Item 9 - Country Situations - Oral Intervention

29/03/2005
Press release

Mr Chairman, Members of the Commission,

The Commission on Human Rights’ primary mandate is the promotion and protection of Human Rights. It requires the assessment of the situation of human rights in countries .FIDH affirms that Item 9 is a necessary instrument for the fulfillment of this task and therefore calls upon the Commission to focus on its protection mandate and within this framework, echo the emergency situations which are presented to them. In addition, FIDH requests members of the Commission not to table and not to vote in flavor of any no motion actions in the name of democracy and free debate.

Human Rights violations occur throughout the world no state has a perfect human rights record. However FIDH is particularly concerned about the human rights situations in the following countries:

Myanmar
FIDH remains very concerned by the systematic violations of human rights prevailing in Myanmar. The National Convention resumed its work in February 2005, without paying due attention to the recommendations formulated by the various United Nations bodies. More than 1.300 political prisoners still linger in prison in Myanmar though several others were freed at the end of 2004. FIDH urges the Commission to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.

Nepal
The State of Urgency declared in February 2005 in Nepal led to a serious deterioration of human rights. Human rights defenders, journalists and political opponents are systematically harassed and subject to arbitrary detention. Freedoms of expression, information, movement and of peaceful assembly are massively infringed upon. FIDH urges the Commission to set up a special mechanism to monitor and report on the situation of human rights in Nepal.

China
Despite some indication that the PRC is moving towards greater respect for human rights, including the inclusion in March 2004 of an article in the Constitution referring to human rights, abolition of custody and repatriation, and discussions of further legal reform, Chinese authorities continue to repress all dissenting voices and crackdown on pro-democracy activists, cyber-dissidents, journalists, workers, lawyers, underground churches, and religious practitioners such as the Falun Gong. FIDH requests the Commission to examine the situation of human rights in China and create a Special mechanism for that purpose.

Iran
FIDH express its deepest concern regarding the deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran during the past year. The parliamentary elections of February 2004, which were not free and fair, resulted in a strengthening of the Conservatives in the Parliament. Under those circumstances, perspectives for reforms are slim. In 2004, the judiciary increasingly curtailed freedom of expression of human rights defenders, journalists, writers and students expressing critical view regarding the government’s policy. Although progress was made in law to ban resort to torture, the practice remains and impunity is it the rule.
FIDH urges the Commission to set up a special mechanism to monitor and report on the situation of human rights in Iran.

Guatemala
FIDH is very concerned by the deterioration of the situation in Guatemala in 2004, and the persistent breach of Peace Agreements. Threats and harassment continue to multiply against human rights defenders who fight against impunity of crimes or the respect of the trade union rights and the right to land. In spite of symbolic achievements, impunity is the rule. Access to food, extreme poverty and work conditions are alarming.

Cuba
FIDH urges Cuba to release immediately and without conditions all opinion prisoners still lingering in jails and is concerned by the situation of human rights defenders, journalists and political opponents. FIDH urges the Commission to renew the mandate of the Special Representative to monitor and report on the situation of human rights in Cuba.

Russia
FIDH notes a serious rollback of the rule of law and human rights on the whole of the Russian Federation’s territory. FIDH is particularly concern about the persistence of the armed conflict in Chechnya where civilians remain the first victims of the conflict. FIDH urges the Commission to establish an international mission of investigation to gather information on violations of human rights on Chechnya and report on that matter to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly.

Belarus
In 2004 the situation of human rights in Belarus has significantly deteriorated. Repression against political opponents increased, new discriminatory laws were adopted, freedom of expression was curtailed and violations of freedom of association and peaceful assembly continued. The 2004 elections failed to comply with democratic standards. FIDH therefore requests the Commission to set up a special mechanism to monitor and report on the situation of human rights in Belarus.

Sudan
FIDH is deeply concerned by the continuing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Darfur. The conflict, described by the United Nations as one of the "world’s worst humanitarian crisis" has resulted in the death of an estimated 70,000 people, for the most part civilians, and displaced 1.65 million others. FIDH requests the Commission to appoint a Special mechanism to monitor and report upon the human situation in Darfur.

United States of America
FIDH is concerned by the conditions of detention and the use of torture in prisons under the jurisdiction of the United States of America in Guantanamo, Iraq and Afghanistan. FIDH requests the Commission to appoint a Special mechanism to monitor and report upon the human rights situation in detention centres under the jurisdiction of the USA.

Iraq
FIDH calls upon the Commission on Human Rights to adopt a resolution on the human rights situation in Iraq which, inter alia: condemn deliberate targeting against civilians; urge the Iraqi authorities to prevent attacks against the civilian population ; urge all parties to ensure effective respect of the right to life, physical integrity and security in accordance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law and to investigate and sanction the actors of such violations of human rights; urge the Iraqi authorities to ensure the right to a fair trial for the accused and the right to access for victims to the Iraqi Special Tribunal; urge the Iraqi Government to ratify all relevant instruments for the protection of human rights. FIDH requests the Commission to appoint a special rapporteur on the Human rights situation in Iraq.

Cote d’Ivoire
In Côte d’Ivoire, the situation of human rights remains critical. Three mass graves with one hundred corpses were discovered in August 2004 by ONUCI in Korhogo, an area under the control of rebels in Northern Cote d’Ivoire. Fighting resumed on 4 November 2004 between the Governmental forces and the rebels leading to anti-French riots in Abidjan carried out by « Young Patriots » but also a disproportionate reaction by the French Army, costing dozens of lives among the Ivorian civilian population. FIDH requests the set up of a mechanism to monitor human rights in Côte d’Ivoire.

Togo
In Togo, the coup d’Etat attempt resulted in numerous massive violations of human rights committed by police forces against political opponents and the civilian population : brutal and deadly repression of various peaceful demonstrations in favor of democracy and the return to the Rule of law which caused the death of at least 9 civilians; allegations of rape and sexual assaults during the same demonstrations; arrest of students and members of the civil society; closure during several days of independent private media. FIDH requests the set up of a mechanism to monitor the situation of human rights in Togo.

DRC
In Democratic Republic of Congo, mass violations of human rights are still committed by armed militia, some being supported by foreign countries, in the Eastern part of the country, in particular in Ituri and Kivu. The civilian population suffers most of this conflict and is subject to murder, rape, rampage and is therefore forced to escape zones of combat, subject to very precarious conditions of living. FIDH requests the Commission to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert on the human rights situation in DRC.

Thank you, Mr Chairman, Members of the Commission,

Read more