UN Panel Questions Vatican on Child Sex Scandal

by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

GENEVA — A United Nations panel questioned representatives from the Vatican on Thursday about its handling of decades worth of reports regarding sexual abuse by members of the clergy.

Reps from the Vatican were peppered with questions by the UN panel on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)

Thursday’s panel was the first such interrogation of the Vatican by an international body. The United Nations committee in Geneva is examining the Vatican’s failure to adhere to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UNCRC calls on countries that adopt the agreement to protect children from sexual and physical abuse. The UN committee will issue final observations and recommendations on February 5th, but it has no authority to issue sanctions, and its recommendations are nonbinding.

The Vatican representatives contended that the sexual abuse cases were not the responsibility of the Vatican, but rather of local law enforcement and local dioceses to investigate and prosecute the offenders. The representatives did concede that the Church could “do better to prevent these crimes.”

“The Holy See gets it. Let’s not say too late or not, but there are certain things that need to be done differently.” Bishop Charles J. Scicluna, the Vatican’s chief prosecutor of sexual abuse up until 2012, stated to the panel.

The Center for Constitutional Rights submitted documents and victims’ testimony as evidence that the Vatican had allowed sexual abusers to remain in their posts and even transported them to different locations without informing law enforcement officials or local dioceses.

The UN panel questioned Bishop Scicluna about why the Vatican does not require local dioceses to report abusive conduct to authorities. “Our guidelines have always said the domestic law of the country needs to be followed,” he simply stated.

During Thursday’s UN panel, Pope Francis participated in a morning Mass with a private audience and Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, the former archbishop of Los Angeles. Last year, leaked documents revealed that Cardinal Mahoney had a history of protecting priests accused of sexual abuse. The documents were released via a court-order, and Cardinal Mahony was relieved of his duties shortly thereafter.

At the Mass, the Pope delivered a homily about scandal in the church, never mentioning sexual abuse, but speaking to “those failings of priests, bishops, laity.” Francis stated, “Scandals in the church happen because there is no living relationship with God and his word.”

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Vatican Defends Child-Protection Record – 16 January 2014

BBC News – UN Panel Confronts Vatican on Child Sex Abuse by Clergy – 16 January 2014

The Guardian – UN Condemns Vatican Over Handling of Clerical Sex Abuse of Children – 16 January 2014

New York Times – UN Panel Questions Vatican on Handling of Clergy Sexual Abuse – 16 January 2014

The Washington Post – Vatican Defends Sex Abuse Record to UN Panel – 16 January 2014

Kerry Urges Syrian Rebels to Attend Peace Talks

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has made an unscheduled statement on Thursday to address the necessity of participation in next week’s peace talks.  The U.S. has accused the Syrian government of “revisionism” by characterizing the peace talks as tackling terrorism instead of the departure of President Bashar al-Assad.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during his news conference at Syrian Donors Conference (photo courtesy of Reuters)

Kerry’s intervention follows a letter sent by Syria’s foreign minister that questions the initial agenda which is aimed at ending the three-year civil war.  He is expected to arrive on the eve of a crucial meeting by the Syrian Opposition Coalition on Friday which is still deciding whether to attend the peace talks.

Walid al-Muallem, Syria’s foreign minister, stated in a letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, “It should be noted that we do not agree with certain points mentioned in the letter of invitation, simply for the reason that they are in conflict with the legal and political position of the State of Syria

Kerry noted that the letter appears to have prompted anger in Washington where diplomats are anxious to see that the talks are not disrupted or that further rebel groups choose not to attend.

Kerry further stated that the talks were expected to establish “a process essential to the formation of a transition government body-a governing body with full executive powers established by mutual consent.”

“That sole purpose could not have been more clear at the time it was announced and it could not be more clear today,” added Kerry.  “It has been reiterated in international statement after international statement that the parties have signed up to and venue after venue, in resolution after resolution.”

U.S. State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki stated that Syria’s letter to the UN was a “good example” of what Kerry has been referring to.

The odds of three peace talks causing a breakthrough in the long and bloody civil war are slowly dwindling.  Growing concern in Europe and the U.S. about the role of Islamic extremists in the rebellion is starting to prove that the peace talks won’t be as effective as needed.

However, Kerry has insisted that selecting new mutually agreed upon leaders in the conflict was the only way of to ensure that Syria did not continue to attract more extremists.  “We too are deeply concerned about the rise of extremism,” he said.

Ali Haider, the national reconciliation minister, “The solution has begun, and will continue through the military triumph of the state … and through the staying power and resilience of the state and all its institutions, in the face of its enemies who were betting on its collapse.”

For more information, please see the following: 

Al Jazeera-Kerry urges all sides to attend Syria talks-17 January 2014

BBC-John Kerry urges Syria opposition to attend talks-17 January 2014

Guardian-John Kerry urges Syrian rebel groups to attend upcoming peace talks in Geneva-17 January 2014

Reuters-U.S. urges Syria rebels to attend peace talks, slams government-17 January 2014

Polls across Egypt Close In Constitutional Referendum

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Middle East

Cairo, Egypt – Egyptian State media has reported that after the second day of voting polls across Egypt have officially closed after the second day of voting on a draft Constitution drafted after the overthrow of democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi. If the vote leads the adoption of the new constipation the next step in the road map to democratization set up by the military backed government will be Parliamentary and presidential elections, expected sometime this year.

Polls close in Egypt in Constitutional Referendum (Photo courtesy of CNN International)

About 200,000 security forces and 160,000 military personnel were deployed across the country to stifle any interruption of the voting process across the country. Demonstrators rallied in several cities including the capital Cairo, Al-Sharqiyah, Fayoum and Delga. Shadi Hamid; research director at Brookings Doha Centre said “Any sense of stability is an illusion. That’s what people think General Sisi might offer.” He added that “if we look at the last six months, Egypt has seen one of the worst spills of violence in its modern history.”

While Tuesday’s voting took place in relative peace on Wednesday at least 11 people were killed on Tuesday, the first day of voting across the country. Egyptian police arrested dozens of supporters of President Morsi protesting the referendum, believing the vote is an attempt to grant legitimacy to a coup against a democratically elected government.

Following the Egyptian states crackdown on supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the interim government, and other Morsi supporters the new constipation was expected to pass easily, though official results have yet to be reported.

Egyptian Newspapers, the majority of which are supporters of the military government, claimed that there was a “heavy” turnout on Tuesday and that the cote symbolized a “defeat” of the Morsi regime and the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Muslim Brotherhood called for a boycott of the vote. The organization accused the pro-military government media in Egypt of falsifying its reports about the turnout. In a statement from the Brotherhood-led Anti-Coup and Pro-Democracy Alliance the organization said “They are trying to cover-up their early defeat, “they claimed that only 15% of eligible to vote in Southern Egypt turned up to vote. Potential monitors suspected of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood were not granted permission to oversee the vote.

The last constitution referendum was held in December 2012 while Morsi was still in power. However, this constitution was suspended after the military coup that removed Morsi from power in July 2013.

Some claim that the draft constitution proposed in this referendum vote would improve human rights and freedom of expression, stating explicitly that men and women are equal and have the right to hold public office and judicial posts. However, critics of the draft constitution claim the document grants too much power to the military without civilian oversight, which many fear could lead to a return to the pro-military statuesque that existed under President Mubarak and his “state of emergency,” a government that lead to the 2011 uprisings across the country.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Egypt Referendum Polls Close – 15 January 2014

CNN International – Egypt Votes on New Constitution, Tests Legitimacy of Military-Backed Government – 15 January 2014

CNN International – Violence Erupts as Egyptians Vote on New Constitution – 14 January 2014

Al Jazeera – Comparing Egypt’s 2012 and 2013 Constitutions – 14 January 2014

India Investigates Gang-Rape of Danish Tourist, Calls for Judicial Reforms

By Brian Lanciault
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NEW DELHI, India–Leaders of Indian ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) condemned the rape of a 51-year-odl Danish tourist.  The incident occurred near the New Delhi railway station.  AAP stressed a need for expedient court proceedings and a desire to reign in the authority of the Delhi Police, restructuring the institution under the state government.

Police investigate the crime scene where a 51-year-old Danish tourist was allegedly raped by six men at knifepoint. (Photo Courtesy of AP)

The 51-year-old was robbed and then raped by a gang of six on Wednesday afternoon when she asked for directions to her hotel.

“This is a dangerous situation, and he (Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal) has spoken to the lieutenant-governor (Najeeb Jung). Now the LG, the chief minister and the police commissioner will meet to review the rape incidents that have occurred in the last one year,” Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia told reporters.

“We will also request the Chief Justice of India to take all the rape cases to fast track courts, so that the strictest punishment is meted out to the culprits,” Sisodia said.

Scrutiny of sexual violence in India has grown since the 2012 gang rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus. The government tightened laws on sexual violence last year after widespread protests following the attack.

AAP leader Kumar Vishwas stressed that the Delhi Police must be brought under the jurisdiction of the state government to preserve efficiency and integrity. Delhi Police are currently under the jurisdiction of the Union government.

“Delhi Police should be brought under the state government. This is an old demand of ours, so the chief minister and central government should make an effort,” Vishwas said.

He said that since Delhi Police remain under the central government, they cannot work properly.

Demanding a home minister on the state level, Vishwas said: “If any such incidents happen in Delhi, there should be a home minister, so that he can look after the Delhi affairs. It otherwise becomes a long affair which includes contacting and consulting the centre.”

The Danish woman, who came to India on January 1, went to visit a museum on Tuesday afternoon but then lost her way back to her hotel in Paharganj.  Paharganj is a major tourist city at the center of Delhi.

Around 4pm a group of men lured her to an isolated spot where she was robbed of her iPad and cash and then raped by six men, one of whom held a knife.

“She reached her hotel and reported the incident to the manager who called in the police and the investigation is now under way,” police spokesman, Rajan Bhagat said.

No arrests have been made yet, but police are questioning a number of men in connection with the attack

 For more information, please see:

Times of India–Danish woman’s gang rape: AA seeks control over Delhi police–15 January 2014

BBC News–Danish woman gang-raped in Indian capital Delhi— 15 January 2014

The Globe and Mail–Danish tourist gang-raped, robbed after getting lost in New Delhi— 15 January 2014

National Post–Danish tourist gang-raped in Inian capital after asking for directions, police say— 15 January 2014

200 Sudanese Drown While Fleeing From Fighting

By: Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch News Reporter, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – More than 200 civilians in South Sudan have drowned in a Nile ferry accident while fleeing fighting in the town of Malakal, an army spokesman told the BBC.

More than 19,000 people seek shelter at the UN base in Malaka (photo courtesy of AFP).

Women and children were among the victims in the disaster.

About 350,000 people have been displaced due to the fighting between the South Sudanese government and rebel forces, the UN reported.

Malakal, the gateway to the oilfield of the Upper Nile region, has been allegedly captured by the rebels.

The army spokesman denies this. Instead, the spokesman claims that the rebels have been pushed back after heavy fighting in the city of Malakal.

“The reports we have are of between 200 and 300 people, including women and children. The boat was overloaded,” Philip Aguer, another army spokesman, told AFP.

“They all drowned. They were fleeing the fighting that broke out again . . . .”

The fighting has caused many people in South Sudan to seek shelter elsewhere; hence, why so many people were on the boat that sank. However, many report that they cannot even afford to escape because they do not have the money to pay to get on the boat.

Many people use the river to escape.

One refugee reported to BBC that he had to borrow money in order to escape. He paid 150 Sudanese pounds, equally 66 dollars.

Recently, over 9,000 people have arrived at the UN base in Malakal seeking shelter. This number nearly doubles the number of people who have been seeking shelter.

Talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in South Sudan are currently taking place in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

This violence stems from December 15. The clash has been between loyalists to the President Salva Kiir and soldiers backing Riek Machar, Kiir’s former vice-president.

President Kiir is a member of South Sudan’s largest ethnic group, while Machar is from the second largest ethnic group.

The clash between the two groups has seen mass killings along ethnic lines.

The UN has reported that it estimates more than 1,000 deaths since the fighting has begun on December 15, only one month ago.

For more information, please visit:

BBC News – South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2014
Now.media – South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2013
Lehigh Valley Business – World: South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2014
Democratic Underground – South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2014
Lebanese Republic – South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2014
Obuoba FM – South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2014