PRESS BRIEFING BY UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Press Briefing

PRESS BRIEFING BY UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, told correspondents at Headquarters press briefing today that gross violations of human rights remained a major concern of and challenge to the Commission on Human Rights as it prepared to meet for its fifty-fifth session, from 22 March to 30 April in Geneva. Mrs. Robinson added that wars and internal conflicts perpetuated the occurrence of those violations against civilians.

"Children, women, men and old people are killed, driven from their homes, are suffering pain, dislocation and traumas ... and I believe we need to do more in addressing gross violations", Mrs. Robinson said. She added that an important step had been taken in the past year in the adoption of the Statute of the International Criminal Court, and that she would be urging ratification of that Statute in the reinforcement of individual accountability and responsibility. She stated that more needed to be done to preventing the incidence of those violations and suggested that the special rapporteurs and other United Nations field personnel should be heeded when they gave indications of early warning signs.

Another issue that would be addressed by the Commission, Mrs. Robinson said, was the upcoming World Conference on Racism, scheduled to be held in 2001. Its work could influence the prevention of racial and ethnic tensions which were the seeds of conflict and violations of human rights. She cited the potential of the internet in spreading its message. Mrs. Robinson noted that there were over 100 sites on the internet which spewed out and incited hatred and xenophobia, which, she said, was a problem in every region and country and was becoming more serious.

Mrs. Robinson said another priority issue for the Commission was to ensure that children under eighteen were not recruited for war. She informed correspondents that the Commission was very supportive of the adoption of the optional protocol relating to that matter and emphasized its support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu, and his mandate. Noting the importance of emphasis on the optional protocol in this year -- the tenth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child -- she added that the Commission would also be ensuring that all United Nations organs had a focus on children.

The Commission on Human Rights was scheduled to have a special dialogue on children this year, she said, and she would be addressing the adoption of the protocol in her statement to the Commission. She said that there should not be a block on making progress on the optional protocol and hoped that it would come to conclusion this year. She added that it was more difficult for peace-building to occur where there were child soldiers, since it was very difficult to wean them off and present alternatives.

Robinson Briefing - 2 - 19 March 1999

Mrs. Robinson also said that at this last session of the century, the Commission on Human Rights would be taking stock of its achievements as well. Much had been achieved through the drawing up of the covenants and important conventions, in the mandates to special rapporteurs and other thematic mandates.

When asked by a correspondent for an update on human rights violations in Serbia and Kosovo, Mrs. Robinson said that the Commission on Human Rights had been very concerned, over the months, at the level of violations. Monitoring of the situation, which she described as balanced, had also brought to light the disappearances of the Serb population in the area. At the heart of the repression were violations of human rights -- civil and political, economic, social and cultural. It was in that context that the subject would be discussed at the Commission.

Mrs. Robinson said that the Commission had also been closely following the human rights situation in Turkey. She had recently held discussions with the Permanent Representative in Geneva on the issue of the denial of a minority status to the Kurdish people, and the forthcoming trial which she herself would be taking steps to monitor.

Another correspondent asked whether there had been any improvement in the situation in China and Afghanistan. Mrs. Robinson replied that the Human Rights Commission had just sent an officer to head the program in Afghanistan. She added that the Commission wished to have a role in relation to the civil monitors that might return there. It was also taking steps towards the investigation of two of the mass killings from a human rights and forensic viewpoint. Meanwhile, they were keeping the issue of the position of women there in perspective.

Mrs. Robinson also informed correspondents that there was a needs assessment mission currently in China as a follow-up to her mission there last September, when a memorandum of intent had been signed. The mission was an attempt to discuss with the Chinese authorities a programme of changes that would be necessary for that country to ratify the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. She remained concerned, however, about the pattern of a clampdown on the freedom of expression and the heavy penalties it incurred. China remained one of the highest priorities of the Commission on Human Rights -- any changes there would be a major breakthrough.

When asked about her plans to go to Mexico, she announced that she hoped to visit various regions, most likely in the fall.

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