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STATEMENT BY UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE ARAB CHARTER ON HUMAN RIGHTS |
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Tuesday, 19 February 2008 16:15 |
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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, issued the following statement today:
On 24 January 2008 (incorrectly issued as 24 March statement), I
welcomed the 7th ratification required to bring the Arab Charter on
Human Rights into force. While emphasizing universal human rights, I
noted that regional systems of protection and promotion can help
further strengthen the enjoyment of human rights. As the 1993 Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action affirmed "regional arrangements
play a fundamental role in promoting and protecting human rights. They
should reinforce universal human rights standards, as contained in
international human rights instruments, and their protection."
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HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERT CONDEMNS KILLINGS OF AID WORKERS IN SOMALIA |
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Tuesday, 19 February 2008 16:10 |
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The Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Ghanim Alnajjar, issued the following statement:
"It is with great sadness that I learn of the
killing of three staff members of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) –
Holland in Somalia yesterday. Victor Okunnu, a Kenyan doctor; Damien
Lehalle, a French logistician and their Somali driver, Billan were
killed when their car was hit by a roadside blast outside the town of
Kismayo. A Somali journalist, Hassan Kafi Hared, as well as a Somali
boy - both who were nearby - were also reportedly killed in this
explosion.
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SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TOXIC WASTE CONCLUDES MISSION TO TANZANIA |
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Tuesday, 19 February 2008 13:09 |
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The
Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and
dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of
human rights, Okechukwu Ibeanu, made the following statement at the end
of his mission to the United Republic of Tanzania from 21-30 January
2008:
30 January 2008
Ladies and Gentleman,
Let me begin by thanking the Government of the
United Republic of Tanzania for extending an invitation to me in my
capacity as the Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the
illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes
on the enjoyment of human rights. I have been granted access to various
Government officials and Ministries. However, I must mention that the
mission would have been enhanced with better scheduling and
coordination between the various Government offices. Nonetheless, I
would like to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation and Ministry of Energy and Minerals for their contribution
and efforts in organizing meetings despite these difficulties.
I would also like to thank the United Nations
Country Team, in particular the United Nations Resident Coordinator's
Office (UNRCO) and the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) for their efforts in assisting me in the
organization and providing the technical and local knowledge for the
purpose of this mission.
I would like to thank the civil society, mining
consulting companies and individuals, particularly the ordinary
villagers whom I have met, that have provided invaluable information of
the situation on the ground.
During my mission, I have had the privilege of
visiting areas within and around Dar es Salaam including the Mtoni and
Pugukinyamwezi dumpsites. I also visited the Lake Victoria Area
including the cities and regions of Mwanza, Geita and Shinyanga. In
Geita, I had the opportunity to visit the Geita Gold Mine and to visit
Nyaragusu areas where small-scale and medium-scale gold mining is
taking place. In Shinyanga, I was able to see areas where small-scale
diamond mining is taking place. I was also was able to visit the
Williamson Diamond Mine in Mwadui.
The objective of my mission to the United Republic
of Tanzania was to enable me to gather first-hand information on the
impact that mining activities are having on the environment and on
human rights. In addition, I also wanted to study the movement and use
of chemicals and the waste management system for both industrial and
domestic waste in the country.
I have observed through my meetings with a variety
of stakeholders that the public may not have received any or sufficient
information on the different chemical substances and dangerous products
that they are exposed to in their workplace or their communities. It
should be mentioned that the Government does appear to take action and
have the proper mechanisms in place to deal with issues of chemical
management.
One concern that I have, however, is the large
volume of unregulated small-scale mining that is taking place around
the country. I am particularly concerned with the use of mercury by
small-scale miners. I have witnessed first-hand small-scale miners
using mercury without proper safety equipment. In some cases, the
miners do not have adequate information about the impact mercury can
have on their health and the dangers of the improper disposal of
tailings and their effect on their livelihood and the environment. In a
number of areas, land, water, plants and livestock may be at a high
risk of contamination from mercury and other dangerous wastes. In other
cases and through my meetings, I have been informed of small-scale
miners who have some awareness of the dangers of using mercury and
other chemicals during the extraction process. However, due to poverty,
inadequate information and the lack of a suitable alternative, the
miners continue to use mercury and other dangerous products without
supervision, endangering both the environment and their health. I
acknowledge and welcome the sensitization efforts of both the
Government and civil society in this regard. However, it seems that
information is not leading to commensurate change of behavior.
I am also particularly concerned with many of the
operations of big scale mining companies that exist in the United
Republic of Tanzania. From what I have observed, there seems to be
limited government supervision of the operations of these big mining
corporations. The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania should
monitor more closely the operations of large-scale mining companies
particularly with regard to occupational health and safety standards
and relations between the mining corporations and the surrounding
communities. I have been informed of tensions that have been arising in
different parts of the country due to the discontent of local
communities with large scale mining companies. This is something that
needs to be addressed urgently.
I have observed that the Government of the United
Republic of Tanzania has a comprehensive and wide range of laws and
subsidiary instruments that deal with the particular issue of toxic and
dangerous products and wastes, in particular, the Mining Act of 1998,
the Industrial and Consumer Chemical (Management & Control) Act of
2003, the National Environmental Management Act of 2004 and the Land
Act of 1999 amongst others, which I greatly welcome. While I note that
such legal developments are relatively recent, I commend the Government
for that achievement. I look forward to monitoring the wider
implementation of these laws and their ability to limit the adverse
effects of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the environment
and on the human rights of the people of the United Republic of
Tanzania.
Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu (Nigeria) is the
Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the
adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and
dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights. He was
appointed in 2004 by the Commission on Human Rights (now replaced by
the Human Rights Council) .For further information on the mandate of
the Special Rapporteur, visit
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/environment/waste
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SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS TO VISIT THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC |
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Tuesday, 19 February 2008 13:08 |
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Geneva, 30 January 2008:
The United Nations independent human rights expert on extrajudicial
executions arrives in the Central African Republic tomorrow 31 January
on an eight-day official visit. Philip Alston, an Australian national
who is Professor of Law at New York University, is a Special Rapporteur
of the Human Rights Council. His responsibilities include reporting on
alleged killings and the underlying causes that might have prevented
effective legal action to prosecute and punish those responsible. His
mandate extends to all UN member states. He will be visiting the
Central African Republic at the invitation of the Government, and his
mission is designed to enable him to meet with groups from all sectors
of society.
The visit will include meetings with representatives
of the Government, including the Office of the President, members of
the Cabinet, the military and the police. Mr. Alston will also hold
meetings with human rights NGOs and other civil society groups.
As a result of the visit, Mr. Alston will report to
the Human Rights Council on the Central African Republic's compliance
with its human rights obligations and will make recommendations
designed to promote more effective remedial and preventive measures in
the future.
Mr Alston has extensive experience in the human
rights field, including eight years as Chairperson of the UN Committee
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, principal legal adviser to
UNICEF in the drafting of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
and Special Adviser to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TORTURE ANNOUNCES POSTPONEMENT OF VISIT TO EQUATORIAL GUINEA |
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Tuesday, 19 February 2008 13:06 |
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30 January 2008
The Special Rapporteur on the question of torture
and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of the
United Nations Human Rights Council, Manfred Nowak, issued the
following statement today:
The Special Rapporteur on torture announces that his
visit to Equatorial Guinea, which was scheduled to take place from 30
January to 8 February 2008, has been postponed at the Government's
request at very short notice. In a note verbale of 22 January 2008 the
Government cited "urgent governmental activities in the first trimester
of 2008" as a reason for the postponement. In a further conversation,
Vice-Prime Minister for Human Rights, Mr Aniceto Ebiaka Moete,
explained to the Special Rapporteur that the Government was in a
process of organising a census for municipal elections.
The Special Rapporteur wishes to remind the
Government of Equatorial Guinea that fact-finding missions are planned
long in advance and require extensive research as well as logistical
and financial resources on the part of the Special Rapporteur. It is
therefore with strong regret that the Special Rapporteur accepted this
postponement. He notes, however, with appreciation the assurances of
the Government to receive him in April 2008 and the Government's intent
to honour its commitment to ensure the visit's success.
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Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-wha Kang visits Nepalgunj |
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Tuesday, 19 February 2008 11:45 |
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31 January 2008--
UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-wha Kang visited
Nepalgunj Thursday as part of her five-day trip to Nepal to see
firsthand the activities of OHCHR-Nepal, the largest of the
organization's field presences in the world, and to assess the human
rights situation in the country.
The Deputy High Commissioner met with civil society
organisations, lawyers and representatives of the Nepal Police in
Nepalgunj regarding issues of gender and discrimination, the focus of
her visit to the Mid Western Region. She learned about the case of
Hasrun Idrisi, a woman who was allegedly attacked and burnt by family
members over dowry issues.
OHCHR-Nepal has been monitoring and investigating
cases of violence against women and advocating for justice for victims.
It will continue to work on improving the observance of women's rights,
as a priority.
The Deputy High Commissioner also visited the
National Human Rights Commission's regional office, to discuss
cooperation between the two organizations, and will meet with
representatives of UNMIN.
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