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UN human rights chief highlights plight of civilians caught up in conflicts
UN human rights chief highlights plight of civilians caught up in conflicts
GENEVA – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Thursday that the condition of civilians in armed conflicts was a matter of “grave alarm,” and urged the Human Rights Council to do its utmost to protect civilians caught up in fighting around the world.
Pillay, who was delivering a keynote address to the Geneva-based Council, cited nine countries where ongoing conflicts were continuing to impact seriously on civilians, and two countries where post-conflict situations “warrant close scrutiny.”
In Afghanistan, she noted that anti-government elements are responsible for the majority of civilian casualties. However, pro-government forces were also responsible for civilian deaths, particularly as a result of air-strikes such as the 4 May bombing of a village in Farah Province which killed dozens of civilians. Pillay urged states involved in the conflict in Afghanistan to ensure independent investigations of incidents causing casualties, and to provide justice and remedies for the victims.
She also voiced concerns about neighbouring Pakistan, where 2.5 million people have fled their homes as the country’s armed forces attempt to take back control of territory seized by the Taliban, noting that civilians have also been targeted and killed in insurgent attacks, including the recent spate of bombings in major cities.
Although Iraq has experienced a marked decrease in violent deaths compared to 2006 and 2007, Pillay said the situation there remained “precarious,” with 6,700 people killed and more than 20,000 injured during 2008, and the population “exposed to daily risks such as suicide attacks, abductions and other criminal activities.”
She urged full cooperation with the Independent Fact-Finding Mission, headed by Justice Richard Goldstone, into the recent conflict in Gaza, where, she said, “there are credible indications that grave breaches of international humanitarian law and human rights violations may have been committed by all parties.”
Pillay expressed continuing concern about the unresolved 40-year-old conflict in Colombia, and in particular its impact on Indigenous and Afro-Colombian groups, and on women, whom she said were being targeted for sexual violence “as a war tactic.”
In Africa, the High Commissioner noted four internal conflicts that were exacting a heavy toll among civilians, saying that impunity was a major contributing factor in the conflicts in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and eastern Chad.
“Countering impunity of perpetrators for their past and current atrocities must be a priority in order to achieve justice and deter further violations,” she said, adding that, in the case of the DRC in particular, “this lack of justice perpetuates violence, including horrific levels of sexual attacks.” She noted that women have also been subjected to sexual violence in Chad, and are “particularly at risk” in the conflict that is currently raging in Somalia, where many civilians have been killed and injured and thousands have been displaced by recent fighting, especially in Mogadishu.
Chad had experienced “widespread violations and abuses by both State and non-State actors,” she said, including “arbitrary killings, attacks on humanitarian workers, arbitrary arrests and detention, and the recruitment and use of child soldiers.”
The High Commissioner listed a range of similar abuses in Sudan including “ill-treatment and torture targeting human rights defenders, humanitarian workers, and UN national staff.” She said it appears that a number of recent executions “did not comply with international standards of fair trial,” and noted continuing attacks against civilians “by all parties” to the conflict in Darfur.
Turning to countries in a post-conflict transitional phase, the High Commissioner said that in Sri Lanka “a comprehensive process of accountability for human rights violations committed by all sides should be carried out,” and repeated her call for an independent international inquiry. She welcomed Tuesday’s statement by Sri Lanka to the Human Rights Council that it is committed to a reconciliation scheme. She stressed, however, that accountability is “a prerequisite for the attainment of justice and reconciliation … and, thus, a foundation for lasting peace.”
Recent political developments in Nepal are creating new challenges to the peace process that need to be addressed, Pillay said, adding that she was keen for her staff to continue to play a helpful role by monitoring and reporting on human rights conditions, as well as supporting the Nepalese Government, national institutions, and civil society in their efforts to protect human rights.
The High Commissioner welcomed the successful conclusion of April’s Durban Review Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and urged the few states that decided not to take part to reconsider their position based on the “merit and substance” of the conference outcome document. She said she was “hopeful that they will rejoin international efforts to combat racism and intolerance as laid out in this important document. Indeed, it is my understanding that some are already reconsidering their earlier stance.”
Pillay drew particular attention to the human rights of migrants, one of the groups most vulnerable to discrimination, racism and xenophobia.
She noted a range of measures impacting on the human rights of migrants in transit or in their host countries, and stated that “Policies against irregular migration that focus on border control, return, and at times criminalisation, have not only been ineffective but in some cases have posed further threats to the rights of those involved.”
The High Commissioner warned that “the current economic crisis has the potential of exacerbating or igniting discrimination and xenophobia, as well as severely curtailing the welfare of migrants and their families,” adding that she was particularly concerned by the effects of recession on the rights of all people, especially the most vulnerable.
The full text of Navi Pillay’s address to the 11th Session of the Human Rights Council can be found at www.ohchr.org
GENEVA – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Thursday that the condition of civilians in armed conflicts was a matter of “grave alarm,” and urged the Human Rights Council to do its utmost to protect civilians caught up in fighting around the world.
Pillay, who was delivering a keynote address to the Geneva-based Council, cited nine countries where ongoing conflicts were continuing to impact seriously on civilians, and two countries where post-conflict situations “warrant close scrutiny.”
In Afghanistan, she noted that anti-government elements are responsible for the majority of civilian casualties. However, pro-government forces were also responsible for civilian deaths, particularly as a result of air-strikes such as the 4 May bombing of a village in Farah Province which killed dozens of civilians. Pillay urged states involved in the conflict in Afghanistan to ensure independent investigations of incidents causing casualties, and to provide justice and remedies for the victims.
She also voiced concerns about neighbouring Pakistan, where 2.5 million people have fled their homes as the country’s armed forces attempt to take back control of territory seized by the Taliban, noting that civilians have also been targeted and killed in insurgent attacks, including the recent spate of bombings in major cities.
Although Iraq has experienced a marked decrease in violent deaths compared to 2006 and 2007, Pillay said the situation there remained “precarious,” with 6,700 people killed and more than 20,000 injured during 2008, and the population “exposed to daily risks such as suicide attacks, abductions and other criminal activities.”
She urged full cooperation with the Independent Fact-Finding Mission, headed by Justice Richard Goldstone, into the recent conflict in Gaza, where, she said, “there are credible indications that grave breaches of international humanitarian law and human rights violations may have been committed by all parties.”
Pillay expressed continuing concern about the unresolved 40-year-old conflict in Colombia, and in particular its impact on Indigenous and Afro-Colombian groups, and on women, whom she said were being targeted for sexual violence “as a war tactic.”
In Africa, the High Commissioner noted four internal conflicts that were exacting a heavy toll among civilians, saying that impunity was a major contributing factor in the conflicts in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and eastern Chad.
“Countering impunity of perpetrators for their past and current atrocities must be a priority in order to achieve justice and deter further violations,” she said, adding that, in the case of the DRC in particular, “this lack of justice perpetuates violence, including horrific levels of sexual attacks.” She noted that women have also been subjected to sexual violence in Chad, and are “particularly at risk” in the conflict that is currently raging in Somalia, where many civilians have been killed and injured and thousands have been displaced by recent fighting, especially in Mogadishu.
Chad had experienced “widespread violations and abuses by both State and non-State actors,” she said, including “arbitrary killings, attacks on humanitarian workers, arbitrary arrests and detention, and the recruitment and use of child soldiers.”
The High Commissioner listed a range of similar abuses in Sudan including “ill-treatment and torture targeting human rights defenders, humanitarian workers, and UN national staff.” She said it appears that a number of recent executions “did not comply with international standards of fair trial,” and noted continuing attacks against civilians “by all parties” to the conflict in Darfur.
Turning to countries in a post-conflict transitional phase, the High Commissioner said that in Sri Lanka “a comprehensive process of accountability for human rights violations committed by all sides should be carried out,” and repeated her call for an independent international inquiry. She welcomed Tuesday’s statement by Sri Lanka to the Human Rights Council that it is committed to a reconciliation scheme. She stressed, however, that accountability is “a prerequisite for the attainment of justice and reconciliation … and, thus, a foundation for lasting peace.”
Recent political developments in Nepal are creating new challenges to the peace process that need to be addressed, Pillay said, adding that she was keen for her staff to continue to play a helpful role by monitoring and reporting on human rights conditions, as well as supporting the Nepalese Government, national institutions, and civil society in their efforts to protect human rights.
The High Commissioner welcomed the successful conclusion of April’s Durban Review Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and urged the few states that decided not to take part to reconsider their position based on the “merit and substance” of the conference outcome document. She said she was “hopeful that they will rejoin international efforts to combat racism and intolerance as laid out in this important document. Indeed, it is my understanding that some are already reconsidering their earlier stance.”
Pillay drew particular attention to the human rights of migrants, one of the groups most vulnerable to discrimination, racism and xenophobia.
She noted a range of measures impacting on the human rights of migrants in transit or in their host countries, and stated that “Policies against irregular migration that focus on border control, return, and at times criminalisation, have not only been ineffective but in some cases have posed further threats to the rights of those involved.”
The High Commissioner warned that “the current economic crisis has the potential of exacerbating or igniting discrimination and xenophobia, as well as severely curtailing the welfare of migrants and their families,” adding that she was particularly concerned by the effects of recession on the rights of all people, especially the most vulnerable.
The full text of Navi Pillay’s address to the 11th Session of the Human Rights Council can be found at www.ohchr.org
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