UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST - 2 February

UN DAILY NEWS from the
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE
2 February, 2012 =========================================================================

VISITING GAZA, BAN REITERATES COMMITMENT TO PLIGHT OF PALESTINIANS

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon travelled today to the Gaza Strip, where he underlined his commitment to continue working for peace and stability in the Middle East, and voiced his concern about the need to increase humanitarian assistance for Palestinians.

Mr. Ban is currently in the region to encourage Palestinian and Israeli authorities to continue the talks they started in Jordan earlier this month – and to assess the progress and challenges on the road to peace.

During his visit, Mr. Ban toured a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) housing project and a girls’ school. He also met with children who suffered serious injuries during the conflict, and said he was deeply moved by their stories.

In a press encounter this morning, Mr. Ban emphasized that the UN would continue its work in the region, which ranges from infrastructure projects such as building housing units, schools and water treatment facilities, to humanitarian assistance and longer-term initiatives involving the people of Gaza to stimulate economic and social growth.

“There needs to be further, immediate and more far-reaching changes, including an end to the Palestinian divide,” Mr. Ban told reporters. “I am pressing hard for policy changes to enable the United Nations and others to carry out our essential work,” he said.

Earlier this month, the UN launched an emergency appeal for just over $300 million to assist Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank who are still dealing with the effects of a conflict that ended three years ago, as well as various humanitarian needs.

As part of his visit, Mr. Ban was supposed to meet with business and civil society representatives, but this was cancelled when dozens of Palestinians staged a protest as Mr. Ban’s convoy crossed into Gaza from Israel. Protesters, many of whom were relatives of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, threw shoes and other objects at the convoy.

Mr. Ban, who met last night with the Palestinian Minister of Prisoners Affairs, Issa Karake, said he understood and shared their frustrations and concerns.

“That is why I am here again for the third time. There are very dire social, economic and humanitarian problems. People need to be able to move freely. Goods must be imported and exported without any restrictions. That is why I have been urging the Israeli authorities to lift completely and unconditionally the restrictions.”

Mr. Ban later travelled to Erez in Israel, where he toured Sapir College and met with survivors of a rocket attack last year against a school bus. Speaking at the school, he said that nothing justified the indiscriminate firing of rockets and mortars into Israel.

“It is completely unacceptable to target and terrorize citizens on a near-daily basis,” Mr. Ban said. “People have had to reinforce schools like this, hospitals and bus stops. They have to think constantly about where the nearest shelter is. This is what you must do for your safety. But let us be clear: it is not how anyone, anywhere, should have to live,” he added.

Later in the day, in an address to the Herzliya 2012 conference in Tel Aviv, the Secretary-General discussed the Arab Spring reform movement and its impact on the region, emphasizing that Israel’s future is not in isolation but standing side by side with a newly democratic Middle East.

“We should welcome this historic – this inevitable – evolution. We should not perpetuate the fallacy that the Arab world is not ready for democracy,” Mr. Ban said. “Everywhere, people are expressing a fundamental human yearning… the universal hunger for dignity, freedom and human rights.”

Mr. Ban also met with Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and with the Chairperson of the Kadima Party and the Leader of the opposition in the Knesset, Tzipi Livni, with whom he discussed the status of the Middle East peace process and other regional developments.

During a meeting this evening, Mr. Ban urged Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak to take further steps to improve conditions in Gaza and expressed to him his hope that both parties remain engaged in the talks hosted by Jordan.

Mr. Ban also met with the Chairperson of the Kadima Party and the Leader of the opposition in the Knesset, Tzipi Livni, with whom he discussed the status of the Middle East peace process and other regional developments.


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LEBANON: UN-BACKED TRIBUNAL TO TRY FOUR MEN ACCUSED OF HARIRI KILLING IN ABSENTIA

The United Nations-backed independent tribunal set up to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri announced today that it will try four men accused of carrying out the crime in absentia.

In a statement the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) said its trial chamber had taken the step after examining documents from the STL prosecutor and from Lebanese prosecutors which outline the efforts of Lebanese authorities to apprehend the accused and inform them about the proceedings.

Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hussein Hassan Oneissi and Assad Hassan Sabra, all Lebanese nationals, have been indicted over the massive car bombing in central Beirut that killed Mr. Hariri and 22 others on 14 February 2005.

The indictment charges all four men with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act. Mr. Ayyash and Mr. Badreddine are also charged with committing a terrorist act by means of an explosive device, intentional homicide with premeditation, and attempted intentional homicide.

Mr. Oneissi and Mr. Sabra also face charges of being accomplices in the crimes. All charges in the indictment are crimes under Lebanese criminal law.

In its statement today the STL noted the multiple attempts by Lebanese authorities to find the accused men at their last known residences, places of employment and other locations.

The court said the trial chamber had also considered “the fact that the indictment and the identities of the accused received massive publicity in Lebanon.”

The trial chamber therefore concluded that all reasonable efforts had been taken to ensure that the accused appeared in court and were notified of the charges they face.

The STL underlined that prosecuting accused persons in their absence was “a measure of last resort to ensure that the pursuit of justice is not paralyzed by those who choose to abscond.”

Today’s statement did not say when the trial will begin, and noted that several necessary steps must occur before the trial can start.

Those steps include the assignment of counsel to the accused, the disclosure by prosecutors to defence lawyers of any supporting materials for the indictment, and allowing defence lawyers to interview witnesses, visit crime scenes, collect evidence and pursue other inquiries as part of their case.

The tribunal is an independent court created at the request of the Lebanese Government, with a mandate issued by the Security Council. It is based in The Hague in the Netherlands.


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YEMEN: UN RELIEF CHIEF WELCOMES RELEASE OF SEVEN HUMANITARIAN WORKERS

The top United Nations humanitarian official voiced relief today that seven aid workers abducted earlier this week in Yemen have now all been released unharmed.

In a statement, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos said the seven workers are now in Sana’a, the Yemeni capital, and in contact with their families. The workers had been kidnapped on Tuesday.

“I would like to sincerely thank the Yemeni authorities and all those who worked tirelessly to secure the safe release of our colleagues,” said Ms. Amos, who is also the UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator.

“This incident serves to remind us of the dangers faced every day by humanitarian workers helping people in crisis situations around the world. Their only aim is to provide assistance and protection to people in need.”


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THREATENED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, GLACIERS NOW UNDER ATTACK FROM ICE THIEVES – UN

Criminal gangs are becoming a threat to the world’s glaciers, which are already receding as a result of climate change, the United Nations said today, citing a case in Chile where police are investigating the theft of some 5,000 kilograms of millennia-old ice from the Jorge Montt glacier.

Mining for ice could pose a major additional threat to the 454 square-kilometre glacier, which is situated in Chile’s Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, and is part of the 13,000-square kilometre Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the third largest frozen land mass in the world after Antarctica and Greenland, according to the UN International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

The Jorge Montt glacier is melting at a rate of one kilometre per year, making it one of the world’s most iconic symbols of global warming, UNISDR noted.

“The authorities in Chile are to be congratulated on clamping down on this illegal activity,” said Margareta Wahlström, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction and head of UNISDR.

“The Jorge Montt glacier and other major ice-fields are a precious part of our common world heritage and important yardsticks by which we can measure how man-made global warming is threatening the world’s water supply and damaging the environment. They deserve all the protection we can give them, including safeguarding from this type of vandalism.”

The prosecutor handling the case in Chile reported this week that those implicated in the ice theft had been identified as a result of an investigation that followed the arrest of the driver of a refrigerated truck last Friday. The truck was intercepted in the southern Chilean town of Cochrane.

Chile’s Centre for Scientific Studies has said that several of the country’s glaciers are shrinking because of global warming, but the much-studied Jorge Montt is one of those shrinking the fastest.


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UN WOMEN TO FOCUS ON BOOSTING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND POLITICAL ROLES

The head of the United Nations entity mandated to promote gender equality today said that her priority this year is to enhance the economic empowerment and political participation of women and called for the support of the international community and the entire UN system to ensure success.

“With rising demands for justice, upcoming elections in many countries and political transition, we have an opportunity to open doors wider for women,” said Michelle Bachelet, the Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), at a news conference in New York to mark the agency’s first anniversary.

“We simply can no longer afford to deny the full potential of one half of the population. The world needs to tap into the talent and wisdom of women. Whether the issue is food security, economic recovery, health, or peace and security, the participation of women is needed now more than ever,” she said.

Outlining the successes of UN Women over the past year, Ms. Bachelet said she was focused on building a strong organization with clear goals and strategies, adding that the agency had so far established a presence in 75 countries.

Examples of UN Women’s response to advance the cause of women’s equality included the support provided for women’s participation in constitutional reform, elections and political transition in Tunisia and Egypt, she said.

“In October, UN Women called out for concrete proposals from governments and civil society in Arab States to support women’s political participation and empowerment. In response, we are providing $4.8 million dollars through the Gender Equality Fund to advance women’s empowerment in the Arab world,” she added.

The agency also provided support to candidates, political parties, voters, electoral commissions and legislative efforts in more than 25 countries over the past year to ensure that more women voted and got elected. This year, UN Women will support women’s movements in 52 countries.

Contributions to UN Women last year totalled $235 million, a 33 per cent increase from 2010, she said, adding that the agency will intensify its efforts to raise $700 million for its work this year.

“During this time of austerity and uncertainty, we cannot let budget cuts and political change cut progress for girls and women,” said Ms. Bachelet.

On women’s economic empowerment, she called for increased resources to fund projects to build capacity to participate in economic activity. “Unleashing women’s economic potential will make economic growth and recovery faster and more equitable. Economic empowerment makes other rights possible for women,” she added.

Ms. Bachelet stressed that violence against women “diminished” humanity and cited UN Women’s first flagship report, entitled In Pursuit of Justice, which found that in many countries, the rule of law still excluded women. It is also found that legal reform, policy change, raising the number of women police and judges, and supporting women’s legal groups can ensure justice.

She underlined the need to include women in peacebuilding efforts, pointing out that UN Women had over the past year taken steps to ensure that women played a central role in peace talks, and that those affected by conflict got justice.

UN Women worked in more than 50 countries to build capacity on gender analysis and budgeting, using sex-disaggregated data to ensure gender sensitivity in the allocation of national resources.

On the requirement by governments that UN Women “lead, coordinate and enhance” the accountability of the UN system in its work on gender equality and the empowerment of women, she said that an action plan has been prepared to guide gender mainstreaming and accountability in the UN.


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TOURISM CAN PLAY KEY ROLE IN PRESERVING WORLD’S WETLANDS, UN AGENCY SAYS

Responsible, sustainable tourism can play a valuable role in conserving and protecting the world’s often fragile wetlands, the head of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said today.

“Wetlands, their wildlife, and the human communities in and around them can benefit directly from tourism through entry fees, sale of local products, and so on,” said Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of UNWTO.

“At the same time, the ‘use’ of wetlands as tourism locations comes with certain risks,” he added. “The challenge is to ensure that sustainable tourism practices are being implemented and bring benefits for wetlands, their wildlife and people… We would emphasize that tourism businesses, if well informed and prepared to adapt their operations, can certainly promote and support wetland biodiversity and the natural beauty of wetlands.”

UNWTO today marked World Wetlands Day, which this year has the theme of wetland tourism, by saying it will join forces with the Ramsar Convention, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, to promote responsible tourism and recreation in wetlands worldwide.

Many wetlands, from the Okavango Delta in Southern Africa to the Danube Delta in Eastern Europe and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, are in a fragile state as a result of both human and natural forces.


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BAN THANKS OUTGOING HEAD OF UN PEACEBUILDING OFFICE IN SIERRA LEONE FOR HIS WORK

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his appreciation of the work of the outgoing United Nations envoy to Sierra Leone, Michael von der Schulenburg, including his initiatives to boost donor cooperation and efficient aid use in the West African country.

Mr. von der Schulenburg, the Executive Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) will leave the country on Monday at the end of his term, which began in 2008.

Mr. Ban also thanked Mr. von der Schulenburg for his “open and fruitful work with all sections of the Sierra Leonean society including with political parties and stakeholders [and] his effective cooperation with the Peacebuilding Commission,” said a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Secretary-General.

UNIPSIL and the UN country team will remain closely engaged and will continue to assist, where possible, in the effort to ensure peaceful and credible elections in Sierra Leone, the statement said. The office will also continue to strive to enhance dialogue among major political parties in the country.


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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THE FOCUS OF TALKS BETWEEN ASSEMBLY CHIEF AND FRENCH OFFICIALS

Sustainable development and the environment topped the agenda during talks today in Paris between General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser and senior French Government officials.

Mr. Al-Nasser met with Foreign Minister Alain Juppé and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the country’s Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing, as well as with Jean-Paul Delevoye, the President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council of France.

The upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development, known as Rio+20, was the focus of the meeting between Mr. Al-Nasser and Mr. Juppé, according to information released by a spokesperson for the Assembly President.

Rio+20, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June, was also discussed in Mr. Al-Nasser’s meetings with Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet and with Mr. Delevoye.


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SOUTH SUDAN: UN RELIEF CHIEF SEES ‘TERRIBLE SITUATION’ IN TROUBLED JONGLEI STATE

The United Nations relief chief today visited areas in South Sudan hit by recent ethnic violence and met some of the victims of a vicious cycle of raids and reprisal attacks, describing what she had seen as “a terrible situation” with people having lost loved ones, property and livelihood.

“I am extremely concerned that humanitarian premises were specifically targeted, and we lost critical supplies, which slowed our relief operation,” said Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, speaking to reporters after visiting Pibor and Walgak in Jonglei state.

“I urge all parties to respect humanitarian premises and personnel, so that we can help the people of Jonglei,” she said.

Deadly clashes between the Lou Nuer and Murle communities in late December and early January displaced tens of thousands of civilians and prompted UN agencies to launch a major humanitarian operation to assist those in need.

“We are working to meet basic life-saving needs – food, water, medicine, household items. Many of the areas we need to reach are very remote and can only be reached by air, making this operation hugely expensive compared to assistance delivered by road,” said Ms. Amos, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator.

She emphasized her concern over the humanitarian situation in the country as a whole, saying it remained “extremely precarious” and could deteriorate fast, with food shortages having already worsened this year.

“If oil production is shut down, many people will feel the effects – humanitarian needs will inevitably increase, and the combined efforts of the Government, the aid community and the donors will not be enough. The scope of this crisis cannot be ignored,” she said.

Authorities in South Sudan have threatened to shut down oil production because of a lack of progress in talks to resolve a dispute with neighbouring Sudan over revenues and tariffs for the use of Sudan’s infrastructure to export the commodity.

The UN and humanitarian partners have this year requested donors to provide over $760 million for humanitarian needs in South Sudan. “But we can only do so much. Government leadership is vital,” said Ms. Amos.

She said the UN appreciated Government leadership in the highly complex return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their villages of origin, but stressed that returns must be voluntary, and conducted in safety and dignity.

“Since my last visit here in 2010, signs of change in South Sudan are already visible, and I can see it here in Juba. But perhaps the most significant change is in the hearts of the people, proud of their hard-won nation, the newest independent country in the world. The world must not let them down,” said Ms. Amos.


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UN-BACKED AWARDS SEEK TO HONOUR BUSINESSES WITH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES

Businesses with innovative models that enhance commercial success as well as contribute to sustainable development have been invited by the United Nations to participate in the World Business and Development Awards (WBDA), which launched its nominations today.

Organizations engaged in practices that are delivering commercially-viable solutions and helping to improve social, economic and environmental conditions are eligible to apply regardless of size or location.

According to a news release issued by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), a co-organizer of the awards, this year’s prizes will be given to companies with inclusive business models that expand access for low-income people to goods and services, or improve their livelihoods by engaging them in value chains as direct employees, suppliers or distributors, while also generating sales and profit growth.

“Past award winners have shown how companies can help boost sustainable growth and development,” said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark. “They can be a tremendous source of innovative and sustainable solutions which help transform people’s lives for the better.”

An international judging panel made up of representatives of the organizing partners as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), universities, business entities, and international institutions will determine this year’s winners.

The award ceremony will be held on 19 June, during the UN Sustainable Development Conference (Rio+20). In honour of the conference’s host country, Brazil, there will be a special category designated for Brazil-based companies.

The awards seek to demonstrate how companies can, through their core business activities, help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – eight internationally agreed targets to reduce poverty and environmental degradation and improve education, health conditions and gender equality by 2015.

“As progress towards the Millennium Development Goals comes under threat in the current economic climate, the awards will highlight the critical role of the private sector in stimulating sustainable economic growth and development,” said Secretary General for the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Jean-Guy Carrier.

Now in its tenth year, the WBDAs are organized by the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), the ICC and UNDP. This year’s partners include the Netherlands Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the UN Global Compact.


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HAITI: UN WELCOMES RATIFICATION OF PACT ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Haiti (MINUSTAH) welcomed today the ratification by the Government of a pact on economic, social and cultural rights.

The ratification of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) on Tuesday by the Haitian Parliament demonstrates a commitment by the country’s authorities to work towards the realization of Haitians’ rights as well as to continue to fight against poverty and social exclusion, MINUSTAH said in a news release.

“The ratification of this international instrument is an important step in broadening the scope of protection of human rights in Haiti,” MINUSTAH stressed, adding that “it also opens interesting perspectives for development cooperation for Haiti.”

MINUSTAH emphasized that the agreement commits the international community to do more to support Government efforts to ensure equal access to education, health and a decent standard of living, including access to water, food and adequate housing that contribute to poverty reduction.

The mission also reiterated its support for the Government in the implementation of the Covenant by providing technical support on harmonization policies, establishing new programmes, and drafting new laws.

Since 2008, MINUSTAH, in particular through its human rights and political affairs section, has encouraged the Covenant’s ratification. The mission also supported the “Haitian Youth Parliament” in its work that led to the symbolic ratification of the Covenant at its last session held in October.

The agreement is part of a number of international instruments that had been recommended to Haiti by international bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council.


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EL SALVADOR: UN PANEL VOICES CONCERN AT ARBITRARY DETENTION, PRISON OVERCROWDING

A United Nations expert human rights panel has voiced concern about the right to security impinging on the right to be free from arbitrary detention in El Salvador, as well as extreme overcrowding in prisons and police facilities in the Central American nation.

Wrapping up a 10-day mission to the country, the five-member UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention also highlighted the lack of written notification of sentences to the defendant and the lack of effective access to defence counsel.

Another concern was the “over-reliance on informers and testimony by opportunistic witnesses,” the Group said in a news release issued in the capital, San Salvador.

“This practice not only affects the credibility of testimonies due to the incentives offered, but also jeopardizes the fairness of the judicial process as the procedure of cross-examination is often not made possible,” said the Group’s Chair-Rapporteur, El Hadji Malick Sow.

The Group questioned the effectiveness of the judiciary, particularly concerning the right to be brought promptly before a judge. “The fact that some individuals wait eight years for an appeal, with minimal intervention from judges, is disconcerting,” said Mr. Sow.

The expert panel visited 11 prisons, police holding cells and other detention facilities in San Salvador, San Miguel and Santa Ana and interviewed detainees in private. Members also met with a range of actors from the Government, civil society and the UN.

According to the experts, all of whom work in an independent and unpaid capacity, prisoners who were interviewed privately complained of the invasive and humiliating searches faced, including of their relatives and lawyers, introduced since the armed forces were charged with security in prisons.

“I understand the need to protect prisons and the dire security situation faced by the authorities, particularly in relation to the gangs,” said Mr. Sow. “But we urge the Government to urgently review its procedures to ensure human dignity for those deprived of their liberty.”

The experts commended the Government for its positive initiatives in recent years and encouraged the effective implementation of these initiatives to further protect against arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

The Group – also comprising Mads Andenas (Norway), Shaheen Sardar Ali (Pakistan), Roberto Garretón (Chile), and Vladimir Tochilovsky (Ukraine) – will present its final report on the visit to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council next year.


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AFGHAN REFUGEES NEED RIGHT CONDITIONS TO RETURN HOME, STRESSES UN OFFICIAL

The United Nations refugee chief today thanked the Pakistani Government for its generosity towards Afghans who have sought refuge in the country, while also calling for creating the right conditions in Afghanistan that will promote large-scale voluntary returns.

“At a time when many countries are closing their doors to those fleeing violence and persecution, the generosity of the people and the Government of Pakistan towards Afghan refugees deserves greater recognition and support on the part of the international community,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres.

Wrapping up a two-day visit to Pakistan, he called for additional international solidarity with the country as well as with Iran, both of which continue to host large numbers of Afghan refugees after more than 30 years.

Nearly three million registered Afghan refugees remain in the region today, including 1.7 million in Pakistan and one million in Iran.

Last year, just over 50,000 Afghan refugees returned home from Pakistan, down from nearly 110,000 in 2010. Despite the decline, the number of Afghan returns last year represented the largest refugee repatriation programme in the world.

“The priority now is to create conditions inside Afghanistan that will allow for large-scale voluntary repatriation,” said Mr. Guterres.

While in Pakistan, the High Commissioner met with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to discuss an agreement reached in Dubai this week between Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) to pursue a regional strategy aimed at finding durable solutions to the Afghan refugee situation.

The new strategy will be presented at a conference to be held in Switzerland in May that will seek support for programmes inside Afghanistan which will foster returns while providing additional support to communities that host Afghan refugees.

According to UNHCR, the lack of livelihood opportunities and shelter, as well as insecurity, are the most frequently cited reasons for not returning to Afghanistan.

Those who return through the agency’s voluntary repatriation programme receive an average of $150 per person to cover transport as well as the initial cost of settling back home. In total, 5.7 million Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan and Iran, representing nearly a quarter of Afghanistan’s population.


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BAN VOICES SADNESS AFTER DEADLY CLASHES AT EGYPTIAN SOCCER STADIUM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed sadness at last night’s violent clashes at a soccer match in Egypt which led to the deaths of at least 74 people and injuries to hundreds of others.

The deadly clashes between rival supporters took place after a match in the city of Port Said between the clubs al-Masry and al-Ahly.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban offered his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

“The Secretary-General trusts the Government of Egypt will take appropriate measures to respond to this tragic incident, with the full cooperation of all concerned,” the statement noted.


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UN INVITES ALL CONGOLESE TO AVOID VIOLENCE, RESOLVE POLL DISPUTES PEACEFULLY

With the provisional results of national legislative elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) having now been announced, the United Nations today encouraged all actors to use legal channels for resolving any disputes and refrain from the use of force or violence.

Millions of Congolese went to the polls on 28 November last year to cast votes in presidential and parliamentary elections. While the presidential results were announced earlier, the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) released the provisional results of the legislative polls regarding 162 of the 169 electoral districts on 26 January and yesterday.

It recommended to the Supreme Court that the results of the remaining seven electoral districts be nullified, according to a news release issued by the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUSCO), which took note of the announcement.

“MONUSCO welcomes the peaceful atmosphere which has been observed throughout the country since the announcement of these results,” it stated.

“It encourages all candidates and political actors to use the legally prescribed channels for the resolution of disputes, and to refrain from the use of force or violence.”

The mission also reminded all parties concerned that it is continuing to closely monitor human rights violations and acts of violence committed, notably, in the context of the elections.

It called on Congolese authorities to respect human rights obligations, particularly the rights to liberty, to freedom of movement and to freedom of expression.

MONUSCO provided technical and logistical support to the organization of the November polls – the second time since independence from Belgium in 1960 that the country has held multi-party elections.


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ETHIOPIA’S ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS MUST NOT BE MISUSED TO CURB RIGHTS – UN

A group of independent United Nations human rights experts today spoke out against the ongoing use of anti-terrorism laws to curb freedom of expression in Ethiopia, where several journalists were recently given prison sentences under such legislation.

“Journalists play a crucial role in promoting accountability of public officials by investigating and informing the public about human rights violations,” said Frank La Rue, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression. “They should not face criminal proceedings for carrying out their legitimate work, let alone be severely punished.”

A week ago, three journalists and two opposition politicians were given prison sentences ranging from 14 years to life imprisonment under Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism laws. This followed the sentencing of two Swedish journalists to 11 years in prison in December, a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated.

Another 24 defendants are scheduled to appear in court next month, for various charges under the anti-terrorism law, several of whom may face the death sentence if convicted.

Ben Emmerson, the Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, said that “the anti-terrorism provisions should not be abused and need to be clearly defined in Ethiopian criminal law to ensure that they do not go counter to internationally guaranteed human rights.”

The Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, emphasized that “journalists, bloggers and others advocating for increased respect for human rights should not be subject to pressure for the mere fact that their views are not in alignment with those of the Government.”

She voiced concern at the case of Eskinder Nega, a blogger and human rights defender who may face the death penalty if convicted. Mr. Nega has been advocating for reform on the issue of the right to assemble peacefully in public.

Similarly, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, cautioned against the ongoing campaign of harassment against associations expressing dissenting views, while Gabriela Knaul, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, deplored the reported failure to ensure the defendants’ right to a fair trial.

The experts called on the Ethiopian Government to respect the concerned individuals’ fundamental rights, especially their right to a fair trial, and reiterated the need to apply anti-terrorism legislation cautiously and in accordance with the country’s international human rights obligations.


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UN OFFICIAL VOICES CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE BY SENEGALESE FORCES

The United Nations human rights chief today voiced concern about the possible use of excessive force by Senegalese authorities amid the protests that have erupted ahead of the presidential election scheduled for later this month.

At least four people, including one police officer, have reportedly been killed this week during protests following the publication of the list of presidential candidates approved by the Constitutional Council, states a news release issued by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

“The reports of excessive use of force by police in response to violence by some protestors are very disturbing, given Senegal’s tradition of respect for freedom of association, assembly and expression,” said High Commissioner Navi Pillay.

Reports suggest that in some instances, in several neighbourhoods around the capital, Dakar, police shot at protestors who were burning tyres and throwing stones. Violence was also reported in the towns of Podor, Thies and Kaolack. The protests are reportedly in response to the decision of incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade to seek a third term in the 26 February polls.

In addition to urging restraint on the part of the authorities, Ms. Pillay called on all presidential candidates to actively renounce and discourage any further violence or incitement to violence.

“Senegal has a good record of peaceful democratic elections and transitions which could easily be jeopardized if the current extremely tense situation spirals into further acts of violence and retribution.”

Law enforcement officials must fully respect the standards laid out under international law in maintaining public order, including detailed guidelines governing the use of live ammunition, stressed the High Commissioner.

She called for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into the killings that have taken place over the past few days and the alleged use of disproportionate force by police officers, stressing that anyone who has committed violent or excessive acts must be held accountable.

“With the presidential campaign beginning this weekend, I cannot stress enough the importance of full respect for the fundamental human rights of the freedom of expression, association and assembly. These rights are particularly crucial during an election period,” she added.


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