COMMISSION HEARS PRESENTATIONS FROM EXPERTS ON CHAD, CAMBODIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND LIBERIA

Commission on Human Rights
MORNING


19 April 2005



Concludes General Debate on Effective Functioning of Human Rights
Mechanisms and on Advisory Services and Technical Cooperation


The Commission on Human Rights this morning heard presentations from the Independent Experts on the situation of human rights in Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia, and from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia. The Commission also concluded its general debate on the effective functioning of human rights mechanisms, and on advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights.

Monica Pinto, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Chad, said the Chadian President's proposal to ensure a better exploitation of the country's natural resources, including for national development and the well-being of the population, must be supported, and the national budget should reflect that decision. Democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms were interdependent and reinforced each other. In Chad, there was a need for good governance to emerge. Transparency, responsibility, accountability and popular participation must also be encouraged.

Chad, speaking as a concerned country, said there was no policy in the country that allowed the systematic violation of human rights. The human rights situation in Chad could be characterized by a contrast between the reality and the law. The contrast due to the existence of tradition, decades of armed conflict and years of dictatorship, which had created a culture of violence affecting human rights, while the juridical framework and the institutions were favourable to human rights. The Government of Chad recognized that considerable efforts should be made in consolidating the rule of law and the protection of human rights.

Argentina and Luxembourg (on behalf of the European Union) participated in the interactive dialogue with Ms. Pinto.

Titinga Frederic Pacere, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said he was very concerned about the delays experienced in the transition period in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as by the number of civilian deaths which amounted to the toll of 20 tsunamis since 1998. He was particularly horrified by the level of violence against women and children, which had been committed by all armed forces in the Congo, domestic and foreign. The international community must combine its efforts to protect the civilian population, to stop the violence and to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking as a concerned country, said the report of the Independent Expert aimed to describe the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo based on two visits from 22 August to 2 September, and from 9 to 19 November 2004 to only three of the 11 provinces. Concerning the human rights situation, the Government had deployed all possible efforts with the view to respect its obligations under international human rights instruments. The Government knew that the armed conflict was the source of a number of human rights violations in the country. The Ministry of Human Rights had accomplished a commendable task in the promotion and protection of human rights.

Canada and Luxembourg (on behalf of the European Union) participated in the interactive dialogue with Mr. Pacere.

Peter Leuprecht, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia, said after a political deadlock that lasted almost a year, a new coalition Government was established last July. Measures taken since then against the opposition violated fundamental principles of pluralist democracy. There was also a virtual clampdown on freedom of peaceful assembly, and "public space" was steadily shrinking. What one was witnessing at present unfortunately did not demonstrate progress on the road to democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights, but an increasingly autocratic form of Government and growing concentration of power in the hands of the Prime Minister behind a shaky façade of democracy.

Cambodia, speaking as a concerned country, said the emergence of pluralism was taking place throughout society, and the Government had encouraged all parts of civil society to participate actively in political, economic and social life. It was however regrettable to note that the feeling persisted that the acceptance of a new perception of Cambodia as a country that had truly and positively changed remained difficult. The report of the Special Representative did not reflect the true situation in Cambodia.

Switzerland, Luxembourg (on behalf of the European Union) and Canada participated in the interactive dialogue with Mr. Leuprecht.

Charlotte Abaka, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Liberia, said a lot of progress had been made in stabilising Liberia since her report, and since peacekeepers belonging to the United Nations Mission in Liberia were deployed almost throughout Liberia. The completion of Disarmament and Demobilisation on 31 October 2004 had resulted in general peace and stability, freedom of movement throughout the country, resumption of economic activities, and increased restoration of State authority. Although the National Transitional Government was trying to provide basic services, much more remained to be done. The people of Liberia should be assisted and encouraged to break with the culture of violence of the past and demonstrate that they were indeed ready to build sustainable peace and stability.

Luxembourg (on behalf of the European Union) participated in the interactive dialogue with Ms. Abaka.

The following non-governmental organizations provided statements on the effective functioning of human rights mechanisms: International Movement of Apostolate in the Independent Social Milieus; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Asian Legal Resource Centre; Agence internationale pour le développement; United Nations Watch; Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action; and African Commission of Health and Human Rights Promoters.

Representatives of Egypt, Luxembourg (on behalf of the European Union), Pakistan, Romania, Cuba, India, the United States and Venezuela spoke on advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights. The European Commission also provided a statement as did the following non-governmental organizations: World Young Women's Christian Association (in a joint statement with several NGOs1); International Federation of University Women (in a joint statement with several NGOs2); Amnesty International; International Association of Democratic Lawyers; and United Nations Watch.

Indonesia exercised its right of reply.

The Commission is holding three back-to-back meetings today from 9 a.m. to
6 p.m. When the morning meeting concluded at noon, the Commission immediately started a midday meeting during which it will hold its general debate on the rationalization of the work of the Commission before it starts to take action on draft resolutions on civil and political rights and the integration of the human rights of women and the gender perspective.

Documents on Advisory Services and Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights

Under this agenda item, the Commission has before it a number of documents.

There is the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Human Rights in Cambodia, Peter Leuprecht, (E/CN.4/2005/116). It notes the establishment of the new Government in July 2004, which is a coalition between the Cambodian People's Party and the National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia. The Special Representative remains especially concerned about the continuing problem of impunity, which has become systemic and which must be repudiated and ended. Individuals and groups responsible for committing serious violations of human rights, in particular members of the military, the police, the gendarmerie and other armed forces, have not been arrested or prosecuted. The Special Representative continues to be concerned about restrictions on freedom of assembly and association that have routinely been imposed since the anti-Thai riots in January 2003. While noting the Prime Minister's announcement in September 2004 of a "war on corruption" in response to warnings from international financial and development agencies, the report notes that corruption remains a recurring obstacle in establishing the rule of law and in achieving economic and social development.

There is the report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Liberia, Charlotte Abaka, (E/CN.4/2005/119). It notes that improvements in the human rights situation have been witnessed recently. Security has improved with the deployment of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), but the situation in the districts, especially in South-east Liberia, where UNMIL has not deployed and other areas without regular UNMIL patrols remains precarious. The improvement in the human rights situation is demonstrated by the absence of State-sponsored violations and attacks on human rights. The repression of Gio, Krahn and Mandingo minorities have also abated. A continuing challenge and obstacle to the full enjoyment of human rights is the collapse of the criminal justice system. Courts do not operate in most parts of the country and the few that are operational in and around Monrovia are constrained by lack of resources. The most pressing challenges for Liberia, the Independent Expert concludes, are to reinvigorate the criminal justice system, build a professional and effective national police and extend the presence of United Nations peacekeepers nationwide.

There is the report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Titinga Frederic Pacere, (E/CN.4/2005/120). The Independent Expert expresses his deep concern about the difficulties and delays in the transition, the humanitarian catastrophe and the hardships and neglect suffered by the Congolese people. The report shows the catastrophic consequences of the violence, racial hatred, massive human rights violations and crimes against humanity and an increasingly widespread climate of corruption. Like in previous years, the report states, 2004 was characterized by some constructive efforts, but also by massive violations, the manipulation of inter-ethnic intolerance, violence, massacres, abuse of women and children, all kinds of atrocities perpetrated by armed groups against the civilian population, and endless political crises. The Independent Expert calls on all parties to the conflict to implement agreements in good faith, and calls on the international community to refuse to allow the Congolese people to be the victims of heinous private interests any longer. He also calls on the Security Council to give the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) the mandate and resources it needs to guarantee security and to protect the rights of the civilian population, investigate the crimes committed and gather evidence against the perpetrators, and to establish an international criminal tribunal to try the crimes committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that have been so roundly condemned.

There is also the report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Chad, Monica Pinto, (E/CN.4/2005/121). The Independent Expert's report takes into account the concerns expressed by the Commission regarding violence, the dependence of the judiciary upon the executive, the scarcity of physical and human resources in the judicial and prison sectors, the culture of impunity resulting from the dysfunction of the justice system and the political and social environment, and the weakness of the national human rights institutions. The Independent Expert's conclusions are intended to contribute to the project for technical assistance in the provision of support for the legislative and judicial reform which Chad formulated in 2003. The information she gathered has led the Independent Expert to conclude that Chad is a country where national identity takes second place to ethnic or even clan identity. The report also draws attention to the crisis in Darfur, which has resulted in an influx of 200,000 refugees in Chad along its border with the Sudan where local people enjoy a poorer quality of life than the refugees. The Independent Expert states that there is a need to take advantage of the local United Nations agencies in order to build democracy in Chad, and this presupposes good governance, development and respect for human rights.

Presentation by Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Chad

MONICA PINTO, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Chad, said Chad was one of the poorest and most indebted countries of the world, yet it was the responsibility of the Government to create conditions for the implementation of the right to economic, social and cultural development. The crisis in neighbouring Darfur, Sudan had been a trial for Chad, which had opened its borders to the refugees, but which also saw that the living conditions in the camps were better than those of the regular population, which daily struggled to survive. The Government must provide for sustainable human development. Chad's economy, which had traditionally been based on agriculture and herding, was today based on oil exploitation. Yet continued poverty arose from the denial of fundamental rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, as well as civil and political rights. The President's proposal to ensure a better exploitation of the country's natural resources, including for national development and the well being of the population, must be supported, and the national budget should reflect that decision.

Democracy, development, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms were interdependent, and reinforced each other, she affirmed. In Chad, there was a need for good governance to emerge. Transparency, responsibility, accountability and popular participation must be encouraged. National law, including the Constitution, legislation, and those international treaties that had been ratified, coexisted with customary law, which also continued to be used. There was also an imbalance in judicial mechanisms on the ground that must be redressed; people often went to brigade commanders for de facto jurisdiction. And while custom must be preserved, international human rights standards must also be implemented. Moreover, the State remained fragile and stronger elements of society tended to impose themselves. For instance, former members of the security forces earned their living from roadblocks, and there was no mechanism for complaints against them. Furthermore, the country had recently resumed use of the death penalty, after a ten-year moratorium, and while there was no deliberate policy of human rights violations, human rights abuses occurred constantly.

Under the current presidency, Chad had experienced more in the way of formal legislation and democratic opening than before, but after ten years in power, no national community had been built and no integration had occurred, she noted. The will of the people must be expressed through regular, free and fair elections, and the coming referendum provided the Government with a unique opportunity to show its commitment to true democracy. There must be provisions for proper salaries and greater access for judges, and for greater access to the system of justice for the citizenry. The Government must guarantee humane treatment in prisons, and pseudo-military training in the prisons must be ended. The situation in which national identity remained second to clan or ethnic identity should be addressed, as clan and ethnic conflicts polarized society. However, these differences were not insurmountable, but the integration of society could not be delayed. There must also be governmental initiatives for women's equality, children's rights, literacy, and the freedom of expression. International organizations should contribute to literacy campaigns, and the Government must stop harassing civil society, which played a significant role in the State. Chad should also be included in the Highly Indebted Poor Countries initiative.

Response by Concerned Country

KALZEUBE PAYIMI DEUBET (Chad), speaking as a concerned country, said there was no policy in Chad that allowed the systematic violation of human rights. The human rights situation in the country could be characterized by a contrast between the reality and the law. The contrast due to the existence of tradition, decades of armed conflict and years of dictatorship, which had created a culture of violence affecting human rights, while the juridical framework and the institutions were favourable to human rights. The Government of Chad recognized that considerable efforts should be made in consolidating the rule of law and the protection of human rights. That was why the Government had organized a forum between 17 to 21 June 2003 in N'djamena in which Chadian civil society and invited foreign personalities had participated in analysing the country's legal system and ways to give it dynamism. Following the recommendations of the forum, the Government was now strengthening the effectiveness of the judicial service; reinforcing the monitoring of the judicial system; and increasing efforts in training judges and other law enforcement personnel.

In order to carry on the reform, a committee had been set up by the Prime Minister on 8 December 2003. A plan of action had also been put in place recently. An inter-ministerial working group would also be created to carry on the reform procedure. A reform of the armed forces was also envisaged. On the occasion of the international day for women, the country's President had announced a series of measures aimed at improving the conditions of women in their participation in the affairs of the country and in the decision-making process. The Government had also taken measures to finalize the family code, which would ensure progress in the Chadian society. A process of decentralization of the Chadian administration would take place soon.

Interactive Dialogue

SERGIO CERDA (Argentina) said there were two areas on which Argentina required additional information. Regarding the recommendation in paragraph 83, what sort of follow-up could be given to that recommendation? Also, paragraph 89 gave a good account on the work of civil society, but what was the real situation regarding non-governmental organizations and how could the Commission help them to work with greater assurances in that country?

ELSA KUNTZIGER (Luxembourg), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the European Union would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for the report. Regarding the end of the moratorium on the death penalty, which was interrupted in 2003, there was concern at this interruption, insofar as it would appear that there were 19 individuals currently on death row. What could the international community do to prevent future executions. Regarding the violations of the rights of children, what could be done in the short term to improve access to schools for children in Chad.

MONICA PINTO, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Chad, responding to the questions posed in the interactive dialogue, said that concerning the reform of the judiciary, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was currently adopting a technical cooperation programme which would in theory be ratified by the Government of Chad and the United Nations Development Programme. It would entail appointing an human rights person in the field to monitor this process to which the Government had committed itself. It would require a step-by-step approach, consolidating the various stages of approach to the establishment of an independent judiciary, and would require significant resources.

Regarding civil society, which was mentioned in paragraph 89, organized civil society was present in Chad but was small. There was a small nucleus of non-governmental organizations working on awareness-raising activities in the media. These organizations existed, but had a very narrow scope for action as resources were short. Civil society was often harassed and the Special Rapporteur had called for an end to this in the report. Follow-up by the Commission through technical support and field visits could help the Government to align itself with the Commission on this topic.

Regarding the interruption of the moratorium on the death penalty, no explanations regarding this had been received from the Government. The last resort remained a Presidential Pardon. The international campaign could perhaps help make the Government understand that executions did not produce any positive effects in combating crime. There were arguments for persuading the Government not to execute further prisoners, and one option was for the Commission to express its opposition as well as the global trend against it.

As for the rights of the child, the work of the United Nations Children's Fund could considerably improve not just the percentage of illiteracy but also improve the way people behaved in society and contribute towards eradicating some of the evils besetting some of the country thanks to education for adults. The Commission should express an opinion on the abolition of what was practically slavery of children, and the roots of this were poverty.

The Commission was urged to help the Republic of Chad to push through its good intentions in the human rights field, and also help them to develop technical cooperation programmes which could provide reasonable results in the short term.

Presentation by the Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic Peoples Republic of the Congo

TITINGA FREDERIC PACERE, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said he was very concerned about the delays experienced in the transition period in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as by the number of civilian deaths, which amounted to the toll of 20 tsunamis since 1998. The Independent Expert was particularly horrified by the level of violence against women and children, which had been committed by all armed forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, domestic and foreign. The international community must combine its efforts to protect the civilian population, to stop the violence and to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators. Only justice would bring to an end the exponential rise of violence, and permit the reestablishment of the people's confidence in their leaders, while recognizing the rights of victims, punishing perpetrators and dissuading further crimes. The current opportunity, arising out of the agreement by the Rwandan rebel FDLR group to join the disarmament process and voluntarily repatriate themselves to their home country, must be seized.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must contribute to the country's security by removing all authors of crimes against humanity from society, he said, and by ensuring respect for the people's economic, social and cultural rights through good governance and fighting against impunity. Health and other assistance must be provided to the victims of violence, the population must be educated, and the dignity and worth of women must be restored. There should be a national campaign on human rights to disseminate a culture of tolerance and respect. The Government should also enshrine the independence and impartiality of the judiciary in law, and should provide the judicial system with the powers to investigate and prosecute all perpetrators of crimes against humanity. It should cooperate to provide unhindered access to the International Criminal Court, and should support the United Nations' establishment of an independent tribunal for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Furthermore, the international community, United Nations, African Union, and all States should provide adequate support for the transition period, he stressed, including for the country's reconstruction and development. The illicit export of natural resources must be ended, and respect for human rights ensured throughout the national territory. The Security Council should raise its troop strength in the country to 80,000 for the duration of the transition and post-election periods, and the mandate and material devoted to the human rights section of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo should be strengthened. Moreover, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights should give the highest priority to the situation, and should work to raise awareness about all human rights abuses, especially sexual violence.

Response by Concerned Country

ANTOINE MINDUA KESIA-MBE (Democratic Republic of the Congo) said the report of the Independent Expert aimed to describe the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo based on two visits from 22 August to 2 September, and from 9 to 19 November 2004 to only three of the 11 provinces. The Government had wished that he visited the country before the current session of the Commission was held in order to observe the progress made in the country since the last time he visited the country. The report focused on five major axis: the obligation of the country in matters of human rights; the state of transition; the illegal exploitation of the country's natural resources; violence perpetrated against women and children; and the administration of justice. Concerning the human rights situation, the Government had deployed all possible efforts with the view to respect its obligations under international human rights instruments. The Government knew that the armed conflict was the source of a number of human rights violations in the country. In the meantime, the Government was contemplating to ratify international legal instruments that would guarantee the protection of the civilians. The Ministry of Human Rights had accomplished a commendable task in the promotion and protection of human rights.

With regard to the violence and insecurity, the Expert had affirmed that they were attributed to the illegal exploitation of the country's natural resources and trafficking in arms. Western multinationals and other mafia networks had developed a flourishing trade of light and heavy firearms in order to facilitate the systematic pillage of the Congo's wealth. That situation had created a situation of hostility around the places where the natural resources were situated. The international community should not turn its head before the reality that was impeding the Congolese people to fully possess their natural wealth. Concerning inter-ethnic conflict, the Government had always combated that phenomenon because of the fact that the conflict was contrary to the love of peace and hospitality of the Congolese people. The Government could not tolerate that situation, which was used as a tool purely for political purposes.

Interactive Dialogue

KATHERINE VERRIER-FRECHETTE (Canada) said the report raised concerns over the difficult situation of women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular sexual violence against women. It was high time to put an end to abuse and impunity regarding this in the country. What measures could be taken by the international community to improve awareness as to the seriousness of the problem, and what action could be taken by the Government to live up to its duties and guarantee the physical protection of women?

ELSA KUNTZIGER (Luxembourg) said regarding the recommendation that an International Criminal Court be set up for the Democratic Republic of the Cong, was the Independent Expert thinking about a mixed body as that for Cambodia? Regarding elections, the European Union was convinced these should take place this year, but would it not be difficult to have them in June, given the security situation in the eastern area of the country?

TITINGA FREDERIC PACERE, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, responding to the questions posed during the interactive dialogue, said it was essential for real security to be established nationwide in order to improve the situation of women, or they would continue to be constantly neglected. For example, he told the story of a group of women on their way to the market, who had been raped by a group of soldiers. They had continued to the market, and upon their return, the same group of soldiers had raped the women again. This demonstrated the total impunity for such violations. Until the security situation was resolved, the situation would not improve. Enormous efforts had been made by those in power to ensure that the country did not further devolve into a nightmare, but serious problems continued to exist. Women remained underrepresented in the national Government, as well as at the territorial level. Further efforts must be made to redress this imbalance. The international community should help various sectors to assist women, including through education. In an environment where 80 per cent of the population lived on $2 per day, there must be international assistance, particularly for the victims of rape. And while it was essential to integrate the situation of women as a whole, their problems must also be addressed as individuals. At the national and local levels, the situation of women must be a priority.

Regarding the establishment of an independent tribunal for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he stressed that his own experience on the Rwanda tribunal and in Burundi gave him significant knowledge of what justice truly entailed. Judges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were underpaid, and their security was not guaranteed. Judges had not received their meagre salaries in many instances. Moreover, it must be realized that in the territorial equivalent of Western Europe, only 350 judges were responsible for handing down decisions for a population of 52 million. The real need was for at least 5,000 judges, but it would be many years before such a situation could be realized. Moreover, while the International Criminal Court would have jurisdiction for crimes committed since July 2002, there was no body with the jurisdiction and the capacity to hold to account those responsible for violations before that date. For these reasons, the establishment of an independent tribunal was necessary.

Finally, regarding elections, Mr. Pacere noted that a Government decree had provided for the possibility of delaying the elections by 12 months, and noted that the provisional Government had committed to hold elections within 36 months. The elections could be rescheduled, and the international community must support the process, and ensure that the elections were held, even if they were a bit late.

Presentation by Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Human Rights in Cambodia

PETER LEUPRECHT, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia, said after a political deadlock that lasted almost a year, a new coalition Government for Cambodia was established last July. The conditions under which that was done were doubtful from the constitutional and legal point of view and did not demonstrate a willingness of those in power to abide by the rule of law. Measures taken since then against the opposition violated fundamental principles of pluralist democracy. There was also a virtual clampdown on freedom of peaceful assembly, and "public space" was steadily shrinking. What one was witnessing at present unfortunately did not demonstrate progress on the road to democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights, but an increasingly autocratic form of Government and growing concentration of power in the hands of the Prime Minister behind a shaky facade of democracy. Impunity was a gangrene that undermined the fabric of Cambodian society. Although that phenomenon was well documented, the Prime Minister and his Government persisted, in an ostrich-like way, to deny it and to say it did not exist in the country, but that it existed in other countries such as Thailand. The truth was that mechanisms for accountability were not in place in Cambodia and, as a result, the rule of law remained elusive.

Impunity fostered endemic corruption, which remained a recurring obstacle in establishing the rule of law and achieving economic and social development for all Cambodians and not a small group of politically or economically powerful people. For the majority of Cambodians, poverty had not been reduced. Most of the population was clustered around the poverty line. There was one piece of good news: the long overdue Khmer Rouge trials should begin soon. The Cambodian people rightly wanted to know the truth about that horrible period of their history and they wanted justice to be done. The trials should be a model of respect for the principles of fair trial. If they were, they could have positive long-term consequences for the administration of justice in Cambodia.

Response from Concerned Country

VUN CHHEANG (Cambodia), speaking as a concerned country, said since the collapse of the Khmer Rouge movement, the leaders of which would have to soon answer for their crimes, the Government of Cambodia had deployed all possible efforts in order to reinforce the rule of law, the promotion of democracy and the respect of human rights, and progress in this field was widely recognised. Peace and stability were essential elements for economic and social development of the country, so that the Cambodian people could enjoy their most fundamental and most urgent rights. The emergence of pluralism was taking place throughout society, and the Government had encouraged all parts of civil society to participate actively in political, economic and social life. It was however regrettable to note that the feeling persisted that the acceptance of a new perception of Cambodia as a country that had truly and positively changed remained difficult.

The report of the Special Representative did not reflect the true situation in Cambodia. It had not correctly situated Cambodia in the tragic historic context which explained the complexity of the situation and the difficulties that it had had to face in order to solve the problems stemming from the years of trouble and total destruction. Cambodia had made considerable progress, and progress in democracy surpassed greatly that of the economy. The Special Representative should fight with the Government of Cambodia, not against it, for democracy, the respect of human rights, social justice and the rule of law in Cambodia, in the spirit of tolerance and cooperation, with the support, help and the encouragement of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, friendly and partner countries, and national and international organizations, including non-governmental organizations. Democracy in Cambodia was on the right path.

Interactive Dialogue

JEAN-DANIEL VIGNY (Switzerland) said the Special Rapporteur had included a public invitation in his May 2004 report to the Government of Cambodia to respect the Convention on Refugees, and its protocol, particularly with respect to the Montagnard asylum seekers from Viet Nam. Had there been any agreement between the two Governments on this subject? Also, had the Government made progress in fighting human trafficking, and would there be a memorandum of understanding with the Governments of Viet Nam and Thailand on that subject? Finally, was national legislation sufficiently strong to protect women and children from trafficking, specifically in the case of European and American couples trying to adopt children by paying large sums of money?

ELSA KUNTZIGER (Luxembourg, speaking on behalf of the European Union), raised the issue of impunity, and asked whether further instruments should be adopted to secure the rule of law in Cambodia. She also asked how the Special Representative would act better to legitimize political activity and to strengthen the country's democratic development. Further questions concerned the country's political parties and the functioning of democratic institutions, and the negative consequences of land concessions on respect for human rights in Cambodia.

HENRI-PAUL NORMANDIN (Canada) noted the Special Representative's work on the issue of impunity, and stressed that one of the main challenges for a judicial system operating where impunity was the norm was to resist the imposition of the executive in its affairs. What should Cambodia do to counter executive interference in the work of the judiciary?

PETER LEUPRECHT, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia, said he was aware of the tragic history of Cambodia and sympathized with the people. His sympathy was not only for the past but also for the present; although it could not equal the past, they were still suffering. His report reflected the real situation of the country. His dialogue with the authorities in the country had been constructive and they had exchanged ideas. He was not fighting the Government, as the Cambodian delegation alluded. But the Government should see what was happening on the ground where the human rights of the people were being violated with impunity. He had a warm sympathy for the people of Cambodia. On several occasions he had spoken about the refugees in the highlands of Cambodia. Yesterday, he had a discussion with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees concerning the refugees. There was a memorandum of understanding reached between the agency and Cambodia with regard to Cambodian refugees returning home.

With regard to international adoption, many western countries felt that the international adoption process in Cambodia should be stopped. The process entailed corruption. Trafficking in women and children had been going on the country without any hindrance. Women were trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation outside the country. During the past years, there had been positive signs with regard to the training of magistrates. A school for magistrates had been created; however, it was necessary to reform the highest echelon of the magistrates for the good function of the judiciary. He deplored the treatment political oppositions were receiving.

Presentation by Independent Expert on Situation of Human Rights in Liberia

CHARLOTTE ABAKA, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Liberia, said a lot of progress had been made in stabilising Liberia since her report was presented, and since the peacekeepers of the United Nations Mission in Liberia had been deployed almost throughout Liberia. The completion of Disarmament and Demobilisation on 31 October 2004 had resulted in general peace and stability, freedom of movement throughout the country, resumption of economic activities, and increased restoration of State authority. However, many of the Superintendents appointed to the counties remained in Monrovia due to a lack of organizational support and infrastructure. It was important to note that this positive development, which had created an atmosphere of security, had made it possible for Liberians to talk about the various forms of human rights violations that had been going on in the country and also to engage in determining the future of their country as they prepared for national elections to be held in October 2005.

With the completion of Disarmament and Demobilisation, the biggest challenge was the implementation of Reintegration and Rehabilitation of ex-combatants. The slow pace of the Reintegration and Rehabilitation programme made the ex-combatants still the most volatile and violence-prone section of Liberian society. Although the National Transitional Government was trying to provide basic services, much more remained to be done. Concerns included provision of basic utilities, taking real action to curb corruption and ensuring transparency in the management of public funds and agencies. Investigating cases of suspected ritualistic killings had in the past posed challenges and continued to do so to date. The culture of impunity remained a serious concern, and the virtual collapse of the legal and judicial infrastructure characterised mainly by the lack of qualified judges and reliable jurisprudence should be addressed if the culture of impunity was to be combated.

The transition to peace after 14 years of unrest and civil war in Liberia had been marked by many challenges, which should be taken up decisively to prevent a recurrence of the events of 1997. The people of Liberia should be assisted and encouraged to break with the culture of violence of the past and demonstrate that they were indeed ready to build sustainable peace and stability. The Liberian Government and political traditional and religious leaders should be constantly reminded of their responsibility for ensuring that the peace process remained on track. Equally important was the role of the international community, and it should sustain its support not only to achieve progress, but also to make sure that the underlying causes of the conflict were addressed. Economic corruption with its impact on development and denial of peoples economic, social and cultural rights needed to be thoroughly investigated, and measures should be put in place by the international community to combat it. The active involvement of the regional leaders had been particularly crucial to efforts to restore peace. Preventive United Nations or ECOWAS presence in neighbouring countries would serve regional stability well.

Interactive Dialogue

ELSA KUNTZIGER (Luxembourg, speaking on behalf of the European Union), noted that the Independent Expert had raised the situation of women in Liberia, noting the prevalence of sexual and other violence against women during the armed conflict, as well as the increase in sexual exploitation of women and girls in post-conflict Liberia, including through sexual abuse by United Nations peacekeepers, and asked what measures she would recommend to combat that phenomenon. She also asked the Independent Expert what measures she would recommend to promote the effective involvement of non-governmental organizations in the drafting of human rights legislation.

CHARLOTTE ABAKA, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Liberia, said the situation of women in Liberia was serious. There were several cases of sexual exploitation not only by ex-combatants but also by peacekeepers. It was hoped that the situation would be improved soon. When the population was adequately educated, it would be aware of the various human rights violations to which it was a victim, such as rape. A perpetrator of rape that ended in death might easily walk away with impunity. Judges should also be trained, and the international community should assist the country in its reconstruction and reconciliation efforts. She urged the Commission and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to impress on the Government of Liberia to take the work of the Commission seriously.

General Debate on Effective Functioning of Human Rights

DANIEL DEFAGO, of International Movement of Apostolate in the Independent Social Milieus, said the tsunami had been the source of an exceptional movement of solidarity, with representatives of all races and religions setting their differences aside to help all those in need. Tools of death had been transformed into instruments to bring about life. This awareness that all were the citizens of the world had surprised many Governments, and it was hoped that as a result there would be more objective and less fleeting international solidarity. Mankind had the duty to face up to future natural disasters, and this should be recognised in an international instrument.

NANCY HOLLANDER, of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said she wished to address the need universally to realize the effective functioning of agenda item 9 on the Commission on Human Rights' agenda. If the aspect of “any part of the world” was to hold true, the United States' practices in the campaign against terrorism, which amounted to human rights abuses in contradiction to numerous international treaties, must be examined. With its practice of extraordinary rendition, which was the transfer of individuals to a foreign State without due process or legal representation, the United States often knowingly subjected individuals to torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment in the receiving State, in the name of the war on terror. The United States' practice of extraordinary rendition violated the principle of non-refoulement, as well as the country's obligations under Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and several articles of the Convention against Torture. The specific attention of a designated Rapporteur was required.

MICHAEL ANTHONY, of Asian Legal Resource Centre, drew attention to the practice of torture in Thailand, citing cases in which individuals had been victims of such practice. He said members of the Thai police were involved in practicing torture. Although Thailand was a State party to the Convention against Torture, this practice had continued with impunity. There were no domestic provisions to redress the practice of torture and provide compensation to the victims. The practice of torture targeted people who were involved in the defence of the human rights of other people. Thailand had to be urged to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.

HENRI RANAIVOSON, of Agence internationale pour le developpement, said turning to the effective functioning of human rights mechanisms, the diaspora had not been referred to in the Commission. These were real development partners, and had often been in the forefront of taking action on political and natural crises. Diaspora networks usually carried out work to foster links between expatriates and establish debate fora regarding development in the country of origin. The African Diaspora was the sixth region of Africa. The Commission should take action to promote the legal status of diasporas, allowing them to participate in the work of the United Nations.

MICHAEL INLANDER , of United Nations Watch, said the repressive regimes of the world had wasted no time in trying to kill the Secretary-General's proposal to create an Human Rights Council of States bearing a "solid record of commitment to the highest human rights standards". As part of the NGO coalition Democracy Caucus, United Nations Watch welcomed the Secretary-General's proposal as bold and courageous, and hoped that it would prevail. The new Council should preserve the role of the Commission's special procedures, although, as noted by Ireland, the fact that not all Special Rapporteurs were outstandingly good must be acknowledged. The latest report of the annual meeting of Special Rapporteurs contained a three-part joint statement that singled out only two States for criticism. By any objective measure, the human rights records of dozens of other States were far worse; yet, the experts had made no mention of the situations in Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and Sudan. The harshest language in the report had been reserved for Israel, and with one exception, it had ignored the Palestinian terrorism that had killed more than 1,000 Israelis, and maimed more than 7,000 since 2000. The Rapporteurs should observe the moral lead of the Secretary-General, who had recently stated that the United Nations' bias against Israel represented a "long-standing anomaly".

LES MALEZER, of Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action, said Australia stood condemned as a racist Government by the findings of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). In 1999 and 2000, the Committee concluded on three separate occasions that the Government of Australia was guilty of racial discrimination against the Aboriginal Peoples and their ownership of traditional lands and resources. Australia openly defied the decisions of the treaty body. The Government refused to stop its manifest racism. The Government steadfastly refused to negotiate with Aboriginal Peoples. For five years, the Government had refused to submit reports or appear before CERD. Since CERD's findings, the Government of Australia had been at the forefront of the campaign demanding changes to the treaty body system. Why was the Commission trying to change the way those treaty bodies operated, rather than requiring Commission members to comply with the human rights treaties.

DJELY KARIFA SAMOURA, of African Commission of Health and Human Rights Promoters, said in the current stage reached of the work of the Commission, it should be pointed out that the serious nature of human rights violations had been the main focus. Substantial progress had been made in protecting human rights in Africa, with civil society involved in projects to promote peace and harmony, in particular in the African Academy for Peace, which acted as a framework to promote peace and harmony with the aim of establishing an African peace doctrine.

General Debate on Advisory Services and Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights

MOHAMED LOUTFY (Egypt) said Egypt attached particular importance to this item on advisory services and technical cooperation for human rights, as this was one of the best ways of achieving what was needed, which was the promotion and protection of human rights. Pointing the finger at States and criticising them did not help to achieve the goals of the Commission, as this totally ignored the existing conditions in States, as certain circumstances, such as crises and disasters could have great repercussions on States economies and civil and political rights, which impeded the States from fulfilling their commitments. In a favourable socio-political environment, it was easier to guarantee these rights.

Rather than criticising and accusing States, one should recognise the positive work done in the direction of human rights. Positive cooperation by the United Nations system with developing countries was the best possible way of improving respect for human rights in these countries. States who presented resolutions on the situation of human rights in given countries should review their own inefficient methods and adopt a constructive approach in order to make a difference and have a positive influence on citizens. Human rights were indivisible, and there should be a balance between a critical approach and a development approach to human rights. Countries should provide projects for training in human rights for countries where the human rights level needed to be improved in the form of a constructive dialogue and technical assistance.

MARC GODEFROID (Luxembourg, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated countries), said the United Nations and the international community had a crucial role to play in assisting all countries to fulfil their obligations to promote and protect human rights. The European Union remained unswerving in its support for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and its action in building national capacity and providing advisory services and technical assistance to requesting States. Given the growing number of requests for advisory services and technical cooperation, the designation of a focal point for democracy within the Office of the High Commissioner was welcomed. Through investing in human rights capacity building, the international community was strengthening democracy and the rule of law, and promoting development. Moreover, technical assistance and cooperation was only one aspect of human rights capacity building; a holistic approach also entailed viewing it as a social and political process.

The European Union remained strongly engaged to provide technical assistance to all States willing to cooperate with it, he affirmed, as exemplified by the support extended to civil society and international and regional organizations under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. One of the core elements of technical assistance was its voluntary nature, based on partnership and a number of core principles including participation, transparency and commitment. The European Union also welcomed the Secretary-General's report on the implementation of the advisory services and technical cooperation programme, and underscored the fact that Union members were among the main donors to the Global Annual appeal. The European Union supported increased regular budget financing for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as the "Action 2" initiative, which had important implications for the technical cooperation programme as it aimed to support State efforts to create national systems for the protection and promotion of human rights, or to strengthen those already in place. The recommendations contained in the High Commissioner's Global Review of the technical cooperation programme should be implemented. There was a need to ensure that the United Nations had a single, integrated and coherent human rights programme, which entailed close links and mutual reinforcement between monitoring and assistance activities.

DORU COSTEA (Romania) said Romania had been both a recipient and a provider of international cooperation programmes focused on the incorporation of international human rights standards into national laws and policies. The cooperation activities that Romania had implemented over the years jointly with the United Nations human rights mechanisms, special procedures and treaty bodies added value to its policies and their recommendations developed into concrete actions. At the invitation of Georgia, an international mission of experts, which was set up under the auspices of the Community of Democracies and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, had paid a visit to that country in February 2005. The final report of the mission was available to the delegations. The goal of the mission was to provide democratic assistance to the agencies of the Georgian Government and to civil society organizations. It was a follow-up to the Seoul Plan of Action adopted by the Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies of 2002. United Nations Development Programme had assisted the process.

The mission members were divided in six thematic sub-groups, in keeping with their expertise: parliamentary and elections reform; freedom of expression; integration of minorities; conflict resolution; local governance; and European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The meetings in Tbilisi were opportunities to share with Georgian counterparts lessons learned and opinions on ways of enhancing the democracies institutions and good governance in that country. Recommendations were made based on entirely open and constructive dialogues and all participating States were looking forward to their follow-up.

JORGE FERRER RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said the item of advisory services and technical cooperation had been turned by industrialised countries into an extension of the politicised, selective and discriminatory agenda item 9 of the Commission. It was used as an instrument of pressure against underdeveloped countries, who were threatened with being a subject of a resolution under item 9 if they did not accept the opening of an in situ Office of the High Commissioner, or accept the approval of a resolution under this agenda item. The same countries which reluctantly barely contributed one third of their commitments of official development aid allocated several million dollars every year to specific projects on technical cooperation on human rights, because these programmes had become instruments for the imposition of the agenda of developed countries and of components of their political, legal, and economic domination.

This was not the result of imagination or supposition. Several of the reports submitted under this agenda item were entitled Report of the Independent Expert on the human rights situation in one or another country, which was not in line in several cases, with the letter of the mandate approved by consensus by the Commission and by the Economic and Social Council. Several of the reports submitted were not consistent with the principles of universality, indivisibility, interdependence, interrelation and equal significance of all human rights. Advisory services and technical cooperation programmes faced the serious challenge of succumbing to their virtual privatisation and political manipulation. Setting the objectives and expected results of programmes on advisory services and technical cooperation and field activities on human rights were the exclusive and non-transferable competence of inter-governmental bodies and not of any other entity or instance inside or outside the Organization. Cooperation could not be forced, let alone subordinated to the realisation of observations and recommendations by Special Rapporteurs and human rights treaty bodies.

HARDEEP SINGH PURI (India) said it was through capacity building and technical assistance that genuine improvement in the human rights situation in concerned countries would be arrived at. Recalling his country's opposition to the use of country-specific resolutions under item 9 of the Commission's agenda, except in exceptional circumstances, he noted the recent decrease in the number of resolutions brought under item 9, and wondered whether that decrease could not be explained by the transference of such resolutions to other agenda items, specifically the present item. Misusing this agenda item for the same purposes that item 9 had originally been misused would only undermine the Commission further.

The number of resolutions before the Commission was multiplying, the number of its special procedures proliferating, and the number of its monitoring mechanisms increasing, he added. Yet, it must be recognized that national ownership of human rights promotion programmes remained necessary. Technical assistance programmes must be included in the national systems of concerned countries; genuine and lasting change could only be achieved by building the national will to build democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights. The appointment of external advisors should be the exception, not the rule, and the current practice of forcing a country to choose between a resolution under agenda item 9 or signing a memorandum of understanding with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was not acceptable. He proposed that the Commission should audit existing national mechanisms to assess how those field presences had worked, and whether they had resulted in genuine improvement in the countries' human rights situations. Field presences based exclusively on eternal monitoring should be phased out and replaced by programmes focused on building national capacity. Furthermore, the Commission should hold an intersessional meeting before its sixty-second session to assess whether item 19 was not being undermined through item 9-like use.

GOLI AMERI (United States) said the United States strongly supported increasing the capacity and effectiveness of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. She welcomed the Secretary-General's call upon the United Nations membership – as well as proposals of the High-Level Panel – to strengthen it. The United States had in recent months actively advocated such increased capacity. The potential role of the High Commissioner's Office in monitoring and preventing human rights abuses on the ground – and in carrying out proper early warning – was as important as its technical assistance responsibilities. The United States had urged through diplomacy and Security Council resolutions that the presences in Darfur of monitors from the High Commissioner's office be expanded. The United Nations bureaucracy – including in New York – had taken an excruciatingly long time to get monitors into the field to complement the African Union's crucial troop deployment in Darfur.

In the Commission, resolutions remained crucial. In particular, for acute cases of repressive regimes that refused to work with the international community to liberalize, it was important to retain country-specific resolutions as a last resort. However, the ability of the Office of the High Commissioner to offer advisory services; technical assistance; training; the human rights and rule of law components of post-conflict reconciliation; and monitoring of grave human rights threats were at the heart of what the United Nations should focus on.

FABIO PIANA (European Commission) said European community programmes served to support efforts by the European Union to promote and protect human rights. The European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights was one of the principal instruments at the disposal of the European Union for advancing human rights. The approach which was used to channel support to international organizations and non-governmental organizations for a wide range of human rights programmes was currently being refined to create four human rights campaigns, which would focus on major European Union priorities including support to international justice, the fight against torture and racism, and the promotion of democratic processes. Each campaign would be composed of mutually-reinforcing projects at the global, regional and national level.

Specific provision was being made for the first time under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights for projects to promote the work of human rights defenders in the field. Additional attention would also be paid to children's rights. A final example with particular resonance following the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education was the European Initiative's support for the European Master's Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation, and a regional Masters Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation in South-East Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, Asia and Latin America, both of which were producing high-calibre graduates who often progressed to valuable human rights activities in the field or worked with human rights organizations.

ALICE MIRIMO KABETSI, of World Young Women's Christian Association, in a joint statement with several NGOs1, said the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was the bloodiest since World War II, and had led to the death of more than 4 million individuals, the destruction of the country's infrastructure, a disastrous regression in socio-economic standards, and the illegal exploitation of natural resources. Violence and rape had been committed against girls, women, and older people by Government soldiers, armed groups, foreign soldiers, and even the United Nations' peacekeepers. Villages had constantly been burned, peasants driven from their fields. Political prisoners continued to be held, despite the global accord and the amnesty adopted by the Parliament. Human rights defenders remained in exile or detention. The situation was not one of repression of an ethnic minority as the international community liked to characterize it; the country contained more than 400 tribes, and each constituted a minority in the whole. To combat the situation, among other initiatives, an international commission should be set up to investigate all rapes and other crimes committed since 1996. Impunity must be brought to an end, and all perpetrators must be punished before international or national courts. There should be an embargo on heavy and light weapons for armed groups operating in the country, and the Government should hold elections as soon as possible. The Kimberly process should be strengthened, and all multinationals involved in the trafficking of the country's wealth should be prosecuted.

CONCHITA PONCINI, of International Federation of University Women, in a joint statement with several NGOs2, said timeliness in identifying issues and recent developments was crucial to the effectiveness of meeting crisis situations, acting as early warning mechanisms and focusing on preventive diplomacy. The technical cooperation and advisory service of the Office of the High Commissioner were two essential means of action in that regard. It was all the more critical within the reform process of the United Nations such as the Peace Building Commission. As the expert body of the United Nations in the field of human rights, it had a valuable role in responding to a growing need for institutions that would have a strategy, a vision and a greater policy focus designed to assist, at country level, the setting up of human rights promotion and protection systems. That implied an expanded activity of the Office and with non-governmental organizations and civil society. That also meant building the capacity of its human resources. From the perspective of gender, women had not been given their equitable share in opportunities, choices and access to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, it was imperative that women were included as beneficiaries of technical services and technical assistance to promote the advancement of their status.

GWYNETH WILLIAMS, of Amnesty International, said this agenda item was the Commission's vehicle for mandating advisory services and technical assistance to help countries that were emerging from situations marked by serious human rights violations and demonstrated a real commitment to improve their respect for human rights. However, the severe shortcomings that currently characterised the work of the Commission led to the inappropriate consideration of situations of serious human rights violations under this agenda item, and this contributed to the Commission's credibility deficit. Reform of the United Nations' human rights machinery was imperative. Governments should use the opportunity created by the reports of the High-Level Panel and the Secretary-General to establish a body capable of promoting and protecting all human rights of all persons in all countries at all times.

YORIO SHIOKAWA, of International Association of Democratic Lawyers, said according to the annual report 2003 submitted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Japan was only sixteenth in the list of contributors. As Japan was the second biggest economic power, this was considered strange. There were some anxious situations in Japan. The Prime Minister had suggested a time schedule of constitutional revision, but what was really at stake was whether Japan would change the pacifist clause in article 9 in order to dispatch freely its military forces overseas. Peace was precious and fundamental to full enjoyment of human rights. There was a need of more strong individual contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Funds from Japan, and the Government should also contribute more.

HILLEL C. NEUER, of United Nations Watch, noted that there were currently two draft resolutions before the Commission relating to the human rights situation in the Sudan. One had been submitted under agenda item 19, the other under agenda item 9. Negotiations were currently underway to decide which would prevail. In those negotiations, the reputation and fate of the Commission were at stake. The outcome would determine whether the world's foremost human rights body would bring itself to condemn the world's foremost human rights crime. At the end of last year's session, no resolution had been passed on the situation in Darfur, he added. Instead, a decision had been adopted, and one that had utterly failed to condemn the Government's implication in the crimes committed by the Janjaweed militia. The draft resolution under item 19 was an embarrassment to the Commission, the United Nations, and the international community; it failed to condemn the Government of Sudan for its documented complicity in the war crimes committed in Darfur. The Commission should not allow a motion for no-action. At this time of reform, the world's foremost human rights body must bring itself to condemn the world's foremost human rights crime.

Right of Reply

SUNU MAHDI SOEMARNO (Indonesia), speaking in a right of reply in reference to the statement made by Luxembourg, on behalf of the European Union, said Indonesia and Timor Leste had been engaged in a process of reconciliation through their bilateral agreements. They were both making efforts to settle outstanding issues concerning them. The two countries had nominated members to the committee that was charged to work on the reconciliation process between the two countries. The European Union should leave the matter to the two countries to settle their differences in a friendly manner.

CORRIGENDA

In press release HR/CN/05/51 of 15 April, the statement by the Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations should read as follows:

MAURICE ABOUDARAM, of Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations, in a joint statement with B'nai B'rith International, said that as the international community reflected on the Holocaust and observed the current treatment of the Jewish people, one wondered what lessons the international community had learned. The ability of one regime to marginalize and exterminate its own minorities and spread that concept across an entire continent was far from being history. That same anti-Jewish sentiment was present throughout the Arab world in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, when Jewish minorities numbering over 700,000 felt compelled to leave their countries. Even today, Arab media defiled Jews and Israel as the root cause of every suffering in the region. He called all victim minorities to show solidarity with these Jews as they had shown with them, as witnessed, for example, by the event which B’nai B’rith International organized during the Commission’s session to protest the treatment inflicted on the minority population of Darfur


In press release HR/CN/05/53 of 18 April, the speaker for the International League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples on page 7 was misidentified. The correct name of the speaker is Johann de Florenne.

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1Joint statement on behalf of: World Young Women's Christian Association; Femmes Africa Solidarite; United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation; International Committee for the Respect and the Application of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; International Alliance of Women; African Society of International and Comparative Law; International Council of Jewish Women; International Council of Women and Coalition Against Trafficking of Women.


2Joint statement on behalf of: International Federation of University Women; Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women's Association; International Council of Women; International Council of Jewish Women; Femmes Africa Solidarite; Women's International Zionist Organization; Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the Health of Women and Children and Women's Federation for World Peace International.


For use of information only; not an official record