UN JOINT INSPECTION UNIT PRESENTS REVIEW OF GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF OFFICE OF HIGH COMMISSIONER

UN JOINT INSPECTION UNIT PRESENTS REVIEW OF GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

OF OFFICE OF HIGH COMMISSIONER

Commission Hears of Activities of National Human Rights Institutions

(Reissued as received.)

The Chairman of the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit, presenting this afternoon a management review of the operations of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said geographical distribution of the Office’s staff, although more balanced than previously, had not yet improved to the extent desired.

The Chairman, Ion Gorita, told the Commission on Human Rights that the departmental breakdown of staff members had to be seen against the background of the overall distribution within the Secretariat.  Included in the report was a ten-year history and analysis of problems concerning geographical distribution, and Mr. Gorita contended that the only way to resolve the issue was through clear and steady communication between the Office and the United Nations Secretariat.

Responding to the presentation, Bertrand Ramcharan, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the report of the Joint Inspection Unit came shortly after a similar report by the Office of Internal Oversight Services, which had been called for by the General Assembly and in which 17 recommendations had been made.  Following efforts by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to implement those recommendations, 11 of the original 17 were considered to be implemented and closed, Mr. Ramcharan said, while others were in the process of implementation.  The Office was working to implement the Joint Inspection Unit’s recommendations, and was committed to a policy of equitable geographic distribution.

The Commission also carried on this afternoon with its consideration of the activities of national institutions for human rights.  A series of national institutions described their responsibilities and functions.  Speaking were representatives of human rights institutions of New Zealand, Argentina, Mexico, India, Niger, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Venezuela, Uganda, Morocco, Palestine, Canada, the Philippines, Denmark, Ireland, Ghana, Rwanda, Algeria, Northern Ireland, Honduras, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia.

The Commission will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 15 April, and is expected to conclude debate under its agenda item on the effective functioning of human rights mechanisms.  It will then act on draft resolutions and decisions tabled under its agenda item on the question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine.

Report on Management Review of Office of High Commissioner

ION GORITA, Chairman of the Joint Inspection Unit, said the Joint Inspection Unit was presenting a report on the management review of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which was the product of extensive research and took into account the results of numerous recent audits, oversight reviews and evaluation studies.  Concern regarding the geographical distribution of staff had been a long-standing issue, which, despite the efforts made by the Office, had not yet improved to the extent desired, as could be seen in the data provided in the report.  Because the Office was a department within the Secretariat, and in accordance with a number of resolutions of the General Assembly, the departmental breakdown of staff members had to be seen against the background of the overall distribution within the Secretariat.

At the same time, the General Assembly had reiterated its request to the Secretary-General to further improve the composition of the Secretariat by ensuring a wide and equitable distribution of staff in all departments.  Included in the report was a ten-year history and analysis of the problems concerning geographical distribution.  The comments of the Secretary-General indicated that the Office of the High Commissioner for the most part welcomed the Joint Inspection Unit report and accepted many of its recommendations.  The fact that geographical distribution of staff was assessed at the overall United Nations Secretariat level could lead to contradictory situations, where a certain country could be un-represented at the Office level but over-represented at the Secretariat.  Thus the only way to solve the issue was through clear and steady communication between the Office and the Secretariat.

BERTRAND RAMCHARAN, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the report of the Joint Inspection Unit came shortly after a similar report by the Office of Internal Oversight Services, which had been called for by the General Assembly and in which 17 recommendations had been made.  Following efforts by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to implement those recommendations, 11 of the original 17 were considered to be implemented and closed.  Others were in the process of implementation, some near to closure.  On the 10 recommendations contained in the Joint Inspection Unit report, it should be noted that consideration of establishment of a post of Chief of Staff had been postponed by the General Assembly and the D-2 post referred to had not been approved as part of the programme budget for 2004-5.  The incoming High Commissioner would have full latitude in approaching this matter in submitting her proposed 2006-7 budget.

In terms of other recommendations, Mr. Ramcharan said, the National Institutions Team had been well integrated into the Capacity Building and Field Operations Branch of the Office; there was a clear pattern of contributions by the Office to the human rights components of United Nations peace operations; a system of accounting for the assets of field offices was being implemented; great importance was being attached to the development of an information technology strategy, but few resources had been provided for that purpose; the Office was committed to a policy of equitable geographic distribution; and it was working closely to align its recruitment and contractual policies with those of the Secretariat.

Statements on National Institutions for Human Rights

ROSSLYN NOONAN, of New Zealand Human Rights Commission, said the crucial role of the international community through the United Nations and its agencies in building understanding and respect for human rights throughout the world should be acknowledged.  National human rights institutions had a unique contribution to make to any national human rights protection system.  New Zealand’s Commission had responsibilities that went well beyond its former focus on compliance with anti-discrimination provisions to an emphasis on more effective implementation of the full international human rights framework.

Of its new statutory responsibilities, one of the two most significant was a requirement to develop a national plan of action for the promotion and protection of human rights in New Zealand.  The second related to indigenous rights and to the founding document of New Zealand.  These issues brought into sharp relief a glaring gap in international human rights law -- the lack of any instrument, with the exception of International Labour Office Convention 169, dealing with the rights of indigenous peoples.  It was surely a matter of great shame that no progress had been made on completing even a draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

EDUARDO MONDINO, of Defence of Citizens’ Rights (Argentina), said that despite the critical situation of the country, sometimes dramatic and even discouraging, the institution should open new avenues for encouraging substantial change in Argentina.  Thanks to citizens’ experience gathered during difficult years, the institution had found eloquent signs that the will of citizens was targeting on the exercise of the collective as well as the individual rights enshrined in the national Constitution.  Given the problems society faced, as expressed in numerous complaints and demands, the institution had to provide answers with all its resources and had to mediate for the defence of damaged rights.  The participation of the Defensoria del Peublo in favour of elderly people, users of public services, human rights issues, and its attempts to resolve diverse conflicts in several provinces had characterized 2003.  In most cases, it had mediated before the administration, highlighting the value of persuading, influencing and collaborating in the solution of problems and favouring a cooperative relationship between the State, institutions and society at large.

The Defence of Citizens' Rights -- from its impartial and independent position –- often was called upon to be a mediator.  Its activities aimed at protecting and safeguarding the environment, health and life had increased.  It had acted in several cases and had issued a special report on the serious emergency affecting almost 5 million persons living along the Matanza-RiachueloRiver, where there was one of the greatest examples of urban pollution in the world.

SALVADOR CAMPOS ICARDO, of National Human Rights Commission of Mexico, said there had been insufficient progress in bringing order to society as well as security, and this had been exemplified by the cases of murdered women in Ciudad Juarez.  Other issues demanding systematic and immediate attention were the treatment of migrants and the situation of the indigenous people of Chiapas.  Moreover, the issue of the treatment of Mexicans in the United States should receive serious attention.  Regarding health, complaints in 2003 had concerned shortages of medicine stocks and equipment, negligent treatment, and generally inadequate health services.

The Commission also considered that there was a lack of truth in reporting by authorities; this was proving to be a hindrance to the Commission’s work.  And there was a persistent failure to address the culture of impunity in the country.  The work of the Commission concerned the reception, evaluation, investigation and conclusion of complaint files on alleged human rights violations.  For example, in 2003, a total of 3,518 files had been added to the 553 under process.  Of those files, 3,343 had been concluded and 728 remained in progress.

A. S. ANAND, of National Human Rights Commission of India, said these were difficult times.  The Commission of India had examined both the issues of terrorism as a factor that inhibited the enjoyment of human rights and also adherence to human rights standards in the fight against terrorism on several occasions.  It was wrong to be selective about violations of human rights and the perpetrators of terrorism, as such an approach led to double standards and indirectly lent support to terrorists and terrorism.  However, the approach should be human, rational and secular, consistent with democratic principles and the rule of law, with a balance struck between the liberty of an individual and the requirements of the security of the State and the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.  Such an approach required respect for the principles of necessity and proportionality.

Over the past year, the Indian Commission had faced a number of challenges and had taken several bold steps to protect the rights of persons belonging to vulnerable groups such as minorities, the Dalits, the disabled, and women.  The struggle for human rights was an arduous one, and not only required vigilance by various agencies but also sustained cooperation at the regional and international levels. 

GARBA LOMPO, of National Commission of Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties of Niger, said that while the meeting of the Commission was going on, the rights of persons remained subsidiary in many regions of the world.  One could not give a deaf ear to the crying heart of the Spanish people in their fight against terrorism following the horrible attack in Madrid.  How could one be indifferent to the attacks of which the Palestinians and their leaders were victims?  Could one remain silent before the distress and hopelessness of the Iraqi and Afghan peoples who aspired only for the freedom to effectively enjoy their rights?  Those litanies also concerned the African continent, which had experienced similar situations and serious fratricidal conflicts, as well as poverty, destitution, misery, disease and displacements.  It was important to focus on the grave events taking place in Côte d’Ivoire.  The political, military, economic and social tensions that erupted in September 2002 had plummeted the country into a cycle of human rights violations.  The situation should be a matter of concern to everyone.

The National Commission of Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties of Niger, set up to protect and promote the human rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens, was carrying out its functions with full independence.  Because of its Constitutional position and through its actions in directing the population with a view to ensuring the consolidation of a culture of democracy, the Commission was seen today as an instrument of the democratic process in Niger.

JOHN VON DOUSSA, of Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, said that as one of the oldest national human rights institutions in its region, the Australian Commission had been able to share its experience with new institutions.  Some recent activities especially important to the role of developing and promoting human rights within Australia had also been of interest to other institutions.  The Commission had completed an extensive national inquiry into the welfare of children in immigration detention.  Acknowledging the systemic disadvantage suffered by women over the course of their lives because of their reproductive role, a paper had been published proposing a national scheme of paid maternity leave that would be entirely Government funded, among other things.

Work was also being done on the process of reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.  The Commission had demonstrated a strong commitment to its education function by developing on-line resources for use in Australian schools on a range of human rights and discrimination issues.  The prevalence of human trafficking in South Asia and the predominance of women and children among its victims was of particular concern to the Commission.   There was a need to strengthen the role of national institutions in the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations through the treaty body reform process.

CHANG-KUK KIM, of National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea, said that since the Commission’s establishment, there had been much effort to raise public awareness of its mandate and its independent status.  There had also been endeavours to address the situation of those most vulnerable to violations of human rights, including women and children, migrant workers and persons with disabilities.  As a result, the Commission was now widely known as a “voice of the voiceless” and a “watchdog for the powerless.”  The Commission expressed deep concern over the worsening human rights situation in Iraq and urged further attention to that issue.

The Commission was currently working on the formulation of a National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, which was to be a joint effort among various governmental bodies to strengthen the role of the Government in the field of human rights.  There was also a project for an “Anti-Discrimination Act” which would lay the legal foundations for the redress of all forms of discrimination.  And task force teams had been organized on the issue of the National Security Law, the Social Protection Act and the rights of irregular workers in order to correct existing problems in law and practice.  Moreover, the Commission had provided remedies for victims of human rights violations and discriminatory acts through its complaints system and had exerted itself to develop an institutional infrastructure for human rights education. 

GERMAN MUNDARAIN, of Ombudsman of Venezuela, said Venezuela was undergoing a process of change through revisions to the national Constitution.  That situation had generated a climate of uncertainty and friction and had promoted opposition.  It was true that in a country such as Venezuela, it was logical that privileged groups should oppose any form of change that would reduce their privileges.  The process of change also had its supporters.  There was a wide gap in inequality in the country – it was one of the most unequal situations in the world.  One third of the land and the means of production were in the hands of a few.  A country with a great endowment in natural resources and extensive reserves of petroleum had a poverty level of 80 per cent.  Efforts were being made to correct a long tradition of impunity and injustice.  The process of change had met with great support and with strong opposition, and had polarized Venezuelan society.  Every body was involved in the process and had to take a position on every aspect of change.

The Venezuelan transformation had led to political confrontation at all levels, including the National Assembly, the military, the media and the church.  It had attracted the intervention of a group of friendly countries which had offered their good offices to facilitate internal dialogue.  Furthermore there had been interference in the internal affairs of the country by the country with the greatest military might in the world.  In some cases, confrontations between supporters and opponents had been violent.  Opponents had even attempted to stage a coup d'état to restore their lost privileges.

MARGARET SEKAGGYA, of Uganda Human Rights Commission, said that unlike most national human rights institutions which could only make recommendations on their findings, this Commission could give orders and grant compensation to victims of human rights violations.  In carrying out its functions, the Commission had the powers of a court to summon or order any person to attend it and produce any document or record relevant to any investigation by the Commission.  It could question any person on any subject matter under its investigations; could direct any person to disclose information; and could commit persons for contempt of its orders.  If satisfied that there had been a violation of human rights or freedoms, it might order the release of a detained or restricted person, payment of compensation, or order any other legal remedy or redress.  Any person or authority dissatisfied with an order of the Commission had the right to appeal to the High Court.

In carrying out its functions, the Commission collaborated with other stakeholders at the domestic level, such as the Inspector General of Government, various Government departments, and non-governmental organizations.  At the regional and international levels, it collaborated with other African national human rights institutions and with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.   In the course of its functions, the Commission had met various challenges which included creating a wide mandate, enforcing human rights in light of prevailing cultural traditional practices, confronting the dismal war situation in the northern, western and eastern parts of the country, and gaining access to army detention centres.

OMAR AZZIMAN, of Consultative Council of Human Rights of Morocco, said that since its last statement, the Council had focused mainly on achieving, in the context of a global vision, the equitable and extrajudiciary resolving of past grave violations of human rights, with the aim of accompanying the democratic transition process and allowing for national reconciliation.  Thus it had submitted to King Mohammed VI a recommendation to create a new body to be called the Equity and Reconciliation Body.  This was approved the following month, and the Body was charged with four essential tasks: pursuance of cases of forced disappearance; elaboration of a final report including the conclusions of its research, analysis of reported violations, and recommendations and propositions for preserving memory in order to guarantee a definitive rupture with the practices of the past; resolution of the consequences of the sufferings caused; and re-establishment and reinforcement of confidence in the rule of law and respect for human rights.

The National Institution for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was about to publish its annual report, the first of its type, on the situation of human rights in Morocco, and on its activities.  The project of elaborating a charter of rights and duties of the citizen was also on the agenda.

SAID ZEEDANI, of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizen’s Rights, said the Commission’s work was being challenged by the ruthless practices of the Israeli occupation forces and the consequent weakening of the Palestinian National Authority.  Yet those same conditions had made the Commission’s work all the more indispensable.  The magnitude, scale and consequences of the violations committed by the Israeli occupation forces had resulted in enormous human and material losses which the Commission continued to document and report on.  Since the beginning of the Intifada in September 2000, nearly 2,800 Palestinians –- including 545 children –- had been killed by Israeli forces and settlers.  Assassination was an official policy of Israel’s Government.  Tens of thousands of Palestinians had been detained for varying periods and arrest campaigns were a daily occurrence.  Furthermore, the construction of a separation wall jeopardized the freedom, future and livelihood of the Palestinian people and its imminent completion had driven the Palestinians to raise the issue at the General Assembly, which had requested a legal opinion from the International Court of Justice.

Such conditions had adversely affected the performance of the Palestinian National Authority, frustrating its efforts for democratic reform and rebuilding, hindering the work of its institutions and depriving it of the lion’s share of its capabilities for providing security and other vital services to citizens.  However, the Authority had not done all that was possible to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian citizens and to consolidate the rule of law and to ensure respect for human rights and transparency.  Of particular concern were vigilantism, the misuse of firearms and security lapses. 

MARY MAC LENNAN, of Canadian Human Rights Commission, said that although the Paris Principles had some limitations, it was important to remember their inspirational nature.  They set out not just what a fully functioning national institution was, but what it should be – which was an evolving goal.  It was up to national institutions to exemplify the important qualities of independence, integrity and good performance that underlay the Principles.  For its part, the Canadian Commission had initiated a renewal process over the past two years to increase its efficiency and effectiveness.  The process entailed measures for better management practices at the Commission, including through the development of performance measures.  It had also allowed the Commission to ensure a timely and fair complaints process.  The increased use of alternative dispute resolutions had played an important part in promoting healing through its non-adversarial nature and in allowing participants greater control in developing creative options for complaint resolution in a constructive manner.

Another useful tool at the Commission’s disposal was the preparation of special reports on issues considered to be of great social importance.  The advantage of such reports was their ability to examine issues from a broad systemic perspective and to be conducted in a non-adversarial manner.   Throughout the reform process, the focus had been to ensure that the Commission served the public interest and transformed behaviour and that it was comprehensive, preventive, forward-looking, independent, impartial and committed to ensuring good governance.

PURIFICACION C. VALERO QUISUMBING, of Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, said the Commission commended the Philippines Government for ratifying human rights treaties.  However, there was concern over the accountability of the Government in submitting periodic reports to the United Nations monitoring bodies and over its compliance with the resulting recommendations.  It also had to be said that despite expressing grave concern over international terrorism, the Philippines had signed but not ratified key conventions on terrorism.  However, the Government should be commended for enacting landmark laws that protected and promoted the rights of women and children.

In its human rights protection system, the Commission prioritised women, children, indigenous peoples and internally displaced persons. The failure of the Government to address violations of the economic, social and cultural rights of such groups could be attributed to the powerlessness of such people as a result of abject poverty and to the perceived corruption of the Government bureaucracy.  The Commission’s protection system had been extended to a new serious challenge.  Terrorism, whether domestic or international, was a threat to human rights.  The Commission’s promotion and education component still focused on educators, community-based units, the police and the military within the general framework of the National Action Plan for Human Rights Education which the Government had adopted.  The Commission continued to strengthen bilateral and multi-lateral working arrangements, and its network for human rights protection, promotion and fulfilment had expanded considerably.

MORTEN KJAERUM, of Danish Institute for Human Rights, said the last year had seen continued consolidation and recognition of the work of national human rights institutions in Europe and worldwide.  This was a welcome sign of the commitment of States to addressing internal human rights issues.  It was also evidence that national institutions were viewed as a useful and appropriate mechanism for the continued monitoring of human rights.  Unfortunately, the year had also been marked by the tendency of certain Governments to limit the powers and effectiveness of their national institutions.  For its part, the Danish Institute was working to strengthen equal treatment and anti-discrimination standards at all levels of Danish society. The intent was to help ethnic minorities and other vulnerable groups.  Discrimination had been addressed horizontally, taking into account all the key grounds prohibiting discrimination.

Linking different areas of concern -– race, gender and disability -– had reinforced the Institute’s work.  The Institute’s “MIA prize” had also been launched and given to three companies which had served as front runners in actively promoting diversity management by incorporating it into their corporate strategies.  Among other concerns, the Government had mandated the Institute to deal with individual complaints regarding race discrimination, and the Institute continued to monitor new legislation and practices in relation to the fight against terrorism.

ALPHA CONNELLY, of Human Rights Commission of Ireland, said a key development last year had been the adoption of a strategic plan by which the Commission identified areas of work on which it intended to focus over the next three years.  These included civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, and crosscutting issues, including racism, gender, and persons with disabilities.  One of the challenges had been, as it was in other countries, to try to ensure a fair balance between the freedom of the individual and the public interest inherent in counter-terrorist measures.  The Commission had been critical of the method of adoption and implementation in Ireland of a Framework Decision of the Council of the European Union taken in the aftermath of the events of 11 September 2001.  It had decided to undertake a major study exploring the nature of economic, social and cultural rights and a range of enforcement mechanisms that were appropriate to an Irish context.

The political climate in Ireland at present was not conducive to the furtherance of these rights, and the heightening appreciation of the relevance of these rights was a significant challenge for the Commission.  There could be no doubt that if the island was finally to leave behind a long history of political violence, agreement on measures for the protection of the fundamental rights of everyone living on the island should be part of the journey.

ANNA BOSSMAN, of Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice of Ghana, said the Commission had a three-pronged mandate, being a national human rights institution, an Ombudsman and an anti-corruption agency.  The Commission investigated complaints of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in both the public and private sectors; acts of administrative injustice; alleged corruption and misappropriation of public funds by public officials; and promoted public education on human rights and corruption, among other things.  During the 10 years of its existence, the Commission had organized symposia and lectures and had visited detention and health facilities, while interacting extensively with the media and civil society organizations.  The Commission's independence had been demonstrated in its unbiased rulings irrespective of the parties involved.  It had been adjudged to be one of the best national human rights institutions in Africa, along with those of Uganda and South Africa.

The work of the Commission had been constrained by a number of factors, including a woefully inadequate budget and unattractive conditions of service resulting in poor staffing and a huge backlog of cases.  Thankfully, a case-management system had been established with the assistance of USAID for a more expeditious disposal of complaints.  However, the institution called on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the donor community to provide more assistance to enable it to discharge its mandate more efficiently.

SYLVIE KAYITESI ZAINABO, of Rwandan Human Rights Commission, said the Commission – established in March 1999 – constituted an appropriate response to an institutional need to bring to an end a national history characterized by massive violations of human rights and impunity which had degenerated into genocide in 1994.  Since its establishment, the Commission had developed a series of activities for the promotion and protection of the rights of the individual, including intensive electoral activities aimed at finalizing political transition.  In the normative arena, new texts had been promulgated with regard to the reform of the judiciary, and to address such issues as discrimination, the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as laws on rights of the child and their protection.  The Commission also aimed to develop and modernize its functioning in order to make its services more accessible to the population.  Efforts should also be intensified to establish a sustainable culture of human rights in collaboration with other local actors.  That would help to ensure that each citizen was aware of his or her rights and responsibilities; that the culture of impunity ceded place definitively to the equality of all before the law; and that international standards of human rights were applied and the country’s obligations under relevant international conventions were fulfilled.

The Commission remained convinced that Rwanda -– more than any other State –- needed the help of the international community; it could not deal alone with the consequences of a crime against the whole of humanity.  Solidarity must be shown, including for reparations to the survivors of the genocide and for financing socio-economic development and strengthening institutions of good governance.

MUSTAPHA FAROUK KSENTINI, of  National Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights of Algeria, said the organization, having responsibilities for monitoring, early warning, evaluation and recommendation, was at the centre of human rights issues in the country, listening to the complaints and demands of citizens and investigating appropriately.  Like all other institutions, the Commission had identified itself as being the precursor for the building of the rule of law within an economically, politically, socially and culturally modernizing and changing environment.  If the creation of the Commission had been the result of the long and painstaking experience that Algeria had lived, it also reflected the untiring effort of the AlgerianState to respect human rights and to ensure their respect by others in accordance with Constitutional principles and the values of Algerian society. 

The Algerian Commission had at its disposal a large mandate that allowed it to investigate all situations of human rights violations brought to its attention or on its own initiative, and it took appropriate measures in response.  The Commission also conducted campaigns of sensitization on human rights, disseminated information, and promoted human rights education.  It had also recommended legislation aimed at improving the human rights situation in the country.  The Commission had also served as a mediator between citizens and the national administration.

SIMA SAMAR, of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, said the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission had a constitutional mandate and had made some positive steps to promote and protect human rights.  However, the Commission had also come today to express deep concerns about the future of human rights in Afghanistan.  Without more support from the international community, human rights and justice would be very difficult to achieve.  The Commission had developed a five-year strategic plan, focusing on human rights education, women’s rights, child rights, monitoring and investigation of human rights violations, and transitional justice.  Clearly Afghanistan had made some advances in human rights and women’s rights in the past two years, but there was a long way to go.  The country was still not at peace and human rights violations continued with impunity.  Factional fighting had not ended and violence was still being committed on the grounds of ethnicity.  Extrajudicial executions had not stopped and aid workers were being murdered for helping with reconstruction.  Girls’ schools were set on fire, and trafficking of women and children was continuing.  Tactics of intimidation were used to stop people and especially women from exercising their human rights. Prisons detained people illegally and courts were markets where so-called justice could be bought.

The Commission has so far registered over 2,000 complaints of human rights violations, including cases of property seizure, forced marriage, child kidnapping and trafficking, domestic and sexual violence, torture, arbitrary detention and violation of the rights of detainees and prisoners.  If Afghanistan wanted sustainable peace and social justice, human rights had to be respected.  There must be accountability for the human rights violations of the past and the present.  It was essential that the international community played a role in making justice possible in Afghanistan.  The war economy and culture of impunity had to be stopped.

BRICE DICKSON, of Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, said that while the systems in place for protecting human rights in Northern Ireland continued to improve, the United Kingdom Government had badly failed to support the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission over the last 12 months.  Among other failings, it had not defended the independence and expertise of the Commission when it was under unfair attack from politically motivated quarters.  The most serious and systematic violations of human rights in Northern Ireland continued to be those perpetrated by unlawful paramilitary organizations.  The Commission was disappointed that the British Government had not yet put in place a system for preventing and investigating deaths that was fully compliant with international standards.

The police in Northern Ireland were making progress in improving their human rights training, something the Commission had been extensively monitoring.  The Commission was concerned that immigrants, including asylum applicants, were being detained in a maximum security prison.  Further, it was believed that the United Kingdom Government was unnecessarily detaining people without trial under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act of 2001.  The Commission was an important part of the peace process, and it would continue to advocate strongly for the implementation of international human rights standards throughout Northern Ireland society.

RAMON CUSTODIO LOPEZ, of National Human Rights Commission of Honduras, said that when the inviolable right to life was effectively respected, capital punishment, extrajudicial executions, and summary or arbitrary killings would not be allowed.  In the 1980s, some 184 individuals had disappeared in Honduras, and many opposition forces had been executed, an offence for which the Inter-American Human Rights Court had convicted Honduras three times.  The Honduran Government had not assumed its responsibility to explain the situation of the disappeared persons.  Since 1994, children, adolescents and young people had been executed with the pretext that they had been associated with illegal gangs.  The policemen who had killed the children continued to function with total impunity.  Although article 332 of the Penal Code had provided for the principle of innocence, the police were introducing fictitious and illegal evidence against the victims.

Several police officers who had been involved in the killings used different kinds of false evidence against their victims.  Many of the perpetrators had been freed after a brief detention.  A policeman responsible for the killing of 69 persons had been brought back from the United States, but then had been released and continued to enjoy impunity.  The Honduran public administration was among the corrupt administrations of the world, according to one international organization.

GAURI SHANKAR LAL DAS, of National Human Rights Commission (Nepal), said the Commission was facing an uphill task in carrying out its activities amid the escalating conflict between the forces of the Government and the Maoists.  Because of the ongoing conflict, the human rights of the people of Nepal were being gravely affected.  The Commission had been monitoring the situation with special attention to conflict-prone areas, and had been drawing attention to human rights violations both by State and non-State actors.  Its initiatives included advocacy for the uninterrupted flow of medicines and foodstuffs to remote areas and the securing of a commitment from the conflicting parties to designate educational institutions as zones of peace.  Recently the Government had reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the principles of human rights and humanitarian law, and it was hoped that the Government would come out with an effective mechanism for implementing this commitment.

Challenges continued to be faced in protecting the very basic right to life in this situation of conflict, and the concern of the international community and the United Nations was appreciated.  Continued assistance and support was sought.  It was a matter of great concern that the protection of human rights continued to be a challenge in most of the countries of the world.  It was hoped that this meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights would be fruitful in exploring new ways and means for establishing a human rights culture in the world.

LUBNA AL-ANSARI, of Saudi Arabian National Society on Human Rights, said the Society had been launched five weeks ago.  It was an independent body concerned with the promotion and protection of human rights.  It had started operating after being approved by the Custodian of the two holy mosques (the King), on the premise that it would carry out its activities while adhering to the Holy Koran and the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad, and would help to implement article 16 of the Kingdom basic law which stated that the Government would protect human rights in accordance with Islamic Law.

The goals of the Society were to endeavour to promote and protect human rights according to the basic law of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in conformity with international human rights instruments and the standards endorsed by the United Nations and other renowned organizations and agencies; to cooperate and work with international organizations; and to stand against abuse, injustice, violence, torture and intolerance.  The Society was a natural result of the series of reforms now taking place in Saudi Arabia, and it was indicative of the maturity and awareness of Saudi society.  This welcoming and supportive attitude was very stimulating and encouraging, and it was hoped that the credibility of the Society would be maintained in the eyes of citizens and of the Government.

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