Day two round-up
Special Rapporteurs on freedom of religion and on truth and justice
In the morning session States and NGOs discussed the reports of the Special Rapporteurs (SR) on
truth and justice and on
freedom of religion. The SR on freedom of religion, Ahmed Shaheed, used the presentation of his first report since taking over the mandate to stress the importance of non-discrimination and hit back at State claims that his mandate should not cover violations against minorities, particularly LGBTI people, citing
Article 5 of the ICCPR. While it was not referenced in the debate, Shaheed’s report noted that children, persons deprived of their liberty, LGBTI people and others are particularly vulnerable to discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, and noted that children's freedom of religion is frequently violated by State and non-State actors. Shaheed also addressed violence carried out in the name of religion and countering violent extremism, particularly involving children, indicating that we can expect to hear more from the SR on this topic during his mandate.The SR on truth and justice Pablo de Greiff noted in his report the huge disparity in the way former combatants and victims are treated, calling for demobilisation and reintegration of combatants to be fully funded.
The SRs were quickly met with State responses ranging from thoughtful and considered to the more puzzling. After thanks from Denmark and the United Kingdom for the work of the SRs, both the
United States and
China took the time to explain their excellence in promoting freedom of religion and tolerance, which seemed to fool nobody present. The representative of Palestine noted that Israel continues to block its citizens from accessing holy sites and highlighted a new law aiming to curtail the use of the Muslim call to prayer based on its noise. Several States and NGOs including Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Switzerland took the time to discuss their approach to truth, justice, reparation and non-recurrence and to commend the SR on the quality of his report.
Special Representatives of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children and Children and Armed Conflict
The SRSG on Violence Against Children, Marta Santos Pais, presented her annual report to the Human Rights Council, and focused on the opportunities provided by the target to end all forms of violence against children under the SDGs. The report also built upon the findings of the UN study on violence against children and celebrated the fact that more States have moved to ban all forms of violence against children. Santos Pais’ report also highlighted the massive global problem of bullying, with a joint poll conducted with UNICEF finding that nine out of 10 children surveyed considered bullying to be a major problem in their lives.
Leila Zerrougui, the SRSG on Children in Armed Conflict also presented her report to the Human Rights Council, marking the final time she will address the Council during her mandate. Zerrougui noted the impact of conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria on children, reporting that 104 grave violations of children’s rights were recorded in the final quarter of 2016. The SRSG commented that despite some cause for hope due to increased cooperation from States there were still several ongoing conflicts in which the level of cruelty remains “unthinkable”. The SRSG urged all countries to allow access to water, food and basic medical care in countries in conflict and particularly highlighted the risk to girls in the form of sexual violence, trafficking and denial of education when they are affected by conflict.
Several States responded to the reports by thanking both SRSGs and many took the opportunity to speak up in favour of the Safe Schools Declaration, noting that protecting education helps shield children from effects of armed conflict. Argentina called on all States to endorse the declaration, and invited them to the second international conference on the declaration taking place on 28-29 March in Buenos Aires. The representative of Sudan intervened to thank Zerrougui for her visit in March last year and reiterated Sudan’s commitment to protecting children in conflict.
Norway asked how States can best reintegrate children who have been involved in armed conflict, while the United States questioned how States could improve mechanisms that allow children to report rights violations they have experienced. Several States commented on detention and the impact of bullying of children, including Cuba and Switzerland. Finally, South Africa highlighted the impunity of non-State actors and asked how international human rights law can be used to challenge violations carried out by businesses, such as those committed by private security companies that recruit children to be soldiers.
Special Rapporteurs on privacy and on the sale of children
With the debate considerably behind schedule the Special Rapporteurs on privacy and on the sale of children took the floor to present their reports to the Council. SR on privacy, Joseph Cannataci’s first report focused primarily on government surveillance and criticised western democratic States he considered to be “leaders in the field”, such as the UK and the United States for failing to properly justify sweeping surveillance powers. He went on to discuss the importance of developing internationally recognised terminology and providing adequate oversight to those conducting surveillance.
The Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, presented her report on international adoption. The SR explained that the targets of illegal adoption tend to be mothers in precarious situations, often in rural environments with little education, and said that States of origin and receiving States needed to accept their responsibility when illegal international adoption takes place.
Side events
Side events took up some of the more controversial issues discussed during the day. The Sexual Rights Initiative hosted an event highlighting the importance of comprehensive sexuality education which has children’s interests at heart. The panel of speakers included Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kate Gilmore, who called on States to develop comprehensive sexuality education programmes as a matter of urgency. Gilmore explained that such programmes were required because of children’s right to access appropriate information, and because it would help improve the realisation of children’s right to health. Benedicte Storm, a youth advisor to the permanent mission of Denmark in Geneva, highlighted the importance of comprehensive sexuality education in dispelling myths about the roles of gender and sexuality in children and young people and explained how she was helping her country engage with young people in developing their strategies on health, human rights and humanitarian affairs. Nomtika Mjwana, a representative of the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition, added examples from South Africa, including a question from a sex education textbook which asked children to explain why a girl was raped, which rewarded victim-blaming with marks. Mjwana’s calls for sex-positive education were echoed by Dr Chandra-Mouli from the World Health Organization, as he underscored the importance of age-appropriate information and the complementary role of parents and teachers in educating children about their sexuality.
Tomorrow at the Human Rights Council
Tomorrow at the Human Rights Council will see more interactive dialogues as the Special Rapporteur on privacy and on the sale of children continue the discussion of their reports to the Council. Afterwards the SRs on human rights and toxics and on the right to food will present their joint report addressing the dangers of pesticides to health and the environment. The side events listed below will also take place throughout the day and CRIN will check in and provide summaries on the children’s rights-related discussions.
Side events:
The impact on children of attacks on health care in situations of armed conflict - 10.30-12pm Room XXIV, Palais des Nations, Geneva
Children and terrorism - 12-1.30pm, Room XXVI. Palais des Nations, Geneva
Tackling illegal adoptions and addressing the rights of victims - 12-1.30pm, Room XXI. Palais des Nations, Geneva
Implementation of the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty - 2-3.30pm, Room XXIV. Palais des Nations, Geneva
What are the concrete implications for ending violence against children at national and local levels? - 4.30-6.30pm, Room XXIII. Palais des Nations, Geneva
When the CRIN team formulated bingo cards to chart the jargon and human rights terminology being used at HRC34 there was one word we honestly couldn’t have predicted: Shenanigans. While we might have expected such a word to come from a playful NGO or an off duty diplomat it was Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy Joseph Cannataci who uttered that brilliant word while addressing the Council.
The United States also deserves an honourable mention for their shenanigans today, having expressed their commitment to tolerance and freedom of religion barely a month after the man they were addressing (the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion, Ahmed Shaheed) issued a statement on a “
clearly discriminatory” travel ban introduced by their President, which Shaheed termed “deeply troubling”.
