人权理事会举行关于《维也纳宣言和行动纲领》的一般性辩论（部分翻译）

中午

结束关于巴勒斯坦和其他阿拉伯被占领土人权状况的一般性辩论

日内瓦（2016年9月26日）——人权理事会于午间会议期间举行了关于《维也纳宣言和行动纲领》的一般性辩论。理事会也结束了关于巴勒斯坦和其他阿拉伯被占领土人权状况的一般性辩论。

在一般性辩论中，发言人强调了通过合作以及尊重国家、区域特性和文化、社会差异在落实《维也纳宣言和行动纲领》中取得的进展。《宣言》是最为全面的文书，采纳了人权的基本原则，并强调了所有人权的普遍性、不可分割性和互相关联性。然而，由于政治化和缺乏善意的原因，这样的成就大多仅存在于书面而非现实之中。

代表欧盟的斯洛伐克、代表伊斯兰合作组织的巴基斯坦、代表一组国家的芬兰、代表一组国家的日本、代表一组国家的苏丹、代表非洲集团的南非、代表意见相同的会员国小组的俄罗斯联邦、马尔代夫、古巴、委内瑞拉、代表一组国家的斯洛文尼亚、荷兰、中国、越南、黑山、以色列、巴基斯坦、澳大利亚、利比亚、希腊、西班牙、冰岛、伊朗、尼加拉瓜、联合国开发计划署方案、美国以及匈牙利作了发言。

国家人权机构全球联盟（Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions）以及以下民间社会组织也作了发言：加拿大人口与发展行动组织（Action Canada for Population and Development）、法国泰米尔学生协会（Association des étudiants tamouls de France）、英国人道主义协会（British Humanist Association）、亚洲人权与发展论坛（Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development）、国际人道与伦理联合会（International Humanist and Ethical Union）、解放组织（Liberation）、捍卫自由联盟（Alliance Defending Freedom）、美洲法学家协会（American Association of Jurists）、人权与和平倡导中心（Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy）、非洲土著人民协调委员会 （Indigenous People of Africa Coordinating Committee）、保护和促进人权协会联合会（Federacion de Asociaciones de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos）、非洲交流与促进国际经济合作组织（ OCAPROCE Internationale）、亚洲－欧亚人权论坛（Asian-Eurasian Human Rights Forum）、大湖区和平与发展行动国际组织（Action Internationale pour la paix et le developpement dans la region des Grands Lacs）、国际和睦团契（International Fellowship of Reconciliation）、杜恩约协会（Association Dunenyo）、弗朗哥-泰米尔文化发展中心协会（Association Bharathi Centre Culturel Franco-Tamoul）、全球巴鲁阿组织（World Barua Organization）、莫保罗络社会和文化发展协会（Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association）、国际人权服务社（International Service for Human Rights）、“翻开新的一页”组织（Tourner la page）、支持公平审判和人权国际理事会（Conseil international pour le soutien à des procès équitables et aux droits de l’homme）、萨拉玛基金会（Alsalam Foundation）、促进巴林民主和人权的美国人联盟（Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain）、伊拉克发展组织（Iraqi Development Organization）、多元文化青年理事会（Conseil de jeunesse pluriculturel）、柏拉哈尔（Prahar）、南美洲印第安人理事会（Indian Council of South America）、世界穆斯林大会（World Muslim Congress）、希亚姆酷刑受害者康复中心（Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture）、国际伊斯兰学生组织联合会（International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations）、非洲维护人权会议（Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme）、国际律师组织（International-Lawyers.org）、阿拉伯人权委员会（Arab Commission for Human Rights）专员、联合国观察（United Nations Watch）、促进和保护妇女儿童权利委员会（Association for the Protection of Women and Children’s Rights）、南风发展政策协会（Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik）、非洲事务国际团结协会（Association solidarité internationale pour l’Afrique）、世界环境与资源理事会（World Environment and Resources Council）、和平组织问题研究委员会（Commission to Study the Organization of Peace）、国际促进非洲民主协会（International Association for Democracy in Africa）、泛非科学和技术联盟（Pan African Union for Science and Technology）、非洲区域农业信贷协会（African Regional Agricultural Credit Association）、学联国际（United Schools International）、欧洲公共关系联合会（European Union of Public Relations）、国际罐头业常设委员会（Canners International Permanent Committee）、环境与管理研究中心（Centre for Environmental and Management Studies）、区域人权与性别公正中心（Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos y Justicia de Genero）以及拉丁美洲人权与社会发展基金会（Fundacion Latinoamericana por los Derechos Humanos y Desarrollo Social）。

印度、尼加拉瓜和巴基斯坦行使答辩权发言。

在会议开始阶段，理事会结束了关于巴勒斯坦和其他阿拉伯被占领土人权状况的一般性辩论。此次一般性辩论的第一部分于9月23日（周五）举行，点击 此处查看摘要。

在讨论中，发言人对逮捕巴勒斯坦记者和袭击巴勒斯坦媒体机构的行为表示担忧，并注意到国际社会未能对以色列进行追责令受害者大失所望。以色列正在压制所有呼吁司法的声音，也因此阻碍了言论自由。在被占领土中非法运营的公司也应受到追责。其他发言人指出了主导以巴冲突相关讨论的虚伪性。自十年前理事会成立以来，1967年通过的针对以色列的决议中最能反映出这种偏见。同样应当制定一项谴责巴勒斯坦当局所犯的暴力行为的决议。

以下组织作了发言：“翻开新的一页”组织（Tourner la page）、增进非政府组织责任阿穆塔（Amuta for NGO Responsibility）、非洲国际团结协会（Association Solidarité Internationale pour la Afrique）、犹太人组织协调委员会（Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations）、新闻标志运动（Press Emblem Campaign）、巴勒斯坦人居住和难民权利巴迪尔资源中心（BADIL Resource Centre for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights）以及法律为人服务真理组织（Al-Haq Law in the Service of Man）

今天下午，理事会将与非洲人后裔问题工作组举行互动对话。随后，理事会将举行关于种族主义、种族歧视、仇外心理和相关的不容忍现象问题的一般性辩论。

General Debate on the Human Rights Situation in Palestine and Other Occupied Arab Territories
 
Tourner la page said that 67 years after the Palestinian tragedy, the issue of Palestine was still on the United Nations agenda, without a solution in sight.  Israel continued to boycott the debate and to violate the human rights of the Palestinian people.  All States should actively engage with this agenda item for as long as Israel continued to violate the rights of the Palestinian people with full impunity.
 
Amuta for NGO Responsibility said that the world had failed disastrously in implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and had failed to stop the tragedy in Syria, because of ideological entrenchment.  Amuta for NGO Responsibility denounced the rise of anti-Jewish sentiments, particularly in Germany, which was at its highest since the 1940s.
 
Association Solidarité Internationale pour la Afrique said that no effective measures had been taken to bring Israel in line with its international commitments.  Israel continued to violate the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people through all means.  Those crimes against history and culture were being denounced throughout the world, but there were still eyes which did not see what was happening.
 
Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations, in a joint statement with B’nai B’rith, said that hypocrisy governed the discussion in the Council about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  The bias was best reflected when viewing the 67 resolutions against Israel since the Council’s founding 10 years ago.  Israel was the only democracy in the Middle East where the Arab community enjoyed its full rights.  There should be one resolution condemning the violence perpetrated by the Palestinian Authority.  It was high time for change.
 
Presse Embleme Campagne expressed serious concern over the arrest of Palestinian journalists; notably 27 had been arrested since the beginning of 2016.  Three Palestinian media institutions had been attacked in the occupied Palestinian territories.  Presse Embleme Campagne deeply regretted that two years since the start of the protecting operation in the Gaza Strip, impunity still prevailed.  There was a need for an independent mechanism to investigate crimes perpetrated against journalists.
 
BADIL Resource Centre for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights drew attention to the continued persecution of human rights defenders and called for an end to the administrative detention of an estimated 750 Palestinian detainees.  It called for the return of bodies of extra-judicially killed Palestinians, and for an end to the excessive use of force and live ammunition against Palestinians, which was alarming and illegal.   
 
Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man, in a joint statement with BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights; and Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, noted that since October 2015 some 270 Palestinians had been killed as a result of the excessive force by Israel.  The failure of the international community to hold Israel accountable had failed the victims.  Israel was silencing the voices that had called for justice, and thus obstructed the freedom of expression.  Corporations operating unlawfully in the occupied territories also had to be held accountable. 
 
Documentation
 
The Council has before it National Institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights - Report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/33/33).
 
The Council has before it Activities of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions in accrediting national institutions in compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles) - Report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/33/34).
 
The Council has before it an addendum to Activities of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions in accrediting national institutions in compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles) - Report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/33/34/Add.1).
 
General Debate on Follow-Up to and Implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
 
Slovakia, speaking on behalf of the European Union, fully endorsed the emphasis of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action on the indispensable role of civil society, non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders, journalists, and national human rights institutions, to remind States of their obligations, and to highlight human rights violations.  Civil society reflected the plurality of voices that was the bedrock of any open and democratic society, and States had the responsibility to ensure that those who spoke up for human rights were protected.
 
Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said that all rights must be treated on an equal footing and that the right to self-determination was a part and parcel of human rights.  The success of the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action lay in the cooperation and the respect for national and regional particularities, and cultural and societal differences.  The Organization of Islamic Cooperation was concerned about the silence of societies in the face of increasing bigotry and cross-border associations of demagogues and populists.
 
Finland, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, said that eliminating all forms of discrimination against women was fundamental to ensuring equality in the enjoyment of all human rights.  The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was an important tool for furthering women’s rights.  The need for a holistic approach to equality was highlighted.  Women’s economic, social and cultural rights needed to be taken fully into account throughout the Council’s efforts aimed at promoting equality.
 
Japan, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, said that the rule of law was at the heart of the United Nations, along with democracy, good governance, human rights, and fundamental freedoms.  Transparent, fair, effective and humane justice systems, enforcement structures and an independent judiciary were all essential for the rule of law.  The Human Rights Council could play an important role in strengthening the rules-based international system and assist in promoting the rule of law at all levels.
 
Sudan, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, spoke about the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights.  The affected countries rejected the imposition of laws and regulations with extraterritorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures, including unilateral sanctions against all countries, and called for their elimination.  The establishment of a sanctions registry was called for.
 
South Africa, speaking on behalf of the African Group, said that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action was the most comprehensive instrument which adopted the basic principles of human rights and underlined the universality, indivisibility and interrelatedness of all human rights.  The Declaration had highlighted the rights of women, children, the right to development, and many other rights.  But its achievements were still largely on paper and not in reality, due to politicization and lack of good faith.
 
Russian Federation, speaking on behalf of a Like-Minded Group, stated that sport was a universal language of communication between peoples, cultures and civilizations.  It could contribute to peace and development, as well as to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding.  All Member States had to strongly support the role of the International Olympic Committee, in accordance with the Olympic Charter, in opposition to any political or commercial exploitation of athletes and abuse in sport.
 
Maldives said that promoting and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups had been among the most important objectives of Maldives’ human rights policy.  The recent Gender Equality Act was a hallmark achievement that had cemented the national standards on gender equality and confirmed that its policies and legal frameworks were consistent with human rights instruments.  Civic education in schools had been adopted to create and enable mutual respect and tolerance. 
 
Cuba attached great importance to the internationally recognized principles of universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interconnectedness of all human rights.  Reality was still very far from achieving the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, on the same footing with civil and political rights.  Contrary to some theories, economic, social and cultural rights had been easier to quantify. 
 
Venezuela stated that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action had marked the beginning of a renewed effort to implement human rights instruments in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  It reaffirmed the right of States to choose their political, economic, social and cultural system as an essential condition for peaceful coexistence among nations and for the consolidation of peace.  The imposition of unilateral coercive measures against the countries of the South was illegal and a flagrant breach of universal principles of international law.
 
Slovenia expressed concern about the ongoing limitations on civil society space and the reported cases of reprisals.  The right of civil society organizations to seek funding as part of freedom of association needed to be safeguarded.  Slovenia opposed the death penalty and welcomed the international acknowledgement for a need for a universal ban on it.  The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action remained an important basis for addressing the challenges faced by the international community.
 
Netherlands expressed concern about the increasing polarization of the Human Rights Council.  The world was plagued by dreadful conflicts and humanitarian crises, and States seemed unable to protect the human rights of their own populations.  States had to exercise their responsibility in accordance with the principle of universality.  In human rights there could be no “picking and choosing,” no prioritizing certain rights and ignoring others. 
 
China said that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action had a special section on the rights of persons with disabilities.  The Chinese Government had made efforts toward protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.  Measures included permanent insurance and pension schemes, and nursing care.  China called for enhanced international cooperation on the rights of persons with disabilities, to achieve greater results and give every person with disabilities the chance to live a harmonious life.
 
Viet Nam said that dialogue and cooperation were essential in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.   International and regional cooperation had been one of the key factors in Viet Nam’s achievement in lifting millions of people out of poverty, bringing the fruits of development to all people and building an enabling environment for peace, security, and sustainable development.  The Council and the United Nations were urged to further promote international cooperation on human rights. 
 
Montenegro remained worried that although the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action ensured fundamental rights to all, individuals and groups continued to renounce the freedom of one another.  As women and girls were particularly vulnerable in that sense, Montenegro fully endorsed better depicting of gender perspective into the Council’s work.  As stated in the Vienna Declaration, the integration and full participation of women was an important step toward women being recognized as both agents and beneficiaries in the development process.
 
Israel recalled that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were still victims of violence and discrimination in many parts of the world.  Israel drew attention to the institutionalized approach existent in many countries represented in the Council that denied gender diversity, including many Middle Eastern countries.  States had to realize that fighting discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons did not imply creating new rights, but guaranteeing the same rights to all people equally.
 
Pakistan stated that the denial of the right to self-determination was a human rights violation, reminding that the people of the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir had been denied that right.  The repression and brutality they faced was constant.  Millions of people were denied access to basic necessities.  The situation there was not about terrorism, but it was a question of the denied right to self-determination. 
 
Australia recognized the important role of national human rights institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights domestically, regionally and internationally, which was why Australia supported their participation in the United Nations human rights system.  Their contributions should be considered further, in particular in the work of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
 
Libya thanked the Secretary-General for his report which said that all States must formalize transparency in the appointment of national human rights institutions, and that these institutions must be allowed to cooperate with all Government agencies in order to mainstream human rights.  Concerning legislation, Libya had set up a national council for human rights in 2011 to carry out its responsibilities, such as issuing reports.  This human rights institution had faced many challenges.  Libya called on all competent bodies to investigate all cases of reprisals against members of national human rights institutions.
Greece said that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action was of utmost important as it enhanced the respect and protection of human rights.  The principle of non-discrimination was at the core of the Declaration, comprising the prohibition of any form of discrimination.  Particular importance was attached to the fight against all kinds of discrimination, including that based on sexual orientation and gender identity. 
 
Spain said that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action was a key element in the promotion and protection of human rights.  Cultural and social relativism in that area was rejected.  It was in that context that the conclusions of the annual debate on the inclusion of the gender perspective were the most relevant.  The work of the Human Rights Council would be limited were it not for national human rights institutions. 
 
Iceland expressed gratitude for the leadership role played by the group of Latin American States in making the case for a dedicated mechanism related to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  The Human Rights Council had to play its part in accordance with its mandate, to promote universal respect for the protection of all human rights; all States were urged to cooperate with and support the new mandate.
 
Iran underlined the importance of the principles of non-selectivity and universality in the promotion of human rights.  It called on States to refrain from any unilateral coercive measures that impeded the right to development and the right of everyone to a decent standard of living.  The multiple challenges of today called for international cooperation, but enhancement of that cooperation needed to take into account countries’ cultural and religious particularities and diversities. 
 
Nicaragua reminded that the Vienna Declaration had reaffirmed to all countries the right to freely determine their political choices and to freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.  In that respect, Nicaragua expressed solidarity with Venezuela and condemned attempts to provoke a coup in that country and interference on the pretext of defence of human rights. 
 
United Nations Development Programme said that it had supported national human rights institutions in over 30 countries globally, in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.  It also supported regional and international initiatives in that area.  National human rights institutions that complied with the Paris Principles had an obligation to promote human rights in line with international standards. 
 
United States was concerned about the actions of Nicaragua to limit democratic space in the context of upcoming elections.  It supported Nicaraguan civil society’s efforts.  It was worried about the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, and remained concerned about the actions of Hungary to limit the activity of the media and independent observers. 
 
Hungary said that reinforcement of the rule of law was crucial to realize and promote human rights.  Non-discrimination was guaranteed in Hungary, which was taking comprehensive measures against discrimination and segregation.  Maintaining democratic space was crucial for the Government.  As for the protection of human rights on the ground, a policy of zero tolerance had been established for hate speech against certain groups.  Human rights were universal, indivisible and interdependent.
 
Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions said that strong and effective national human rights institutions played an important role in bridging the gap between international and national human rights protection systems.  All Member States were urged to step up their support to the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights in delivering the mandate to implement human rights.
 
Action Canada, said that for centuries, women’s bodies had been subjected to female genital mutilation, rape, forced child marriage and forced childbirth, but those practices had never been deemed acts of terrorism.  It was urgent that the international community actively fostered a vibrant civil society and increased all people’s ability to exercise their human rights. 
 
Association des étudiants tamouls de France said that there had been a genocidal war against Tamils, and Sri Lankan security forces still occupied Tamil homelands.  This land should have been released for resettlement, but some land had not been released.  A press release had stated that not an inch of the area of the land occupied by the army would be released.  There was now a military rule parallel to civilian rule.  In some districts, land belonging to civilians was occupied.  
 
British Humanist Association, expressed great concern that a number of States were not living up to their obligations under the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, including the right to freedom of religion or belief.  In Egypt religions other than Islam were not recognized.  The organizations also called attention to the sentencing of men to imprisonment for homosexual activity in Tunisia. 
 
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development noted that in the Republic of Korea not a single commissioner had been appointed in compliance with the act on accreditation of national human rights institutions.  The flawed appointment and selection process, as well as inadequate resources constituted a common problem for a significant number of national human rights institutions in the region, such as in Thailand, Malaysia and Maldives, which were also flawed.
 
International Humanist and Ethical Union, stated that religious intolerance and systematic persecution against freethinkers and non-believers continued in Egypt, Jordan and Morocco.  A State had no right to be concerned about what people believed or thought.  Rather, it was their obligation to guarantee the right to think and express one’s opinion.
 
Liberation drew attention to the lack of proactive actions taken by the national human rights institution in India to promote and protect human rights.  The national human rights institution of India had not taken adequate steps to guarantee the rights of bonded labourers as mandated by the Supreme Court.  As for castes, Liberation called for ensuring their basic rights and it urged the Government of India to effectively tackle discrimination. 
 
Alliance Defending Freedom expressed grave concern with respect to the appointment of an Independent Expert on the topic of so-called sexual orientation and gender identity.  This Special Procedure went beyond the mandate of the Human Rights Council and the United Nations as a whole.  States had a duty not to abridge the human rights of men and women to marry and establish a family.  The Council had to refrain from attempting to mask sectional political agendas as matters of international human rights.  
 
American Association of Jurists reviewed actions of the General Assembly regarding the rhetoric and policy of the Moroccan authorities concerning Western Sahara, which was in contradiction of international law and many resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.  The Human Rights Council was called on to seize itself of the human rights situation in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara. 
 
Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy said that there were gross abuses of human rights and violence against women in certain States.  The people who had suffered the most were the Sikhs, and there had been persecution, torture, summary executions, massacres, and pogroms of Sikh females in particular.  An appeal was issued to the Council to send a high profile team of investigators to find out the extent of violations against women and the gross abuses of their human rights. 
 
Indigenous People of Africa Coordinating Committee said that India had still not implemented the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations following his visit to Manipur concerning sexual violence by the Indian army under the rule of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.  There were 1,200 widows whose husbands had been killed by the Indian army, and women raped, who had not yet received justice and compensation.
 
Federación de Asociaciones de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos said that the right to self-determination was at the top of the system of international law.  It enjoyed supremacy over other rights, and came before all treaties.  The problem was that this right had been removed from the debates in the Council and the right created to protect and monitor human rights had thrown out the most vulnerable populations.  The Council was now the defender of exclusivity of rights.
 
Organisation pour la Communication en Afrique et de Promotion de la Coopération Economique Internationale said that women had the right to a life in dignity and without discrimination, and expressed concern about the situation of women and children in Tindouf camp.  Women in the camp were tortured physically and psychologically, and were subjected  to forced labour by Polisario.  The Council should pay attention to this dramatic situation.
 
Asian-Eurasian Human Rights Forum warned of the brainwashing of vulnerable people on the basis of supremacist, xenophobic, intolerant, exclusivist, totalitarian Jihadi theology, which was a blatant misuse of Islam that believed in peace, pluralism, co-existence and good neighbourliness.  Jihadists needed to rethink some basic tenets of their theology.  Jihadists misused the war-time verses of the Quran.
 
Action internationale pour la paix et le développement dans la région des Grands Lacs condemned sexual slavery of women and all forms of slavery.  Regrettably, there were many situations in the world where women were not even officially registered, such as in the Tindouf camps.  Communication with them could never be open and frank.  There were women who were considered as sexual objects or were used to produce children.
 
International Fellowship of Reconciliation drew attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Western Sahara due to the actions of the Government of Morocco.  No mission report had been made public.  Morocco was still systematically violating the human rights of the people of Western Sahara, and it was defying the international community by failing to allow a referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara. 
 
Association Dunenyo drew attention to the gap between the political will of Morocco and the actual situation on the ground with regard to the adoption of the national development plan.  In keeping with the right to self-determination, the people of southern Morocco had the right to work and education, and Morocco had a budget 700 billion dirham for the development of the area; this was removed from the realities of the conflict with Polisario, and the youth in Tindouf should be informed of this.
 
Association Bharathi Centre Culturel Franco-Tamoul said that the denial of the right to self-determination was a violation of human rights and that in May 2009 the Sri Lankan military had launched a genocidal war on the Tamils, killing more than 160,000 in only six months.  The non-governmental organization objected to the relationship of States with the occupying power.  The Council should hold a panel discussion on the realization of the right to self-determination.
 
World Barua Organization said that gender-based violence was incompatible with dignity and humanity, and it was thus recognized in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.  In Uttar Pradesh, there had been cases of sexual violence and gang rape of scheduled caste women, and the Council should ask India to strictly observe international humanitarian law and minimum standards for the protection of women.
 
Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association said that the Human Rights Council was not fully respected by some Member States, and some continued to get away with violations, despite the whole world being aware of their human rights situations.  In Tripura, women and girls did not feel safe and the Human Rights Council was urged to help victims in north east India.
 
International Service for Human Rights, in a joint statement with Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS) Asociación Civil; East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project; and Conectas Direitos Humanos, condemned the increased attacks aimed at deterring non-governmental organizations from exposing human rights violations.  A case in Egypt where bank accounts of human rights defenders had been frozen was detailed.  The judiciary had been used as a tool in the ongoing crackdown on civil society.  The Council was urged to pay attention to the case. 
 
Tourner la Page spoke about the Sri Lankan military forces and said that the situation of human rights was deplorable.  Referring to the particular situation of people under colonial or foreign occupation, and considering the denial of self-determination as a violation of human rights, the Sri Lankan Government was urged to allow the Eelam people to exercise their right to self-determination. 
 
Conseil international pour le soutien à des procès équitables et aux droits de l’homme expressed deep concern over the rapid deterioration of human rights in the Gulf countries, especially in Saudi Arabia, which had witnessed an escalation of executions.  In the last wave of executions in January 2016, the authorities had executed religious leaders and peace activists. 
 
Alsalam Foundation, strongly condemned the Egyptian authorities’ failure to uphold the protection of health professionals as guaranteed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.  In August 2013 Egyptian security forces had arrested Dr. Ibrahim El-Yamani who was still detained without trial.  The organizations called on the Egyptian Government to release all arbitrarily detained doctors.
 
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain drew attention to the violation of freedom of expression in Oman, namely the arrests of editor-in-chief of the Azaman Newspaper, Ibrahim Al Maamri, and of journalists Zaher Al Abri and Yusuf Al Haj after having published an article criticizing the country’s judiciary.  Many provisions of the Royal Decree Press and Publications Law were incompatible with freedom of expression.  It called on Oman to release all arbitrarily detained activists.
 
Iraqi Development Organization raised concern about the failure to protect health professionals and said that in Syria, 700 health workers had been murdered, 90 per cent of whom had been killed by Government forces and their allies in the past five years.  Around 148 health workers had been tortured to death in government prisons.  The systematic attacks on health facilities by the Syrian Government were well documented: for the past two months, a medical facility had been attacked every 17 hours.
 
Conseil de jeunesse pluriculturelle said that new forms of racial discrimination had been emerging recently and asked about the position of the Council on statements by some European Union States concerning refugees, including those that called for refugees to be thrown back into the sea.  This instigated hatred against these refugees, who needed international protection.  The organization also voiced concern about the rights of refugees in Palestine and Syria who were suffering from racial discrimination. 
 
Prahar spoke of many reports of rape of more than 200 women by persons with close links with the Indian army in Manipur.  Prahar feared that justice would not be delivered to victims who were citizens of the largest democracy in the world.  Women were not safe and did not feel insecure in their own land.   
 
Indian Council of South America said that the Council had shown its capacity to have an impact, and a report on drugs and human rights had been a very important document.  Indigenous people used psychotropic substances as part of their history and culture.  Indigenous people’s rights were indivisible and inalienable in that regard.
 
World Muslim Congress said that in Indian-occupied Kashmir, 96 people had been killed and more than 13,000 had been injured by Indian military and paramilitary forces.  Nocturnal police raids to arrest protesters had become routine.  It was high time for the international community to hold India accountable for its crimes in Kashmir and help the people to exercise their right to self-determination.
 
Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture said that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action had been adopted to promote and protect human rights.  The Declaration enshrined the need to cooperate at the international level.  Saudi Arabia violated human rights but wanted its membership to the Council to be renewed.  Bahrain also violated human rights.  Sanctions were required, as both countries did not comply with United Nations instruments. 
 
International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations noted that India, which called itself the largest democracy in the world, was not only guilty of enforced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings, but of choking space for civil society and human rights defenders.  It urged Member States to break the silence and make India accountable for its poor human rights record.
 
Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme noted that the right to participate in political life was a fundamental human right that was violated in many countries.  Unfortunately, free expression of citizens was often hampered during elections, such as in the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Many Council Member States violated women’s right to participate in elections.
 
International-Lawyers.org, said that all the human rights instruments and mechanisms established by the international community were shamelessly violated by their very creators.  Super powers had been pursuing their own interests around the world at whatever cost that might have.  The current chaos in the Middle East showcased the total disregard of the international community for life. 
 
Arab Commission for Human Rights said that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action reaffirmed the right to self-determination to people living under colonial rule and that a quarter of a century later, Palestine was still a subject of Israeli occupation.  Israel continued to deny the Palestinians’ right to self-determination; it refused to implement the recommendations of the Council and refused access to Special Procedures.  Until when would the occupying power enjoy impunity for those violations? 
 
United Nations Watch said he was a member of Australia’s parliament and he supported Australia’s bid for candidacy to membership to the Council.  Australia had a historic connection with the United Nations system.  The right to life was being violated and the most glaring example of this was the recent massacre and murder of hundreds of civilians in Aleppo, Syria.  When it had happened, the Council should have convened a debate on this issue; it must not remain silent, and must not guarantee impunity to Syria and Iran, just because Russia was a member of the Council.
 
Association for the Protection of Women and Children’s Rights drew attention to the vulnerability of women and children in Indian-occupied Kashmir, who were subjected to inhuman and degrading practices and were used as political weapons to demobilize the Kashmiris.  India organized attacks on human rights defenders to silence their voices and prevent them from documenting instances of repression.  The Council should send a fact-finding mission to Indian-occupied Kashmir to assess the human rights situation there.
 
Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik said that the Iranian Islamic Human Rights Commission was not accredited with status A or B.  There was still no trace of any change, despite the fact that Iran possessed the resources to do so.  Women in Iran were forced to wear hijab against their will.  No States had protested the ban on women’s cycling which had been issued last week.  Iran tried to sell its massive human rights violations of women as cultural diversity.
 
Association Solidarité Internationale pour l’Afrique said that all people had the right to self-determination, taking into account the situation of people under alien domination.  In May 2009, there had been a genocidal war against Tamils.  There had been an uprising declared.  A new constitution had failed to take into account the aspirations of the Tamil people. 
 
World Environment and Resources Council said that human rights were constantly violated in the Islamic fundamentalist States, adding that ISIS had banned girls from attending school.  ISIS terror had gripped Pakistan as well.  Pakistan, citing Gilgit Baltistan’s status as disputed with India, denied the region a constitutional framework and legislative autonomy, which resulted in lack of the rule of law, accountability and judicial recourse governing women’s rights.  
 
Commission to Study the Organization of Peace said that there was more need to improve the human rights situation in Pakistan, adding that it was no wonder that Pakistan had lost its candidacy for the membership of the Council.  Pakistan severely limited freedom of expression, association and assembly, and also the right to due process.  Women in Pakistan usually married young and spent their lives in the family, without formal employment.
 
International Association for Democracy in Africa said that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action solidified the rights of women and girls as undeniable and said that in Pakistan the literacy rate for women was among the lowest in the world.  Domestic violence took place in about 80 per cent of Pakistani households.  The escalation of sons over daughters was one of the key causes of gender inequality in the society.
 
Pan African Union for Science and Technology said that more women in Pakistan were demanding gender equality, adding that the legislation on the matter still had to be approved.  Parents often felt that girls were a burden, and more needed to be done to fight for gender equality, including to address the hudud laws, allow girls to participate in sports, and provide women with opportunities.
 
African Regional Agricultural Credit Association said that Balochistan was a patriarchal society where women faced discrimination and violence, including honour killings.  Women did not have equal address to education, and in recent years, in the wake of attacks on schools by fundamentalists, girls school drop-out rates had increased, and some were reportedly as high as 70 per cent.  The Council should take note of gender inequality in Pakistan.
 
United Schools International said that Pakistan had emerged as the world’s second worst country when it came to women’s rights.  Levels of discrimination and sexual violence were high.  Sindh, a province of Pakistan, was one part of the world where women were systematically disadvantaged.  It was normal for men to prohibit strangers from speaking to their sisters and wives.  Men controlled the female body.
 
European Union of Public Relations said that gender reflected the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that were considered apt for men and women in any society.  There were two fundamental perceptions that established gender relations in Pakistan, that women were inferior to men, and that a man’s honour was determined by the actions of the women of his family. 
 
Canners International Permanent Committee said that the position of women in Islamic countries was especially deplorable due to the systematic suppression of women’s rights arising from religious fundamentalism.  In Pakistan, household resources were allocated to sons as they were considered to be the breadwinners for the entire family.  The Government of Pakistan should work toward improving enrolment rates of women in all levels of education.
 
Centre for Environmental and Management Studies said that the general attitude of society needed to change, otherwise gender roles would remain as they were.  Pakistan showed the least progress.  Militants had blown up a bus in Pakistan carrying female students.  The United Nations was called on to hear the voices of women from Pakistan and ensure that gender equality was established as normal in that part of the world.
 
Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos y Justicia de Genero, in a joint statement with Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS) Asociación Civil; and Conectas Direitos Humanos, said that gender-based violence was a knock-off effect of the war on drugs and called upon the Council to focus its attention on the impact on human rights of women of failed drug fighting policies.  The non-governmental organization would hold a side effect on this topic during the next session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
 
Fundación Latinoamericana por los Derechos Humanos y Desarrollo Social said that the new constitution in Venezuela had created new institutions for human rights and guaranteed rights to the people, including the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples and women.  The Council should support existing mechanisms in Venezuela, to respect the national institutions and the national dialogue, and to respect peace.
 
Right of Reply
 
India, speaking in a right of reply, expressed regret over the misuse of this Council by Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and said that the main source of terrorism there was the support of Pakistan to terrorist groups.  Pakistan had made a solemn commitment in 2004 not to allow the use of its soil for terrorist groups operating against India, and India expected it to bring to justice all those responsible for terrorist attacks against India and its armed forces.  The mistreatment of its minorities and the marginalization of its provinces in the north-east had made Pakistan a true epicentre of terrorism.
 
Nicaragua, speaking in a right of reply, drew attention to the fact that after half a century of dictatorship supported by the United States, the people of Nicaragua now enjoyed democracy, in which they could choose their leaders and representatives.  Among judicial decisions taken by Nicaragua were lawful solutions to an internal conflict in 2005 – plaintiffs had used legal and judicial mechanisms foreseen by the law.  The United States should remember that the people of Nicaragua today exercised their sovereignty and that Nicaragua extended its hand to others in full respect for the right to self-determination.
 
Pakistan, speaking in a right of reply, said India continued to indulge in false, provocative and baseless accusations against Pakistan regarding the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.  They called people who fought for their freedom terrorists.  The Indian occupying forces did not exercise restraint in Jammu and Kashmir.  On the contrary, they continued to conduct State-sponsored terrorism.  Mendacity should not distract attention from what needed to be done in Jammu and Kashmir.

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