VICE PRIME MINISTER OF GABON CALLS FOR REFLECTION ON GLOBALIZATION’S IMPACT ON HUMAN RIGHTS

18.03.2004


Officials of Sri Lanka, Honduras, Senegal, Burundi, Mauritania, Moldova,
and Inter-Parliamentary Union also Address Commission




The Vice Prime Minister of Gabon told the Commission on Human Rights today that greater attention needed to be paid to the forces of economic globalization, as a part of humanity was becoming ever poorer and international financial institutions were not giving sufficient weight to human rights matters.

The Vice Prime Minister, Paul Mba Abessole, who also is responsible for human rights in Gabon and serves as the country’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that although globalization was for some synonymous with new opportunities, for others it caused poverty, cultural marginalization, and a rise in economic exclusion, made worse by a dilution of responsibilities. Globalization was thus a major challenge for human rights in the decades to come, and this challenge should be resolved by global reflection on the topic, he said.

Mr. Abessole was one of seven senior Government officials to speak at a midday session of the Commission’s annual high-level segment. The others represented Sri Lanka, Honduras, Senegal, Burundi, Mauritania, and Moldova. In addition, the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union delivered an address.

Tyronne Fernando, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, said that reforming Constitutional and legislative structures, strengthening the democratic process, and ensuring the independence of key institutions and an effective justice system were part of a wide range of efforts being pursued by Sri Lanka to ensure respect for and compliance with human rights standards.

Jorge Hernandez Alcerro, Minister of Governance and Justice of Honduras, said Honduras accepted its responsibility to investigate each and every crime committed against children and adolescents in the country, and as part of its considerable efforts on the matter had set up a committee with the main objective of investigating information published on the murder of children in Honduras, and to submit a report containing the results of its inquires and recommendations.

Mame Bassine Niang, Minister and Commissioner for Human Rights of Senegal, said the country had focused its efforts and innovations in human rights on the model of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), which she termed a condensed form of the right of African peoples to durable and unified development, of which the fundamental bases were democracy, the state of law, the rights of man, security, stability, and economic and political good governance.

Déogratias Rusengwamihigo, Minister for Constitutional Reform, Human Rights and Relations with the Parliament of Burundi, said that despite the international arsenal of treaties, conventions, pacts and international protocols linked to human rights and their ratification by many States, the path that was left to cover remained long, difficult and complex -- it was the violation of human dignity that was often at the origin of armed conflicts and that gravely compromised efforts at reconciliation.

Hamady Ould Meimou, Human Rights Commissioner of Mauritania, said among other things that school attendance rates in the country had reached more than 90 per cent for boys and 83 per cent for girls, illiteracy had diminished substantially, and political pluralism had been well established since the nation’s 1996 elections.

Eugenia Kistruga, First Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Moldova, said among other things that efficient protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms was an imperative of the times; it was well understood that only the State which worked from the basis of the guarantee of the right of choice for each individual – a right manifested on political and practical levels -- could be called a truly democratic State.

And Anders B. Johnsson, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, said among other things that it was important for a Parliamentary committee to be especially designated to address human rights issues, to make sure that these were indeed treated as cross-cutting issues. More than one third of all national Parliaments had now taken this step, Mr. Johnsson reported.

The Commission adjourned its midday session at 3 p.m. and convened an afternoon meeting scheduled for completion at 6. Today is the last day of the Commission’s high-level segment.

Statements

TYRONNE FERNANDO, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, said the Commission remained the most significant body in the United Nations system for the promotion and protection of human rights. The Commission’s current mandate included generating international norms and standards as well as monitoring their compliance, reflecting a historical evolution from its initial focus on setting standards. Its crucial role in the elaboration of a number of international human rights instruments, both declaratory and treaty-based, had been widely acknowledged, and Sri Lanka had become a party to 16 instruments, including the seven major international human rights conventions. Its obligations as a State party to two of these international conventions had been further reinforced and supplemented by accession to two optional protocols.

Inter-ministerial consultations, public hearings and discussions that preceded the signing of or accession to international human rights conventions, as well as the ratification procedures and passage of required legislation in Parliament, enhanced the awareness of rights and obligations and promoted greater compliance, Mr. Fernando said. There was growing public awareness among Sri Lankans of their human rights and of the domestic mechanisms available for redress in case of violations. Accession to international human rights instruments imposed a clear obligation on States parties to bring domestic legislation into line with international standards, and this was an ongoing, although time-consuming process.

It was clear that States had the primary responsibility for the enforcement of international human rights standards through their national judicial processes, Mr. Fernando said. Reforming Constitutional and legislative structures, strengthening the democratic process, and ensuring the independence of key institutions and an effective justice system were part of a wide range of efforts being pursued by Sri Lanka to ensure respect for and compliance with human rights standards.

JORGE HERNANDEZ ALCERRO, Minister of Governance and Justice of Honduras, said the Government of Honduras accepted its responsibility to investigate each and every crime committed against children and adolescents in the country, and to prevent juvenile delinquency, while guaranteeing respect for human rights and strengthening laws to punish those who violated them. Honduras reiterated its willingness to expand the content and amount of detailed information contained in its reports to the Commission’s special mechanisms, to the Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and to any other interested public or private human rights body.

The Government of Honduras, as part of its considerable efforts on the matter, had set up a committee with the main objective of investigating information published on the murder of children in Honduras, and to submit a report containing the results of its inquires and recommendations. However, even though positive results were starting to be obtained, much remained to be done, and this was why a number of activities were still being carried out to strengthen past and current efforts and to ensure their sustainability.

The Government of Honduras was grateful to the Governments and private organizations that had drawn its attention to this problem, and invited them to pursue their cooperation with the Government so that appropriate responses could continue to be found to the phenomenon, which was a source of grave concern to the people and Government of Honduras. Lastly, Honduras wished to categorically reaffirm that it did not in any way tolerate, consent to or promote criminal acts of this kind, no matter who could be behind them.

MAME BASSINE NIANG, Minister and Commissioner for Human Rights of Senegal, said that since the liberal revolutions which had shaken Europe in the 18th Century, many States had proclaimed their firm political will to recognize, promote and protect human rights. Among these States was Senegal, whose politics in this matter were on two levels: the national and the international. Human rights were commonly divided into three categories: the fundamental rights, which were civil and political rights and also called the rights of liberty; economic, social and cultural rights, also called equal rights; and the rights of solidarity, which included the right to peace, the right to a safe environment, to the common human patrimony, and to development. Human rights thus being categorically defined, Senegal had chosen to implement them in a cross-sectoral way which impacted on all the socio-economic sectors of the country.

Senegal had several institutions which worked in the field of human rights: institutions for defense and promotion of those rights, which included a High Commission for Human Rights and Peace; civil society organizations; and mechanisms of protection, which included both judicial and jurisdictional mechanisms, which allowed the punishment of any violation of human rights by the legislature or any other authority.

Senegal was committed to managing its experience in the field of human rights by translating it into innovations which recreated and redirected organizations, institutions, programmes and laws. Senegal had crystallized all its innovations in human rights into the structural disposition of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), which was the major economic project of the African Union. NEPAD was a condensed form of the right of African peoples to durable and unified development, of which the fundamental bases were democracy, the state of law, the rights of man, security, stability, and economic and political good governance.

DEOGRATIAS RUSENGWAMIHIGO, Minister for Constitutional Reform, Human Rights and Relations with the Parliament of Burundi, said today, even more than yesterday, the world had to face up to its human rights obligations, and this meant efforts to better inform, educate and guarantee respect for and promotion of human rights. The Commission’s current session was taking place at a time when the world was confronted with a return to massive human rights violations, as was proved by events that were, sadly, now a daily occurrence, namely terrorism, torture, disappearances and summary executions; racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia; religious intolerance; violence against women; violations of the rights of minorities; injustices committed against indigenous peoples and migrant workers; mass exoduses and displaced persons; and the enrolment of children into armies and the labour force.

Despite the international arsenal of treaties, conventions, pacts and international protocols linked to human rights and their ratification by many States, the path that was left to cover remained long, difficult and complex. There was no need to demonstrate that it was the violation of human dignity that was often at the origin of armed conflicts and that gravely compromised efforts at reconciliation. Other dangers such as epidemics and natural catastrophes also had their first and greatest impact on the most vulnerable. This was why issues of development and of the environment, which could reduce vulnerability to these scourges, should be one of major preoccupations of the international community.

The planet was confronted with certain common problems, and solidarity between rich and poor nations was vital so that a better world could be created for present and future generations. The breaking of a part of humanity affected all of humanity. There was a need for greater levels of engagement to realize the promises of donors, and to reinforce efforts to recover peace, which was the only fertile ground for the respect of human rights.

HAMADY OULD MEIMOU, Commissioner for Human Rights of Mauritania, said the country categorically condemned terrorism. The achievement of the noble principles of human rights and fundamental freedoms depended upon the economic, social and cultural values being realized in all societies. All such values required peace and stability to flourish. In the service of international peace and stability, it should be said that the “Road Map” proposal offered good prospects for a solution to the conflict in the Middle East, including through the recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Mauritania was a party to international human rights agreements and had made great achievements in terms of politics, economic growth, and respect for social and cultural rights, Mr. Meimou said. The Mauritanian Constitution enshrined the concept of human rights as laid out in international conventions as the main references for guaranteeing fundamental human rights and political pluralism. These standards were the bedrock of good governance and the rule of law. Following ratification of the Constitution, Governmental authorities had stepped up efforts for the promotion and protection of human rights through revising national legal texts to bring them into line with international conventions, especially in regard to the protection of individuals and vulnerable groups, including women and children. Other fundamental reforms related to the systems of justice, education, elections, political parties and the Civil Code.

School attendance rates had reached more than 90 per cent for boys and 83 per cent for girls, Mr. Meimou said. Illiteracy had diminished substantially and currently was at 42 per cent. Authorities had undertaken a campaign to eradicate illiteracy as soon as possible. Political pluralism was a reality in Mauritania, and since the 1996 elections, 17 elections had been held, accustoming the country’s citizens to the habit of voting. There now had been three presidential elections. Cultural revival also had been achieved through a national campaign promoting research in Mauritanian culture. The national human rights platform constituted a key element of the country’s concept of good governance and incorporated all human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights. The fight against poverty was a major priority, and a strategic framework for combating poverty had been adopted.

EUGENIA KISTRUGA, First Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Moldova, said that for States which had started down the path of democratic reform and adjustment, respect for human rights was vital. The Government of the Republic of Moldova had demonstrated by concrete actions that it was aware of the importance of consolidating the national judicial environment by creating, on the basis of principles of respect for human rights, mechanisms for the protection of those rights.

The elimination of the grave violations of human rights in Moldova would have been difficult without the technical and financial assistance offered by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Organization for Migration, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and other international organizations and agencies, Ms. Kistruga said. Despite the country’s successes and achievements, violations still took place, particularly in the area of the left bank of the Nistru, a separatist region where a discriminatory policy had been implemented against indigenous Moldovan inhabitants. Moldova counted on the help and support of the OSCE and the Commission to protect human rights in this region.

Efficient protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms was an imperative of the times. It was well understood that only the State which worked from the basis of the guarantee of the right of choice for each individual – a right manifested both on the political and practical levels - could be called a truly democratic State.

PAUL MBA ABESSOLE, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, in charge of Human Rights of Gabon, said human rights were still a topic in the daily news. Globalization, if care was not taken, could relegate human rights to the second rank, under the pretext of so-called new economic priorities. A part of humanity appeared to be becoming ever poorer, to the point of not being able to satisfy its most elementary needs. This part of humanity had become invisible. It was greatly worrying. Institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund did not seem to recognize the primacy of human rights. Dominated by a few rich countries, with a quota system that was far from democratic, these two institutions only served international financial interests.

The instruments of globalization, which included the IMF, the World Trade Organization, and the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, were not defending or promoting human rights. Their use did not incorporate care for human rights. Although globalization was for some synonymous with new opportunities, for others it caused poverty, cultural marginalization, and a rise in economic exclusion, made worse by a dilution of responsibilities. Globalization was thus a major challenge for human rights in the decades to come, and this challenge should be resolved by global reflection on the topic.


This reflection should start at the root of humanity, of which the fundamental rights were water, food, clothing and a home, Mr. Abessole said. The defense and promotion of human rights began with the satisfaction of these rights, as well as the rights to access to health, a safe environment, and paid employment. If everybody was mobilized to ensure that every human being enjoyed these rights, the world would undoubtedly advance. These rights were neither optional nor voluntary, instead they were a coherent and constraining framework inside of which every activity, whether political, economic, social or financial should take place.

ANDERS B. JOHNSSON, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, said that during the past year the world had spiraled almost out of control, with unprecedented levels of violence and disregard for the rule of law, justice and basic human values. Examined from a human rights perspective, the 21st century had certainly got off to a very unpromising start. The fundamental notion underlying the exercise of democracy was the acceptance of, or better still, respect, for others. Democratic life involved the right to differ and the acceptance of such differences by all.

Parliaments lay at the very heart of human rights, embodying the fundamental human rights of all people to determine their fate and to take part in the management of public affairs of nations. The institution of the Parliament was also uniquely well placed to promote and protect human rights; it was in Parliament that human rights treaties and their provisions were converted into domestic law. Parliament was therefore a guardian of human rights, and as such a natural partner for the United Nations and the Commission. While everyone in a Parliament and also every Parliamentary committee should take human rights into account in carrying out legislative work, it was also important for a Parliamentary committee to be especially designated to address human rights issues, to make sure that these were indeed treated as cross-cutting issues. More than one third of all national Parliaments had now taken this step.

Terrorism should always be condemned, Mr. Johnsson said. It had no religion, no country, and no excuse. However, what was equally important was that the fight against terrorism should not result in new human rights violations. Lawlessness could not be fought successfully with further lawlessness. Such an approach could only lead to a further spiral of violence.