Protection of Human Rights
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Chapter II Protection of human rights In 2013, the United Nations remained engaged in highlighted the right to development, and special rap- protecting human rights through its main organs— porteurs advocated for the rights to food, safe water the General Assembly, the Security Council and the and sanitation, health, adequate housing, education Economic and Social Council—and the Human and a life free from poverty. Rights Council, which carried out its task as the In December, the General Assembly proclaimed central UN intergovernmental body responsible for 2 November as the International Day to End Impu- promoting and protecting human rights and funda- nity for Crimes against Journalists. mental freedoms worldwide. The Council addressed violations, worked to prevent abuses, provided overall policy guidance, monitored the observance of human rights around the world and assisted States in fulfil- Special procedures ling their human rights obligations. The special procedures mandate holders—special Report of High Commissioner. In her annual rapporteurs, independent experts, working groups report to the Human Rights Council [A/HRC/25/19], and representatives of the Secretary-General—moni- the United Nations High Commissioner for Human tored, examined, advised and publicly reported on Rights, Navanethem Pillay (South Africa), noted that human rights situations in specific countries or on the special procedures had continued their efforts to major human rights violations worldwide. At the end give a voice to victims and to ensure that civil society of 2013, there were 51 special procedures (37 thematic concerns were heard within the United Nations and mandates and 14 country- or territory-related man- by the broader public. From January to November, dates) with 73 mandate holders. special procedures mandate holders conducted 75 country visits and issued 497 communications to 115 In 2013, special procedures submitted 168 re- States. Some 94 States issued standing invitations for ports to the Human Rights Council, including 69 special procedures to visits. The Council established a on country visits, and 36 reports to the General As- new thematic mandate: an independent expert on the sembly. They sent 528 communications to 117 States; rights of older persons, and two new country man- 84 per cent of those communications were sent jointly dates to address the situation of human rights in the by more than one mandate. Communications cov- Central African Republic and in Mali. In all there ered at least 1,520 individuals, 18 per cent of whom were 51 special procedures mandates (37 thematic were women. Governments replied to 45 per cent of and 14 country-related). communications, and 23 per cent of communications were followed up by mandate holders. Special proce- Report of Secretary-General. In response to a dures issued 379 news releases and public statements Human Rights Council decision [YUN 2006, p. 760], on situations of concern, including 50 statements is- the Secretary-General in December submitted a re- sued jointly by two or more mandate holders. port [A/HRC/25/20] indicating that the special proce- dures’ conclusions and recommendations contained Special procedures conducted 79 country visits to in their 2013 reports to the Council’s twenty-second, 66 States. The number of countries that had extended twenty-third and twenty-fourth sessions were availa- a standing invitation to special procedures rose to 108 ble on the website of the Office of the United Nations as at 31 December. High Commissioner for Human Rights (ohchr). Human rights were also protected through the net- Reports of special procedures. In accordance work of human rights defenders in individual coun- with the decisions made by special procedures mandate tries, operating within the framework of the 1998 Dec- holders at their sixteenth [YUN 2009, p. 645] and seven- laration on Human Rights Defenders. In promotion of teenth [YUN 2010, p. 656] annual meetings, mandate the Declaration, the Assembly adopted a resolution on holders issued joint communications reports on 20 Feb- protecting women human rights defenders. ruary [A/HRC/22/67 & Corr.1, 2], 22 May [A/HRC/23/51] The Council in 2013 established one thematic and 22 August [A/HRC/24/21] containing summaries of mandate: the Independent Expert on the enjoyment communications and statistical information. The re- of all human rights by older persons. ports covered all urgent appeals, letters of allegations Economic, social and cultural rights continued to and other letters sent by mandate holders from 1 June be a major focus of activity. The General Assembly 2012 to 31 May 2013 and replies received between 627 628 Part Two: Human rights 1 August 2012 and 31 July 2013, including replies re- against people of African descent prevailed. It recom- lating to communications sent prior to 1 June 2012. mended enacting comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, adopting measures to end the structural discrimination affecting people of African descent Civil and political rights and ensuring that the benefits of development and economic growth were shared evenly and fairly. Racism and racial discrimination Panama in September submitted its comments [A/HRC/24/52/Add.4] on that report. Follow-up to 2001 World Conference Following a visit to Brazil (4–14 December) [A/HRC/27/68/Add.1], the Working Group noted positive During the year, efforts continued to implement developments and implementation gaps that needed the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to be addressed. The Working Group recommended (ddpa) adopted by the 2001 World Conference against strengthening policies and institutions for racial equal- Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Re- ity at the State and municipal level, fully implementing lated Intolerance [YUN 2001, p. 615]. the law criminalizing racism, and ensuring that Afro- Intergovernmental Working Group. The Inter- Brazilian university students were able to complete governmental Working Group on the Effective Imple- their studies without facing obstacles of extra financial mentation of the ddpa, established in 2002 [YUN 2002, burdens, discriminatory attitudes and lack of support. p. 661], held its eleventh session (Geneva, 7–18 October) The United Kingdom in August submitted its com- [A/HRC/25/75], which included a special event on rac- ism and football and thematic discussions on women ments [A/HRC/24/52/Add.3] on the Working Group’s re- and racism: good practices and experiences on the port on its mission to the country [YUN 2012, p. 628]. evaluation and monitoring of the situation of women; In response to Assembly resolution 67/155 national monitoring initiatives in the fight against rac- [YUN 2012, p. 629], the Secretary-General in October ism and related intolerance; and equal participation in [A/68/564] reported on global efforts for the total elimi- the decision-making process related to the fight against nation of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia racism. It adopted conclusions and recommendations and related intolerance and the comprehensive imple- on those four themes. mentation of and follow-up to the ddpa. The report A secretariat note [A/HRC/25/68] informed the Hu- summarized contributions on the topic received from man Rights Council that the Working Group’s elev- 23 countries, two UN entities, two regional organiza- enth session would be resumed in October 2014. tions and one civil society organization. It provided an Working Group on people of African descent. update on activities undertaken by UN bodies since the submission of the latest report [YUN 2012, p. 628]. It At its twelfth session (Geneva, 22–26 April) concluded that some progress had been made in com- [A/HRC/24/52], the Working Group of Experts on Peo- bating racism and related phenomena, yet stronger ple of African Descent, established in 2002 [YUN 2002, political will and urgent measures were needed to p. 661], focused on the theme of “Recognition through reverse the increasingly hostile racist and xenophobic Education, Cultural Rights and Data Collection”. It attitudes and violence. States were encouraged to de- urged the General Assembly to launch the Interna- velop and implement national action plans to combat tional Decade for People of African Descent in 2013 racial discrimination and related intolerance. and to consider the draft Programme of Action for the Decade it had elaborated [YUN 2012, p. 628]. In De- The General Assembly took note of that report on cember, the Assembly proclaimed the International 18 December (decision 68/534). Decade for People of African Descent, 2015–2024 (see Human Rights Council action. On 22 March p. 625). The Working Group urged States to develop [A/68/53 (res. 22/30)], by a recorded vote of 34 to 1, with curricula and teaching materials which respected and 12 abstentions, the Council underlined that the ddpa recognized the history of people of African descent, remained a solid basis and the only instructive out- including the transatlantic slave trade; promote and come of the World Conference; and extended the protect the culture, identity and heritage of Africa mandate of the Intergovernmental Working Group on and people of African descent; and adopt legislation the Effective Implementation of theddpa for a three- against racial discrimination. It also called for the es- year period. tablishment of a permanent forum on people of Afri- On the same date [res. 22/34], by a recorded vote of can descent at the United Nations. 46 to 0, with 1 abstention, the Council