour le Dialogue said that the Tamils had not seen a booming economy after the end of the war as the army had occupied their lands. A meagre 4,000 acres had been released. Ex-militants were re-arrested and sentenced to prison terms. The process of imposition of Singhalese culture and language had deprived the Tamils of the right to school instruction in their language. The Government of Sri Lanka was not clear about what type of transitional justice it wanted to set up. Victims could not wait.
Right of Reply
Bahrain, speaking in a right of reply in response to a statement made by the United States, said the judiciary in Bahrain issued judgements without any interference of third parties. It implemented local laws and international standards and guaranteed the right to a fair trial, medical services to prisoners, and the right to appeal; public trials were open to observers. Hate speech, intimidation, use of fire arms, taking part in armed conflict and terrorism were considered crimes against national security and persons who took part in such acts would be deprived of citizenship. The right of assembly and association were guaranteed. However, in case of violence during those events, the Government had a duty to preserve security. Nobody was above the law. It would be better for the United States to counter hate speech against minorities in its own country.
Presentation on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Efforts in the Field of Human Rights
KATE GILMORE, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, presented an oral overview of results, best practices, challenges and lessons learned in the implementation of the technical assistance and capacity building support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to Member States. She focused on examples of initiatives under the Office’s six thematic strategies supporting national development objectives. The first thematic strategy was integrating the recommendations of international human rights mechanisms into national developments plans. She presented examples from Paraguay and Ukraine. In Papua New Guinea, a Government-led Universal Periodic Review taskforce had been assisted in conducting consultations on the country’s Review reporting. The second thematic strategy was enhancing equality and countering discrimination; the Office had applied this in Guatemala, Georgia, the European Union, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, and Tanzania. In Malawi, the strategy application had resulted in a plan of action to address attacks against persons with albinism, and in Tanzania judges and prosecutors had been trained to increase access to justice for persons with albinism. On the third thematic strategy, integrating human rights in development and in the economic sphere, Madagascar, Uganda, Bolivia, Cambodia, Sierra Leone and Mozambique had been recipients of strategic technical assistance and capacity building.
The fourth thematic strategy of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was widening the democratic space. Eight States had been assisted in their efforts to put in place national institutions in line with the Paris Principles, namely Burkina Faso, Benin, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Kuwait, Myanmar, and Yemen. Existing institutions had been supported in Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guatemala, Iraq, Liberia, Niger and Oman, among others. Fiji had also been assisted. The fifth thematic strategy, combatting impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law, had been applied in Afghanistan. There, a public report on the treatment of conflict-related detainees had caused the Government to issue a national plan on the elimination of torture. The sixth thematic strategy was early warning and protection of human rights in situations of conflict, violence and insecurity. The Office had worked under that thematic strategy with Mauritania, Palestine and Ukraine. The examples presented were snapshots of the Office’s work, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights would like to be able to do much more, she said. But its ability to respond to requests for support depended on its ability to mobilize and sustain sufficient technical, human and financial resources.
Presentation on the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights
LIN LIM, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights, said that the Board noted the efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner to address the financial challenges by terminating or reducing field presences and programmes traditionally covered by the Voluntary Fund resources. The Board remained deeply concerned that those reductions negatively impacted the capacity of the Office to respond to urgent human rights needs on the ground as requested by States. The requests for technical cooperation kept growing, but the voluntary contributions had not kept pace so that the funding gap had been widening. The Board was especially disturbed to learn about the problems encountered as a result of the implementation of the new UMOJA system, in particular to access accurate and timely information on expenditures, provide financial reports and make timely grant payments to partners. Those difficulties were negatively affecting the credibility and operational capacities of the Office of the High Commissioner. Another key issue was that of migration and technical cooperation. The mass movement and displacement of people was most likely going to continue. Therefore, it was critical to ensure that experiences in the field continued to inform the strategic direction on that complex issue and that technical cooperation activities reflected the realities and possibilities for real impact. Another important area was that of economic, social and cultural rights. The Board had confirmed through its field visits that demands for specific technical cooperation in that area, such as on land rights and housing rights, continued to grow.
As for the second part of the Board’s session in Kyiv, the Board could observe first-hand how the Office was able to respond swiftly to the crisis that had unfolded in early 2014 and deploy a mission in a very complex situation. The Ukraine Mission was a very good example of what the Board tried to emphasize: that understanding the human rights situation through monitoring and technical cooperation and advisory services needed to be treated as part and parcel of a continuum in which evidence-based information on the situation and challenges on the ground was carefully analysed and used to identify the best course of action and the range of tools and support available before implementation took place. A particularly significant finding was the clear expectation that the Mission would continue to play a key role in providing technical support beyond its current mandate. A major limiting factor had been the very short-term nature of the Mission’s mandate, the most recent extension being for six months up to September 2016. Ms. Lim noted that for technical cooperation in the field of human rights to have effective and sustainable results, it had to be closely aligned to national socio-economic development objectives. On the other hand sustainable socio-economic development should hinge on a human rights-based approach. The total expenditure of the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights in 2015 amounted to $ 17.4 million, which was substantially less than in the previous year. The estimated cost in 2016 was $ 17.2 million. However, only $ 2.5 million had been received in contributions so far.
General Debate on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building in the Field of Human Rights
Maldives, speaking also on behalf of Australia, Bahamas and Morocco, underlined the importance of integrating human rights at the national level in all Member States, and to treat them in a fair and equal manner. It was imperative that all United Nations Member States had the same opportunity to participate in the work of the Human Rights Council. The Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund was thanked for enabling the participation of delegates from 18 small island developing States in this session of the Council and States were encouraged to contribute to the Fund to support the participation of small island developing States.
Netherlands, speaking on behalf of the European Union, commended the constant cooperation of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights with Member States, and noted its vital role in that regard. The European Union encouraged countries from across regions to further support the Office financially, and to allow it, when requested, full access to monitor human rights situations. The European Union deplored the deeply concerning situation in Yemen, and expected the Government to work toward closer cooperation with the Office. The European Union called on Cambodia to resume a dialogue with the opposition and to ensure a safe and enabling space for civil society.
Qatar, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, said that international cooperation played a vital role in enhancing human rights and ensuring the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Many Arab countries were making efforts to provide technical assistance to other countries in the field of human rights, and to contribute to the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation. Technical assistance had to be provided with the agreement of the receiving State, the Arab Group concluded.
France encouraged Libya to continue its cooperation with the human rights procedures, and on Yemen noted that it was vital that all parties respected international humanitarian law. In Mali, all parties were encouraged to implement the peace and reconciliation agreement, and the deterioration of the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cambodia was also noted, as was the situation in Ukraine.
Maldives recognized the invaluable support of the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to least developed countries and small island developing States, which continuously enhanced the ability of those States to participate in the Council. Technical support should be given to countries to strengthen national mechanisms in promoting human rights. Maldives counted on the support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in reaching its goals and aspirations for its people.
Morocco welcomed technical assistance and capacity building which showed the vital importance of strengthening national human rights institutions. Priority was given to putting into place an evaluation system for the performance of technical cooperation. That was an important benchmark which would help the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights make better use of efforts through better coordination. It was also vital that technical assistance provided should be able to have foreseeable financing.
Paraguay recognized the role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the area of international cooperation with Paraguay and in enabling Paraguay to reach to other countries and communicate its recommendations to them. Paraguay was currently engaging in efforts to share its experiences with other countries, notably neighbouring ones. International cooperation on follow-up on recommendations was a priority for Paraguay, which was why it co-sponsored the resolution 30/25 with Brazil.
Namibia noted that the international community had to stay mindful of the peculiar challenges faced by small island developing States to meet the goals as agreed upon, and it had to make sure that they were not left behind. The input and participation by all States in the Human Rights Council was imperative for its success and it was noteworthy that while small island developing States represented less than one per cent of the world’s population, they made up 20 per cent of the Unite Nations’ membership.
United Kingdom remained deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Ukraine. It called on the Russian Federation to respect international law and to allow unfettered access into Crimea and eastern Ukraine to investigate reports of violations and abuses. It called on Maldives to release political prisoners, and it voiced concern over the targeting of journalists in Somalia and the harassment of opposition leaders and civil society in Cambodia. It also drew attention to problems in Mali, Central African Republic and Côte d’Ivoire.
China said that technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights should be discussed through constructive dialogue. China noted that countries requesting technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights deserved appropriate support from the United Nations. The protection of human rights was primarily the responsibility of States, China noted. Therefore, technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights should be provided with the agreement of the concerned States. China was concerned that item 10 was getting more and more like item 4.
India supported the efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for technical assistance and capacity building. The best way to protect human rights was by strengthening national mechanisms, and the Council should focus on assisting States in that regard, while fully respecting the primacy of States’ role and participation. Discussions on this matter should not include listing violations and naming and shaming countries. India encouraged donors and States to support the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation so that increasing requests could be met as a matter of priority.
Egypt underscored the importance of technical assistance and capacity building to achieve all human rights, including the right to development. The Human Rights Council and other mechanisms constituted important tools to promote the role of technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights, including in developing countries. Egypt underlined the importance that technical assistance was provided with the consent of receiving countries, and without trying to impose values or political agendas.
Thailand said that technical assistance and capacity building were vital in the fulfilment of States’ human rights obligations and commitments. Technical cooperation should reflect national development objectives. Thailand continued to promote capacity building to raise awareness and understanding and ensure effective implementation of human rights related policies. Training provided by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on reporting to human rights treaty bodies was very useful.
Senegal said that technical assistance and capacity building were crucial to improve human rights situations on the ground. Most developing countries wished to live up to their international human rights commitments, but mastery of the procedures and drafting of reports were areas where they experienced shortcomings. The Council would only have effect if States had the requisite capacity in that area.
Sierra Leone said that having emerged from an 11-year conflict, Sierra Leone could attest to the importance of the assistance of the Office in putting in place human rights mechanisms, noting that drafting legislation was a difficult task for countries with a limited capacity. The Trust Fund, to which only nine States had made contributions since its inception, needed more resources, and all donors were called on to consider contributing to it.
Belize explained that its treaty reporting obligation was late due to resource constraints and not a deliberate shirking of duty. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms both at home and abroad was of paramount concern for Belize, and it remained high on the country’s domestic and foreign policy agenda.
Australia stated that technical assistance allowed the Council to provide appropriately tailored support to countries transitioning toward greater freedoms and protections. It could be a source of expertise for States responding to disaster and division, and States seeking accountability in the aftermath of protracted conflicts. Australia called on Somalia to create a national gender plan to address ongoing sexual violence, and encouraged Sudan to cooperate within the framework of the Darfur Document for Peace.
Sudan noted that technical assistance and cooperation in the field of human rights were an essential tool and rational means to help countries build capacities and enhance structures for the promotion and protection of human rights. However, such assistance should be provided in line with the principles of impartiality, non-selectivity and non-politicization.
Japan expressed concern about the escalation of political tensions in Cambodia, especially that the “culture of dialogue” between the two main political parties seemed to have ceased functioning. Relevant Cambodian stakeholders were called on to de-escalate tensions, and make utmost efforts toward creating a political environment which allowed opposition parties to function freely and normally. Japan stood ready to assist Cambodian stakeholders to those ends.
Marshall Islands said it was important for small island developing States that their unique challenges be respected through casting off a “one size fits all” strategy, and instead making strategies “island-tailored”. Marshall Islands would consider a number of core human rights treaties for ratification or accession, including the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Support was called for from nations that provided recommendations during Marshall Islands’ Universal Periodic Review process.
Bahrain noted the existence of a programme between Bahrain and the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights with the broad participation of civil society institutions, underlining that Bahrain expected to see the continuation of that work in the near future. Thematic mandate holders and other mechanisms could contribute to capacity building. Bahrain believed in the capacity of the Office with respect to change that could be brought about and that the international community aspired to.
Ukraine shared the Board’s positive evaluation of the establishment of the mission in Ukraine which immediately started its key role in monitoring and providing technical advice to Ukraine. It provided a source of unbiased, impartial and objective information on the current human rights situation in Ukraine and its deterioration, which was due to the ongoing Russian aggression.
Cambodia noted that there was no political tension in Cambodia. All political parties freely conducted their activities in accordance with existing laws and legal instruments. People enjoyed peace, stability and remarkable development all over the country. Cambodia denied any act of politicization, double standards, selection, and infringement of the implementation of judicial processes. It rejected interference into internal affairs.
United States remained deeply concerned by recent investigations, arrests and detention of civil society representatives in Cambodia. It commended Tunisia for having worked closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Colombia for its efforts to create a just and lasting peace, and it congratulated Honduras for the opening of an office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It also looked forward to working with “Burma” to address current human rights issues.
Federacion de Asociaciones de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos underscored the importance of access to education in order to promote and protect human rights, and stressed the need to invest in access to education in Western Sahara, a territory illegally occupied by Morocco.
Liberation said that technical assistance and capacity building were crucial for the protection of human rights. Western Sahara should benefit from such assistance. United Nations agencies should contribute to alleviating the suffering of the Sahrawi population, particularly in the Tindouf refugee camp. Technical assistance should help with the building of Sahrawi institutions.
World Federation of Democratic Youth raised the peculiar case of the non-autonomous territory of Western Sahara. It emphasized the great importance of the opening of channels and ways of cooperation and assistance between the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Sahrawi National Commission of Human Rights, as well as Sahrawi civil society.
American Association of Jurists said that the Sahrawi National Commission for Human Rights called upon the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to swiftly implement the resolution on the extension of all assistance to the people of non-self-governing territories. The European Union should fund a programme on technical assistance and capacity building of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on non-self-governing territories.
Indigenous People for Africa Coordination Committee spoke about the grave human rights violations by Indian Armed Forces operating under the Armed Forces Special Power Act, and was especially concerned about sexual violence against women. The Human Rights Council should provide technical assistance to India to establish a Human Rights Court.
United Nations Watch strongly condemned the Government of Burundi for gross violations of human rights, including the killing of hundreds of civilians and the displacement of 250,000 persons. The crisis was by no means over though it might be less visible – it was the duty of the Council to make it more visible. Was the discussion on the human rights situation in Burundi under the agenda item on technical assistance the most appropriate response? Were the people of Burundi not owed a more substantial response?
Iraqi Development Organization, in a joint statement with the European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights and Arab Rights Watch Association, drew attention to a written testimony submitted by a Yemeni regarding a Coalition airstrike which had targeted and killed a family of eight while they had been driving on a highway that linked the Shabwah and Al Bayda provinces. It called on the Council to provide a recommendation to the United Nations Security Council for the transfer of the case to the International Criminal Court.
Conseil international pour le soutien à des procès équitables et aux droits de l’homme reminded that the previous work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights with Yemen regarding technical assistance issues had been blocked by the war machine of Saudi Arabia. The organization called on the Human Rights Council to stop the war crimes committed against civilians by Saudi airplanes, to ensure fair trials for the perpetrators, and to suspend the membership of Saudi Arabia in the Council.
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain said that the memorandum of understanding signed between the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Saudi Arabia could not lead to the improvement of human rights in that country unless civil society was involved. Civil society had no access to the text of the memorandum of understanding. It was repressed and its representatives were imprisoned. The organization called on Saudi Arabia to disclose how it understood civil society and its functioning.
Alsalam Foundation called attention to reprisals against civil society organizations and activists who engaged with the Council and the United Nations human rights mechanisms, particularly by the Government of Bahrain, which had imposed travel ban on two activists intending to travel to Geneva to participate in this Council’s session. The Council should suspend all its technical cooperation with Bahrain until the full protection of activists was guaranteed.
World Barua Organization said that thousands of civilians who had peacefully protested in some areas of India, including in Manipur, Assam and Tripura, had been subjected to torture and arrest under the National Security Act. The Council should assist India to promote peace in north east India, and to establish a special court in collaboration with the International Criminal Court to investigate violations under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Raddho spoke of the need of the establishment a framework for the allocation of funds for preventive diplomacy and for natural disasters that led to human rights violations. In light of continuing human rights violations in Burundi, the Council should suspend this country’s membership. In Sudan, because of the failure of the judicial system, technical assistance should prioritize cooperation with the International Criminal Court in order to combat impunity.
Arab Commission for Human Rights underlined the importance of technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights, and welcomed the Office of the High Commissioner’s efforts in that regard, despite financial constraints. It encouraged further capacity building in Arab countries, including Sudan and Palestine. It called upon the international community to increase their donations and to support the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture raised concerns about the negative impact of activities by the Saudi-led coalition on the people and infrastructure of Yemen. This coalition was not respecting its international obligations. It condemned the fact that the United Nations Secretary-General was blackmailed into removing Saudi Arabia from the child-offenders’ list, and recalled that the coalition was responsible for the death of children in Yemen.
Prahar raised concerns about human rights abuses and violations in the north eastern States of India, and requested that technical assistance was provided to civil society organizations there, and to encourage India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958. More than 100,000 persons there were still awaiting justice after many lives were lost at the hands of armed State and non-State actors.
France Libertes : Fondation Danielle Mitterrand stated that the reports submitted by the Chair of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights had not been accompanied by any support programmes for non-self-governing peoples. The people of Western Sahara were deprived of their right to self-determination, and there was no recognized self-administrative power for that region. It requested that a specialized institution assess the situation in each non-self-governing territory.
International Service for Human Rights read the statement on behalf of a Burundian human rights defender, Armel Niyongere, who was forced into exile in May 2015. Human rights defenders were paying a high price in the ongoing crisis in Burundi. To date 83 journalists were living in exile as a consequence of intimidation, threats and reprisals because of their work. The organization urged the Council to call on Burundi to lift the arrest warrants against civil society leaders and reverse the closure of 10 non-governmental organizations that were key for the promotion of human rights in the country.
International Federation of Journalists remained deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in Burundi, especially the situation of journalists. Hundreds of journalists had fled the country after the regime’s security forces and its militias had begun targeting them, allegedly for having sided with the opposition. Most media organizations remained shut down or badly damaged. The organization urged the Council to make the safety of journalists and respect for freedom of the press its priority.
For use of the information media; not an official record
HRC16/102E