UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF WELCOMES US INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED CIA ABUSES

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has welcomed the decision by the United States Attorney-General to appoint a special prosecutor to look into whether Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officers and contractors broke US laws while conducting interrogations outside the US, including at Guantanamo Bay.

"I warmly welcome this responsible decision by the US Government to open a preliminary investigation," Ms. Pillay said. "I hope there is a swift examination of the various allegations of abuse made by former and current detainees in Guantanamo and other US-run prisons, and if they are verified, that the next steps will involve accountability for anyone who has violated the law."

Ms. Pillay said her concern all along "has been that there should not be impunity for torture or any other unlawful treatment of detainees, whether it is in the United States or anywhere else in the world. While we now have some idea of what occurred in Guantanamo, and to a lesser extent places like Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, we still need more transparency about secret places of detention, and what went on in them."

Ms. Pillay said that the use of secret places of detention must be curbed, and called for the release of the names of detainees currently held in these detention centres. "Secrecy has been a major part of the problem with this type of detention regime," she said. "When guards and interrogators think they are safe from outside scrutiny, and legal safeguards are circumvented, laws become all too easy to ignore."

The High Commissioner also praised the decision to release Mohammed Jawad, an Afghan who was taken prisoner in 2002 when he may only have been 12 years old. Most of the charges against him were ruled inadmissible in 2008, and last month a US District Court ordered his release from Guantanamo.

"I am delighted to hear that on Monday Mohammed Jawad was allowed to return to his family in Afghanistan," Ms. Pillay said. "It has taken an extraordinarily long time, but the US justice system – once it was able to operate properly in his case – has, I believe, finally delivered justice."

However, she added that "in Jawad's case and those of other people held in detention for unacceptably long periods, without any charges being proven, or who were tortured or otherwise treated unlawfully, compensation and other remedies are essential. Some people have lost seven years of their lives, and may have been severely psychologically, physically or financially scarred by their experience, simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Ms. Pillay reiterated her support for US President Barack Obama's commitment to close the Guantanamo camp by 2010 and asked him to urgently review the status of detainees at the Bagram facility in Afghanistan.
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A New Beginning -- Watch the President's Speech

Hello - As a Senior Advisor to the President, I'm here in Cairo, Egypt where I watched President Obama deliver an unprecedented speech calling for a new beginning for the United States and Muslim communities around the world. We all know that there has been tension between the United States and some Muslim communities. But, as the President said this morning, if all sides face the sources of tension squarely and focus on mutual interests, we can find a new way forward. The President outlined some big goals for this new beginning in his speech -- including disrupting, dismantling, and defeating violent extremism. It was a historic speech, and since many Americans were asleep at the time it was given we wanted to make sure you had a chance to see it: Majority-Muslim countries around the world are filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives, just as in America. Indeed, part of what makes America great is having nearly seven million Muslim Americans living here today and enriching our culture and communities. We can extend that kind of relationship abroad. It won't always be easy, but if we make an effort to bridge our differences rather than resigning ourselves to animosity, we can move toward a more peaceful world over time. Thank you, David Axelrod Senior Advisor to the President

UN ATOMIC WATCHDOG CHIEF WELCOMES US, RUSSIAN NON-PROLIFERATION COMMITMENTS

The head of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today said he is greatly encouraged by the commitment made by the leaders of the United States and Russia to reduce their nuclear arsenals.

Under the Joint Statement of President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia and President Barack Obama of the US, the countries will take concrete steps to fulfil their obligations under the UN-backed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which forms the foundation of the world's nuclear non-proliferation regime.

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said he believes the commitment by the leaders to, among other steps, negotiate a treaty to end the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons and strengthen efforts to secure these arms demonstrates leadership and moves the world beyond the Cold War mentality.

The Joint Statement, he said, could also generate momentum towards the universal adherence to comprehensive safeguards agreements.

Mr. ElBaradei noted that he shares the views of Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Obama regarding the need for a verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

He also said that he supports the two presidents' commitment to pursue a diplomatic solution with Iran that would both allay the international community's concerns and guarantee its right to a peaceful nuclear programme.
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Afghanistan: New US Policy Should Stress Human Rights

The Obama administration deserves credit for showing its commitment to Afghanistan with its public statements, appointment of a special representative, and policy reviews. We hope that this will produce a fundamental rethinking of US military, political, and humanitarian policies in Afghanistan.

Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Promoting the Rule of Law and the Protection of Civilians a Priority

The United States should make protecting human rights a priority in its revised policy toward Afghanistan, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to President Barack Obama.

"The Obama administration deserves credit for showing its commitment to Afghanistan with its public statements, appointment of a special representative, and policy reviews," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "We hope that this will produce a fundamental rethinking of US military, political, and humanitarian policies in Afghanistan."

The Human Rights Watch letter to Obama outlines a number of steps needed to improve the climate for human rights in Afghanistan. They include improving everyday security for civilians, combating warlordism, pursuing justice for past crimes, strengthening women's rights, protecting freedom of expression, sidelining rights abusers in upcoming elections, and reforming the judiciary.

Human Rights Watch urged the US to promote needed reform of Afghanistan's security agency, the National Directorate of Security (NDS), and to reconsider its support for tribal militia. Human Rights Watch also stressed the need for the United States to alter its military policies to minimize civilian casualties, review the practice of "night raids" on homes, and bring its detention policy at the Bagram prison into conformity with international law to protect detainees' rights.

Human Rights Watch said that the Bush administration expressed many bold aspirations, but that the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda was placed high above other key goals, including human rights, the rule of law, and good governance. To fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda, many warlords were placed in positions of authority, relied on for military support, and provided weapons and funds by the US. The US is still maintaining some of these relationships, and has shown little appetite for sidelining senior warlords when the opportunity has arisen.

"The growth of the insurgency in Afghanistan cannot be understood outside the prism of lawlessness, rights abuses, and corruption under which so many Afghans live," said Adams. "The United States has been complicit in the resurgence of warlordism in Afghanistan. It is time for the US to lead by example and break all links to past and present criminals, and press the Afghan government to do the same."

The plight of women under the Taliban was cited as a major reason for overthrowing the Taliban government in 2001. However, far too little real progress has been made in delivering women their basic rights.

"Though some improvements have been made, Afghan women and girls still face huge gaps in health and education and face routine violence and discrimination," said Adams. "The United States should reinvigorate discussions with the Afghan government and civil society and make the promotion of women's rights a key plank of its new policy."

Human Rights Watch also called for a shift of emphasis in US military strategy. While the US is deploying more troops to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda, greater attention is needed to provide basic security for Afghans in both conflict and non-conflict areas.

Human Rights Watch is concerned by US support for the latest experiment in using tribal militia, the Afghan Public Protection Force. The failures of previous national and international attempts to gain the support of Afghanistan's tribes are well documented. Most efforts have been exploited by local politicians and other actors, exacerbating tribal discord and increasing the black market in weapons. The current pilot project already appears to be repeating past mistakes.

"We do not underestimate the challenges faced in Afghanistan, but better policies can make a significant difference in the lives of Afghans," said Adams. "It is essential for the US, as the most important external power in Afghanistan, to get its new policy right."

DRUM BEATS MARK UN COMMEMORATION OF SLAVE TRADE

The powerful sounds of musicians, drummers and steel bands echoed through the United Nations complex in New York today in a celebration of the world's common humanity and in commemoration of the victims of the African slave trade.

"Break the Silence, Beat the Drum" brought together artists from Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, the Caribbean and the United States, as well as students, diplomats and UN officials, to launch a series of events to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Designated by the General Assembly in 2007, the Day honours the millions of Africans violently removed from their homelands and cast into slavery.

It is estimated that up to 28 million men, women and children were taken from Africa from the 16th to 19th centuries and shipped across the notorious "Middle Passage" of the Atlantic – mainly to colonies in North America, South America and the West Indies.

Addressing the event, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that that the elevation this year of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States marks a milestone in the 400-year struggle of the descendants of African slaves for justice, assimilation and respect.

He said that although slavery was abolished, the people of African descent around the world must still fight daily against entrenched prejudice that keeps them disproportionately in poverty.

In addition, racism and contemporary forms of slavery continue to pollute the world. "It is essential that we speak out loud and clear against such abuses," he stressed.

Last night Mr. Ban launched an exhibit of drums sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Cameroon, in collaboration with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union, highlighting the significance of drums throughout the slave trade and beyond, from Africa to the Americas.

"We must beat the drum to proclaim that whatever our colour, whatever our gender, we are one people, with one common future," he declared at the opening of the exhibit.

As part of the commemoration, Emmy Award-winning musician Peter Buffet and hip-hop star Akon will debut a new song, "Blood into Gold," at a star-studded concert this evening in the General Assembly Hall, produced by the not-for-profit group Culture Project.

"We are delighted that many artists and celebrities have accepted to add their names and voices to this event," Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Kiyo Akasaka, told a news conference prior to the performance.

"Tonight's performers represent many countries where the slave route either originated or ended, that is from Africa to the Caribbean and the Americas," he noted of the event, which will bring together over 30 artists ranging from musicians Salif Keita and the Blind Boys from Alabama to actors Whoopi Goldberg and Phylicia Rashad.

"I love it when we all come together with all generations, all genres, all countries to create and ignite a positive spark on today's generation," Akon told reporters.

"I think that it's very important that we continue to do things like this that kind of reminds us of where we came from and how far we've come."

Peter Buffet added that "commemoration is critical, otherwise we'll forget." And while the Day celebrates the end of slavery, it is important to keep in mind that modern forms of the scourge, such as human trafficking, continue today, he noted.
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