Human rights situation in the OPT – CHR/60th session – Summary record (excerpts)

 COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Sixtieth session

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 53rd MEETING

Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,

on Monday, 19 April 2004, at 9 a.m.

Chairperson:     Mr. SMITH    (Australia)

CONTENTS

PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS:

 (a)  STATUS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS 

 (b)   HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

  (c)  INFORMATION AND EDUCATION

 (d)   SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT (continued)

The meeting was called to order at 9.05 a.m.

PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS:

 (a)   STATUS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS

 (b)  HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

 (c)   INFORMATION AND EDUCATION

 (d)  SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT

(agenda item 17) (continued ) (E/CN.4/2004/84-88, 90-93, 94 and Add.1-3, 114 and 121; E/CN.4/2004/G/49; E/CN.4/2004/NGO/5, 15, 66, 77, 98, 106, 112, 123, 126, 149, 198, 207, 210, 229, 243 and 259; A/58/380)

…

20. Ms. BARCIA (World Organization against Torture), also speaking on behalf of the International Federation for Human Rights, expressed concern over the deteriorating situation of human rights defenders, partly because of the impact of counter-terrorism measures. In conflict areas, such as Colombia, Chechnya and Israel, Governments perceived human rights defenders as enemies of the State, and accused them of shielding terrorists. Consequently, a number of defenders in those countries had been detained arbitrarily, killed or impeded in their work. In Zimbabwe, the authorities had used a wide range of legal provisions to silence human rights defenders, in particular by restricting the freedoms of speech, association and assembly. The Commission should urge States to implement the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, and to ensure that counter-terrorism measures complied with international human rights standards.

…

55. Ms. MORALES PALMERO (World Federation of Democratic Youth) said that her organization was fighting for non-privatization of education and health, and against militarism, terrorism and war. The United States military intervention in Iraq and the massacre of Palestinians by the Israeli army showed clearly that Western States failed to practise what they preached in the Commission regarding respect for human rights. She warned countries which ignored the real state of affairs because of threats to suspend financial assistance that the thousands of murdered Iraqi and Palestinian civilians would become an eternal nightmare for those who failed to stand up against war and genocide.

…

The meeting rose at 12.10 p.m.