Translate

17. 10. 2015.

NEWS RELEASE (ENGLISH/FRANCAIS/DUTCH) - Belgium: UN expert group calls for robust i



French and Dutch versions, see below

Belgium: UN expert group calls for robust integrated action to address risks posed by foreign fighters

BRUSSELS / GENEVA (16 October 2015) – Belgium needs to develop an inclusive national vision and action on the issue of foreign fighters at federal, regional and community, and local levels, the United Nations Working Group on the use of mercenaries* has said today. “The threat to the country is otherwise significant,” they warned.

“The number of Belgian foreign fighters is reportedly the highest in Europe per capita among those travelling to join conflicts abroad such as in Syria and Iraq,” said human rights expert  Elżbieta Karska, who currently heads the expert group. “The need to tackle this problem through robust collective efforts which engages all sectors of Belgian society is critical in finding solutions to this phenomenon.”

Ms. Karska and fellow expert Patricia Arias were in Belgium from 12 to 16 October 2015 to gather information on the activities of foreign fighters going from the country to conflict zones abroad, as part of a comprehensive study on foreign fighters and their impact on human rights, including on possible links to mercenarism.

During their visit, the experts received information that there are some 207 Belgianin Syria, 77 casualties, 128 returnees, and 62 persons who failed to get to Iraq or have been brought back. Of these, 46 foreign fighters have been prosecuted, all associated with the group Sharia4Belgium.

Recruitment is reportedly through extensive informal networks of friends and family, and through social media, with friends and family in Syria paid on the basis of the number of persons they recruit and whether the recruits subsequently marry. This follows previous waves in 2010, related to Sharia4Belgium, and in 2012, through peer recruitment.

“The profiles of foreign fighters are varied, with an average age around 23 years and decreasing,” Ms. Karska noted. “Women are also increasingly leaving.”

“Motivational factors are diverse, and, to some degree, individualized,” she said. Among the motivations identified are religious convictions, humanitarian reasons, the need for a sense of belonging and acceptance, the search for a livelihood, escaping a criminal background, and adventure. “Clear profiles of foreign fighters are thus not possible to identify,” the expert stressed.

The Working Group’s delegation welcomed a number of initiatives that have been undertaken at the federal, regional and community, and local levels, to deal with issues relating to the foreign fighter phenomenon.

“These initiatives are timely and imperative in ensuring that this problem is at the forefront of its national priorities and that the discourse resonates throughout Belgian society,” Ms. Karska said. “This same, very elaborate, system must also serve to bring together all the actors in a more collaborative, effective way for a sustained solution.”  
 
The Working Group recommended strengthening the national vision and strategic plan, to be fully integrated, with the broadest possible participation, and informed by multi-disciplinary in-depth research and analysis. Roles must be clear and programmes fully resourced, with a focus on preventive over punitive measures. The experts also urged the government to adopt a human rights based approach, with particular attention paid to the inclusion of especially affected communities.

During the visit, the delegation met with stakeholders from the government, academics and representatives of civil society organizations including families of persons who have travelled to join conflicts abroad.

The expert group will present their first report on the issue of foreign fighters to the UN General Assembly on 2 November, which will include facts gathered during country visits, and the information shared by UN Member States and other actors.
The Working Group will present a comprehensive report on its visit to Belgium to the Human Rights Council in 2016.

(*) Check the Working Group’s full end-of-mission statement:  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16609&LangID=E

ENDS

The UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries was established in July 2005 by the then Commission on Human Rights. The expert Group is mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to study and identify emerging issues, manifestations and trends regarding mercenaries or mercenary-related activities and their impact on human rights, particularly on the right of peoples to self-determination.

The Working Group is comprised of five independent expert members from various regions of the world. The Chair-Rapporteur is  Elżbieta Karska (Poland).  Other members are Patricia Arias (Chile), Anton Katz (South Africa), Gabor Rona (United States of America) and Saeed Mokbil (Yemen). Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Mercenaries/WGMercenaries/Pages/WGMercenariesIndex.asp

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 – Belgium: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/BEIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact:
During the mission: Christophe Verhellen, UNRIC, Brussels (+32 2 788 8454/ verhellen@unric.org)  
Before and after the mission: Ms. Alisa Clarke (+41 79 201 0119 / aclarke@ohchr.org) and Ms. Jolene Tautakitaki (+41 79 444 3993/ jtautakitaki@ohchr.org) or write to mercenaries@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)  

For your news websites and social media: 
Key messages about our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles
Twitter: UNrightswire

Youtube: unohchr


COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE

Belgique : Groupe d’experts de l’ONU appelle à un plan d’action ferme et intégré pour faire face aux risques posés par les combattants étrangers

BRUXELLES/GENÈVE (16 octobre 2015) –« Il va falloir que la Belgique développe une vision nationale et un plan d’action inclusifs sur la question des combattants étrangers aux niveaux fédéral, régional, communautaire et local », disait aujourd’hui le groupe de travail des Nations unies sur le recours aux mercenaires. « Sinon, la menace qui pèse sur le pays est significative. »

« Le nombre de combattants belges à l’étranger par habitant, qui voyagent pour rejoindre les zones de conflit à l’étranger, comme la Syrie et l’Irak, semble être le plus élevé d’Europe », nous explique  Elżbieta Karska, l’experte des droits de l’homme qui dirige actuellement le groupe d’experts. « Il est absolument essentiel de s’attaquer à ce problème par le biais d’efforts collectifs vigoureux impliquant tous les secteurs de la société belge si l’on veut trouver des solutions à ce phénomène. »

Madame Karska et sa collègue, Patricia Arias, étaient en Belgique du 12 au 16 octobre afin de récolter des informations sur les activités des combattants étrangers dans le pays, dans le cadre d’une étude compréhensive des combattants étrangers et leur impact sur les droits de l’homme, y compris des liens potentiels avec le mercenariat.
 
Pendant ce séjour, les expertes ont reçu des informations selon lesquelles il y a quelque 207 Belges en Syrie, 77 personnes décédées, 128 rapatriés, et 62 personnes qui ne sont pas parvenues à rejoindre l’Irak ou ont été ramenées au pays. Parmi eux, 46 combattants étrangers ont fait l’objet de poursuites. Ils étaient tous en relation avec le groupe Sharia4Belgium.

Selon certains rapports, le recrutement s’effectue par le biais de vastes réseaux informels d’amis et de membres de la famille, ainsi que par les médias sociaux. Les amis et les membres de la famille qui se trouvent en Syrie sont payés en fonction du nombre de personnes recrutées et si leurs recrues se marient ensuite. Cette situation fait suite aux vagues précédentes de 2010, associées à Sharia4Belgium, et de 2012, via le recrutement de pairs.

« Les profils des combattants étrangers sont variés, avec un âge moyen se situant aux alentours de 23 ans, une moyenne qui est en baisse », affirmait Mme Karska. « Les femmes sont également de plus en plus nombreuses à partir. »

«  Les facteurs de motivation sont de nature diverse et ont, dans une certaine mesure, un caractère individuel. » Parmi les facteurs de motivation identifiés : convictions religieuses, raisons humanitaires, besoin de connaître un sentiment d’appartenance et d’acceptation, recherche de moyens de subsistance, besoin d’échapper à un passé criminel et recherche d’aventure. « Il est donc impossible d’identifier des profils de combattants étrangers clairs », elle a souligné.

Le groupe de travail se félicite d’un certain nombre d’initiatives entreprises aux niveaux fédéral, régional, communautaire et local, pour traiter les problèmes liés au phénomène des combattants étrangers.

« Ces initiatives sont opportunes et impératives pour veiller à ce que ce problème figure au premier rang des priorités nationales et que le discours fasse écho dans toute la société belge », affirmait Mme Karska.  « Ce système, très élaboré, doit également servir à réunir tous les acteurs pour une collaboration plus complète et efficace, qui devrait déboucher sur une solution durable. »
 
Le groupe de travail recommande que la vision nationale et le plan stratégique soient renforcés afin d’être entièrement intégrés, avec la participation la plus large possible, sur la base des informations issues de recherches et d’analyses multi-disciplinaires approfondies. Les rôles doivent être clairs et les programmes doivent disposer de ressources suffisantes. En outre, il convient de privilégier les mesures préventives plutôt que punitives.

Les expertes exhortent le gouvernement à adopter une approche basée sur les droits de l’homme, et à accorder une attention particulière à l’inclusion des communautés spécialement touchées.

Lors de sa visite, la délégation a rencontré des parties prenantes, notamment des fonctionnaires du gouvernement, des universitaires et des représentants d’organisations de la société civile, y compris des familles de personnes ayant voyagé pour rejoindre les zones de conflit à l’étranger.

Le groupe d’experts présentera son premier rapport sur le sujet des combattants étrangers à l’Assemblée générale des Nations unies le 2 novembre. Ce rapport incluera les faits récoltés pendant les visites dans les différents pays et les informations partagées entre les États membres de l’ONU et d’autres acteurs.

Le groupe de travail présentera un rapport exhaustif de sa visite en Belgique au Conseil des droits de l’homme en 2016.

(*) Découvrez le communiqué complet de fin de mission des experts :   http://www.ohchr.org/FR/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16609&LangID=F

FIN

Le Groupe de travail sur l’utilisation des mercenaires comme moyen de violer les droits de l’homme et d’empêcher l’exercice du droit des peuples à disposer d’eux-mêmes a été créé en juillet 2005 par la résolution 2005/2 de la Commission des droits de l’homme.  Son mandat a été prorogé par le Conseil de droits de l’homme en 2008.

Le Groupe de travail est composé de cinq membres experts indépendants de différentes régions du monde. La présidente-rapporteuse est  Elżbieta Karska (Pologne). Les autres membres sont Patricia Arias (Chili), Anton Katz (Afrique du Sud), Gabor Rona (Etats-Unis d’Amérique) et Saeed Mokbil (Yémen). Pour en savoir plus, connectez-vous à: http://www.ohchr.org/FR/Issues/Mercenaries/WGMercenaries/Pages/WGMercenariesIndex.aspx

Les groupes de travail font partie des procédures spéciales du Conseil des droits de l’homme. Les procédures spéciales, le plus grand organisme d’experts indépendants dans le système des Nations Unies relatif aux droits de l’homme, est le nom général de missions d’enquête et de surveillance des mécanismes indépendants du Conseil qui traitent soit situations spécifiques des pays ou des questions thématiques dans toutes les régions du monde. Les experts des procédures spéciales travaillent sur une base volontaire; ils ne font pas partie du personnel des Nations Unies et ne reçoivent pas de salaire pour leur travail. Ils sont indépendants de tout gouvernement ou organisation et siègent à titre individuel.

Droits de l’Homme de l’ONU, pays Page – Belgique: http://www.ohchr.org/FR/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/BEIndex.aspx

Pour plus de demandes d’information et des médias, veuillez contacter:
Lors de la mission: Christophe Verhellen, UNRIC, Bruxelles (+32 2 788 8454/ verhellen@unric.org)

Avant et après la mission: Mme Alisa Clarke (41 79 444 399 / aclarke@ohchr.org) et Mme Jolene Tautakitaki (+41 79 444 399 / jtautakitaki@ohchr.org) ou écrire à mercenaries@ohchr.org

Pour vos sites d’informations et les médias sociaux : 
Merci de nous mentionner en référençant les comptes officiels du Haut-Commissariat sur les médias sociaux, tels qu’indiqués ci-dessous. Vous y trouverez des messages clefs, ainsi que des contenus multimédias originaux (photos, vidéos, infographies).
Twitter: UNrightswire
Youtube: unohchr


PERSBERICHT

België: VN deskundigengroep roept op tot robuuste, geïntegreerde actie tegen risico buitenlandse strijders

BRUSSEL / GENÈVE (16 oktober 2015) – België dient een inclusieve nationale visie en actie rond buitenlandse strijders te ontwikkelen op federaal, gewestelijk, communautair en lokaal niveau, aldus de werkgroep van de Verenigde Naties inzake het gebruik van huurlingen*. “Zoniet, is de dreiging voor het land significant”, waarschuwden ze.

“Onder de buitenlandse strijders die naar landen als Syrië en Irak reizen om deel te nemen aan de conflicten daar, is het aantal Belgen per hoofd van de bevolking naar verluidt het hoogste van Europa,” zegt mensenrechtendeskundige  Elżbieta Karska, die momenteel voorzitter van de deskundigengroep is. “De noodzaak om dit probleem aan te pakken door middel van robuuste collectieve inspanningen waarbij alle sectoren van de Belgische samenleving worden betrokken, is van cruciaal belang voor het vinden van oplossingen voor dit verschijnsel.”

Mevr.Karska en haar mededeskundige Patricia Arias waren van 12 tot 16 oktober in België om informatie te verzamelen over de activiteiten van buitenlandse strijders die vanuit België naar conflictgebieden vertrekken. Het bezoek kadert in een alomvattend onderzoek rond buitenlandse strijders en hun impact op mensenrechten, met inbegrip van mogelijke verbanden met huurlingschap.

Tijdens hun bezoek ontvingen de deskundigen informatie dat er circa 207 Belgen in Syrië zijn, dat 77 zijn omgekomen, dat 128 zijn teruggekeerd en dat 62 personen er niet in zijn geslaagd om Irak te bereiken of zijn teruggebracht. Van deze Belgen werden 46 buitenlandse strijders vervolgd, allen personen die in verband worden gebracht met Sharia4Belgium.

De wervingsactiviteiten zouden worden uitgevoerd via uitgebreide netwerken van vrienden en familie en via sociale media, waarbij vrienden en familie in Syrië worden betaald op basis van het aantal personen dat ze werven en het aantal rekruten dat vervolgens trouwt. Dit volgt op eerdere golven in 2010, waarbij Sharia4Belgium was betrokken, en in 2012, door rekrutering onder gelijkgestemden.

"We zijn erop gewezen dat de profielen van buitenlandse strijders zeer divers zijn, maar dat de gemiddelde leeftijd rond de 23 ligt en daalt”, aldus mevr. Karska.“Ook vertrekken er steeds meer vrouwen.”

“Hun motieven lopen sterk uiteen en zijn tot op zekere hoge individueel bepaald.”
 Enkele van de vastgestelde drijfveren zijn religieuze overtuiging, humanitaire overwegingen, de behoefte om ergens bij te horen en te worden geaccepteerd, het opbouwen van een bestaan, ontsnapping aan een crimineel verleden en avontuur. “Het is derhalve niet mogelijk om duidelijke profielen van buitenlandse strijders vast te stellen,” benadrukte ze.

De delegatie van de Werkgroep juichte een aantal initiatieven toe dat op federaal, gewestelijk, communautair en lokaal niveau is genomen om problemen rond het verschijnsel buitenlandse strijders aan te pakken.

“Deze initiatieven zijn passend en noodzakelijk om ervoor te zorgen dat het probleem als een nationale prioriteit wordt herkend en dat het discours zijn weerklank vindt in de gehele Belgische samenleving," zei mevr. Karska.“Ditzelfde doorwrochte systeem moet er ook voor zorgen dat alle actoren nauwer en doeltreffender samenwerken bij het zoeken naar een blijvende oplossing.”
 
De werkgroep beveelt aan om de nationale visie en het strategisch plan aan te scherpen tot een volledig geïntegreerd plan met een zo breed mogelijke deelname, op basis van grondige, multidisciplinaire onderzoeken en analyses. De taken moeten duidelijk zijn verdeeld en de programma’s moeten volledig zijn toegerust, waarbij preventie voorrang zou moeten hebben boven strafmaatregelen. De deskundigen drongen er bij de regering ook op aan om te kiezen voor een aanpak op basis van de mensenrechten waarin speciale aandacht wordt besteed aan de integratie van gemeenschappen die geconfronteerd worden met dit verschijnsel.

Tijdens het bezoek heeft de delegatie ontmoetingen gehad met belanghebbenden van de overheid, academici en vertegenwoordigers van het maatschappelijk middenveld, waaronder families van personen die naar buitenlandse conflicten zijn afgereisd.

De deskundigengroep zal haar eerste verslag over buitenlandse strijders op 2 november presenteren aan de Algemene Vergadering van de VN. Het verslag zal feiten bevatten die tijdens landenbezoeken zijn verzameld, evenals door VN-lidstaten en andere actoren verstrekte informatie.

In 2016 zal de werkgroep een uitgebreid verslag over haar bezoek aan België presenteren aan de Mensenrechtenraad van de VN.

(*) Lees de volledige eindverklaring van de deskundigenmissie:  http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Mercenaries/WG/EndMissionStatement16Oct2015_NL.doc

EINDE BERICHT.

De VN werkgroep over de inzet van huurlingen als middel om de rechten van de mens te schenden en de uitoefening van het zelfbeschikkingsrecht te belemmeren is opgericht in 2005 door de toenmalige VN Commissie voor de rechten van de mens. Het mandaat van de werkgroep is hernieuwd door de VN mensenrechtenraad in 2008.

De werkgroep bestaat uit vijf onafhankelijke deskundigen afkomstig uit verschillende regio’s. De huidige voorzitter is  Elżbieta Karska (Polen). De andere leden zijn Patricia Arias (Chili), Anton Katz (Zuid-Afrika), Gabor Rona (Verenigde Staten van Amerika) en Saeed Mokbil (Jemen). Voor meer informatie, ga naar:

De werkgroep is onderdeel van wat bekend staat als de speciale procedures van de mensenrechtenraad. De speciale procedures, de grootste groep van onafhankelijke deskundigen binnen de VN mensenrechten afdeling, is de algemeen gebruikte naam voor het mechanisme van de mensenrechtenraad dat monitort en onafhankelijk feitenonderzoek uitvoert, en dat specifieke landensituaties of thema’s in alle delen van de wereld onder de loep neemt. De deskundigen werken op vrijwillige basis; ze worden niet beschouwd als VN personeel en ontvangen geen vergoeding voor hun werk. Ze zijn onafhankelijk van elke regering en organisatie, en voeren hun mandaat uit op persoonlijke titel.

VN mensenrechten landen website – België: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/BEIndex.aspx

Voor meer informatie en media verzoeken, gelieve contact op te nemen met:

Tijdens het werkbezoek: Dhr. Christophe Verhellen, UNRIC, Brussel (+32 2 788 8454/ verhellen@unric.org)

Voor en na het werkbezoek: Mevr. Alisa Clarke (+41 79 201 0119 / aclarke@ohchr.org) en Mevr. Jolene Tautakitaki (+41 79 444 3993 / jtautakitaki@ohchr.org) of schrijf naar mercenaries@ohchr.org

Voor media inlichtingen betreffende andere VN mensenrechten deskundigen:
Xabier Celaya, VN mensenrechten – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

Voor uw nieuws websites en social media: 
De hoofdpunten van onze persberichten zijn beschikbaar op de VN mensenrechten social media websites, zoals hieronder vermeld. Wij stellen het op prijs als u ons zou willen taggen in uw berichten.
Twitter: UNrightswire
Youtube: unohchr

NEWS RELEASE - “Extremely volatile situation across the Occupied Palestinian Terr



“Extremely volatile situation across the Occupied Palestinian Territory” – UN expert expresses grave concern
  
GENEVA (16 October 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Makarim Wibisono, expressed grave concern and deep sadness at this month’s intensification of violence across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Gaza.

“Too many Palestinian and Israeli lives have been lost in the context of violent attacks and clashes,” Mr. Wibisono said, noting also the hundreds of injured. “In the face of growing violence, I urge Israel to exercise restraint and to recognise that all, including Palestinians, have equal right to respect for their human rights and their dignity.”

The number of reported Palestinian deaths, including children, is steadily rising. There are concerns of excessive use of force against Palestinians by Israeli security forces in the context of clashes, and cases of suspected Palestinian assailants shot and killed rather than arrested following attacks on Israelis, have been reported.

 “In order to calm the situation and avoid further casualties, it is critical that authorities deal with protests and any crime, in accordance with international law,” the human rights expert underscored.

“In particular, Israeli security forces must abide by international standards on use of force. Everyone’s life deserves to be protected and nobody’s security is enhanced by failing to respect Palestinians’ right to life and security of the person,” he said, adding that, “excessive measures which violate Palestinian human rights will only aggravate the situation.”

Extensive Israeli search operations and arrests of Palestinians have been reported. In East Jerusalem, measures include authorisation to ‘lock-down’ areas, punitive home demolitions and a ban on reconstructing those homes.

“Regardless of the situation, Israeli authorities must not use any measure amounting to collective punishment or which otherwise contravenes international law. The violence was ignited in the context of ongoing violations of human rights of Palestinians living under occupation and such measures only stoke further violence,” warned the Special Rapporteur.

Against the backdrop of settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the blockade of Gaza, and a general lack of accountability, Mr. Wibisono noted that tensions rose further following Israeli imposed restrictions on Palestinian access to the Al-Aqsa compound in East Jerusalem.  

“I appeal to Israel to recognise the destabilising effect of the current human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” he said. “I remain ready to work with the Government of Israel to move forward towards improving the situation.”

On his own role as Special Rapporteur he further commented: “The situation is extremely volatile across the Occupied Palestinian Territory. As a former diplomat, I say this is not the time to politicise my mandate, but to recognise that respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, is the first crucial step out of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

“I have again written to Israel and formally requested access by the end of 2015,” noted the independent expert whose previous requests for Israeli cooperation and access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory have gone without formal response. The Government of the State of Palestine fully cooperates with the mandate.

The Special Rapporteur will present his next report to the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 29th October 2015.

ENDS

In 2014, the UN Human Rights Council designated Makarim Wibisono (Indonesia) as the sixth Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. The mandate was originally established in 1993 by the UN Commission on Human Rights. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/CountriesMandates/PS/Pages/SRPalestine.aspx

Check the Special Rapporteur’s last report to the UN Human Rights Council: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session25/Pages/ListReports.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.

OHCHR Country Page – Occupied Palestinian Territories: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/MENARegion/Pages/PSIndex.aspx


For more information and media requests, please contact Camilla Wee (+41 22 928 9190 / cwee@ohchr.org) or write to sropt@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)  

For your news websites and social media: 
Key messages about our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles
Twitter: UNrightswire

Youtube: unohchr

NEWS RELEASE - Iran: UN rights experts outraged at the execution of two juvenile offenders



Iran: UN rights experts outraged at the execution of two juvenile offenders

GENEVA (16 October 2015) – United Nations human rights experts today expressed their outrage and profound sadness at the execution of Fatemeh Salbehi, a juvenile offender convicted for the death of her husband, whom she had been forced to marry at the age of 16.

Ms. Salbehi was hanged on Tuesday 13 October in breach of international law banning juvenile executions, and despite reported flaws in her trial and appeal process. She is the 11th woman to be executed so far this year in Iran, where at least 700 other people have been executed.

A week earlier, another juvenile offender was executed in secret in Iran: Samad Zahabi. No notice was provided to Mr. Zahabi’s family, nor was the required 48 hour notice provided to his lawyer. He was sentenced to death in March 2013 for the killing of a fellow shepherd, when he was only seventeen years old.

“These executions are disturbing examples of surging execution rates and questionable fair trial standards in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed. “The Iranian authorities must comply with its international law obligations and put an end to the execution of juvenile offenders once and for all.”

The UN Special Rapporteur on summary executions, Cristof Heyns, stated “Let us be clear – these are unlawful killings committed by the State, the equivalent of murders performed by individuals. These are profound tragedies that demean the value of human life and sully the reputation of the country.” He added that “executing a juvenile offender, especially after a questionable trial, directly contravenes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iran is a party. Iran must immediately stop killing children”.  

“The lack of judicial consideration for Ms. Salbehi’s circumstances is emblematic of the struggles victims of domestic abuse face in the judicial system,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Dubravka Šimonoviæ. “We cannot ignore the serious consequences of psychological, sexual and physical violence in the home on a woman’s physical and psychological health.”

While highlighting Ms. Salbehi’s young age at the times of her marriages and her lack of consent, Ms. Šimonoviæ expressed concern for the high numbers of early and forced marriages in Iran.  

The UN human rights experts strongly urged the Iranian Government to immediately establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

ENDS

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. Learn more, log on to:


UN Human Rights, Country Page – Iran: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/IRIndex.aspx  

For more information and media requests, please contact Mr. Naveed Ahmed (+41 22 928 9477 / nahmed@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)  

For your news websites and social media: 
Key messages about our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles
Twitter: UNrightswire

Youtube: unohchr

MEDIA STATEMENT - “Protect the rights of victims of trafficking during migration”



European Anti-Trafficking Day – Sunday 18 October 2015

“Protect the rights of victims of trafficking during migration” – UN rights expert urges Europe
  
GENEVA (15 October 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, today called on European Union Institutions and individual European States to prevent trafficking and protect the rights of people at risk, particularly in relation with the unprecedented numbers of people migrating to Europe.

Speaking ahead of the EU Anti-Trafficking Day, the independent expert urged the European Union to ensure that Member States' anti-trafficking policies are not negatively affected by restrictive and exclusionary immigration policies which are not effective and further heighten risks for trafficking and exploitation.

“Over the past 15 years, the EU has devoted many efforts to the prevention and fight against trafficking in persons. However, it is imperative today to acknowledge that not only specific anti-trafficking policies but all related policies and especially migration policies must be consistent with the priority of preventing and eradicating trafficking and exploitation.

I urge European Union Institutions and individual Member States to ensure that the rights of victims of trafficking, including access to justice and compensation are not negatively impacted by these policies.

Conflicts, emergency crisis situations and poverty can indirectly and directly fuel trafficking as people are pushed to migrate in unsafe and vulnerable conditions where they are often subjected to abuse and exploitation.

Tens of thousands of people are currently on the move: victims of trafficking, refugees, asylum seekers, children traveling alone, migrants travelling along similar routes, using similar means of travel. Each one has a reason, but a common destination is Europe.

An estimated 2,500 have died in the Mediterranean Sea this year alone. Some of those surviving their perilous journey through land and sea often fall prey to criminal or unscrupulous recruiters and employers, who traffic them for purposes of labour, sexual or other types of slave-like exploitations in transit and destination countries.

On the 9th European Anti-trafficking Day, I also urge the European Union to commit to the prevention and eradication of exploitation and trafficking, especially of women and children, in any of the sectors this takes place in such as agriculture, construction, fishery, domestic work, the touristic industry and the sex industry.”

ENDS

Ms. Maria Grazia Giammarinaro (Italy) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014, to promote the prevention of trafficking in persons in all its forms, and to encourage measures to uphold and protect the human rights of victims. Ms. Giammarinaro has been a Judge since 1991 and currently serves as a Pre-Trial Judge at the Criminal Court of Rome. She was the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings of the OSCE, and served in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice, Freedom and Security in Brussels, where she was responsible for combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. She drafted the EU Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Trafficking/Pages/TraffickingIndex.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 Selma Vadala (svadala@ohchr.org / +41 22 917 9108) or write to srtrafficking@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)  

For your news websites and social media: 
Key messages about our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles
Twitter: UNrightswire

Youtube: unohchr

NEWS RELEASE - New draft law threatens the independence and existence of NGOs in Kazakhstan, warns UN rights expert


New draft law threatens the independence and existence of NGOs in Kazakhstan, warns UN rights expert

GENEVA (15 October 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, today warned that Kazakhstan’s Bill amending the Law on Non-profit organizations “may not only compromise the independence of associations, but challenge their very existence.”

The draft law establishes an operator with the right to allocate both governmental and non-governmental grants, including grants from international organizations, diplomatic missions or international not-for-profit organizations, to non-governmental organizations.

“The possibility for a centralized Government’s operator to distribute all grants irrespective of sources, be it public or private funds, enables the authorities to arbitrarily limit resources and to control the entire not-for-profit sector,” Mr. Kiai cautioned. “By controlling the sources of funds, the draft law would limit associations’ functional autonomy and put their independence and existence at serious risk.”
 
“Access to financial resources is an integral and vital part of the right to freedom of association,” the expert underscored.

The new legislative amendments were adopted by the Senate on 8 October 2015. The text would now be with the Lower House of the Parliament for its final consideration and it may be adopted any time from now.

The draft law also bars associations receiving governmental grants from using more than 10 percent of their funding for administrative expenditures. “Other countries have adopted such laws in recent years and we now know, from experience, that this has had a devastating impact on civil society organizations,” the UN expert noted. “Many were forced to stop their activities, leaving society deprived from these organizations’ essential contribution in the economic, cultural, political and social fields and devoid of important voices often representing the most marginalized.”

“By preventing associations to decide freely on their activities, such limitation questions the very meaning of freedom of association and, as experience shows, endangers the very existence of associations,” he said.

“The role of civil society in a country with significant democratic and economic development aspirations is crucial to achieve ambitious goals. A meaningful engagement with civil society is essential to ensure diverse voices are included in decision making process,” he added.

Mr. Kiai recalled the recommendations made at the end of his country visit to Kazakhstan earlier this year*. “While I commended the Government on certain measures aimed at favouring the inclusion of associations in the public debate, I also stressed the need for any amendments concerning access to funding not to jeopardize the independence of associations, which is one of the main attributes of freedom of association,” he said.

“In this regard, I reiterate my call to the authorities for the draft law to be repealed,” the Special Rapporteur concluded.

Mr. Kiai’s present appeal has been endorsed by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom or opinion and expression, David Kaye, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst.
 
(*) See the Special Rapporteur’s report on Kazakhstan (A/HRC/29/25/ Add.2): http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=189  

ENDS

Mr. Maina Kiai (Kenya) was designated by the UN Human Rights Council as the first Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in May 2011. Mr. Kiai has been Executive Director of the International Council on Human Rights Policy, Chair of the Kenya National Human Rights Commission, Africa Director of the International Human Rights Law Group, and Africa Director of Amnesty International. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/AssemblyAssociation/Pages/SRFreedomAssemblyAssociationIndex.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.

Check the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CESCR.aspx
 
UN Human Rights, Country Page – Kazakhstan: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/KZIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests please contact Thibaut Guillet (+41 22 917 9389 / tguillet@ohchr.org) or write to freeassembly@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)  

For your news websites and social media: 
Key messages about our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles
Twitter: UNrightswire

Youtube: unohchr

MEDIA ADVISORY - UN torture prevention body in second visit to Brazil



UN torture prevention body in second visit to Brazil

GENEVA (15 October 2015) – The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) will visit Brazil from 19 to 30 October 2015 to assess the progress made in torture prevention and the extent to which its recommendations have been followed up on since its last visit to the country in 2011.

“Following our first visit to Brazil four years ago, the country has taken a number of steps related to torture prevention. During this second visit, we will assess these recent developments and advise the Brazilian authorities on measures that may be strengthened or taken to protect people, who have been deprived of their liberty, against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” said Víctor Madrigal-Borloz, who is heading the SPT delegation to Brazil.

The delegation will meet Federal and State authorities, members of civil society as well as representatives of the newly established body in charge of monitoring places of detention, known as the National Preventive Mechanism. The SPT members will also make unannounced visits to places of detention in different states as part of their assessment.

“The SPT will formulate its advice on the basis of its previous observations and recommendations, the continued dialogue with the Brazilian authorities and the visit to places of detention during its mission,” Madrigal-Borloz added.

At the end of the visit, the delegation will present its oral preliminary observations to the Brazilian authorities. The SPT’s role is to prevent and eliminate torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment of detainees. It has a mandate to visit all States that are parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and to make recommendations to State authorities to establish effective safeguards against risk of torture and ill-treatment in places of deprivation of liberty.

For the SPT, the key to preventing torture and ill-treatment lies in building constructive relations with the State concerned, and its guiding principles are cooperation and confidentiality.

The SPT delegation is composed of the following members: Mr. Víctor Madrigal-Borloz, Ms. Marija Definis-Gojanovic, Mr. Enrique Andrés Font, Ms. Nora Sveaass, and Mr. Victor Zaharia.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Mr. Joao Nataf (in Brazil): +41 79 752 0484 or jnataf@ohchr.org
For other media inquiries, please contact Ms. Cécile Pouilly (in Geneva): +41 22 917 93 10 or cpouilly@ohchr.org

Background:
The Optional Protocol on the Prevention of Torture has to date been ratified by 80 countries. Under its mandate, the SPT can conduct unannounced visits to places of deprivation of liberty.
The SPT communicates its recommendations and observations to the State by means of a confidential report, and if necessary to National Preventive Mechanisms. However, State parties are encouraged to request that the SPT makes these reports public.

Find out more about the Optional Protocol:
For your news websites and social media: 
Key messages about our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles
Twitter: UNrightswire

Youtube: unohchr

NEWS RELEASE - Belarus presidential election: “Neither free nor fair, despite lack of



Belarus presidential election: “Neither free nor fair, despite lack of violence” – UN rights expert
  
GENEVA (13 October, 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Miklós Haraszti, today commended that protests against the perceived flaws of last Sunday’s presidential election in the country were not met with violence as in previous cases, but regretted that no progress was made in serving the Belarusians’ right to free and fair election.

“The election process was orchestrated, and the result was pre-ordained,” Mr. Haraszti said. “It could not be otherwise, given the 20 years of continuous suppression of the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, which are the preconditions for any credible competition.”

The expert noted that none of the independent election monitors, both international and local, could verify the officially reported 86 % turnout or 84% endorsement of the incumbent.

“Such high scores have never been claimed in elections in Europe since the end of the Soviet Union,” he stressed. “The observers’ documentations highlighted that not even the four days of coerced participation of prison inmates, army conscripts, and public servants under the label of ‘early voting’, can give up the stated numbers.”

The Special Rapporteur also pointed to the high number of allegations of election-day fraud, such as undocumented handling of voter lists and ballots, voting on behalf of others, carrousel voting, ballot stuffing, voting without proper documents, and mobile voting abuses.

“In my 2013 report* to the UN General Assembly on human rights in electoral processes, I had made a number of recommendations, yet none of these have been followed,” he said. “No independent election commissions with a pluralistic composition had been created; no debates between the candidates were provided in the television media which is largely owned and controlled by the State.”

Mr. Haraszti called attention to the intimidating environment of the electoral campaign. Calls for boycott of the elections were criminalized since the last elections. Political opponents, including an incarcerated 2010 presidential candidate, were released on the eve of the present presidential elections, but none of them have been reinstated in their political and civil rights.

“Actually, at this very moment, criminal proceedings are ongoing against another 2010 presidential candidate,” the expert noted.

The Special Rapporteur welcomed the fact that the elections took place without violence, unlike during the presidential elections in 2010 when a massive crackdown had taken place. “However,” he said, “I will closely follow what happens to the demonstrators in the aftermath of the elections, given that massive arbitrary short-term detentions and administrative discrimination are the order of day in Belarus.”

Mr. Haraszti commented on the temporary four-month lifting of the European Union sanctions against Belarus, beginning in January, as signaled by the foreign affairs ministers of the EU on 12 October, in response to the release of six political prisoners on the eve of the elections. He described the move as “a great opportunity for human rights reforms, in harmony with both the country's international commitments and the needs of its ordinary citizens.”  

Listing possible immediate steps, the rights expert said Belarus could eliminate the oppressive, permission-based regime of public life; repeal article 193.1 of the Criminal Code that criminalizes public activities without official permission; implement the long overdue electoral and media reform that allows for true competition and informed choice; secure the independence of the judiciary; and introduce a moratorium on the death penalty as a transition toward its abolishment.
 
“Modernisation processes which are not shouldered by democratisation and the respect for fundamental rights and freedoms are neither sustainable nor meaningful”, the Special Rapporteur stated, reiterating his readiness to cooperate with the Government on the starting steps of a reform.

(*) Read the Special Rapporteur’s 2013 report to the UN General Assembly (A/68/276): http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=140    

ENDS

Mr. Miklós Haraszti (Hungary) was designated as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus by the UN Human Rights Council in 2012. In the 70s, Mr. Haraszti was a founder of Hungary’s human rights and free press movement, and in the 1990s he was a Member of the Hungarian Parliament. From 2004 to 2010, he served as the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. Since 2010, he has been a Professor at several universities teaching media democratisation. Learn more, log on to:  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/CountriesMandates/BY/Pages/SRBelarus.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.

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

For more information and media requests please contact Ms. Alexandra Swetzer (+41 22 917 9401 / aswetzer@ohchr.org) or write to sr-belarus@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)  

For your news websites and social media: 
Key messages about our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles
Twitter: UNrightswire

Youtube: unohchr