Informal note on the press briefing by Mary Robinson, High Commissioner for Human Rights,

Geneva, 3 April 1998


Transcript of the informal press briefing by Mary Robinson, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Following Adoption by the Commission on Human Rights of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders

Mrs Robinson said she was very pleased the Declaration on the Human Rights Defenders was passed by consensus at the Commission on Human Rights. She paid great tribute to the Working Group and to Professor Helgesen for their very important work in ensuring that the Declaration be an important statement during the fiftieth anniversary year. Every country had human rights defenders, people who worked at considerable risk, often without recognition, who struggled against extreme poverty, against disappearances, who combatted torturers and who visited prisons. It was very important that this work be recognized this year and that the Commission pass a declaration to the General Assembly, which she hoped would be adopted in a similar fashion.

Question: Do you see the Declaration as placing more emphasis on the duties of Governments or on the rights of individual defenders of human rights?

The High Commissioner said she believed it addressed both. It was important for Governments to recognise that individual human rights defenders and organisations were a very important part of the human rights world. In an increasingly global world it was a value that could not be sufficiently emphasised and reinforced. It was equally important for individual human rights defenders and for organisations to act with responsibility in the work they did. This was a value that also had to be very much promoted in the context of this Declaration.

Question: What was your reaction to the vote on the death penalty?

Responding, the High Commissioner said she noted with interest that the atmosphere of the vote seemed to recognise the issue was an extremely important one. It was a proper issue for the Commission on Human Rights and was recognized by a significant number of countries. Moreover, it was one which she very much subscribed to as High Commissioner. Mrs Robinson expressed the hope that one day the death penalty would be ruled out by consensus. As High Commissioner she believed it was contrary to the dignity of the human person. Other countries felt very strongly, or had constitutional positions on that. She welcomed the shifts of some countries, this year, from abstention to a vote in favour of the resolution. It was clear that the momentum was going to continue. Mrs. Robinson said she was also aware of a worrying public opinion view on the issue and expressed the hope that members of Parliament and Government would look at it in a very serious way, address it responsibly and be aware of the importance eliminating the death penalty. She had taken a personal step, in the last week, in writing to President Kabila to ask him to reconsider the death sentence against a 13 year old boy. She asked him to reconsider that particular sentence but also the whole issue of the death penalty and, in particular, the problem of child soldiers. Mrs Robinson understood that the President was very receptive to the letter and that he was addressing that particular issue. She further expressed the hope that he would address wider issues as it would be a very good signal in the context of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Question: The resolution, in fact, did not call for an end to the death penalty. Would you like to see it go a step further?

Responding, Mrs Robinson said, personally, as High Commissioner she would wish it to do so. She recognized the hard work done and was glad that, Italy and the countries that supported it, felt very strongly and pressed hard for the best text they could get. She placed a lot of emphasis on this issue, as she did with the United States, Iran, Japan and as she would do when visiting China. She also addressed the issue of reducing the number of offences for which the death penalty could be incurred. Mrs Robinson noted that a number of explanations of votes referred to the fact this sentence was only given for the most serious offences and she felt that more work should be done on that.

Question: Was there an explanation why the affirmative vote was one lower than last year rather than higher, as Italians had hoped?

Mrs Robinson said one dimension was that the membership of the Commission itself changed every year. She understood the sponsors were happy that the vote was as good as they could have expected.

Question: How do you reconcile your position on the death penalty with that of the Islamic States?

Mrs. Robinson said all countries had human rights problems. It was her position to remind Governments of their responsibilities; to have them take ownership of their problems and protect and promot human rights. She would raise the issue of the death penalty where appropriate on a visit to any country.

Question: Do you think the number of human rights defenders in jail will diminish?

Responding, Mrs Robinson said she was very worried about the number who were at risk. During the hearing of this session of the Commission she met NGOs who told her how serious the situation was. Human rights defenders have sent letters to her by secret means because if it was known that they were writing to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, that in itself could lead to penalties or suffering. It was a real problem and she believed this Declaration was an affirmative and important statement and certainly one which she welcomed. They had to make it more than just a Declaration on paper. There must be a recognition of the enrichment of human rights defenders, of the civil society. Mrs. Robinson said she had the greatest admiration for the human rights defenders who were unknown, worked in very difficult circumstances. She met some of them in Cambodia and was very impressed.

Question: Are you confident that the somewhat vague and compromised language on the question of whether human rights defenders are allowed to receive financial resources from abroad, will not lead to new conflicts in the future in specific cases?

Mrs Robinson said she would like to pay tribute to the skill of Professor Helgesen and the Working Party that the text was adopted, because that was a very difficult issue and there were very different view. Mrs Robinson said that on the contrary she would take a very positive approach. They now had that in the Declaration, which she hoped would also be adopted by the General Assembly, and she felt they could try to build on it.

Question: Can you tell us what European’s feelings are vis-à-vis the American position on the death penalty?

Mrs Robinson said she would not target any individual country. She issued a statement of deep concern when the death penalty was used against the person in Texas. She thought it was worrying in the USA as in the number of countries. The number of cases of death penalties seemed to be increasing and this was a concern. She would continue to follow the issue very closely.