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24 October 2000
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Human Rights Committee
70th session
24 October 2000
Afternoon
The Human Rights Committee this afternoon concluded its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Peru on that country's compliance with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
In preliminary remarks, Committee Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga said that the 15 day pre-trial detention under police custody for espionage and treason had been extended to other crimes, which was a concern to the Committee. She recalled that four years ago when the Committee considered Peru's third periodic report, it had said that the one-year solitary confinement period was in contravention of the provisions of the Covenant. That punishment had not been changed.
Over the course of their consideration of Peru's report, Committee experts continued to query the Peruvian delegation on various issues pertaining to the right to freedom of opinion and information. A Committee expert said that the Government of Peru had been practising a policy of silencing journalists and it had created a climate of insecurity for those who expressed their opinion. Moreover, the judiciary was unable to guarantee the freedom of expression because of its own weak position, the expert said.
In response to follow-up questions, the delegation said a process of political reform was underway in the country which hopefully would provide responses to many problems faced by Peru. The eight-member Peruvian delegation, led by the Minster of Labour and Social Promotion, was on hand to present the report and to answer questions raised by Committee members.
Formal, written concluding observations and recommendations on the report of Peru will be issued by the Committee towards the end of the current three-week session which will conclude on 3 November.
After completing its consideration of the Peruvian report, the Committee held a private meeting to discuss communications.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m., it will meet in private to continue its discussion on draft concluding observations and recommendations on reports already considered during this session.
Discussion
Committee experts continued to query the Peruvian delegation on various issues pertaining to the right to freedom of opinion and information. A Committee expert said that the Government of Peru had been practising a policy of silencing journalists and it had created a climate of insecurity for those who expressed their opinion. He cited individual cases in which journalists were persecuted for expressing views contrary to the official policies. Moreover, the judiciary was unable to guarantee the freedom of expression because of its own weak position.
Further, the expert said that individuals were persecuted for suspicion of having clandestine ties with terrorist activities without any evidence being produced. Other citizens, particularly persons who manifested political differences, had been arrested on grounds of belonging to terrorist groups; and telephone taping, and confiscation of personal documents including computers, had been common in many cases.
Another expert also said that seven known journalists had been attacked and harassed for their opinion. The seven journalists had brought their cases to court but they still had to wait for the rulings.
In response to the follow-up questions of the members of the Committee, the Peruvian officials said that at present, a political dynamism was going on in the country and that the concerns of the experts would have answers as soon as possible. A political reform process was underway and the delegation hoped that it would provide responses to many problems faced by the country.
With regard to election fraud alleged by some Committee members, the delegation said that there had been no such fraud except for some irregularities which were attributed to the remoteness of election centres and rare cases which emanated from negligence.
The Government of Peru had extended an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion of the Commission on Human Rights to visit the country, the delegation said. It had also extended a similar invitation to the Special Rapporteur of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.
On the issue of visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross to prisons, the Government had reached agreement with the representative of that organization to freely and without pre-conditions visit the country's penitentiary centres, the delegation said.
Preliminary Remarks
In preliminary remarks, Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga said that the Committee recognized that progress had been made in Peru. She thanked the delegation for its efforts in providing additional information. She hoped that the future report would contain adequate information.
However, she said that four years ago, Peru was told that its Constitution was incompatible and inconsistent with the provisions of the Covenant. The 15 days pre-trial detention under police custody for espionage and treason had been extended to other crimes, which was a concern to the Committee. Also four years ago, the Committee had said that the one-year solitary detention period was in contravention of the provisions of the Covenant. That punishment had not been changed.
The executive commission for the training and appointment of judges had extended its duration to one and a half years. Journalists were not guaranteed freedom of expression and there had been attacks on them; and women were not protected from forced sterilization, Mrs. Quiroga said.
Reacting to the remarks, the delegation said that Peru was living through difficult circumstances and all the Committee's comments and views would be taken into consideration.
* *** *
70th session
24 October 2000
Afternoon
The Human Rights Committee this afternoon concluded its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Peru on that country's compliance with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
In preliminary remarks, Committee Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga said that the 15 day pre-trial detention under police custody for espionage and treason had been extended to other crimes, which was a concern to the Committee. She recalled that four years ago when the Committee considered Peru's third periodic report, it had said that the one-year solitary confinement period was in contravention of the provisions of the Covenant. That punishment had not been changed.
Over the course of their consideration of Peru's report, Committee experts continued to query the Peruvian delegation on various issues pertaining to the right to freedom of opinion and information. A Committee expert said that the Government of Peru had been practising a policy of silencing journalists and it had created a climate of insecurity for those who expressed their opinion. Moreover, the judiciary was unable to guarantee the freedom of expression because of its own weak position, the expert said.
In response to follow-up questions, the delegation said a process of political reform was underway in the country which hopefully would provide responses to many problems faced by Peru. The eight-member Peruvian delegation, led by the Minster of Labour and Social Promotion, was on hand to present the report and to answer questions raised by Committee members.
Formal, written concluding observations and recommendations on the report of Peru will be issued by the Committee towards the end of the current three-week session which will conclude on 3 November.
After completing its consideration of the Peruvian report, the Committee held a private meeting to discuss communications.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m., it will meet in private to continue its discussion on draft concluding observations and recommendations on reports already considered during this session.
Discussion
Committee experts continued to query the Peruvian delegation on various issues pertaining to the right to freedom of opinion and information. A Committee expert said that the Government of Peru had been practising a policy of silencing journalists and it had created a climate of insecurity for those who expressed their opinion. He cited individual cases in which journalists were persecuted for expressing views contrary to the official policies. Moreover, the judiciary was unable to guarantee the freedom of expression because of its own weak position.
Further, the expert said that individuals were persecuted for suspicion of having clandestine ties with terrorist activities without any evidence being produced. Other citizens, particularly persons who manifested political differences, had been arrested on grounds of belonging to terrorist groups; and telephone taping, and confiscation of personal documents including computers, had been common in many cases.
Another expert also said that seven known journalists had been attacked and harassed for their opinion. The seven journalists had brought their cases to court but they still had to wait for the rulings.
In response to the follow-up questions of the members of the Committee, the Peruvian officials said that at present, a political dynamism was going on in the country and that the concerns of the experts would have answers as soon as possible. A political reform process was underway and the delegation hoped that it would provide responses to many problems faced by the country.
With regard to election fraud alleged by some Committee members, the delegation said that there had been no such fraud except for some irregularities which were attributed to the remoteness of election centres and rare cases which emanated from negligence.
The Government of Peru had extended an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion of the Commission on Human Rights to visit the country, the delegation said. It had also extended a similar invitation to the Special Rapporteur of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.
On the issue of visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross to prisons, the Government had reached agreement with the representative of that organization to freely and without pre-conditions visit the country's penitentiary centres, the delegation said.
Preliminary Remarks
In preliminary remarks, Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga said that the Committee recognized that progress had been made in Peru. She thanked the delegation for its efforts in providing additional information. She hoped that the future report would contain adequate information.
However, she said that four years ago, Peru was told that its Constitution was incompatible and inconsistent with the provisions of the Covenant. The 15 days pre-trial detention under police custody for espionage and treason had been extended to other crimes, which was a concern to the Committee. Also four years ago, the Committee had said that the one-year solitary detention period was in contravention of the provisions of the Covenant. That punishment had not been changed.
The executive commission for the training and appointment of judges had extended its duration to one and a half years. Journalists were not guaranteed freedom of expression and there had been attacks on them; and women were not protected from forced sterilization, Mrs. Quiroga said.
Reacting to the remarks, the delegation said that Peru was living through difficult circumstances and all the Committee's comments and views would be taken into consideration.
* *** *