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Summary: The following are brief summaries based on the press releases issued after the Special Procedures Country Visits 2007.
ANGOLA Asma Jahangir is the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and made the visit to the Republic of Angola. In Luanda, Asma Jahangir visited the National Institute of the Child, among other groups, members of civil society and NGOs. In a statement, the Special Rapporteur expressed the following concern, among others: This and other issues and recommendations will be part of the Special Rapporteur’s final report, which should be presented to the Human Rights Council in March 2008. BOLIVIA No specific mention was made to child rights, but discrimination generally against indigenous peoples in Bolivia is seen as a major problem, particularly with regards to women. BRAZIL The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary of arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, made the visit to Brazil. He met with a wide range of officials, members of civil society and NGOs and victims, witnesses and families of executed persons. Amongst the Special Rapporteur’s concerns were: In the final report, the Special Rapporteur will make a number of specific recommendations regarding how the criminal justice system should be reformed so as to effectively prosecute extrajudicial recommendations. CUBA The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler, will elaborate a report on his findings which will be presented during the seventh session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2008. No specific mention has been made to child rights, although the Special Rapporteur did visit health care centres for pregnant women whilst in Cuba. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC The United Nations Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Mr Doudou Diene, and the UN Independent Expert on minority issues, Ms Gay McDougall, concluded a week long visit to the Dominican Republic, during which they consulted with many senior government representatives, members of civil society and community members, academics and students, political parties, media and others. Among their concerns are: “Young people who were born in Dominican Republic of Haitian parents spoke of their concerns regarding their ability to attend university since they are unable to obtain the required Cedula. Some expressed deep frustration and anger over their treatment noting that they wanted to study, work and make a full contribution to Dominican society but are being prevented from doing so. The Independent Expert and the Special Rapporteur will present their findings and recommendations to a forthcoming session of the Human Rights Council. ESTONIA HONDURAS The Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo, visited Honduras from 25th – 30th November 2007. Mr Ligabo gave a summary of the main preliminary findings of the visit and will present a report to the Human Rights Council, which will include detailed observations and recommendations, addressing all the issues and concerns in greater detail. There was no specific mention of child rights. RUSSIA SRI LANKA This Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Walter Kälin, conducted an eight-day mission to Sri Lanka. While there was no specific mention of child rights, Mr Kalin expressed concern about the issues of security, livelihoods and humanitarian access with regards to IDPs in Sri Lanka in general. Further information
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF (20-27 November 2007)
“Witchcraft is widespread in Angola and neighbouring countries. It is historical and valued as a part of many traditional beliefs. However, some negative manifestations of it have crept into a number of religions and beliefs adding sanctity to adverse practices leading to abuses of human rights. The phenomenon of children who are accused of being witches by their families has significantly increased in recent years. I interviewed children who were subjected to different forms of abuse by priests or traditional healers under the guise of treatment, having been ostracized by their families and communities. I was very much encouraged by the leadership assumed by the National Children's Institute, together with UNICEF, to address this problem. In my report I will look forward to further cooperation from the Government of Angola and UNICEF in light of recommendations I will be submitting in my report. I do however note that further human rights education is required, together with a strengthening of the criminal justice system, to bring to justice those who abuse children.”
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (25 November - 6 December 2007)
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON EXTRAJUDICIAL, SUMMARY OR ARBITRARY EXECUTIONS (14 November 2007)
“Homicide is now the leading cause of death for persons aged 15-44 years. For some time now there have been 45,000-50,000 homicides committed every year in Brazil. Victims are overwhelmingly young, male, black, and poor.
“Nineteen individuals died in the so-called "mega-operation" that took place on 27 June 2007 involving some 1,350 police in the Complexo do Alemão community of Rio de Janeiro. I interviewed the relatives of eight of those victims and reviewed a range of other reports on the incident. I also spoke with those responsible for directing the operation and to the officers at the police station that is responsible for investigating the killings. They provided me with no evidence that any sustained investigation has been undertaken. They confidently asserted that nearly all of those killed had criminal records. This "fact" could not have been known positively to the police when they killed the individuals. The assertion was firmly denied in statements made to me by families of victims in several of the cases, including that of the killing of a 14 year old boy. And, even if each of the victims had had a criminal record, the appropriate response is arrest not execution. The investigators have apparently failed to ascertain which police fired even a single one of the shots, and have not reconstructed the circumstances in which each of the 19 died. (Their response to these deaths in Complexo do Alemão appears to be typical: The officers I spoke with could not recall that station ever having ever concluded that a single case in which a policeman alleged that he had lawfully killed in response to a suspect's violent resistance was actually a homicide.)”
UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPPORTEUR ON RIGHT TO FOOD (28 October – 6 November 2007)
UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON RACISM AND MINORITY ISSUES (29th October 2007)
“The issue of documentation emerged as a major concern for Haitian migrants and those Dominicans of Haitian descent. Many described being left in a 'legal limbo' following the Immigration Act of 2004 and subsequent directives for such key issues as birth registration and provision of Identification Documents (Cedulas). Without exception those Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent that the Experts interviewed spoke of their difficulties in obtaining documents, registering their children or gaining copies of previously issued documents, and their fear that their previous legal status could be revoked. Many commented that "circular 17" relating to "suspicious documents" allows low level officials to question or confiscate documents belonging to blacks and those of Haitian descent and that instructions had been given to officials to that effect. Valid identity documents are crucial to accessing a wide variety of rights which many feel are now being arbitrarily withheld from them, such as access to university and the opportunity to find skilled work.
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE SALE OF CHILDREN (October - November 2007) -postponed until 2008
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF OPINION AND EXPRESSION (25–30 November 2007)
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGES AND LAWYERS – postponed to May 2008 (to be confirmed)
RSG INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (14-21 December 2007)
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