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30. 05. 2015.

NEWS RELEASE (ENGLISH/FRANCAIS) - Zeid urges further investigation into human rights violations by internatio



Zeid urges further investigation into human rights violations by international forces in Central African Republic

GENEVA (30 May 2015) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Saturday said he has urged several States to intensify their efforts to investigate long-standing allegations that soldiers in their forces sent to keep the peace in the Central African Republic may have committed very serious violations, including killing of civilians, summary executions, abductions and sexual exploitation of local women.

“These allegations were extremely disturbing,” Zeid said. “People in CAR were desperate for protection.  The role of international forces in halting the worst of the fighting and sectarian slaughter in CAR has been invaluable, and their presence has unquestionably saved many, many lives. Yet, in some cases the longed-for protectors turned into predators.”

“In the wake of the revelations of alleged serious sexual abuse of children, currently under investigation by the French authorities, my Office has taken a deeper look into these issues and the extent of the follow-up into alleged serious violations by soldiers belonging to several other international contingents operating under the MISCA* umbrella in 2014,” the UN Human Rights Chief said.  “Some of these incidents have been at least partly investigated, and some States have apparently sanctioned some of the soldiers involved, but the fact that a number of foreign contingents may have been implicated is in itself a matter of enormous concern.”

Several incidents, including ones involving excessive use of force, enforced disappearances and sexual exploitation and violence, were investigated promptly by UN human rights officers on the ground, and subsequently by the International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic, which reported on a range of violations by international forces in December 2014.**  These included the disappearance of at least 11 people in Boali, a small town some 80 km north of Bangui. An update on that incident is currently being prepared, after the second of two investigative missions to Boali took place in late March 2015, and this will be published by the UN Human Rights Office next week.

The forces involved in these incidents were not operating under the United Nations flag. Nevertheless, foreign soldiers, including UN peacekeepers, have in the past been implicated in crimes, including sexual exploitation and abuse.

“This is a recurring problem involving foreign soldiers operating on other territories and clearly more needs to be done to stop it,” Zeid said

The High Commissioner said that in addition to requesting concerned States to provide more information about the steps they have taken to investigate the allegations, and prosecute anyone found to have committed crimes, he is sending a team from his Geneva headquarters to the Central African Republic to look  into possible further measures to address human rights violations .

“It is important to do a thorough review of what happened in the past, but also to drive home the message that there must be no repetition of these dreadful acts now or in the future,” he said.

The High Commissioner noted that the investigations into the incidents reported by UN human rights staff in 2014 had resulted in some preliminary actions by States including the sanctioning and early repatriation of some senior MISCA commanders.  

“But this is not sufficient,” Zeid said. “The punishment must fit the crime, and some other incidents were reported that may not have been fully followed up on by the States concerned, and we need to get to the bottom of what precisely was done by whom and when. There must be accountability for serious crimes, no matter who commits them. And there must be relentless pressure on those who are in a position to provide that accountability, namely the States who provide the troops and who have jurisdiction over them.”

ENDS

* MISCA is the acronym for the Mission internationale de soutien à la Centrafrique   sous conduite africaine , an African Union peacekeeping mission to the Central African Republic, that was deployed in December 2013, in parallel with the French Operation Sangaris, in an attempt to stabilise the country which was in the midst of a murderous civil war and on the verge of total collapse. The deployment of these two forces are credited with halting the worst of the violence between the two warring groups known as anti-Balaka and ex-Seleka, that had already cost thousands of lives and threatened to destroy the entire fabric of the nation. On 15 September 2014, upon completion of MISCA’s mandate, authority was officially transferred from MISCA to a new United Nations force known as MINUSCA (UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic). The French force known as Sangaris remains independent of MINUSCA.

** See pp. 114-119, paragraphs 540-574, of the final report (S/2014/928) of the International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic, transmitted by the Secretary-General to the Security Council on 22 December 2014.  The report can be found at http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_2014_928.pdf

For more information and media requests , please contact please contact Rupert Colville (+41 79 506 1088 /  rcolville@ohchr.org ) or Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org )

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29. 05. 2015.

OHCHR PRESS BRIEFING NOTE - USA / Death penalty



Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Ravina Shamdasani
Location:       Geneva
Subject:        USA / Death penalty

We welcome the abolition of the death penalty in the state of Nebraska on Wednesday, making it the nineteenth state in the US to have done so. 
Nebraska has not executed any inmates since 1997. 

The number of people executed each year, and the size of the population on death row in the US have progressively declined in the past 10 years. 
In 2014, the death penalty was carried out only by seven states, and the number of executions was 35, the lowest since 1994. 

We hope that Nebraska’s example will be considered by the other states (Colorado, Delaware, Montana and Kansas) whose legislative bodies are currently debating the abolition of the death penalty. 

We also echo the recommendation of the Human Rights Committee in March 2014, which called on the US Federal Government to "consider establishing a moratorium on the death penalty at the federal level and engage with retentionist states with a view to achieving a nationwide moratorium", as a first step towards abolition.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact please contact Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org ) or Cécile Pouilly (+41 22 917 9310 / cpouilly@ohchr.org).

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AVIS AUX MEDIAS - Côte d’Ivoire: L’Expert de l’ONU exhorte le gouvernement



Côte d’Ivoire: L’Expert de l’ONU exhorte le gouvernement à assurer l’exercice des libertés publiques pour garantir des élections apaisées
  
ABIDJAN / GENEVE (29 mai 2015) – L’Expert indépendant sur le renforcement des capacités et de la coopération technique avec la Côte d’Ivoire dans le domaine des droits de l’homme, M. Mohammed Ayat, a encouragé le gouvernement ivoirien à poursuivre les réformes en cours dans le domaine des droits de l’homme et de la lutte contre l’impunité tout en veillant à assurer la libre expression de tous les partis politiques.  

« J’aimerai souligner les avancées effectuées par le gouvernement dans le domaine des droits de l’homme depuis ma dernière visite, notamment l’abolition définitive de la peine de mort, la présentation de son tout premier rapport national au Comité des droits de l’homme des Nations Unies, l’introduction dans l’arsenal juridique ivoirien des crimes internationaux tels que le génocide, les crimes contre l’humanité et les crimes de guerre, ainsi que la responsabilité des chefs hiérarchiques en matière de crimes de guerre et l’imprescriptibilité des crimes internationaux », a souligné l’expert.

L’Expert a également salué la mise en place de la Commission nationale pour la réconciliation et l’indemnisation des victimes des crises survenues en Côte d’Ivoire (CONARIV). 

Dans la même perspective de justice et de réconciliation, le processus d’enquête et de poursuite des auteurs présumés des violences commises durant la période électorale de 2011 s’est accéléré. 

Ce processus tend à devenir plus inclusif en s’étendant à des personnes appartenant aux deux factions qui étaient opposées sur le terrain lors des conflits armés qui ont sévis dans le pays.

« Il s’agit là d’une avancée significative sur la voie d’une justice plus équitable. Il convient toutefois d’être vigilant sur la manière dont cette progression se fait. 

La justice devrait rester sereine, respecter les garanties de procès équitable et être détachée des contingences du moment. Des enquêtes bien faites ont besoin de temps et de moyens pour être conduites dans de bonnes conditions », a déclaré Mohammed Ayat.

Dans cette même perspective, il est impératif de veiller à promulguer dans les plus brefs délais la loi destinée à protéger les victimes et les témoins. 

Les victimes et les témoins ont un rôle primordial à jouer dans le processus de la justice. Mais, ils ne peuvent le faire que s’ils sont protégés des menaces qui pèsent sur leur vie, leur intégrité physique et celle de leurs proches.

En ce qui concerne l’Autorité chargée du désarmement, de la démobilisation et de la réinsertion (ADDR) l’expert indépendant a été informé, lors de notre première mission en janvier dernier, que le nombre des ex-combattants à désarmer, démobiliser et réinsérer étaient encore aux alentours de 30000. 

Actuellement selon les responsables de l’ADDR il reste environ 3000 cas à traiter en principe d’ici la fin du mois de juin prochain. Evidemment, il s’agit là d’un progrès remarquable susceptible de consolider la sécurité dans le pays, mais qui mérite un suivi dans la durée.

« En cette période pré-électorale, j‘exhorte les autorités ivoiriennes à porter une attention particulière à l’exercice des libertés publiques pour garantir des élections démocratiques, crédibles, transparentes et apaisées », a affirmé Mohammed Ayat.

Concernant la Commission Nationale des droits de l’homme (CNDHCI), M. Mohammed Ayat a déclaré : « Je réitère mes recommandations relatives à la CNDH, institution clef dont l’indépendance doit être assurée.

« Enfin une question que je voudrai évoquer pour conclure concerne la parité entre les hommes et les femmes ivoiriens dans l’occupation des fonctions publiques nominatives et électives. 

L’intégration des femmes dans les postes de responsabilité reste très modeste. C’est pourquoi un effort important devrait être déployé pour permettre une meilleure représentativité des femmes dans la gestion des affaires publiques », a souligné l’expert.
 
FIN

M. Mohammed Ayat (Maroc), l’Expert indépendant sur le renforcement de capacité et de la Coopération Technique avec la Côte d’Ivoire dans le domaine de droits humains a été nommé par le Conseil des droits de l’homme dans sa résolution 26/32 avec un mandat qui a commencé le 1er décembre 2014.

Les l’Experts indépendantes font partie de ce qui est désigné sous le nom des procédures spéciales du Conseil des droits de l’homme. 

Les procédures spéciales, l’organe le plus important d’experts indépendants du Système des droits de l’homme de l’ONU, est le terme général appliqué aux mécanismes d’enquête et de suivi indépendants du Conseil qui s’adressent aux situations spécifiques des pays ou aux questions thématiques partout dans le monde. 

Les experts des procédures spéciales travaillent à titre bénévole; ils ne font pas partie du personnel de l’ONU et ils ne reçoivent pas de salaire pour leur travail. Ils sont indépendants des gouvernements et des organisations et ils exercent leurs fonctions à titre indépendant.

Page du HCDH sur le pays – Côte d’Ivoire : http://www.ohchr.org/FR/Countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/CIIndex.aspx
                                                         
Pour de plus amples informations et les demandes de la part des medias, veuillez contacter M. Martin Seutcheu (+41 22 928 9618 / mseutcheu@ohchr.org)

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28. 05. 2015.

MEDIA ADVISORY (ENGLISH/ITALIANO) - UN expert group on people of African descent on fact-finding mission to Italy / Esperti ONU arrivano in Italia:





Versione italiana in fondo alla pagina
Italian version, see below

UN expert group on people of African descent on fact-finding mission to Italy
  
GENEVA (28 May 2015) – The United Nations Working Group* of Experts on People of African Descent will undertake its first-ever official visit to Italy from 1 to 5 June 2015 to study a wide range of issues concerning the human rights situation of people of African descent in the country.

“We will gather information on any forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, Afrophobia and related intolerance faced by a historically discriminated and invisible group, in order to assess the overall situation of people of African descent in Italy,” said Mireille Fanon Mendes-France, who currently heads the expert group.

Ms. Fanon Mendes-France, together with human rights experts Michal Balcerzak and Ricardo A. Sunga, will also study the measures taken to prevent racial discrimination and protect victims of racism and hate crimes, as well as mechanisms for the protection, integration and inclusion of migrants and refugees, intersectionality, and responses to multiple forms of discrimination, that specific groups of African descent may face.

“The visit will allow us to identify challenges as well as good practices on the basis of which we will provide concrete recommendations to fight racism and racial discrimination”, Ms. Fanon Mendes-France said. The Working Group will present a report containing its findings and recommendations to the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2016.

Working Group’ delegation will travel to Rome, Milan and Catania to meet representatives of the Government, relevant communities, NGOs and other civil society institutions working on issues of racism and discrimination and Afrophobia.

At the end of their mission, on 5 June, the experts will share their preliminary findings during a press conference at the Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI), Piazza di San Marco, 51, 00186 Roma, at 15:30 hrs.

ENDS

(*) The Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent was established on 25 April 2002 by the then Commission on Human Rights, following the World Conference against Racism held in Durban in 2001. The Working Group is composed of five independent experts serving in their personal capacities: Ms. Mireille FANON-MENDES-FRANCE (France); Chair-Rapporteur; Ms. Verene SHEPHERD (Jamaica); Mr. Sabelo Gumedze (South Africa); Mr. Ricardo A. SUNGA III (the Philippines) and Mr. Michal BALCERZAK (Poland). Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Racism/WGAfricanDescent/Pages/WGEPADIndex.aspx

The Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, country page – Italy:   http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/ENACARegion/Pages/ITIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact Christina Saunders (+41 79 444 5172 / csaunders@ohchr.org) or write to africandescent@ohchr.org  

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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Storify:        http://storify.com/UNrightswire


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COMUNICATO STAMPA

Esperti ONU arrivano in Italia: Studio e monitoraggio condizioni popoli africani

GINEVRA (28 Maggio 2015) –  Si terrà dall’1 al 5 giugno prossimi la missione in Italia del gruppo di esperti* delle Nazioni Unite sulle persone di discendenza africana (Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent). Si tratta della prima visita ufficiale nel nostro Paese per esaminare in dettaglio la situazione inerente la sfera dei diritti umani.

“Raccoglieremo informazioni su qualsiasi forma di razzismo (discriminazione razziale, xenofobia, afro-fobia e altre intolleranze) perpetrata nei confronti di questo gruppo invisibile e storicamente discriminato, in modo da poter definire qual è la loro situazione generale in Italia”, afferma Mireille Fanon Mendes-France, alla guida del gruppo di esperti.

Fanon Mendes France, insieme agli esperti di diritti umani Michal Balcerzak e Ricardo A. Sungs, verificherà anche le misure adottate dall’Italia per prevenire la discriminazione razziale e proteggere le vittime di razzismo e di crimini ispirati dall'odio, così come i meccanismi esistenti per la protezione, l'integrazione e l'inclusione dei migranti e dei rifugiati; “l’intersezionalità”, e le risposte alle forme multiple di discriminazione che i gruppi specifici di origine Africana potrebbero subire.

“La visita ci permetterà di individuare sia le sfide che le buone pratiche sulle cui basi formuleremo raccomandazioni concrete per combattere il razzismo e la discriminazione razziale”, aggiunge Fanon Mendes-France. Raccomandazioni che saranno incluse in un report del gruppo di esperti che sarà presentato nel 2016 al Consiglio dei diritti umani delle Nazioni Unite.

La delegazione del gruppo di lavoro visiterà Roma, Milano e Catania dove incontrerà i capi di Stato e di governo, i ministri competenti, le Organizzazioni Non Governative e gli esponenti della società civile che si occupano di questioni relative al razzismo, alla discriminazione e all’afro-fobia.

Al termine della visita, venerdì 5 giugno, alle ore 15.30, il gruppo di esperti illustrerà i risultati della missione in una conferenza stampa che si terrà presso la Società Italiana per l’Organizzazione Internazionale (SIOI – UN Association for Italy), sita a Piazza San Marco 51, Roma.

FINE

(*) Il gruppo di esperti è stato istituito dalla Commissione per i diritti umani (oggi Consiglio per i diritti umani delle Nazioni Unite) nel 2002 con risoluzione 2002/68 al fine di studiare il problema della discriminazione razziale affrontato da individui di origine africana in tutto il mondo e di avanzare proposte per l'eliminazione della discriminazione razziale nei confronti di persone di discendenza africana. Per saperne di più, si prega di accedere a: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Racism/WGAfricanDescent/Pages/WGEPADIndex.aspx


Per ulteriori informazioni e richieste da parte della stampa, si prega di contattare Christina Saunders (+41 79 444 5172 / csaunders@ohchr.org) e africandescent@ohchr.org.

Per le richieste da parte degli organismi di Informazione relative ad altri esperti indipendenti delle Nazioni Unite: Xabier Celaya - Unità di Comunicazioni (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

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NEWS RELEASE (ENGLISH / ALBANIAN / SERBIAN) - Kosovo* / Right to housing: Deep gap between law and


lbanian and Serbian version, see below

Kosovo* / Right to housing: Deep gap between law and reality, UN expert says
  
PRISTINA (28 May 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Leilani Farha, today welcomed the inclusion of international human rights law in legislation and strategies at central and local levels in Kosovo.
 
However, at the end of a visit to Pristina and Mitrovica, the human rights expert expressed concern that the deep gap between law and its implementation renders housing inadequate for the most vulnerable groups in Kosovo, particularly internally displaced persons, Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian minorities and women.

“Laws and strategies are clear about equality and non-discrimination and housing, and yet I heard testimonies of very poor housing conditions, including lack of water and electricity, for minority groups,” she said

Ms. Farha learned that the resolution of the complex issues related to land and property restitution, cadasters and the effective return to homes, is the top priority of all authorities and other actors with whom she met. “More proactive measures are required to address the unresolved tensions arising from conflict and displacement, and their implication for the enjoyment of the right to adequate housing,” she advised.

The Special Rapporteur was also struck by the inequality women face in Kosovo in relation to inheritance, housing, and property, all essential for the enjoyment of the right to adequate housing. “I also heard that women and children trying to escape domestic violence have few housing options and often have to return to violent situations,” she said.
 
The human rights expert was also informed of deplorable housing conditions in collective centers. “I was appalled to learn that some residents have been living in these centers --which were only meant as temporary accommodation-- for over 10 years,” the Special Rapporteur stressed.

“I urge the Kosovar authorities to move swiftly to close these centers and to ensure that all residents are resettled in dignified living conditions with access to services,” Ms. Farha said.

“The people of Kosovo, regardless of their ethnicity, share a keen sense that housing is far more than four walls and a roof, and is closely linked with community, employment opportunities and security,” the expert noted. “This should be the goal for all actors engaged in housing programmes.”

During her two-day visit to Kosovo, the Special Rapporteur met with central and local government officials, independent institutions including the Ombudsperson, civil society, lawyers, academics and the international community. She also had the opportunity to meet with some residents.

(*) All references to Kosovo should be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1244, of 10 June 1999: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/1244(1999)

ENDS

Leilani Farha (Canada) is the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context. She took her function in June 2014. Ms. Farha is the Executive Director of the NGO Canada without Poverty, based in Ottawa, Canada. A lawyer by training, for the past 20 years Ms. Farha has worked both internationally and domestically on the implementation of the right to adequate housing for the most marginalized groups and on the situation of people living in poverty. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/Pages/HousingIndex.aspx

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. 
Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Geneva (after the visit): Juana Sotomayor, OHCHR (jsotomayor@ohchr.org +41 22 917 9445 or srhousing@ohchr.org)
For attention for local media in local language:
Sarah Crozier, Spokesperson, UNMIK in Pristina (+318 38 504 604 ext. 5475 / +377 44 500 107 / croziers@un.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts in Geneva:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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Kosovë* / E drejta për banim: Hendek i thellë në mes të ligjit dhe realitetit, thekson ekspertja e OKB-së

PRISHTINË (28 maj 2015) – Raportuesja Speciale e Organizatës së Kombeve të Bashkuara për banim adekuat, Leilani Farha, mirëpriti sot përfshirjen e ligjit mbi të drejtat ndërkombëtare të njeriut në legjislacion dhe strategji në nivel qendror dhe atë lokal në Kosovë.
 
Sidoqoftë, në përfundim të vizitës në Prishtinë dhe Mitrovicë, ekspertja e të drejtave të njeriut shprehu shqetësim se hendeku i thellë në mes të ligjit dhe zbatimit të tij rezulton në banim joadekuat për grupet më të ndjeshme në Kosovë, në veçanti për personat e zhvendosur, pakicat Rome, Ashkali, Egjiptase dhe gra­.

“Ligjet dhe strategjitë janë të qarta rreth barazisë, mosdiskriminimit dhe banimit mirëpo prapë se prapë dëgjova dëshmi për kushte shumë të dobëta të banimit, mungesës së ujit dhe energjisë elektrike për grupet minoritare,” tha ajo.

Znj. Farha kuptoi se zgjidhja e çështjeve komplekse lidhur kthimin e tokës dhe pronës, kadastrave dhe kthimin efektiv nëpër shtëpi, është prioritet kryesor për të gjitha autoritetet dhe akterët tjerë me të cilët u takua. “Masa më proaktive janë të domosdoshme për të adresuar tensionet e pazgjidhura nga konflikti dhe zhvendosja, dhe ndikimin e tyre në gëzimin e të drejtës për banim adekuat,” këshilloi ajo.

Raportuesja Speciale gjithashtu u shokua nga pabarazia me të cilën ballafaqohen gratë në Kosovë lidhur me trashëgimi, banim dhe pronë, të gjitha këto elemente qenësore për gëzimin e të drejtës për banim adekuat. “Gjithashtu dëgjova që gratë dhe fëmijët që përpiqen të ikin nga dhuna familjare kanë opcione të pakta banimi dhe shpesh detyrohen të kthehen në situata të dhunshme,” theksoi ajo.
 
Ekspertja e të drejtave të njeriut u informua poashtu lidhur me kushtet e mjerushme të  banimit në qendrat kolektive. “U tmerrova kur mësova se disa banorë po jetonin në këto qendra – të cilat ishin të destinuara vetëm për akomodim të përkohshëm – për më shumë se 10 vite,” theksoi Raportuesja Speciale.

“Kërkoj nga autoritetet e Kosovës që të lëvizin shpejtë në mbylljen e këtyre qendrave dhe të sigurojnë zhvendosjen e të gjithë banorëve në kushte dinjitoze të të jetuarit me çasje në shërbime,” tha Zsh. Farha.

“Populli i Kosovës, pavarësisht përkatësisë etnike, ndajnë një ndjenjë të fortë që strehimi është shumë më tepër se sa katër mure dhe një kulm, dhe është i lidhur ngushtë me komunitetin, mundësitë për punësim dhe siguri,” nënvizoi ekspertja. “Ky do të duhej të ishte qëllimi për të gjithë akterët e përfshirë në programet e akomodimit.”  

Gjatë vizitës së saj dy-ditore në Kosovë, Raportuesja Speciale u takua me zyrtarë të qeverisë qendrore dhe lokale, institucione të pavarura, përfshirë edhe Ombudspersonin, shoqërinë civile, avokatë, akademikë dhe bashkësinë ndërkombëtare. Ajo pati rastin të takohet edhe me disa banorë.

(*)Të gjitha referencat sa i përket Kosovës duhet të kuptohen në përputhje të plotë me Rezolutën 1244 të Këshillit të Sigurimit të Organizatës së Kombeve të Bashkuara e datës 10 qershor 1999: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/1244(1999)

FUND

Leilani Farha (Kanada) është Raportuesja Speciale e Organizatës së Kombeve të Bashkuara për banim adekuat, si komponentë e të drejtës për standard adekuat të jetesës, dhe e drejtës për mos-diskriminim në këtë kontekst. Ajo mori këtë post në qershor të vitit 2014. Farha është Drejtoreshë Ekzekutive e organizatës joqeveritare Canada without Poverty (Kanada pa Varfëri) me seli në Ottawa, Kanada. Juriste me profesion, Farha gjatë 20 viteve të kaluara ka punuar në rrafshin ndërkombëtar dhe vendor në zbatimin e të drejtës për banim adekuat të grupeve më të margjinalizuara dhe në ofrimin e ndihmës për njerëzit që jetojnë në varfëri. Për më tepër informata, vizitoni:

Raportuesit Special janë pjesë e atyre që njihen si Procedurat Speciale të Këshillit për të Drejtat e Njeriut. Procedurat Speciale, trupi më i madh i ekspertëve të pavarur në sistemin e OKB-së për të Drejtat e Njeriut, është emri i përgjithshëm i mekanizmave të pavarur të Këshillit për mbledhjen e fakteve dhe për monitorim. 
Ato trajtojnë qoftë gjendjet specifike në një vend të caktuar apo çështjet tematike në të gjitha vendet e botës. 
Ekspertët e Procedurave Speciale punojnë në baza vullnetare; ata nuk janë nëpunës të OKB-së dhe nuk paguhen për punën e tyre. Ata janë të pavarur nga çdo qeveri apo organizatë dhe shërbejnë në kapacitetet e tyre individuale.

Për më tepër informata dhe kërkesa, ju lutem kontaktoni:
Në Gjenevë (pas vizitës): Juana Sotomayor, OHCHR (jsotomayor@ohchr.org / +41 22 917 9445 ose srhousing@ohchr.org)

Për më tepër informata në lidhje me ekspertët e tjerë të pavarur të OKB-së në Gjenevë:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

UN Human Rights, na ndiqni nëpërmjet mediave sociale:
       
Indeksi Universal i të Drejtave të Njeriut: http://uhri.ohchr.org/en 


Kosovo* / Pravo na stanovanje: Veliki jaz između zakona i realnosti, izjavila ekspert UN
  
PRIŠTINA (28. maj 2015.) – Specijalni izvestilac Ujedinjenih nacija za pravo na odgovarajuće stanovanje, Leilani Farha, danas je pozdravila uključivanje zakona o ljudskim pravima u zakonodavstvo i strategije na centralnom i lokalnim nivoima na Kosovu.
 
Međutim, na kraju svoje posete Prištini i Mitrovici, ekspert za ljudska prava je izrazila zabrinutost da veliki jaz između zakona i njihove primene čine stanovanje neadekvatnim za najugroženije grupe na Kosovu, posebno za interno raseljena lica, manjinske zajednice Roma, Aškalija i Egipćana, i žene.

“Zakoni i strategije su jasne u vezi sa jednakim i nediskriminirajućim stanovanjem, ali sam pored toga čula svedočenja o veoma lošim uslovima stanovanja, uključujući nedostatak vode i struje, za manjinske grupe,” rekla je gđa Farha.  

Gđa Farha je obaveštena da rešavanje kompleksnih pitanja u vezi sa zemljištem i imovinskim pravima, katastrom i stvarnim povratkom kućama, predstavlja vrhunski prioritet za sve predstavnike vlasti i ostale aktere sa kojima se susrela. “Više proaktivnih mera je potrebno radi bavljenja nerešenim tenzijama koje proističu iz konflikta i raseljenosti, i njihovih implikacija na uživanje prava na adekvatno stanovanje,” savetuje gđa Farha.  

Specijalni izvestilac je takođe zatečena nejednakošću sa kojom su suočene žene na Kosovu u vezi sa nasleđivanjem, stanovanjem i imovinom, što je sve suštinski važno za uživanje prava na odgovarajuće stanovanje. “Takođe sam čula da žene i deca koja pokušavaju da pobegnu od nasilja u porodici imaju malo opcija za smeštaj i često moraju da se vrate u situacije ispunjene nasiljem,” rekla je gđa Farha.
 
Ekspert za ljudska prava je takođe obaveštena o vrlo lošim uslovima smeštaja u kolektivnim centrima. “Bila sam zaprepašćena kada sam čula da neki stanovnici žive u centrima, koji su predviđeni da budu privremeni smeštaj, više od 10 godina,” rekla je specijalni izvestilac.

“Apelujem na kosovske vlasti da brzo zatvore ove centre i da obezbede da svi koji su tamo smešteni budu preseljeni u smeštaj sa dostojnim uslovima stanovanja i pristupom uslugama,” rekla je gða Farha.

“Stanovnici Kosova, bez obzira na njihovu etnićku pripadnost, dele dubok osećaj da je stanovanje mnogo više od četiri zida i krova, i da je u tesnoj vezi sa zajednicom, mogućnostima za zapošljavanje i bezbednošću,” primetila je gđa Farha. “Ovo bi trebalo da bude cilj svim akterima uključenim u programe smeštaja.”

Tokom njene dvodnevne posete Kosovu, specijalni izvestilac se sastala sa predstavnicima centralne i lokalnih vlasti, nezavisnih institucija ukljuèujuæi zaštitnika graðana, civilnog društva, pravnicima, akademicima i predstavnicima meðunarodne  zajednice. Ona je takoðe bila u prilici i da se sretne sa graðanima.  

(*) Svako spominjanje Kosova treba biti shvaćeno u skladu sa rezolucijom Saveta bezbednosti Ujedinjenih nacija 1244, od 10. juna 1999: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/1244(1999)

KRAJ

Leilani Farha (Kanada) je specijalni izvestilac UN za adekvatno stanovanje kao komponente prava na adekvatne standarde života, i prava na nediskriminaciju u tom kontekstu. 
Ona je stupila na funkciju juna 2014. Gđa Farha je izvršni direktor NVO Kanada bez siromaštva, sa sedištem u Otavi, Kanada. 
Po struci je pravnik i poslednjih 20 godina gđa Farha je radila kako u svojoj zemlji tako i u inostranstvu na implementaciji prava na adekvatno stanovanje za najmarginalizovanije grupe i situacijama ljudi koji žive u siromaštvu. 

Specijalni izvestioci su deo onoga što je u široj javnosti poznato kao Specijalne procedure Saveta za ljudska prava. 
Specijalne procedure, najveše telo nezavisnih eksperata u sistemu ljudskih prava UN, je opšte ima za mehanizme monitoringa i nezavisnog utrvrđivanja činjenica Saveta koji se bave ili specifičnom situacijom u određenoj zemlji  ili tematskim pitanjima u svim delovima sveta. 
Eksperti Specijlanih procedura rade na dobrovoljnoj osnovi; oni nisu zaposleni u UN i ne primaju platu za svoj rad. 
Oni su nezavisni od svake vlade ili organizacije i rade u svom ličnom svojstvu.

Za više informacija i pitanja medija, molimo vas da kontaktirate:
U Ženevi (nakon posete): Juana Sotomayor, OHCHR (jsotomayor@ohchr.org- +41 22 917 9445 ili srhousing@ohchr.org)

Za pitanja medija u vezi sa drugim nezavisnim ekspertima UN u Ženevi:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

UN Human Rights, pratite nas na društvenim medijima:
Storify:        http://storify.com/UNrightswire
       
Posetite Universal Human Rights Index: http://uhri.ohchr.org/en 

27. 05. 2015.

NEWS RELEASE - Myanmar: UN rights experts express alarm at adoption of first of four



Myanmar: UN rights experts express alarm at adoption of first of four ‘protection of race and religion’ bills 

GENEVA (27 May 2015) – A group of United Nations human rights experts today expressed alarm at the enactment of the Population Control Healthcare Bill in Myanmar, the first of four in a package of bills that seek to ‘protect race and religion’. The bills are highly discriminatory against ethnic and religious minorities as well as against women.

“These bills risk deepening discrimination against minorities and setting back women’s rights in Myanmar,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee. “At a time when thousands of Rohingya are already fleeing the country by boat, this sends precisely the wrong signal to these communities.”

On Saturday, State media reported that the President of Myanmar had signed the Population Control Healthcare Bill. While the stated objectives of the Bill are to improve living standards, alleviate poverty, ensure quality healthcare and develop maternal and child health, its provisions are extremely vague and lack any protection against discrimination, the independent experts noted. Under the newly adopted law, certain areas can be designated for special health care measures, including birth spacing.

“Any coercive requirement for birth spacing with the aim to ‘organise’ family planning would constitute a disproportionate interference in the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and could amount to a violation of women’s human rights,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dainius Pûras, noting that the Bill allows township groups to ‘organise’ married couples to practice 36-month birth spacing between pregnancies. “Women should be able to choose freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children.”

The experts underlined that inclusive policies and approaches that focus on a voluntary regulation of population can act as effective safeguards to ensure respect for women’s human rights, and sustainable economic and social development. Such policies should provide women with access to health services, including family planning and free contraception; nutrition; education, including sex education; and employment.

“Evidence shows that attempts to impose strategies aimed at ‘controlling population growth’ often disproportionately target marginalized and minority groups and can have discriminatory, coercive and punitive effects that go against basic rights and freedoms, particularly those of women,” the experts added.  

The rights experts also expressed serious concern about the other three bills currently being considered by Parliament: the Religious Conversion Bill, the Myanmar Buddhist Women’s Special Marriage Bill and the Monogamy Bill.

The Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Rita Izsák, cautioned that “these bills particularly discriminate against ethnic and religious minorities and have the potential to fuel existing tensions in the country.”

The Religious Conversion Bill establishes a State-regulated system for religious conversion, involving justification, registration, interview, study and approval. “The right to conversion has the status of unconditional protection under international human rights law,” the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, said. “States must respect everyone’s right to conversion as an essential component within freedom of religion or belief by removing administrative obstacles.”

The Myanmar Buddhist Women’s Special Marriage Bill seeks to protect Buddhist women marrying non-Buddhist men. “The Bill discriminates against women by restricting the right to marry for Buddhist women and placing restrictions only on Buddhist women who wish to marry outside their faith,” said Emna Aouij, who currently heads the Working Group on discrimination against women.

In practice, the Bill discourages interfaith marriages between Buddhist women and men of other faiths by imposing disproportionate penalties on non-Buddhist men. Moreover, under the Bill, a cohabiting couple where the female partner is Buddhist and the male is not, is de facto deemed ‘married’. If one or both parties do not wish to marry, they may be forced into marriage by a Court, which interferes greatly with the right to enter into marriage only with free and full consent.  

The Monogamy Bill criminalizes polygamy and prohibits extramarital affairs. The Bill is redundant since the Penal Code already prohibits polygamy. While the ban on polygamy is in accordance with international human rights requirements, the Bill adopts a restrictive and discriminatory approach to regulate marriage. It makes specific references to ‘non-Buddhist persons’ and omits other forms of marriage discriminatory to women, including early and forced marriages.

“Enforcement of laws criminalizing adultery often leads to discrimination and violence against women. Experience shows that, in practice, adultery legislation imposes disproportional criminal liability on women,” Ms. Aouij added.

The independent experts called on the Government of Myanmar to discard all four laws, which will violate Myanmar’s obligations under international human rights standards. The experts reiterated their availability to provide assistance and technical advice on legislation and other measures affecting basic rights and freedoms in Myanmar.  

“In this election year, Myanmar must ensure that its laws comply with fundamental  human rights provisions and help rather than hinder progress towards a more tolerant, pluralistic and inclusive society,” the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar concluded.

ENDS

The UN human rights experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights, is the general name of the independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. For more information, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Welcomepage.aspx

Learn more about the mandates:

UN Human Rights, country page – Myanmar:  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/MMIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact Caroline Avanzo (+41 22 928 9208 / cavanzo@ohchr.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

UN Human Rights, follow us on social media:
Storify:        http://storify.com/UNrightswire        


Check the Universal Human Rights Index: http://uhri.ohchr.org/en

NEWS RELEASE - “The silence and the denials” – UN rights expert calls for ope



“The silence and the denials” – UN rights expert calls for open dialogue on violence against women in the Sudan
  
GENEVA / KHARTOUM (27 May 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Rashida Manjoo, called for more open and constructive dialogues among all parties to address the causes and consequences of violence against women in the Sudan.

“The silence and the denials, whether by State authorities or many civil society participants, regarding the subject of violence as experienced by women, is a source of concern,” Ms. Manjoo stressed at the end of her twelve-day official visit* to the country.

“Constructive and open dialogues among all stakeholders; unfettered access; and an environment that is conducive to full and frank disclosures and dialogues, without the fear of reprisals; is essential in our common quest to promote and protect all human rights for all,”, the expert said, noting that during her visit concerns were expressed in this regard.

The Special Rapporteur noted that open and constructive dialogues must address challenges such as social stigma and silences surrounding certain manifestations of violence; an unresponsive, and sometimes hostile environment, when the issue of violence against women is raised; as well as the lack of or the underreporting of cases and the limited existence of disaggregated data.

She also pointed out to traditional, cultural and social norms that prevent disclosure and the seeking of assistance from persons outside of the family unit; and the focus on reconciliation, at the expense of accountability, for crimes against women and girls.

Ms. Manjoo encouraged the Government of Sudan and all stakeholders to find common ground in constructively engaging and addressing the tensions that exist, in particular with the international community and the UN, in the interests of the people living in Sudan.

During her information-gathering visit to Sudan, the expert confirmed that information received from confidential sources through reports and interviews show a range of manifestations of violence against women, whether in conflict or non-conflict areas. “Reports and interviews reflect the existence of violence in the family and the community, including against women and girl children, whether physical, psychological, sexual or economic,” she explained.

Other manifestations include an increase in trafficking of women and girls, particularly of asylum seekers and refugees, rape and sexual harassment/humiliation in the context of conflict, humiliations of women activists including of Darfuri women students, and insecurity prevalent within and outside numerous IDP camps, which renders women and girls vulnerable to violence.

Violence also occurs as a consequence of “the discriminatory interpretation and implementation of provisions of some laws, including the Criminal Law, the Public Order Law and the Personal Status Law,” Ms. Manjoo noted.

Over the past 10 years, concrete legal and institutional measures have been made towards addressing women’s human rights in particular the adoption of affirmative action policies in favour of women through the Electoral Law 2014, the Trafficking in Persons Act and the Asylum Act in 2014; the amendment of article 149 of the Criminal Law, and also the inclusion of a new provision on sexual harassment in the Criminal Law.

In addition, she noted that information was also shared on numerous policies and strategies on violence against women, including the national plan for eradicating violence against women (2011 – 2016), with its successor (2015 – 2031) currently in the process of finalization.

Despite the assertions of transparent and inclusive consultations and engagement with civil society individuals and organisations, in the development of laws and policies, there are still concerns about the selective inclusion of certain sectors of the NGO community in such efforts.

“The reports that I have received indicate a clamping down on NGOs generally, but more specifically women’s rights organisations, including through deregistration, challenges to applications by the relevant authorities, and also the imposition of barriers to registration,” Ms. Manjoo said.

“The issue of access to justice and to justice itself, for crimes experienced by women and girls, requires attention, especially through addressing the accountability deficit that seems to be the norm in Sudan for gendered crimes,” the expert highlighted.

The Special Rapporteur urged the Government of Sudan “to set up a Commission of Inquiry, consisting of both national and international persons, to look into the reports of allegations of mass rapes in different regions, including recent allegations regarding the village of Thabit.

(*) Check the full end-of-mission statement:

ENDS

Ms. Rashida Manjoo (South Africa) was appointed Special Rapporteur on Violence against women, its causes and consequences in June 2009 by the UN Human Rights Council. Ms. Manjoo is a Professor in the Department of Public Law of the University of Cape Town. Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/SRWomen/Pages/SRWomenIndex.aspx

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. 
Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.


For further information and media requests, please contact:
Karin Hechenleitner Schacht (+41 22 917 9636 / khechenleitner@ohchr.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

UN Human Rights, follow us on social media:

Storify:        http://storify.com/UNrightswire