Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
Rupert Colville
Location: Geneva
Subjects: (1) Libya (2) Malaysia
_________________________________
(1) Libya
We are alarmed by the escalating violence in Libya with
reports of increased human rights abuses, beheadings of activists and the
recent closure of the country's national human rights institution in Tripoli.
The dramatic increase in use of car bombs in the last few days, with civilians
the main victims, illustrates the rapidly deteriorating security and human
rights situation in the country. Over the last week alone, there were two
explosions in Shahhat, three each in Tobruk, al-Baida and Benghazi, and two in
Tripoli, causing several deaths and injuries.
We are very concerned about the continuing threats,
intimidation and other repressive measures being taken against Libya's national
human rights institution, the National Council of Civil Liberties and Human
Rights.
In mid-October, a group of armed men visited the Council,
and demanded the hand-over of keys to the premises and the organization's
official stamps. In a separate incident, armed men also sought to question a
number of senior Council members, including the current General Secretary.
On 21 October, when UN human rights officers visited the
building during a visit to Tripoli, they found it deserted.
Then last Sunday, 9 November, armed men in military uniform
arrived at the Council, led by a man known for his support for Operation Libya
Dawn. According to an eyewitness, the group locked the building and told
passers-by that the Council was being shut down by Libya Dawn, and anybody
attempting to re-open the Council would be arrested.
We urge those in control of Tripoli to ensure that the
office premises of the Council are immediately re-opened and that this key
institution is allowed to resume its work without any form of intimidation or
obstruction. The UN Human Rights Office stresses the importance of allowing the
Council to function smoothly and independently at a time when Libyans are
facing serious human rights violations, and the need for independent monitoring
in the country is critical.
_________________________________
(2) Malaysia
We welcome the 7 November judgment by the Court of Appeal of
Malaysia that declares unconstitutional section 66 of the Syariah Criminal
Enactment of Negeri Sembilan State.
The Court of Appeal had been asked to examine the constitutionality
of the law of Negeri Sembilan State which criminalizes Muslim transgender women
(people who were assigned as male at birth, but identify as female) for wearing
women's clothes or presenting themselves as women, with fines and up to six
months imprisonment.
The Court found that section 66 infringes the
constitutionally guaranteed rights of the appellants to live with dignity, to
work, to equality before the law and equal protection of the law, to freedom
from discrimination, to freedom of movement and to freedom of expression.
We have received reports of transgender women being arrested
and convicted under this and similar laws in other Malaysian States and being
subjected to violence, humiliation and discriminatory treatment by authorities,
as well as threats against human rights defenders and civil society actors
involved in this case or those advocating for the rights of transgender people.
Every person has the right to dignity and to live life free
from violence and discrimination – including transgender persons. Laws that
criminalize transgender people and discriminate against them on the basis of
their appearance, gender identity or expression violate international human
rights law. States have an obligation to repeal such laws, and to recognize the
gender identity of transgender persons.
The Malaysian authorities should now implement this judgment
and ensure effective protection of transgender persons from the violence and
discrimination that they continue to face. Recent threats against human rights
defenders advocating for the rights of transgender people should also be
investigated and measures taken to ensure their protection from reprisals for
their human rights work.
ENDS
For more information or media requests, please contact
Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org)
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