An Exceptional Kind of Courage
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Nepal – Without a Parliament and Laws on Torture and Forced Disappearance, the Office of the OHCHR in Nepal Cannot Fulfil Its Work for Human Rights
December 7, 2005 Ms Louise Arbour High Commissioner for Human Rights OHCHR-UNOG 8-14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 SWITZERLAND Fax: +41 22 917-9012 Open letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to mark International Human Rights Day 2005 Dear Ms. Arbour, Re: Nepal – without a Parliament and laws on torture and forced disappearance, the Office of the OHCHR in Nepal cannot fulfil its work for human rights On the occasion of the December 10, 2005 International Human Rights Day, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to highlight the continuing flagrant abuses being perpetrated in Nepal and request your intervention regarding specific issues. AHRC welcomes the establishment of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal and commends you for your commitment and efforts in brining about this much-needed development. AHRC was involved in efforts to lobby for the establishment of this office and notes with satisfaction that it is now functioning and well staffed. The reported agreement between the CPN-Maoist insurgents and an alliance of seven opposition political parties presents new opportunities for the resolution of the country’s internal conflict through a democratic process. AHRC appreciates the intervention of the High Commissioner in a press release issued on December 1st, 2005, urging the Maoists to extend their unilateral ceasefire (which they have now reportedly done) and respect human rights, and for the Government of King Gyanendra and the security forces to also call a ceasefire and respect the rights to the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. -
European Parliament
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 2004 2009 Session document 21 February 2005 B6-0130/◄2005 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure by Nirj Deva, Charles Tannock, Thomas Mann, Geoffrey Van Orden and Simon Coveney on behalf of the EPP-ED on ◄Nepal PE 356.281 B6-0130/2005 European parliament resolution on Nepal The European Parliament, A. whereas in May 2002 HM King Gyanendra of Nepal dissolved Parliament on the recommendation of the then Prime Minister Deuba, requesting the Prime Minister to hold a general election by November 2002, whereas a European Parliament delegation was nominated to observe the elections scheduled for November 2002, whereas,however, these elections could not be held owing to a lack of security caused by the activities of the self- professed Maoist guerrillas, B. noting that the Prime Minister, whose sole mandate as per the Nepalese Constitution had been to create a stable environment conducive to holding general elections and to bringing the guerrillas into a restricted settlement, asked that his caretaker government's tenure be extended for a further 14 months and that the King was compelled to dismiss him in October 2002 owing to his inability to carry out this mandate, subsequently, according to a provision in Article 127 of the Nepalese Constitution, appointing Prime Minister Chand, later Prime Minister Thapar, and then re-appointing Prime Minister Deuba to fulfil this same mandate, C. noting that the guerrillas had 9 seats in the first Nepalese Parliament after the restoration of the multi-party system in 1990, yet in the second general election in 1994, they failed to secure a single seat in the House of Representatives, D. -
2010 Human Rights Report: Senegal Page 1 of 21
2010 Human Rights Report: Senegal Page 1 of 21 Home » Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs » Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor » Releases » Human Rights Reports » 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices » Africa » Senegal 2010 Human Rights Report: Senegal BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices April 8, 2011 Senegal, with an estimated population of 12.8 million, is a moderately decentralized republic dominated by a strong executive branch. In 2007 Abdoulaye Wade was reelected president in an election generally viewed as free and fair despite sporadic incidents of violence and intimidation. In 2007 the ruling Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) won the majority of seats in National Assembly elections that were boycotted by the leading opposition parties. During the March 2009 local elections (municipal, regional, and rural communities), a multiparty opposition coalition scored significant victories, especially in the country's major cities. International observers characterized the March 2009 elections as generally free and transparent. Security forces reported to civilian authorities. Major human rights problems included the following: inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees and prisoners, including reports of physical abuse and torture; overcrowded prisons; questionable investigative detention and long pretrial detention; lack of an independent judiciary; limits on freedoms of speech, press, and assembly; corruption and impunity; rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment of and discrimination against women; female genital mutilation (FGM); child abuse; child marriage; infanticide; trafficking in persons; and child labor. Rebels associated with the Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance (MFDC) killed civilians and military personnel, committed robberies, fought with the army, and harassed local populations while fighting each other. -
From Transition to Defective Democracy: Mapping Asian Democratization
From Transition to Defective Democracy: Mapping Asian Democratization AUREL CROISSANT This article undertakes a systematic inquiry of democratic development in Asia. It shows two main trends of democratization in south, south-east and north-east Asia. First, in most of the democracies the institutionalization of political rights exists side by side with stagnation or decline of the rule of law and civil liberties. Second, the quality of democracy in the different countries is growing further apart. While new democracies in north-east Asia are on the track to democratic consolidation, democracy in south Asia is on the edge or has already fallen victim to authoritarian renewal. In south-east Asia, democratic consolidation is stagnating. The article also provides for a systematic analysis of why and how defective democracies originate. It argues that not a single primary cause but a set of interconnected variables influences the track of democratic development. While ‘Asian values’, the type of colonial rule and ethnic heterogeneity give only weak support for democracy in Asia, socio-economic development, political institutions, stateness and political party systems are more important determinants. In the last section the article offers a sceptical outlook on the prospects for further liberal democratic development in Asia, arguing that for most young democracies in the region remaining a defective democracy is the most likely prospect in the near future. Key words: Pacific Asia; democratization; defective democracy; consolidation; ethnicity This inquiry undertakes a systematic review of democratic development in Asia. It draws on the concept of defective democracy developed by Wolfgang Merkel and others.1 The analysis will proceed as follows: first, it outlines an empirical map of democratic regimes in Asia. -
TOGOLESE REPUBLIC Work-Liberty-Fatherland 6Th, 7Th and 8Th PERIODIC REPORTS of the STATE of TOGO on the IMPLEMENTATION of the A
TOGOLESE REPUBLIC Work-Liberty-Fatherland 6th, 7th and 8th PERIODIC REPORTS OF THE STATE OF TOGO ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS (Article 62 of the Charter) August 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 14 PART ONE ........................................................................................................................................ 15 OVERALL LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION . .............................. 15 PART TWO ...................................................................................................................................... 17 NATIONAL MEASURES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHARTER . ........................ 17 Articles 2 and 3 : The right to the enjoyment of rights and freedoms recognised and guaranteed by the Charter without distinction of any kind and equality before the law .......................................... 17 Article 4 : The protection of the right to life ..................................................................................... 17 The Death Penalty .............................................................................................................................. 17 Articles 6 : The right to liberty and to the security of the person, prohibition from arrests or arbitrary detentions ......................................................................................................................................... -
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS on the FRONT LINE Debut A5.Qxp 04/04/2005 12:04 Page 2 Debut A5.Qxp 04/04/2005 12:04 Page 3
debut_a5.qxp 04/04/2005 12:04 Page 1 HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS ON THE FRONT LINE debut_a5.qxp 04/04/2005 12:04 Page 2 debut_a5.qxp 04/04/2005 12:04 Page 3 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders / FIDH and OMCT Human Rights Defenders on the Front Line Annual Report 2004 Foreword by Lida Yusupova debut_a5.qxp 04/04/2005 12:04 Page 4 Drafting, editing and co-ordination : Catherine François, Julia Littmann, Juliane Falloux and Antoine Bernard (FIDH) Delphine Reculeau, Mariana Duarte, Anne-Laurence Lacroix and Eric Sottas (OMCT) The Observatory thanks Marjane Satrapi, comic strip author and illustrator of the annual report cover, for her constant and precious support. The Observatory thanks all partner organisations of FIDH and OMCT, as well as the teams of these organisations. Distribution : this report is published in English, Spanish and French versions. The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) authorise the free reproduction of extracts of this text on condition that the source is credited and that a copy of the publication containing the text is sent to the respective International Secretariats. FIDH – International Federation for Human Rights 17, passage de la Main d'Or – 75 011 Paris – France Tel.: + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 – Fax: + 33 (0) 1 43 55 18 80 [email protected] / www.fidh.org OMCT – World Organisation Against Torture 8, rue du Vieux-Billard – Case postale 21 – 1211 Geneva 8 – Switzerland Tel.: + 41 22 809 49 39 – Fax: + 41 22 809 49 29 [email protected] / www.omct.org debut_a5.qxp 04/04/2005 12:04 Page 5 FOREWORD UNITED AGAINST HORROR by Lida Yusupova Human rights defenders in Chechnya have to work in an extremely difficult environment. -
European Union Democracy Promotion in Nepal
From Monarchy to the Republic: European Union Democracy Promotion in Nepal Robot Limbu Dissertation submitted as a partial requirement for the conferral of the degree of Master in international Studies Supervisor: Doctor Luís Nuno Rodrigues, Full Professor ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa Co-Supervisor: Doctor Diogo Bernardo de Penha Lemos, Guest Assistant ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa October, 2020 Resumo O estudo avaliou o papel desempenhado pela União Europeia na facilitação da rápida transição do Nepal de uma monarquia para uma república democrática onde o povo exercia o controle sobre a liderança e governança do país por meio de seus representantes eleitos. O Nepal vinha tentando mudar do poder absoluto centralizado de um reino para o poder distributivo descentralizado do povo por meio de uma democracia por algum tempo, mas falhou na maioria das tentativas, pois a liderança do reino não permitiria a integração de ideologias democráticas na governança do país. O estudo utilizou análises secundárias qualitativas, com um enfoque particular em estudos de caso, para identificar e estabelecer a importância do envolvimento da UE na facilitação da democratização do Nepal. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo indicaram que a União Europeia esteve ativamente envolvida no processo de democratização do Nepal, através do qual prestou assistência humanitária e financeira, além de interferir como membro da comunidade internacional na denúncia das injustiças do governo, especialmente as injustiças de direitos humanos. Os resultados estabeleceram que a UE começou formalmente a apoiar o processo de democratização do país no ano de 2006, durante o II Movimento Popular, que resultou em uma mudança de regime bem-sucedida no Nepal, e uma transição no estilo de governança, com preferência por uma democracia sobre uma monarquia, pois esta era a melhor solução política para proteger os direitos humanos no Nepal, ao mesmo tempo em que promove o crescimento e o desenvolvimento econômico. -
King Gyanendra and the Destruction of Democracy in Nepal
KING GYANENDRA AND THE DESTRUCTION OF DEMOCRACY IN NEPAL: Extrait du Le Journal des Alternatives http://journal.alternatives.ca/spip.php?article1773 KING GYANENDRA AND THE DESTRUCTION OF DEMOCRACY IN NEPAL: - EN - Our organisation - Archives - National Projects - Alternatives Newspaper - 2005 - Vol. 9 No 7 - Date de mise en ligne : Monday 4 April 2005 Description : On 1 February 2005, King Gyanendra of Nepal usurped all executive powers of State through a proclamation of Emergency in the country that has been precipitously descending into bloody chaos since his anointment as the king following the inexplicable massacre of the royal clan on 1 June 2001. Copyright © Le Journal des Alternatives - All rights reserved Copyright © Le Journal des Alternatives Page 1/5 KING GYANENDRA AND THE DESTRUCTION OF DEMOCRACY IN NEPAL: On 1 February 2005, King Gyanendra of Nepal usurped all executive powers of State through a proclamation of Emergency in the country that has been precipitously descending into bloody chaos since his anointment as the king following the inexplicable massacre of the royal clan on 1 June 2001. The king justified the proclamation by citing the failure of the political parties in taking a unified approach against terrorism, their inability to hold elections in time and also their betrayal of the people's aspirations for social, political and economic justice. The accusations are uncanny for the reason that the monarchical manipulations, as enumerated below, have directly contributed to these failures of the multiparty system in Nepal. A FRAUD ON THE CONSTITUTION: In his televised addressed, King Gyanendra promised that the council of ministers being appointed under his chairmanship "will give utmost priority to reactivating multiparty democracy in the country within three years..." The king referred to Article 27(3) of the 1990 Constitution to claim legitimacy for his takeover. -
Economic and Social Council
UNITED NATIONS E Economic and Social Distr. GENERAL Council E/CN.4/1995/16 6 February 1995 ENGLISH Original: FRENCH COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Fifty-first session Item 3 of the provisional agenda ORGANIZATION OF THE WORK OF THE SESSION Situation of human rights in Togo Report of the Secretary-General CONTENTS Paragraphs Page Introduction ........................ 1- 8 3 I. INFORMATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF TOGO ....... 9-10 4 II. ACTION TAKEN BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ..................... 11 11 III. ACTION TAKEN BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS AND WORKING GROUPS OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND BY TREATY MECHANISMS IN RESPECT OF TOGO ......... 12-33 11 A. Action taken by the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions .................... 12-16 11 B. Action taken by the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture ............ 17-19 12 C. Action taken by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances ...... 20-24 12 D. Treaty mechanisms ................ 25-33 13 GE.95-10606 (E) E/CN.4/1995/16 page 2 CONTENTS (continued) Paragraphs Page IV. INFORMATION FROM NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS . 34 - 50 15 A. The overall situation in Togo during 1994 .... 35-39 15 B. Human rights violations attributed to the Togolese armed forces .............. 40-43 16 C. Other violations of the right to life and to physical integrity ............ 44-46 16 D. Freedom of expression and press freedom ..... 47-50 17 E/CN.4/1995/16 page 3 Introduction 1. On 9 March 1994, at its fiftieth session, the Commission on Human Rights adopted without a vote resolution 1994/78, entitled "Situation of human rights in Togo", in which it welcomed the holding, in generally satisfactory conditions, of parliamentary elections on 6 and 20 February 1994, which constitute an essential element towards a democratic change in Togo. -
Bachelor Thesis
Bachelor Thesis The EU as External Democracy Promoter in Sub-Saharan Africa – The Role of Conditionality and Positive Measures Appropriateness and Effectiveness of Political Conditionality as Instrument of Democracy Promotion in the EU Development Cooperation with the ACP States Mathias Kamp Dannenkamp 8 48432 Rheine Tel.: 05975/224 E-mail: [email protected] Student Number: s0122262 (UT); 312073 (WWU) Course: BA European Studies Supervisor: Dr. Jörg Waldmann Co-Reader: Dr. Martin Rosema Münster, 21/09/2007 Content Introduction 4 Structure & Methodology 5 1. Democracy, Democratization & Development Cooperation 9 1.1 Promoting Democracy, Human Rights and Good Governance 9 1.1.1 Democratization and Democracy Promotion 9 1.1.2 Core Concepts: Democracy, Human Rights, Good Governance 11 1.2 Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion: 17 International Context 2. Instruments of Democracy Promotion: Conditionality and Positive 20 Measures 2.1 Political Conditionality: Restrictive Measures 20 2.1.1 Conception and Origin 20 2.1.2 Types of Conditionality and Implementation Measures 22 2.1.3 Criticism towards Conditionality 24 2.2 Democracy Promotion through Positive Measures 27 2.2.1 Conception and Origin 27 2.2.2 Fields of Activities 29 2.2.3 Criticism 30 3. EU Democracy Promotion within the ACP-Cooperation 31 3.1 EU Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion 32 3.2 The EU-ACP Cooperation 34 3.3 Conditionality in the EU-ACP Cooperation 34 3.3.1 Development of the Formal Frame 34 3.3.2 EU Sanctions Policy 37 3.4 Positive Measures in the EU-ACP Cooperation 39 3.4.1 Framework for Positive Measures 39 3.4.2 Financial Sources: EDF and EIDHR 41 2 3.5 Current Trends and Reform Processes 44 3.5.1 The New Paradigm of Development Co-operation: 44 “Poverty Reduction”, “Ownership”, “Partnership” 3.5.2 The European Consensus 46 3.5.3 The EU Africa Strategy 48 4. -
AFR 57/006/2001 Togo
TOGO The time for accountability has finally arrived The facts described above demonstrate the existence throughout of systematic violations of human rights in Togo during 1998 (Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Togo, February 2001) Introduction A few days ago, on 22 February 2001, a report was made public on systematic human rights violations committed by the Togolese security forces in 1998. It was drawn up by the International Commission of Inquiry on Togo (the Commission) which was set up by the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The Commission’s report is the third in under a year, all published under the auspices of the UN, which accuses Togo of violating international standards, both in relation to human rights and to the arms embargo on Angola. Two UN reports, published in March and December 2000 respectively, accuse some African leaders, including General Gnassingbé Eyadéma, the Togolese head of state and current President of the OAU, of involvement in arms trading with the armed Angolan opposition group, the União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA), National Union for the Total Independence of Angola. Representatives of the international community are as a result now sending clear indications to the Togolese authorities that they should respect international standards, to which they themselves have subscribed, and that the era of impunity must end. The Commission was set up in June 2000. It was charged with “verifying the truth of allegations of hundreds of extrajudicial executions, which allegedly took place in Togo during 1998, made in Amnesty International’s report published on 5 May 1999.” Amnesty International’s information in this report, Togo: State of terror, included the discovery of hundreds of bodies out at sea or along the beaches of Togo and Benin during and after the presidential election of 1998. -
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
United Nations CEDAW/C/TGO/1-5 Convention on the Elimination Distr.: General of All Forms of Discrimination 18 March 2004 English against Women Original: French Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Initial, second, third, fourth and fifth periodic reports of States Parties Togo* * The present report is being issued without formal editing. 04-27833 (E) 060504 060504 *0427833* CEDAW/C/TGO/1-5 Contents Page Abbreviations ................................................................... 3 Introduction .................................................................... 10 Part 1: General information about Togo .............................................. 11 1. The geographic setting ........................................................ 11 2. Political and administrative structure............................................. 27 Administrative map of Togo ....................................................... 30 3. General legal framework for the protection of human rights in Togo ................... 30 4. Information and publicity ...................................................... 32 Part II: Information relating to articles 1 to 16 of the Convention ......................... 33 Article 1 ....................................................................... 33 Article 2 ....................................................................... 34 Article 3