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30. 11. 2016.

MEDIA STATEMENT - Child slavery in modern world “can no longer be tolerated” –=?UTF-8?





International Day for the Abolition of Slavery - Friday 2 December 2016

Child slavery in modern world “can no longer be tolerated” – UN experts say

GENEVA (30 November 2016) – The abuse and exploitation of children as modern-day slaves cannot continue to be tolerated, two United Nations human rights experts have warned in a statement ahead of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on Friday 2 December.  

Slavery’s devastating effects must be fought by steps including rehabilitation and better education, and by making sure children know about their rights, according to the chair of the UN Voluntary Fund on contemporary forms of slavery, Ms. Nevena Vučković-Šahović, and the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Ms. Urmila Bhoola. Their statement says:

“Millions of people around the world, many of them children, remain trapped in situations of servitude and contemporary slavery.  Figures from the International Labour Organization (ILO) suggest that almost 21 million people are victims of forced labour, the closest estimate available to us of those impacted by contemporary forms of slavery.

In our work, we invariably see that children are particularly vulnerable to contemporary forms of slavery, including the worst forms of child labour, forced child marriage, child domestic servitude and instances of girls being forced into sexual slavery.

Whilst patterns of violations differ between countries and regions, they are united by the extreme exploitation of vulnerable children and by a devastating and lasting impact on the lives of these children.

This situation persists even though it is 90 years since the adoption of the Slavery Convention and 50 years since the development of its Supplementary Protocol.

As we stop and reflect on this commemorative year, the abuse and exploitation of child victims of slavery cannot continue to be tolerated.

Target 8.7 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals calls on the global community to ‘take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms’.  

As we move towards the implementation of Target 8.7, we must ensure that specific attention is given to protecting the child victims of contemporary slavery.

This must include ways to prevent children becoming victims of slavery, including universal access to quality education and decent work, economic empowerment for family members, and making sure children know about their rights.

The international community’s efforts to step up protection for children must also include access to justice and rehabilitation for current victims. We must take steps to restore their rights, allow them to live lives of dignity and provide opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.” 

ENDS

Ms. Ms. Nevena Vučković-Šahović (Serbia) has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the UN Voluntary Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery since 2014 and its Chairperson since 2015. She was a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child from 2003 until 2009, and is one of the founding members of the Child Rights Centre in Belgrade. She worked with UNICEF on issues related to child trafficking and exploitation, and international adoption, among others. She is also a member of the Expert Committee of the International Children's Peace Prize. She is an international law professor at the UNION University of Belgrade and the Head of the Master on the Rights of the Child. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Slavery/UNVTFCFS/Pages/WhattheFundis.aspx

Ms. Urmila Bhoola (South Africa) assumed her mandate as Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences on 2 June 2014. Ms. Bhoola is a human rights lawyer working in the Asia Pacific region on international human rights, gender equality and labour law. She has 20 years of experience as a labour and human rights lawyer in South Africa and served as a Judge of the South African Labour Court for five years. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Slavery/SRSlavery/Pages/SRSlaveryIndex.aspx


For more information and media requests, please contact:
Ms. Laura Dolci-Kanaan, Secretary of the UN Voluntary Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery (+41 22 9179732 / ldolci-kanaan@ohchr.org or write to slaveryfund@ohchr.org
Ms. Eleanor Robb, who supports the UN Special Rapporteur on slavery (+41 22 917 9800 / erobb@ohchr.org) or write to srslavery@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: Multimedia content & key messages relating to our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles:

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EU odbacila harmonizaciju podrške obnovljivoj energiji - EU rejects harmonization of renewable energy support


                          
Objavljeno : 30.11.2016.             

Aktivno učešće građana i lokalnih zajednica u ponudi i tražnji struje biće "lajtmotiv" novih energetskih predloga Evropske komisije, najavila je visoka zvaničnica EU odbacujući istovremeno u ovoj fazi harmonizaciju nacionalnih šema podrške obnovljivoj energiji. EU radi na merama kojima će se građani ohrabriti da proizvode struju jer neka istraživanja pokazuju da do sredine veka, pod uslovom da na snazi bude prava zakonska osnova, polovina građana EU može da proizvodi svoju struju iz obnovljivih izvora i zadovolji 45% tražnje energije u EU.

I dok Komisija sprema dugo čekane izmene direktive o obnovljivoj energiji, zvaničnici postepeno otkrivaju obrise budućeg režima EU. Jedna od visokih zvaničnica Generalnog direktorata Evropske komisije za energetiku Mari Doneli (Marie Donnelly) kaže da nova direktiva neće uključiti harmonizaciju nacionalnih šema podrške obnovljivim izvorima dodajući da će se umesto toga ići sa daljom regionalizacijom tržišta energije.

"Na jedinstvenom tržištu energije može da se predvidi jedinstveni mehanizam podrške ali mislim da još nismo u toj fazi", rekla je Doneli predstavnicima industrije na događaju u Evropskom parlamentu krajem septembra.

Energetske kompanije osudile su retroaktivna smanjenja podrške obnovljivim izvorima u nacionalnim šemama, poput onih koje je uvela Španija nakon pucanja tržišta u solarnom sektoru.

Francuski predsednik Fransoa Oland čak je pozvao na neku vrstu "harmonizacije" na evropskom nivou kako bi se zemlje sprečile da menjaju propise.

Međutim, razlike između nacionalnih tržišta "ostale se veoma velike", rekla je Doneli dodajući da bi "u takvom kontekstu jedinstvena šema podrške obnovljivoj energiji bila veoma kompleksna".

"Zato Komisija ide na regionalizaciju kao temelj za dostizanje jedinstvenog energetskog tržišta", rekla je Doneli na događaju u EP koji je podržala finska energetska kompanija Fortum.

Industrija obnovljive energije dugo se protivi harmonizaciji nacionalnih šema subvencionisanja s obrazloženjem da je evropsko tržište suviše iscepkano da bi to bilo moguće. Komisija je zauzela isti stav, iako je u jednom mišljenju iz januara 2011. navela da harmonizacija treba da bude predviđena na dugi rok.

Građani proizvođači a ne samo potrošači

S druge strane, Doneli je otkrila da će predstojeća Komisijina inicijativa za dizajn energetskog tržišta, koja se takođe očekuje u decembru ili januaru, uključiti mere za ohrabrivanje građana da proizvode, čuvaju i prodaju svoju struju.

"Jedna od stvari koju želimo da uradimo je da podržimo potrošače pojedince i zajednice da budu aktivni učesnici u energetskom sistemu. I to je 'lajtmotiv' koji se provlači kroz sve naše predloge", istakla je Doneli.

Na pitanje da pojasni da li to znači prioritetan pristup mreži za obnovljivu energiju koju proizvode mali proizvođači ona je ponovila: "To je 'lajtmotiv' koji se provlači kroz sve naše predloge", preneo je EurActiv.com.

Učešće građana u ponudi i tražnji energije postalo je centralno pitanje za decentralizovani sistem energije iz obnovljivih izvora koja emituje manje ugljenika.

U javnoj raspravi o inicijativi za dizajn tržišta ranije ove godine Komisija je navela da "potrošači moraju da budu u stanju da deluju kao kupci i prodavci" i pozvala je građane da iskoriste svoju moć za pogađanje kroz kolektivne šeme, poput energetskih zadruga.

Istraživanje holandske konsultantske kuće CE Delft pokazalo je da polovina građana EU može da proizvodi svoju struju iz obnovljivih izvora i zadovolji 45% tražnje energije u EU 2050. pod uslovom da na snazi bude prava zakonska osnova. To uključuje postavljanje solarnih panela na kuće ali i lokalne zajednice, škole i bolnice koje proizvode svoju energiju, skladište višak i prodaju ga u mrežu po garantovanim cenama.

Tenderi

Ključni način da se podrži razvoj obnovljive energije jeste da se bolje koriste tenderi za projekte obnovljive energije, smatra Mari Doneli.

"Jedna od osnova jedinstvenog tržišta je da javne nabavke idu preko tendera jer se tako dobija najveća vrednost za poreske obveznike", kazala je zvaničnica Generalnog direktorata EK za energetiku.

Međutim, danas se javno nadmetanje ne koristi u punom potencijalu, upozorio je evroposlanik iz grupe Zelenih Klod Turms (Claude Turmes).

Lokalne vlasti danas imaju obavezu da raspišu tender čak i za relativno male projekte obnovljive energije i na takvim tenderima su velike energetske kompanije u stanju da daju najjevtiniju ponudu. Na taj način se iz trke izbacuju male lokalne energetske zadruge čije su ponude skuplje ali uživaju veću podršku lokalnog stanovništva jer su u vlasništvu građana.

Turms je rekao da su tenderi dobri za investitore ali da bez učešća građana može da se izgubi potencijal za neke projekte, npr. za vetroelektrane kojima se često protivi lokalno stanovništvo.

Nedavno je francuski energetski džin EDF pokrenuo postupak protiv dve opštine u Belgiji u nemačkom govornom području gde su lokalne energetske kooperative dobile ugovor da postave četiri turbine iako je EDF imao jevtiniju ponudu.

Turms smatra da lokalne zajednice ne treba da budu u obavezi da objavljuju tendere za takve male projekte obnovljive energije. "Zato što npr. građanin koji želi da postavi solarne panele na svom krovu ne može da konkuriše EDF i pobedi na tenderu", rekao je Turms i založio se za izmene u domenu izuzeća za javna nadmetanja.

Zagovornici takve šeme kažu da, iako su energetske zadruge možda skuplje, one na dugi rok vraćaju osam puta veći prihod regionu nego kada su kapaciteti u vlasništvu velikih preduzeća.

Turms se zalaže i da javna nadmetanja budu otvorena i za druge vrste energetskih usluga, ne samo kada lokalne vlasti odluče da grade nove kapacitete za proizvodnju energije, već i za usluge koje pružaju operateri sistema prenosa.

Izvor: EurActiv.rs



Logo Association 
Posted: 11.30.2016.

Active participation of citizens and local communities in the supply and demand of electricity will be "leitmotiv" new energy proposal from the European Commission, announced a senior official at the same time rejecting the EU at this stage of the harmonization of national support schemes of renewable energy. EU working on the measures that citizens will be encouraged to produce electricity because some research shows that by mid-century, under the condition that the law is legal basis, half of EU citizens can produce their electricity from renewable energy sources and meet 45% of energy demand in the EU .

While the Commission is saved long-awaited amendments to the directive on renewable energy, officials gradually reveal the contours of a future EU regime. One senior official of the Directorate General for Energy of the European Commission brought Mari (Marie Donnelly) said that the new directive will not include harmonization of national support schemes of renewable adding that instead go with the further regionalization of energy markets.

"In the single energy market can provide unique support mechanism but I think we are not yet at that stage," said Donnelly industry representatives at the event at the European Parliament in late September.

Energy companies have condemned the retroactive reduction in support for renewables in the national schemes, such as those introduced by Spain after the bursting of the market in the solar sector.

French President Francois Hollande has even called for a kind of "harmonization" at the European level in order to prevent the country from changing regulations.

However, differences between national markets "remained very high," said Donnelly, adding that "in such a context is unique renewable energy support scheme was very complex."

"Therefore, the Commission goes on regionalization as a basis for achieving a single energy market," said Donnelly in the event that the EP has supported the Finnish energy company Fortum.

Renewable energy industry has long been opposed to the harmonization of national schemes subsidizing the grounds that the European market is too fragmented to make this possible. The Commission has taken the same position, although in one opinion in January 2011 stated that harmonization should be envisaged in the long term.

Citizens producers and not just consumers

On the other hand, brought it revealed that the upcoming Commission's initiative for the design of the energy market, which is also expected in December or January, to include measures to encourage citizens to produce, store and sell their electricity.

"One of the things we want to do is to support consumers individuals and communities to be active participants in the energy system. And that is the 'leitmotif' that runs through all of our proposals," said Donnelly.

 Asked to clarify whether that means priority grid access for renewable energy produced by small producers she reiterated: "This is a 'leitmotif' which runs through all our proposals", reports EurActiv.com.

Citizen participation in the supply and demand of energy has become a central issue for decentralized energy from renewable sources that emit less carbon. In the public debate on the initiative for the design of the market earlier this year, the Commission stated that 'consumers must be able to act as buyers and sellers, "and urged citizens to use their bargaining power through collective schemes, such as energy cooperatives.

Dutch research consultancy CE Delft showed that half of EU citizens can produce their electricity from renewable energy sources and meet 45% of energy demand in the EU in 2050 under the condition that the law is a legal basis. This includes the installation of solar panels on homes and local communities, schools and hospitals that produce their energy, warehouse surplus and sell it in the net at guaranteed prices.

Tenders

A key way to support the development of renewable energy is to make better use of tenders for renewable energy projects, considered Mari Donnelly.

"One of the foundations of the single market has to go through a public procurement tender because it gets the greatest value for taxpayers," said an official with the Directorate-General for Energy.

However, today the public bidding is not used to its full potential, warns MEP from the group of the Greens Turms Claude (Claude Turmes).

Local authorities are now obliged to call a tender for even relatively small renewable energy projects and on such tenders are large energy companies are able to provide the least costly bid. In this way, the race expel small local energy cooperatives whose bids were more expensive but enjoying greater support from the local population because they are property of the citizens.

Turms said that tenders are good for investors but without the participation of citizens can lose the potential for some projects, for example. for wind farms, which are often opposed by the local population.

Recently the French EDF Energy gin initiated proceedings against two municipalities in Belgium in German-speaking countries where the local energy cooperatives received a contract to set up four turbines although EDF had a cheaper offer.

Turms believes that local communities should not be required to publish tenders for such small renewable energy projects. "Because for example, a citizen who wishes to put solar panels on your roof can not compete with EDF and wins the bid," said Turms and called for changes in the field of exemptions for public bidding.

Proponents of such schemes say that although energy cooperatives may be more expensive in the long run one back eight times more income than the region where the capacity owned by large companies. 

Turms advocates that public tenders are open to other types of energy services, not only when the local authorities decided to build new capacity for the production of energy, but also for the services provided by the transmission system operators. 

Source: EurActiv.rs


Translated by
Nebojša Vladisavljević


Erdogan: Još nismo okrenuli leđa EU, ali imamo alternative - Erdogan: We have not turned their backs on the EU, but we do have alternatives


                                  
Objavljeno : 30.11.2016.             
  
Turska još nije okrenula leđa Evropskoj uniji, ali razmatra alternative približavanju EU, rekao je turski predsednik Redžep Tajip Erdogan, dok je ministar za evropska pitanja Omer Čelik rekao da bi Turska već bila članica EU da su pristupni pregovori vođeni objektivno. Brisel smatra da Ankara ne treba da prebacuje krivicu na Uniju već da treba da se zapita zašto je došlo do zastoja u tom procesu. Odnosi Turske i EU su već nedeljama napeti zbog represivnih mera koje je Ankara preduzela posle neuspelog puča u julu.

"U ovom trenutku - kažem u ovom trenutku, nismo zatvorili knjigu EU, ali sadašnje prilike ne daju nam mnogo razloga za optimizam", rekao je Erdogan 29. novembra na međunarodnom skupu u Istanbulu "Bosforski samit 7"..

On je dodao da su pred Turskom mnoge alternative EU. On nije rekao o kakvim je alternativama reč ali naveo da njegova vlada nastavlja da razgovara sa drugim potencijalnim partnerima.

Turski ministar za evropska pitanaj Omer Čelik rekao je 29. novembra u Briselu da bi Turska već bila članica EU da su pristupni pregovori vođeni objektivno.

Turska je kandidat za članstvo u EU od 1987, dok su pregovori o njenom članstvu počeli 2005. godine ali su sada u zastoju.

"Imamo EU koja je pustila Tursku da čega isred njenih vrata 53 godine. Da vam kažem: niko nije nezamenljiv", rekao je Erdogan.

On je nedavno rekao i da bi mogao da organizuje referendum na kome bi se građani izjasnili da li žele da Turska nastavi put ka EU a pomenuo je i mogućnost približavanja Turske Šangajskoj organizaciji za saradnju koju predvode Kina i Rusija.

Erdogan je 25. novembra zapretio Briselu da će otvoriti granice migrantima koji žele da idu u Evropu, pošto je Evropski parlament usvojio neobavezujuću rezoluciju u kojoj se poziva na prekid pregovora o članstvu sa Turskom.

Evropski poslanici su kao razlog naveli nesrazmeran, represivan odgovor vlasti na neuspeli puč u julu.

U Turskoj je posle tog događaja za koji Ankara krivi imama Fetulaha Gulan koji živi u SAD, uhapšeno, otpušteno ili suspendovano više od 100.000 osoba, uključujući profesore, pripadnike vojske i sudije.

Predsednik Evropske komisija Žan-Klod Junker je rekao 26. novembra da sporazum Turske i EU o migracijama treba da se poštuje i da će tako i biti. Turska sprovođenje sporazuma o migracijama uslovljava i liberalizacijom viznog režima EU za građane Turske.

Junker je pohvalio napredak koji je Turska ostvarila na planu demokratije u vreme dok je Erdogan bio premijer (2003-2014), ali je upozorio da se već oko dve godine Ankara udaljava od evropskih vrednosti i principa.

On je ocenio da Erdogana i njegova vlada prebacuju krivicu na Evropu za neuspeh pregovora o prisutpanju. "Umesto da krivi EU i Komsiju, Erdogan treba da se zapita da li je sam kriv za to što turski građani ne mogu slobodno da putuju po evropskoj teritoriji. Da li Turska želi ili ne da postane članica? To bi trebalo da se zapitaju naši turski partneri", rekao je Junker.

On je rekao da Evropski parlament ne odlučuje o tome da li pristupne pregovore treba nastaviti ili ne, ali je dodao da je stav parlamenta "znak na uzbunu koji Turska ne treba da potcenjuje".

Osim Austirje, članice EU su se do sada protivile prekidu pregovora o članstvu sa Turksom.

Izvor: AFP

Foto: Beta/AP


Logo Association 

Posted: 11.30.2016.

Turkey has not turned its back on the European Union, or consider alternative approach to the EU, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while European Affairs Minister Omer Celik said that Turkey has been an EU member and that the accession negotiations are conducted objectively. Brussels believes that Ankara does not need to shift the blame to the Union but that should be asked why there was a delay in the process. Relations between Turkey and the EU have been strained for weeks because of the repressive measures taken by Ankara after an unsuccessful coup in July.

"At this point - say at this point, we have not closed the book EU, but the current circumstances do not give us many reasons for optimism," said Erdogan on 29 November at an international conference in Istanbul "Bosphorus Summit 7" ..

He added that the Turkey many alternatives before the EU.

He did not say what kind of alternatives thing but stated that his government continues to talk with other potential partners.

Turkish Minister for European pitanaj Omer Celik said on 29 November in Brussels to Turkey has been an EU member and that the accession negotiations are conducted objectively.

Turkey is a candidate for EU membership since 1987, while negotiations on its membership began in 2005 but have now stalled.

"We have an EU which has left Turkey to which the midst of its doors 53 years ago. To tell you the truth: no one is irreplaceable," said Erdogan.

He recently said that he could organize a referendum in which the people voted whether they want Turkey to continue on the path towards the EU, but he also mentioned the possibility of approaching Turkey Shanghai Cooperation Organization led by China and Russia.

Erdogan's Brussels on 25 November threatened to open border for migrants who want to go to Europe, after the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution that calls for an open membership negotiations with Turkey.

European MPs have cited a disproportionate, repressive response by the authorities in the unsuccessful coup in July. In Turkey, after the event for which Ankara blames the Imam Fetulaha Gulan, who lives in the US, arrested, fired or suspended for more than 100,000 people, including professors, army officers and judges.

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said on 26 November that the agreement between Turkey and the EU on migration should be respected, and that will be the case.

Turkey implement the agreement on the causes of migration and the liberalization of the EU visa regime for Turkish citizens. Junker praised the progress made by Turkey in the field of democracy at a time when he was Prime Minister Erdogan (2003-2014), but warned that for about two years Ankara away from European values ​​and principles.

He said that Erdogan and his government shift the blame Europe for the failure of negotiations on prisutpanju. "Rather than blame the EU and neighbor Erdogan must wonder whether it is my fault that Turkish citizens can not travel freely around the European territory. Whether or not Turkey wants to become a member? That ought to ask our Turkish partners ", said Junker.

He said that the European Parliament does not decide on whether accession talks should continue or not, but he added that the attitude of Parliament "sign of alarm that Turkey should not be underestimated."
Austirje addition, EU Member States have so far opposed the termination of membership talks with Turkey.

Source: AFP 
Photo:Beta / AP

Translated by
Nebojša Vladisavljević

NEWS RELEASE - UN’s new LGBT expert urges global partnership to end violence and



UN’s new LGBT expert urges global partnership to end violence and discrimination

BANGKOK / GENEVA (30 November 2016) – Five key steps are needed to end discrimination and violence against the worldwide LGBT community, a United Nations human rights expert has told an international conference in Thailand.

The lynchpins include lifting criminal laws which affect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, and no longer seeing the community as suffering from a disorder, Vitit Muntarbhorn declared in his keynote address to the world conference of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA).
 
Other key steps include giving all people the right to have their gender identity recognized on official documents, working with different cultures and religions to ensure inclusive practices, and ensuring children grow up with the ability to empathize with people of different sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), he said.

Mr. Muntarbhorn, the UN first Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on SOGI, told the Bangkok conference that the five key goals – decriminalization, depathologization, recognition of gender identity, cultural inclusion and empathization – could only be delivered with a broad global partnership.

He said it had been a “quantum leap” for the world community to create the new mandate, which he took up on 1 November 2016.  He said the mandate would advance the commitment to “leave no one behind” in the new 2030 global development agenda.

“The new mandate gives voice to our global message: Treat people decently, respectfully, kindly, humanely whatever their origins, or our origins,” he told participants.

All people, he said, were invited to “open their hearts and minds to the beauty of diversity”, including in the areas of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Mr. Muntarbhorn highlighted that human rights advocates working with LGBT people were also coming under attack.

“Resolute action is required to stop the violence and discrimination affecting not only LGBT communities but also the human rights defenders working with them,” he said.  “This goes hand in hand with the broader aspirations of human rights, freedoms, democracy, and peaceful and inclusive societies.”

Mr. Muntarbhorn said the principle of non-discrimination lay at the heart of his mandate, and was clearly set out in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and developed by international human rights law and practice.  

Some progress had already been made towards protecting and promoting the rights of LGBTI people, for example through UN resolutions, procedures and studies, but he stressed that much more work was needed to deliver an end to violence and discrimination by 2030, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

(*) Read the Independent Expert’s full statement: http://bangkok.ohchr.org/news/press/VititFullStatement.aspx  

ENDS

Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn (Thailand), Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, is the first UN Independent Expert on the protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). He took up the newly created mandate on 1 November 2016. Lean more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/SexualOrientationGender/Pages/Index.aspx

The Independent 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 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 Bangkok: Jeremy J Laurence (+66 2 288 2627 / Mob: +66 84 700 4671 / laurencej@un.org)
In Geneva: Catherine de Preux De Baets (+41 22 917 9327 / cdepreuxdebaets@ohchr.org) or write to ie-sogi@ohchr.org.


For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  
       
For your news websites and social media: Multimedia content & key messages relating to our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles:

Twitter: @UNHumanRights
Youtube: unohchr



MEDIA ADVISORY (ENGLISH/PORTUGUÊS) - Portugal: UN experts to assess impact of economic crisis on housing



Para a versão em português, veja abaixo
Portuguese version, see below

Portugal: UN experts to assess impact of economic crisis on housing, water and sanitation
  
GENEVA (30 November 2016) – Two United Nations human rights experts will visit Portugal from 5 to 13 December to examine the extent to which people’s rights to housing, water and sanitation are being realized.
 
The Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Leilani Farha, and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller, will conduct the visit at the invitation of the Government to assess achievements and remaining challenges.

Both Special Rapporteurs will focus on gathering information and testimonies to assess the impact of austerity measures on different populations, with a particular focus on groups living in vulnerable situations, including the Roma population, persons with disabilities, homeless people, migrants, and people living in poverty, in urban and rural centers, including informal settlements.
 
“I am interested in learning about the impact of laws, policies and programs on housing conditions for those whose rights are most often threatened,” said Ms. Farha. “The financialization of housing, homelessness and how the right to housing can be claimed in Portugal are matters of special concern to me.”

Mr. Heller added: “I will look at issues of affordability, non-discrimination and access to justice for affected groups, with a particular focus on water disconnections in the light of the economic and financial crisis faced by Portugal.”

The experts will meet residents, government representatives, local authorities, and civil society and community organizations, in Lisbon, Porto and surrounding areas.

At the end of the nine-day visit, both Special Rapporteurs will share their preliminary observations at a press conference on Tuesday 13 December 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in the Lutecia Hotel conference room, Avenida Frei Miguel Contreiras, 52, Lisbon, 1749-086. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to members of the press.

Ms. Farha will submit a full report of her findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in March 2017. Mr. Heller will submit his comprehensive report to the Council in September 2017.

ENDS

Ms. 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 up her mandate 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: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/Pages/HousingIndex.aspx

Mr. Léo Heller (Brazil) is the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, appointed in November 2014. He is a researcher in the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil and was previously Professor of the Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil from 1990 to 2014. Learn more:

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 – Portugal: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/PTIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Portugal (during the visit):
Housing: Juana Sotomayor (+41 79 444 4828 / jsotomayor@ohchr.org)
Water and sanitation: Ahreum Lee (+41 79 444 3781 /ahreumlee@ohchr.org)

In Geneva (before and after the visit):
Housing: Juana Sotomayor (+41 22 917 9445 /jsotomayor@ohchr.org) or write to srhousing@ohchr.org
Water and sanitation: Ahreum Lee (+41 22 917 9391 /ahreumlee@ohchr.org) or write to srwatsan@ohchr.org


For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  
       
For your news websites and social media: Multimedia content & key messages relating to our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles:

Youtube: unohchr


NOTA À IMPRENSA

Portugal: visita de peritos de la ONU para avaliar o impacto da crise económica na habitação, acesso à água e saneamento


GENEBRA (30 novembro 2016) –  Dois peritos em direitos humanos das Nações Unidas visitarão Portugal de 5 a 13 dezembro próximo para examinar em que medida estão a ser respeitados os direitos humanos relativos à habitação, água e saneamento.

A Relatora Especial sobre o direito a uma habitação condigna, a senhora Leilani Farha, e o Relator Especial sobre os direitos humanos relativos ao acesso à água potável e saneamento básico, o senhor Léo Heller, realizarão esta visita a convite do Governo para avaliar os resultados obtidos até agora e identificar os desafios por vencer.

Ambos os Relatores Especiais centrar-se-ão na recolha de Informações e testemunhos com o propósito de avaliar o impacto das medidas de austeridade nos diferentes grupos-alvo, em particular nos grupos mais vulneráveis, como a população Roma, as pessoas com deficiência, os sem-abrigo, os migrantes e as pessoas que vivem na pobreza, em centros urbanos e meio rural, incluindo os assentamentos informais.

“Estou interessada em saber mais sobre o impacto das leis, politicas e programas de habitação nos grupos populacionais cujos interesses são mais frequentemente ameaçados” disse a senhora Farha. “Estou particularmente interessada nas questões relativas à “financialização” da habitação, a situação dos sem-abrigo e como é posto em pratica o direito à habitação em Portugal”.

O senhor Heller acrescentou: “Irei analisar temas como a acessibilidade, a não-discriminação e o acesso à justiça dos grupos em causa, com especial atenção aos cortes no acesso à rede de abastecimento de água na sequência da crise económica e financeira enfrentada por Portugal”.

Os peritos reunir-se-ão com os habitantes, representantes do governo, autoridades locais e organizações comunitárias e da sociedade civil, em Lisboa, Porto e zonas circundantes.

No final da visita de nove dias, ambos os Relatores Especiais apresentarão as suas observações preliminares na conferência de imprensa que se realizará na Terça-feira, 13 de dezembro 2016, às 10:00, na sala de conferencias do Hotel Lutécia, Avenida Frei Miguel Contreiras, 52, 1749-086 Lisboa. O acesso à conferencia de imprensa será estritamente reservado aos jornalistas.

A senhora Farha apresentará um relatório completo das suas constatações e recomendações à Conselho dos Direitos Humano em março de 2017. O senhor Heller apresentará o seu relatório exaustivo à Conselho em setembro de 2017.

FIM

A senhora Leilani Farha (Canadá) é Relatora Especial da ONU sobre habitação condigna como componente do direito a um padrão de vida adequado, e sobre o direito à não-discriminação neste contexto. Exerce esta função desde junho de 2014. Ms. Farha é Diretora Executiva da ONG “Canada without Poverty”, com sede em Ottawa, no Canadá. Advogada de formação, nos últimos 20 anos Ms. Farha trabalhou a nível internacional e nacional sobre a implementação do direito à habitação condigna para os grupos mais marginalizados e sobre a situação das pessoas que vivem na pobreza. Saiba mais, e aceda:

O senhor Léo Heller (Brasil) é Relator Especial para os direitos humanos relativos ao acesso à água potável e saneamento, tendo sido nomeado em novembro de 2014. É investigador na Fundação Oswaldo Cruz no Brasil e foi anteriormente professor do Departamento de Engenharia do Saneamento básico e ambiental na Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil de 1990 a 2014. Para mais informações consulte:

Os relatores especiais fazem parte do que é conhecido como os procedimentos especiais do Conselho de Direitos Humanos. Procedimentos Especiais, o maior corpo de peritos independentes no sistema de direitos humanos das Nações Unidas, é o nome atribuído aos mecanismos de inquérito e de monitoramento independentes do Conselho, que trabalha sobre situações específicas de cada país ou questões temáticas em todas as partes do mundo. Especialistas em Procedimentos Especiais trabalham numa base voluntária;  não são funcionários da ONU e não recebem um salário pelo seu trabalho. São independentes de qualquer governo ou organização e prestam serviços enquanto individualidade.

Direitos Humanos da ONU, página país - Portugal: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/PTIndex.aspx

Para mais informações e solicitação da imprensa, por favor, entre em contato com:
No Portugal (durante a visita):
Habitação: Juana Sotomayor (+41 79 444 4828 / jsotomayor@ohchr.org)
Acesso à água potável e saneamento básico: Ahreum Lee (+41 79 444 3781 /ahreumlee@ohchr.org)

Em Genebra (antes e depois da visita):
Habitação: Juana Sotomayor (+41 22 917 9445 / jsotomayor@ohchr.org) ou escreva para srhousing@ohchr.org
Acesso à água potável e saneamento básico: Ahreum Lee (+41 22 917 9391 / ahreumlee@ohchr.org) ou escreva para srwatsan@ohchr.org

Poderá também aceder este comunicado de imprensa em: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Press/SRWaterPR30Nov2016_Portuguese.docx

Para solicitações da mídia relacionadas a outros especialistas independentes da ONU:
Xabier Celaya - Unidade de mídia (+ 41 22 917 9383 /xcelaya@ohchr.org)

Para usar nossos sites de notícias e redes sociais: mensagens-chave sobre os nossos comunicados de imprensa estão disponíveis nas plataformas de redes sociais dos Direitos Humanos da ONU, listados abaixo. Por favor, tag os marcadores adequados

Twitter: @UNHumanRights
Youtube: unohchr

29. 11. 2016.

Odluku STO o Boingu i EU i Boing slave kao svoju pobedu - Decision of the WTO and the EU Boeing and Boeing celebrated as his victory


                                      
Objavljeno : 29.11.2016.             

Evropski proizvođač aviona Erbas založio se za globalni sporazum o subvencionisanju avioindustrije nakon što je Svetska trgovinska organizacija (STO) presudila da se američkom Boingu daju nelegalne poreske olakšice. Odluku STO obe strane su, s različitim obrazloženjima, pozdravile kao svoju pobedu. Oba proizvođača aviona, koja trenutno dominiraju svetskom avioindustrijom, godinama se spore oko subvencija i oba dobijaju i gube bitke i istovremeno oba zavise od pomoći države. U želji da se pozicioniraju na svetskom tržištu, i vlade Kanade, Rusije i nekih azijskih zemalja počele su da subvencionišu svoje proizvođače aviona.

STO je 28. novembra objavila da je velika podrška SAD proizvodnji Boinga 777X u suprotnosti sa međunarodnim pravilima trgovine. Ta organizacija je navela da je odluka SAD iz 2013. da se poreske olakšice Boingu produže sa 2024. do 2040. suprotna pravilima STO i da se uslovljavanjem korišćenja krila za avione iz domaće proizvodnje, odnosno proizvedenih u državi Vašington, diskriminišu strani proizvođači.

"Odluka STO predstavlja značajnu pobedu EU i njene avioindustrije. Panel STO je utvrdio da su dodatne velike subvencije od 5,7 milijardi dolara koje je Boingu dala savezna država Vašington ilegalne. Očekujemo da SAD poštuju pravila i fer konkurenciju i povuku te subvencije bez odlaganja", istakla je evropska komesarka za trgovinu Sesilija Malmstrem.

Ovo je prvi put u istoriji sporova Erbasa i Boinga da je panel STO utvrdio da je jedna od strana u sporu davala zabranjene subvencije kojima se diskriminišu strani proizvođači.

EU je saopštila da je STO presudio da su subvencije u visini 5,7 milijardi dolara nelegalne a ukupna vrednost mera koje su preispitivane je 8,7 milijardi.

U Boingu kažu da je ta suma preterana i dodaju da su, prema odluci STO, nedozvoljeni samo "budući podsticaji" od 50 miliona dolara godišnje, prenela je agencija AP.

Zvaničnik STO, koji je insistirao na anonimnosti jer nije ovlašćen da o tom pitanju govori u javnosti, kazao je da se presuda odnosi samo na legalnost mera a ne i na potencijalu finansijsku korist od subvencija.

Advokat Boinga Majkl Luting istakao je da je STO odbacio gotovo sve navode Erbasa i Evropske unije dodajući da je odluka STO "potpuna pobeda" Boinga.

Američka kompanija ukazuje i na to da od planirane šeme još nije imala koristi jer ona neće važiti pre 2020.

Međutim, Evropska komisija, koja je zastupala Erbas pred STO, takođe slavi pobedu. "Dobili smo spor protiv Boinga u STO", pohvalili su se iz Komisije na Tviteru.

Dan pred objavljivanje odluke STO obe strane su rekle da očekuju da se onaj koji izgubi žali, što bi značilo "razvlačenje" još nekoliko godina.

Direktor Erbasa Tom Enders naveo je u pisanom saopštenju posle odluke STO da od bitke u STO koristi imaju samo advokati koje obe strane angažuju već više od deceniju.

"I dalje mislim da je najbolji način da se reši taj niz sporova ... da se dogovorimo i utvrdimo globalna pravila za podršku civilnoj avioindustriji od kojih bi koristi imali sa obe strane Atlantika", istakao je Enders, preneo je EUobzerver.

Enders je naglasio potrebu da se i Erbas i Boing prilagode novom poslovnom okruženju.

Analitičari kažu da na kraju procesa odluka STO možda neće imati nikakve efekte jer STO nema izvršnu moć. EU bi, kako se navodi, mogla da uvede sankcije SAD, međutim, članice STO to retko rade jer takav korak povlači mere odmazde u vidu viših carina na druge proizvode.

"Izgledi za takav trgovinski rat uvećani su izborom Donalda Trampa za predsednika SAD a on je izrazio sumnje u međunarodne trgovinske sporazume", navode upućeni.

U međuvremenu su vlade Kanade, Rusije i azijskih zemalja takođe počele da subvencionišu svoje proizvođače aviona ugrožavajući tako dominaciju Erbasa i Boinga.

Izvor: EurActiv.rs
Foto: Beta/AP





logo Association

Posted: 11.29.2016.

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus called for a global agreement on subsidizing airline industry after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the US Boeing giving illegal tax breaks. Decision of the WTO, both sides, with different explanations, hailed as their victory. Both aircraft manufacturers, which currently dominate the global aviation industry, the years in dispute on subsidies and both won and lost the battle while both are dependent on government assistance. In order to position themselves on the world market, and the government of Canada, Russia and some Asian countries have begun to subsidize their producers plane.

WTO on 28 November announced that it has great support US production of Boeing 777X contrary to international trade rules. The organization said that the US decision in 2013 to extend tax relief to Boeing in 2024 to 2040, contrary to WTO rules and conditionality to use the wings for airplanes of domestic production, that is produced in Washington State, discriminating against foreign producers.

"The decision of the WTO represents a significant victory for the EU and its aviation industry. WTO Panel found that additional large subsidies from the $ 5.7 billion that Boeing has given Washington state illegal. We expect that the United States abide by the rules and fair competition and to withdraw these subsidies without delay" , said European Commissioner for trade Cecilia Malmström.

This is the first time in the history of Airbus and Boeing disputes that the WTO panel found that one of the parties to the dispute giving prohibited subsidies that discriminate against foreign producers.

The EU said that the WTO ruled that subsidies in the amount of $ 5.7 billion and the total value of the illegal measures that were examined from the 8.7 billion. The Boeing say that this sum excessive and added that, according to the WTO decision, allowed only "as incentives" 50 million dollars a year, AP reported.

WTO official, who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak about the matter publicly, said that the judgment relates only to the legality of the measure and not on the potential financial benefit of subsidies.

Lawyer Michael Luting Boeing said that the WTO rejected almost all the allegations Airbus and the European Union, adding that the decision of the WTO "complete victory" Boeing.

The US company also points out that the planned scheme has never been used because it will not expire before 2020. However, the European Commission, which is represented by Airbus before the WTO, also celebrated the victory.

"We got a case against Boeing in the WTO," praised from the Commission on Twitter.

The day before the announcement of the decision of the WTO, both sides said they expect to be the one who loses insult, meaning "bed" for a few years.

Director of Airbus Tom Enders said in a written statement after the decision by the WTO to battle in the WTO benefit only the lawyers hired by both sides for more than a decade.

"I still think that the best way to solve this series of disputes ... to agree and establish global rules to support the civil aviation industry of which could benefit both sides of the Atlantic," said Enders, reports EUobserver.

Enders stressed the need that both Airbus and Boeing adapt to the new business environment.

Analysts say that in the end the process of WTO decisions may not have any effect because the WTO has no executive power.

EU would, it is said, could impose sanctions on the United States, however, WTO members rarely work because such a step entails mere retaliation in the form of higher tariffs on other products.

"The prospect of such a trade war enlarged the selection of Donald Trump for President of the United States and he expressed his doubts in the international trade agreements," the insider.

In the meantime, the Government of Canada, Russia and Asian countries also began to subsidize their producers aircraft endangering the dominance of Airbus and Boeing.

Source: EurActiv.rs
Beta / AP

translated by
Nebojša Vladisavljević