Oral Statements
GICJ delivered 14 oral statements during the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council including a statement by civil society representative Ms. Fatima Al Ani delivered on behalf of NGOs during the General Segment and several joint oral statements under items 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 of the agenda of the Council. GICJ also delivered two high-level panel statements, one joint statement during the interactive dialogue, and two panel statements. The oral statements which were delivered by GICJ, jointly with other NGOs, can be watched in the next section.
General Segment - 8th meeting, 34th Regular Session Human Rights Council
Statement delivered by Dr. Fatima Al Ani
This statement is intended to bring to the attention of the Council, the concern of the civil society around the world with regard to the negative impacts of the so-called “war on terrorism.”
Since 2001 – the war on terror has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, and destroyed the infrastructure of several countries. However, it has not eliminated terrorism, or terrorist organisations. On the contrary, we have witnessed the emergence of a new criminal terrorist group called ISIL, as well as a number of armed militia groups.
The counter-terrorism military campaigns have provoked political turmoil and killed thousands of civilians in the targeted countries. Yet despite the acknowledged link between the global war on terror, and the surge of violent extremism, world leaders have failed to modify their strategies. With the destruction of several cities in Syria and Iraq just the most recent examples of a disorganised and non-prioritised war on terror.
Mr President, distinguished member,
Our main concern, is that in the modern war on terror, there is no differentiation between armed terrorists and innocent civilians. Thousands of civilians have been trapped in the besieged cities, where humanitarian access is denied, including essential supplies of food and water - resulting in a multitude of deaths. Besides being deprived of basic medical care, education, and housing, they are then continuously subjected to bombing and shelling.
The media has shown disturbing images of women and children, trapped under the bricks of their homes. Yet the international community has failed, again, to halt the international and government-led coalitions from targeting civilian-inhabited areas, and to respect human rights and the humanitarian law.
Even those who manage to escape the fighting are never safe, as they either face persecution by the terrorists, or by governmental forces and their affiliated militias. If captured alive, they are at risk of being tortured or subjected to the most cruel and degrading punishment.
Mr President,
While we are aware of the threat that terrorism poses to the world, we do not think it should be dealt with by aggressive military intervention and the violation of human rights. On the contrary, a comprehensive strategy should be developed, in order to address the root causes of this global crisis. Alongside this, a development plan should be enacted, and measures should be taken to fight corruption, which has deprived the people of their basic rights.
Finally, we cannot defeat terrorism by the creation of unlawful militias, whose actions are casting doubt on who is the real terror threat. Instead of fostering hatred and sectarian discrimination, we must strengthen the affected societies and invest in education, health, and fighting unemployment.
It should be recognised that although States are sovereign to undertake their own counterterrorism measures, they have an equal duty to maintain and uphold their human rights obligations. Any deviations must, and shall, be accounted for.
General debate on Item 2: Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
Statement delivered by Lisa-Marlen Gronemeier
Thank you,
This is a joint statement by EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice.
We appreciate the reports and oral updates by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
We would like to express our serious concerns regarding the grave systematic human rights violations by the Iranian government.
We are alarmed by the continuous persecution and abuse of ethnic and religious minorities in Iran and in the region. The groups targeted by the government include the Hazaras, Pashtuns, Balochs, Azeris, Baha’is, and ethnic Arabs on its soil. Furthermore, every attempt at peacefully denouncing these violations results in more people injured or killed. Particularly disturbing is the treatment of ethnic Arabs in Al-Ahwaz province. They are subjected to various human right violations, from forced displacement to mass killing, including denial of the right to education and to access to healthcare.
Under the pretext of fighting Daesh, Iran has put in place a militarised security structure to export the so called "Islamic revolution" which results in terrorising non-Shiites in the neighbouring countries. The Iranian government provides support to the armed groups in Lebanon, the Popular Mobilization militia in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen and similar sectarian groups in Syria. It is well-known that these parties commit serious crimes against the civilian population.
Iran should stop implementing its sectarian agenda in the Middle East as it aggravates the tensions and further violates human rights in several countries. The international community should take effective measures in this regard.
General Debate on Item 3 - Promotion and Protection of all Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Including the Right to Development.
Statement delivered by Ms. Alice Wickens
Thank you Mr President.
This is a joint statement by EAFORD, International-Lawyers.org and Geneva International Centre for Justice. We ask the Council to remember that in ten days time, the people of Iraq will commemorate 14 years since the illegal invasion and destruction of their country by the United States and its allies.
The aggression towards the people of Iraq was against a sovereign State, which was one of the founding Members of the United Nations. Beyond the deaths of a reliably estimated 1.5 million Iraqi people, it has since affected all of their fundamental rights. As a result, even in 2017, Iraqi’s are still being deprived of their most basic needs.
Before sanctions were imposed in 1991, Iraq’s health and education systems were among the most developed in the world. Today, with its schools and universities leveled, illiteracy has become higher in Iraq than it was 25-years-ago, unemployment is increasing, and hospitals lack basic drugs, equipment, and health professionals.
Iraqis only want what most people anywhere want - education, a good job, and a safe home to raise their children. Iraqis have the right to truth, the right to justice and the right to reparations. How many more years must pass, how many more Iraqis blood must be shed, and how much more must conditions of life deteriorate, before this Council takes action to insist on the accountability of those who caused these human rights atrocities? We ask you, please do not let it be another 14 years before the Council breaks its silence.
Thank you
Panel Discussion on Climate Change and the Rights of the Child
Statement delivered by Mr. Mutua Kobia
Thank you Mr. Vice-President,
This is a joint statement by EAFORD with Geneva International Centre for Justice.
We thank the panelists for their presentations and especially for integrating a human rights-based approach to climate change. Climate change is directly and indirectly linked to all human rights issues. The rights of the child and climate change are intrinsically related in a myriad of ways, most notably, physical and mental health of children, their development, exposure to disease, housing and education among others.
Agricultural based communities rely heavily dependent on predictable and stable weather patterns. Constant droughts abate traditional farmers’ and indigenous communities’ access to grazing lands and clean water. In Kenya, rising average temperatures and unpredictable rain patterns accelerates desertification making shelter and nutritious food sparse for children. As well, in Bangladesh, groundwater depletion, exacerbated by climate change, unfavourably reduces food production and nutrition for children. Water availability and quality will also be adversely affected.
Furthermore, this phenomenon adds to the loss of livestock and cattle, a main source of income for pastoral and agricultural livelihoods; hence, families and communities are unable to generate capital to sustain their children in terms of food, schooling, or ensuring their security and access to adequate health care services as per the Convention of the Rights of the Child.
Climate change also adds the dimension of “food stability and systems” in that changes in climate and weather upsets the stability of people’s and government’s food security strategies generating inconsistent and inadequate, availability and utilisation of nutritious food towards children.
We recommend to:
- Address children from agriculturally based communities who are negatively affected by climate change;
- Provide necessary and relevant safe havens and appropriate and accessible education to children on the phenomenon of climate change;
- Provide adequate, regular, and nutritious food to children affected by climate change through community food banks close to affected livelihoods;
- Engage and involve children and young people in the climate change dialogue.
We thank you
Interactive Dialogue with the Commission on South Sudan
Statement delivered by Mutua Kobia
Thank you Mr. Vice-President,
Grave human rights violations in South Sudan persists and spreads to previously unaffected areas where farmers are expelled from their residence and more civilians are discriminately targeted, attacked, and killed based on ethnicity and/or allegiance as indicated in numerous reports.
Property, homes, humanitarian goods, livestock, farming land, and villages are looted and torched. Escalating severity and scale of sexual violence, rape, and gang rape on women and girls by warring parties cause severe mental and emotional breakdowns and trauma. Victims were selected by ethnicity or allegiance regardless of age while perpetrators enjoyed impunity.
Altogether, reported crimes constitute ‘genocide’ as defined under Articles 1a through c of the ‘Convention on Genocide’ warranting immediate peaceful action and justice in solidarity with South Sudanese people. Notwithstanding atrocities and difficulties in bringing about peace, acknowledgement of on-the-ground peace, reconciliation, and empowerment organizations and programs is essential.
Accountability is two-fold; the UN and global community must protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable. To reiterate Stephen O’Brien of OCHA, further reports on violations are futile; action or non-action will be testament to our efficacy, responsibility, and worth.
NGO signatories to this statement recommend:
The South Sudanese government:
• To uphold the “Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan” for immediate and permanent Cease-fire;
• Ensure all South Sudanese women their right to be actively involved in and engaged with the peace process, especially at the discussion and decision-making table for a gender-responsive peace agreement;
• Enforce Geneva Convention (IV) relative to “Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.” specifically Article 27 for protection of women against sexual violence and Increase security on sites of refuge;
That the Council:
• Pressure all relevant parties to impose immediate arms embargo as in Annex of Security Council Resolution 2304; including targeted sanctions and freezing of assets that fund the war;
• Enhance psychosocial and mental health care services for victims of all trauma;
That the Commission and international community:
• Reach out, support, and engage local grass roots peace and reconciliation organizations, projects, and forums.
High Level Panel Discussion: Human Rights Situation in the Syrian Arab Republic
Statement delivered by Ms. Giulia Squadron
Thank you Mr. President
This is a joint statement by EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice
Our organisations are dismayed by the consequences of the bloody conflict that has been tearing Syria apart for almost six years. All parties have breached international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and have provoked unthinkable suffering to the civilian population. Thousands of people have died, millions have fled the country, many more are internally displaced, and the majority of the population is suffering for the lack of basic infrastructures.
The gravity and scope of human rights violations committed by all actors involved in the conflict have reached new lows, and urgent actions are needed to prevent a complete destruction of the country. The future of Syria and its inhabitants depends on the ability of the international community to acknowledge that the pretext of combatting terrorism cannot be used to indiscriminately hit civilian-inhabited areas and deploy weapons of mass destruction. Even the countries claiming to be intervening following the request of the government should be held accountable for the violations they continue to commit on a daily basis.
Civilians suffer the dramatic consequences of the use of cluster munitions, barrel bombs and incendiary weapons, which are extremely inaccurate and provoke substantial damages in widespread areas. The destruction of entire villages and the blockage of humanitarian convoys is further deteriorating the situation: millions of people are deprived of basic supplies, including water, food and health care, and the conditions of life in the IDPs and refugee’s camps are below all international standards.
While we welcome the new recent rounds of peace talks, we wish to express our deepest concerns for the conditions of the millions of Syrians internally displaced and for those who are forced to leave their country. We call on this Council and all Member States to take immediate measures to prevent security and opposition forces as well as militias from breaching international law and international human rights law. We further urge the Syrian government to provide immediate redress to all victims and to allow humanitarian convoys to reach all areas.
Thank you
General Debate Item 4: Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention
Statement delivered by Ms. Giulia Squadrin
Thank you Mr. President,
This is a joint statement by International Lawyers and Geneva International Centre for Justice.
March 20 will be the anniversary of one of the darkest events of our modern history. On that date, in 2003, a coalition led by the United States initiated an unlawful war against Iraq, which resulted in a destructive occupation. We want to ask to everyone in this room, when will these issues become part of the Council’s agenda?
The US-led invasion has created a political, social and economic turmoil in Iraq. The entity of the destruction and the illegality of the occupation have become apparent. Yet, justice, reparation and accountability have not been granted.
Accountability is crucial for two reasons: Iraqi victims should receive compensation and reparation for the crimes and violations endured, and the international community should show that no State can act above the law without bearing responsibility for its acts. Iraqi civilians should receive official apologies, and the invading powers should provide financial and structural compensations: hospitals, education buildings and public structures should be rebuilt, and adequate funding should be allocated for the depuration of the environment where depleted uranium and toxic agents have been inconsiderately used.
Finally, the international community should acknowledge that the political and institutional vacuum created by the U.S. actions in Iraq has facilitated the emergence of the brutal Iraqi militias. The reparation process should include the condemnation of such actions and the effective investigations of the violations perpetrated.
Thank you
General Debate Item 4: Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention
Statement delivered by Ms Alice Wickens
Thank you Mr. President,
This is a joint statement by EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice.
In 5 days time, the people of Iraq will commemorate 14 years since the illegal invasion and occupation of their country by the United States and its allies. Yet while those responsible are free to earn millions of dollars as after dinner speakers, this Council should not forget the 1.5 million innocent Iraqi’s who died as a result. Nor should we forget the devastation and instability it has caused to Iraq.
Mr President,
There aren’t many things which are more corrosive to democracy than impunity. Yet, so far, the international community has failed to hold those responsible to account, and 14 years later, it must still be asked, where is the justice for Iraq?
This war was waged on a false pretext, on one of the founding members of the UN. It left behind a devastated country, and a shattered society. It caused not only deaths, but total destruction, whereby schools, hospitals and homes were leveled. It also created a power vacuum that has fuelled and spread terrorism across the region, with ISIS now ensuring there is no end to the suffering of the Iraqi people.
But in 2017, an official apology has never been delivered, an adequate compensation has never been paid, and responsibility has never been taken. The Iraqi people deserve truth, they deserve justice, and they deserve reparations - and for the sake of an entire nation, it is high time the Council takes action.
Thank you.
Panel Discussion on Racial Profiling: Debate on Racial Profiling and Incitement to Hatred, Including in the Context of Migration
Statement delivered by Mr Mutua Kobia
Thank you Mr. President,
This is a joint statement by EAFORD with International-lawyers.org and the Geneva International Centre for Justice.
The current worldwide migration phenomenon is linked to a myriad of human rights issues. It is imperative to address root causes as well as current drivers of mass migration, such as environmental degradation, climate change, and types of conflict to better understand and manage migration flows. Among migrants and refugees, children, women and people with disabilities are most vulnerable, and most targeted regarding abuses and violence. Additional burdens include race, ethnicity, and religion.
Promotion of best practices and added values, such as valuable knowledge and experience, various skill sets, and culture of migrants can curtail and eliminate racial profiling, hatred, xenophobia, racism, discrimination and intolerance towards migrants. As well, enhancing and encouraging quality and accurate human rights education and of the host countries’ local norms and laws, practices and cultural values towards migrants and refugees ensures raised awareness and familiarity of their host environment and lifestyle.
To better protect migrants, we must keep in hindsight that migration and integration, migrants and hosts are in and of themselves two-fold and interrelated.
To the members of the Council, we recommend pursuant to several human rights laws and obligations:
- Provide quality human rights education and training for border patrols and law enforcement and increase international communication and cooperation on border control and management;
- Provide accessible education and information on local norms and laws to migrants and refugees upon arrival;
- Promote two-way education and learning by establishing migrant cultural hubs as platforms for communication and assistance with integration;
- Provide opportunities for migrants and refugees to exercise their freedom and right of being active participants in society including peace and reconciliation processes;
- Convene close collaborative work with the SR on torture regarding the link between migrants and torture;
- Provide adequate and appropriate specialized health care services for victims of abuses and crimes on transit;
Thank you
General Debate on Item 6: Universal Periodic Review Outcome
Statement delivered by Ms. Lisa-Marlen Gronemier.
Mr. President,
This is a joint statement by EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice.
Half a century has elapsed since Israel established its brutal occupation of Palestine and seven decades have passed since the Palestinian Nakba. Since then, all efforts by the international community to effectively address Israeli violations, including Palestinian inalienable rights, are consistently undermined by Israel’s non-cooperation.
After having failed to appear in the UPR of January 2013, Israel’s subsequent actions were marked by non-compliance. Contrary to recommendations, Israel consistently fails to cooperate with human rights mechanisms and to recognize and abide by its international obligations as Occupying Power.
Israel rejected all recommendations containing the term “State of Palestine” – an absurd move that reflects Israel’s longstanding, strategic, and organized negation of Palestinian legitimate national claims. In direct contravention to UPR recommendations, Israel persists in its illegal occupation, including the suffocating Gaza blockade, and subjects Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line to a system of apartheid and institutionalized discrimination affecting all spheres of life. In breach of UPR recommendations, Israel has issued anti-democratic laws and increasingly persecutes human rights defenders, including Jewish Israeli dissidents, as public enemies.
Israel’s complete disregard of UPR recommendations renders its contempt for human rights blatant. The international community must now take forcible measures to compel Israel to cease its violations and to hold Israel accountable for its complete intransigence and disrespect for all of its obligations to give way to real democracy and just peace in the region.
General Debate Item 7: Human Rights Situation in Palestine and Other Cccupied Arab Territories
Statement delivered by Mr. Naser Abuhammoud.
Thank you Mr. President,
This is a joint statement submitted by EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ). I speak to you today in my capacity as the representative of the Dawabsheh family, from the village of Doma in Palestine.
On the evening of 31st July 2015, the eighteen-month old infant Ali and his five year old brother Ahmed, were sleeping in peace when Israeli armed men had entered and threw a ‘Molotov cocktail’ explosion in their bedroom- the perpetrator had been part of an Israeli terrorist organization called ‘Tag-mehir’ comprised of aggressive colonizers. While this had been taking place, the parents had tried hard to save their children, but the room had immediately caught fire that was too spread out and intense for them to re-enter the scene. As a result, the body of the child was viciously burned not leaving much of what was left of him to save, causing his instant death after much torture. Whereas, his brother Ahmed had been severely injured with 60% of his body covered in burns. This child, who dreamed of living with his family like all the other4 children of the world in peace and security, became a dream that death would take him to meet again with his brother Ali whom he had cherished dearly.
Honourable Council,
This brutal crime shows the extent to which the violence of settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in the absence of responsibility and accountability for human rights violations as such. The need for accountability and redress for those who have suffered as victims of these violations is paramount, for it is because of these criminal acts that incitement to hatred and violence from political and religious leaders is fueled.
Mr. President, distinguished delegates of the international community,
We want our people to live in security, dignity and the peoples of the world. We strongly urge the council to take effective and urgent steps and call upon the international community to support the appraisal to stop the Israeli illegal settlements and ensure the safety and security of the Palestinian people and children.
General Debate Item 9: Racism, Racial discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Forms of Intolerance, Follow-Up to and Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
Statement delivered by Ms. Lisa-Marlen Gronemier.
Thank you Mr. President,
This is a joint statement with International-Lawyers and Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ).
International-Lawyers.Org views the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as the guiding international instrument for the global action against discrimination. We welcome the High Commissioner’s report requested by the Council under its resolution 31/26 (document 34/35), but we regret the failure of the OHCHR to prepare and submit at this session the Report of the 14th Session of the Inter-Governmental Working Group on the Implementation of the DDPA.
We must leave no doubt that the goals of DDPA, which the United Nations Member States adopted, must be achieved. Indeed, the DDPA is the guide for the global struggle against discrimination. For this reason, we express our concern at the fact that this Council has ignored the UN General Assembly’s call in its Resolution 71/181, paragraph 23, that the Human Rights Council consider at this, its thirty-fourth session, and I quote paragraph 23, “developing a multi-year programme of activities to provide for the renewed and strengthened outreach activities needed to inform and mobilize the global public in support of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and to strengthen awareness of the contribution that they have made in the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.” (end quotes) We urge the Council to respond to the General Assembly’s invitation and to urgently prepare a multi-year programme of activities as just described without further delay.
General Debate Item 9: Racism, Racial discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Forms of Intolerance, Follow-Up to and Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
Statement delivered by Mr. Mutua Kobia
Thank you Mr. President,
This is a joint statement by EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice.
We believe that it is high time to implement the programme of activities set forth in the International Decade for People of African Descent, particularly on capacity-building, empowerment, and awareness raising. In past years there have been numerous consultations but not enough substantive results. The more time given to discussions on informalities, language, and other such matters we forget there are people relying on our diligent support and protection.
There is a shared concern over the lack of activities and mandate of the independent experts and the working group. Moreover, we fail to see the relevance of an eminent independent expert as they lack resources, have no secretariat support and do not hold annual meetings.
While the addition of a forum, as discussed in recent meetings, may be of added value we must take into consideration implementation strategies. Civil society organisations are particularly concerned whether relevant parties to the establishment and modalities of the forum are prepared to provide the necessary funding for its proper functioning. Additional costs must be considered and co-sponsors to the Durban Declaration must be ready to cover such costs if the forum is even to be discussed at this point.
Lastly, more attention must be paid to the visibility of the International Decade, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and people of African descent through various types of media, campaigns, and promotion of already published materials.
Thank you
General Debate Item 10: Technical Assistance and Capacity-Building
Statement delivered by Ms. Alice Wickens
Thank you,
This is a joint statement by EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice.
We wish to thank the High Commissioner for his update on Yemen. Our organisations remain deeply concerned about the dramatic worsening of the conditions on the ground, and moreover, by the failure of the international community to take effective measures in this regard.
Today, the escalation of the conflict has provoked an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Yemen, only worsened by the famine and the shortage of food supplies. To date, more than 4 in 5 Yemenis need some type of humanitarian assistance, 28 million people are short of food, and 1 in 5 children are now underdeveloped because of chronic malnutrition. This is a result of the decimation of water and sanitation infrastructures during the conflict, the restrictions on imports which have caused a water and fuel shortage, and the extremely limited access to health care and functioning hospitals.
Furthermore, Iran, which was accused of initiating the conflict by arming and funding al-Houthi militias, still remains deeply involved in Yemen, and is hindering the achievement of peaceful settlements. The international community must take all the necessary measures to stop such an illegal interference.
Finally, we believe it is important to enhance the effectiveness of the existing human rights monitoring mechanisms in Yemen, and we urge all Member States to take action to alleviate the civilians’ suffering.
