SRI LANKA: ACTIONS BY GOVERNMENT FORCES, REBELS POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES – UN RIGHTS CHIEF

SRI LANKA: ACTIONS BY GOVERNMENT FORCES, REBELS POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES – UN RIGHTS CHIEF
New York, Mar 13 2009 10:00AM

The top United Nations human rights official today deplored the mounting deaths and injuries of civilians due to the "bitter" conflict in northern Sri Lanka between Government forces and a rebel group, pointing out that some moves by both sides could amount to war crimes.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that certain actions undertaken by the
Sri Lankan military and by the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) could constitute violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

"We need to know more about what is going on, but we know enough to be sure that the situation is absolutely desperate," she said. "The world today is ever-sensitive about such acts that could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity."

Although there is a Government-designated 'no-fire' zone for civilians in the Vanni region, repeated shelling has continued inside these areas, according to information made available to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Last week, the UN humanitarian wing said that that the conflict zone has shrank from 300 square kilometres to nearly 58 square kilometres in February, with many civilians – the UN puts their number at between 150,000 and 180,000 – taking refuge in a new 14-square kilometre 'no-fire zone.'

Other areas where civilians are sheltering have been hit, and OHCHR noted reports that over 2,800 people may have been killed and 7,000 others injured – many in the no-fire zones – since 20 January. Many children are believed to be among the casualties, with hundred having lost their lives and over 1,000 hurt.

"The current level of civilian casualties is truly shocking, and there are legitimate fears that the loss of life may reach catastrophic levels if the fighting continues this way," Ms. Pillay said, adding that "very little attention is being focused on this bitter conflict."

The LTTE is believed to be continuing to hold civilians as human shields and shooting those trying to leave their control. Further, they are reportedly forcibly recruiting civilians, including children, as soldiers.

"The brutal and inhuman treatment of civilians by the LTTE is utterly reprehensible, and should be examined to see if it constitutes war crimes," the High Commissioner said.

Limited amount of food and essential medial supplies to treat victims are leading to further deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

Ms. Pillay called on both the Government and the LTTE to immediately halt the fighting to allow all civilians to evacuate the conflict zone, urging Sri Lankan authorities to give UN and other independent agencies full access to accurately assess conditions.

Last week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly deplored the mounting civilian death and stressed the urgent need for the end of clashes.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban repeated his call to the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to "suspend hostilities for the purposes of allowing civilians to leave the conflict zone, and allowing immediate humanitarian access to them."

He appealed to the LTTE to take its weapons and fighters out of areas where there are many civilians, cooperate in humanitarian efforts and instantly end recruiting children, some as young as 13 years of age, as soldiers. In addition, he urged the Government to begin "serious" efforts to resolve the underlying causes of the conflict.
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FOOD CRISIS NOT YET OVER, WARNS TOP UN RIGHTS OFFICIAL

FOOD CRISIS NOT YET OVER, WARNS TOP UN RIGHTS OFFICIAL
New York, Mar 9 2009 5:00PM

Despite falling food prices worldwide, the global food crisis has not ended, the top United Nations human rights official cautioned today, emphasizing the need to view the issue through the very basic right to adequate food.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told the Geneva-based Human Rights Council that it must target its work towards helping the most marginalized segments of society.

Last year, the number of the world's hungry surged from 854 million to 967 million due to the steep climb in prices of staple foods. In spite of dropping prices, they remain higher than they were in 2002, leaving the poor still unable to purchase food, she noted.

Further, lower food costs are actually discouraging agricultural investment, Ms. Pillay said, impeding efforts to step up food production, especially the capacity of small-hold farmers to sustain their livelihoods.

The Commissioner told the 47-member Council that steps to alleviate hunger and promote the right to food have yet to be translated into concrete action to help those most impacted by the crisis.

She voiced particular concern for the situation of the rural and urban poor, landless or small-scale farmers and households headed by women.

Ms. Pillay maintained that any successful strategy to defeat hunger should involve stronger institutions with better accountability, sustainable investments in agricultural production and research, and targeted support to small-scale farmers and the poor.

Last week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underscored the need to scale up efforts to combat hunger and realize the right to food, given that the number of hungry people around the world is surging amid the current global financial crisis and the effects of climate change.

"Food is not just a commodity, and agriculture is not just a business. Both are central to survival. Realizing every person's right to food is a moral and humanitarian imperative," Mr. Ban told students of the UN International School at a conference on the global food crisis.
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DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN WEAKENS ALL OF SOCIETY – UN RIGHTS CHIEF

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN WEAKENS ALL OF SOCIETY – UN RIGHTS CHIEF
New York, Mar 6 2009 6:00PM

Deeply rooted discrimination against women in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres weakens society as a whole, the United Nations human rights chief said on the occasion of International Women's Day.

Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, noted that the negative effects of discrimination are magnified by conflict, as well as natural or man-made disasters, such as the current economic crisis.

The meltdown in global markets and financial institutions and ensuing recession is likely to have a disproportionate impact on millions women, who already formed the majority of the poor and disenfranchised before the crisis developed.

"Unless gender-sensitive policies are adopted, I fear we may well witness a serious setback in areas where progress has taken decades to achieve," she said in message for the Day, observed annually on 8 March.

Also, in an opinion piece published today in USA Today Ms. Pillay said that growing up in apartheid South Africa as a person of colour and raised in poverty, she had experienced gender, race and class discrimination.

But, "I have seen the power of ordinary people who have stood up against injustices they faced and triumphed," stressed the High Commissioner. "This Sunday, on International Women's Day, I will celebrate the power of women to overcome the vulnerabilities resulting from these multiple forms of discrimination."

In the workplace women still do not receive equal pay for equal work, do not enjoy the legal protection afforded to men, and domestic workers – especially migrants – often fall outside the scope of labour laws.

Discrimination also demonstrates itself in violence against women, which the UN regards as pandemic, warned Ms. Pillay. "I have seen firsthand the effect of this violence on women, children and families, wrecked by these crimes that are too often hidden and protected with impunity."

Yakin Ertürk, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences, also marked the Day with a statement underscoring the importance for men and women to join forces in this time of economic turmoil.

"The scale and impact of the current crisis is still largely unknown, but it is expected that women and girls in both developed and developing countries will be particularly affected by job cuts, loss of livelihoods, increased responsibilities in all spheres of their life, and an increased risk of societal and domestic violence," said Ms. Ertürk.

She highlighted the World Bank's prediction of 53 million more people being driven into poverty in developing countries this year, bringing the total number of those living on less than $2 a day to over 1.5 billion.

"Studies have shown that violence against women intensifies when men experience displacement and dispossession related to economic crises, migration, war, foreign occupation or other situations where masculinities compete and power relations are altered in society," added Ms. Ertürk.

Ms. Pillay noted, however, that there is a new generation of powerful women growing up around the world with a strong sense of their identity and strength.

"They say 'no' to harmful practices such as early marriage, female genital mutilation and sexual harassment. They want to go to school and get an education. They want to be lawyers, doctors, judges and members of parliament. They want to change the world. I celebrate these girls on International Women's Day. They are our future."
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NEW UN REPORT HIGHLIGHTS WORSENING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN

NEW UN REPORT HIGHLIGHTS WORSENING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN
New York, Mar 5 2009 11:00AM

The human rights situation in Afghanistan is marked by a rise in civilian casualties, setbacks for women, mounting attacks on freedom of expression and a culture of impunity when it comes to punishing perpetrators of abuses, the United Nations says in a new report.

"Afghans have continued to suffer significant rights deficits that pose serious challenges to the enjoyment of their human rights and to the country's long-term prospects for peace, stability, democracy, development and the rule of law," according to the annual report on Afghanistan of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, which is being presented today by Navi Pillay to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council.

"Gross human rights violations remain a serious threat to continuing efforts to transform
Afghan society," states the report. "A culture of impunity prevails, and is deeply entrenched; this is manifested in the lack of political will to advance the transitional justice process to address past abuses as well as the absence of accountability for current human rights violations.

"Coupled with a weak, corrupt and dysfunctional judicial system, and wide recourse to traditional dispute-resolution mechanisms that do not comply with due process requirements, justice is effectively denied to the vast majority of Afghans," it adds.

The High Commissioner urges the Government and the international community to effectively address the issue of impunity, which not only undermines the legitimacy of Afghan law enforcement and judicial institutions but has also eroded people's confidence in Government and public institutions.

Noting the rise in the number of civilian casualties, the High Commissioner urges anti-government elements and pro-government forces to ensure greater respect for the protection of civilians, including women and children.

Turning to the situation of women, the report notes that violence against women such as rape, "honour killings," early and forced marriage, sexual abuse, and slavery remain widespread.

"Violence is tolerated or condoned within the family and community, within traditional and religious leadership circles as well as the formal and informal justice system – in this regard the Afghan Government has failed to adequately protect the rights of women despite constitutional guarantees," says Ms. Pillay.

She also notes that there has been a dramatic increase in threats and intimidation against women in public life or who work outside the home. Women working with government agencies, national and international organisations, journalists, police, and lawyers have all reported death-threat letters and phone calls.

The report calls for the protection of women and girls in both the private and public sphere and this must be translated into policies and concrete programmes.

The report states that freedom of expression came under significant threat throughout 2008, with threats and intimidation directed against civil society groups and the media, including the killing of journalists.

"In the months leading up to the 2009 elections, the media will continue to self-censor or be pressured into broadcasting only those views which are favourable to certain political interests and candidates and citizens will be intimidated through threats and attacks from fully expressing their opinions," says Ms. Pillay.

Another area of concern is the Government's continued use of the death penalty in 2008, after a de facto moratorium of three years ended in October 2007. The High Commissioner calls on the Government to reconsider this policy in light of weaknesses within the judicial and law enforcement system and in line with growing international opinion.
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UN RIGHTS CHIEF URGES MEMBER STATES TO OVERCOME DIFFERENCES IN FIGHT AGAINST RACISM

UN RIGHTS CHIEF URGES MEMBER STATES TO OVERCOME DIFFERENCES IN FIGHT AGAINST RACISM
New York, Feb 23 2009 8:00PM

The top United Nations official for human rights today stressed the need for Member States put aside their differences and work together to defeat racism ahead of the so-called Durban Review Conference later this year, which will examine the progress made worldwide since the 2001 global anti-racism summit held in the South African city.

Navi Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights, sent a report to Member States planning the review conference that will be held in April in Geneva to assess and accelerate progress towards the implementation of measures adopted at the landmark 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

She appealed to governments "not to allow any single issue dominate discussions of such vital importance to human dignity to the exclusion and detriment of others."

Some of the language proposed for a draft outcome document that will be used as the basis for negotiations at the conference has been controversial because of its criticism of Israel's policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Israel indicated last November that it does not plan to take part in the April review conference.

"I appeal to all to uphold the consensually agreed objectives of the Durban Review Conference, and to bear in mind their importance to the millions of victims around the world," said Ms. Pillay, adding, "I urge Member States to transcend their differences and to join efforts to confront racism and xenophobia."

The High Commissioner also proposed holding a series of workshops to help governments find common ground on the issue of defamation of religions.

Several Islamic nations have suggested revising language in the document to limit wording that they describe as offensive to religion, but some Western states have expressed difficulty in accepting the changes because of the potential negative impact on freedom of expression.

"I believe that from a human rights perspective and in light of the Durban Review Conference, it should be addressed as an issue of incitement to religious hatred within the existing framework of international human rights law," said Ms. Pillay.
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