ACTING HUMAN RIGHTS HIGH COMMISSIONER SALUTES MOVES IN ARGENTINA TO TACKLE IMPUNITY

15 August 2003




Acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan today welcomed Argentina’s efforts to deal decisively with impunity and come to terms with one of the most painful episodes of its history.

“It is heartening to see the work being done so that justice in Argentina can prevail, even if some did their best in the past to see it denied”, said Mr. Ramcharan, pointing to recent moves by the judiciary, the legislature and President Nestor Kirchner that bring trial and punishment for those responsible for human rights violations committed between 1976 and 1983 one step closer. These measures include the 12 August declaration by the Argentine Chamber of Deputies that the Full Stop and Due Obedience Laws -- also known as the amnesty laws – were null and void, and the decision by President Kirchner to adhere to the United Nations Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutes of Limitation to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity.

Mr. Ramcharan said it was his ardent hope that the measures would receive the required legislative endorsement to allow them to become law, as this would help the country come to terms with its painful past. He recalled that President Kirchner had also annulled a decree that blocked the extradition of military officers accused of human rights crimes.

“The Government of Argentina has shown it is willing to deal decisively with impunity”, he said. “This is essential if the country is to heal the wounds left by years of dictatorship and to show that those who suffered terrible human rights violations have not been forgotten”.

The acting High Commissioner added that in a meeting on 13 August with Argentinean officials, including from the Ministry for Justice, Security and Human Rights, he had saluted the Government’s declared intention to make human rights one of its top priorities, and had pledged that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights would provide all the assistance it could to help authorities realize that goal.




* *** *