Human Rights Council
AFTERNOON
Concludes Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Racism, Starts General Debate on Racism and Follow-Up to Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
The Human Rights Council this afternoon listened to presentations by the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Liberia and the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, under its agenda item on technical assistance and capacity building. The Council also concluded its interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on racism and related intolerance and started its general debate on racism and related forms of intolerance, follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, listening to presentations by Brazil and Nigeria on the outcomes of the Regional Preparatory Meetings for the Durban Review Conference.
Charlotte Abaka, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Liberia, said she was pleased to say that there had been improvements in the human rights situation in Somalia, particularly concerning economic, social and cultural rights. However, urgent measures needed to be taken to ensure that the discrimination and marginalization in political and economic terms were addressed, as well as access to effective justice.
Shamsul Bari, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, said that he had taken up his mandate on 1 May 2008 and he had undertaken a trip to the Horn of Africa from 28 June to 12 July. He had come back with some impressions. People were living in constant fear; the State was very weak and could not provide protection to the population. Despite all the pain and agony he had heard about, it could not obscure the fact that there was new hope, especially since the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General had helped to bring the parties to move forward in the peace process.
During the meeting, the Council also heard from Brazil and Nigeria on the outcomes of the first two Regional Preparatory Meetings for the Durban Review Conference which will be held in April 2009.
Brazil, speaking on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries, briefing the Council on the outcome of the Regional Preparatory
Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean, which took place in Brasilia in June 2008, said that, during the meeting, most countries had expressed concern about the need to protect the rights of indigenous people, the need to eliminate discrimination against people of African descent and the need to fight discrimination against migrant workers. Countries from the region had also expressed concern at the legislation recently passed or proposed by some countries that ran counter to the commitments made under human rights and migrant workers conventions.
Nigeria, speaking on behalf of the African Group, said that the African Regional Preparatory Meeting had addressed the gaps in the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action through a number of measures. It had addressed the measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The meeting had also fostered close cooperation between national human rights institutions, non governmental organizations, and governments, particularly in the identification of good practices to curtail both incitement and dissemination of racial hatred.
Speaking in the ensuing general debate, States said that racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia were phenomena that existed in all societies. The international community must thus unite itself to fight them. The Durban Review Conference must concentrate on implementing the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action without re-opening discussion on these documents. Islamophobia constituted a threat and in this regard, national and international responses remained insufficient. Some States also called on other regions to follow the example set by Latin America and Africa and organise their own Regional Preparatory Meetings.
Speaking in the general debate were the delegations of France on behalf of the European Union, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Cuba on behalf of the Non Aligned Movement, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Ghana, Indonesia, South Africa, Bolivia, China, Algeria, Georgia, the African Union, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Morocco, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Holy See, Libya, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Armenia and Denmark.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Council concluded its interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on racism and related intolerance.
In concluding remarks, Githu Muigai, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, said that the shift from the concept of defamation of religion to incitement to religious hatred was intended to clarify the concept. It helped to move the discussion forward and to avoid difficult nomenclature. The Special Rapporteur said that there was a consensus gradually emerging. Especially after having consulted the documents of the Abuja Review Conference, delegations would see that there was more that united them than divided them.
Speaking in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on racism were the delegations of Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, Egypt, Kenya and Indonesia.
When the Council meets at 10 a.m. on Monday, 22 September, it will meet behind closed doors to discuss its Complaint Procedure. At 3 p.m., it is scheduled to hold a panel discussion on missing persons. On Tuesday, 23 September at 10 a.m., the Council will hear statements on the presentations of the Independent Experts on the situation of human rights in Liberia and Somalia and will conclude its general debate on racism and related forms of intolerance, follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
Document on Technical Cooperation and Advisory Service in Liberia
The Council has before it the report of the Independent Expert on technical cooperation and advisory services in Liberia, Charlotte Abaka (A/HRC/9/15), setting out the findings of the independent expert's mission to Liberia in July 2008, notes that, for the first time in the history of Liberia, the Government has actually brought governance to the people by periodically holding cabinet meetings in the counties. Many ministries are effectively planning programmes taking into account the need for greater control at county level. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is nearing completion of its core activities, with public hearings coming to a close, and an extension of its mandate to December 2008 has been agreed. Furthermore the launching of a judicial training centre, and the possible introduction of paralegals in the very near future, are positive developments in the move to strengthen a weak judiciary. The installation of a new democratically elected Government which took office in January 2006 has led to accelerated progress on a number of human rights and development issues including economic and social rights. Rehabilitation of some schools and hospitals and construction of new premises and the adoption and launching of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper were all much needed achievements. Serious concerns remain however, including the continuing lack an effective national independent human rights commission, and an urgent need for far-reaching reforms in the policing, judiciary and correction sectors. In addition, action needs to be taken to ensure that protective and punitive measures are enforced in relation to the ongoing scourge of sexual violence. The lack of protection for children must be addressed immediately. The persistence of harmful traditional practices which include the inflicting of trials by ordeal on suspected witches and other alleged offenders of local communities, and the practice of female genital mutilation, are also major concerns.