By Christina Berger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
GENEVA, Switzerland – The 15th session of the UN Human Rights Council opened on Monday in Geneva. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, noted in her speech to the Council the occurrence of widespread worldwide human rights abuses and increasing attacks against human rights defenders.
Pillay provided updates to the Council on specific world situations and presented reports from the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights. She noted the harsh conditions for migrants in Mexico and the increasing assaults in countries such as Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zimbabwe as a result of competition over natural resources. Pillay also raised concerns over Israeli draft laws.
Some of Pillay’s harshest criticism was directed toward France’s Roma expulsion policy. “Such measures can only exacerbate the stigmatization of Roma and the extreme poverty and exclusion in which they live,” she said. “The often stereotyping and discriminatory rhetoric by officials and by the media when referring to the Roma in Europe is also an issue of grave concern.”
Larger countries did not escape Pillay’s criticism. She denounced the US program of targeted killings of suspected terrorists as contravening “international norms set to protect the right to life and the rule of law.” China was the subject of censure, along with Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Tunisia, concerning restrictions on civil society groups and activists. Russia, along with Azerbaijan, was criticized for their failure to seek justice against perpetrators of attacks and murders of human rights defenders.
Much of Pillay’s speech focused on restrictions, harassment, and attacks against human rights advocates, lawyers, journalists, and organizers through various countries. “I urge the Human Rights Council and the international community to support squarely and vocally human rights defenders. In this context, I would also like to bring to the attention of the Council the vital need to ensure the safety and protection of defenders and other witnesses who cooperate with UN-mandated fact-finding and investigative initiatives. Such protection must span the whole cycle of these missions’ activities and beyond.”
For more information, please see:
NEW YORK TIMES – UN Human Rights Chief Criticizes Big Powers – 13 September 2010
REUTERS AFRICA – UN rights chief hits Russia on murders of activists – 13 September 2010
UN HUMAN RIGHTS NEWS – Human Rights Council opens fifteenth regular session – 13 September 2010
UN NEWS CENTRE – UN Human rights chief voices concern over deportation of Roma from France – 13 September 2010
VOICE OF AMERICA – Widespread Human Rights Abuses Reported Worldwide as UN Council Opens – 13 September 2010
