UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

4th Session
12-30 March 2007

POSITION PAPER

FIDH
17, Passage de la Main d'Or – 75011 Paris, France – Phone +33 1 43 55 2518, fax, +33 1 43 55 1880
fidh@fidh.org www.fidh.org

Fédération internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme

Délégation permanente auprès des Nations Unies à Genève
c/o Maison des Associations, 15, rue des Savoises – 1205 Genève, Suisse
Tel : 0041 (0) 22 700 12 88 Fax : 0041 (0) 22 321 54 88
 SOMMAIRE

GEOGRAPHIC PRIORITIES

Africa

• Guinea Conakry 5
• Central African Republic 6
• Democratic Republic of Congo 8
• Sudan / Darfur 10

Americas

• Colombia 12
• Cuba 14
• Guatemala 16
• United States of America 18

Asia and Middle East

• Myanmar 20
• People's Republic of China 22
• Philippines 24
• Islamic Republic of Iran 26
• Occupied Palestinian Territories 28

Europe

• Russian Federation 30
• Uzbekistan 32

THEMATIC PRIORITIES

• Business and Human rights 34

• Human rights Defenders 36
• Women’s rights 38
 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

INTRODUCTION oriented outcome should aim at improving the human

rights situation of the country reviewed.

On the occasion of 4th session of UN Human Rights Main recommendations

Council, the present position paper documents the Following these objectives, the present report documents
priorities of the International Federation for Human Rights the human rights situations of some countries where FIDH
(FIDH), for which we would require the UN Human considers that there has been a significant degradation,
Rights Council to act. The session should pursue three requiring a reaction of the United Nations. HRC member
main objectives. States should echo these concerns, either in supporting
resolutions on these countries or voicing their
Assessment of human rights violations worldwide preoccupation during the interactive debates.
This session will be the second occasion, since September
2006, to debate the situation of human rights violations We would hence require the Council to condemn inter alia
throughout the world, from both country and thematic the massive human rights violations that have occured in
perspectives. Darfur and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well
as both governments' non-acceptance into the country of
Echo the voices of the victims the High-Level Missions of the Human Rights Council.
FIDH wishes that the work of this session, members of the Should these countries repeatedly refuse to comply with
Human Rights Council will be led by an untarnished Special sessions requests for visits, FIDH believes the
commitment to echo the voices of the victims of human Council should envisage sanctions.
rights violations, the voices of the voiceless. When
freedom to defend human rights is repressed, when people Repression and torture continues in Uzbekistan, and the
are killed or imprisoned solely for having exercised their Uzbek government failed once again to cooperate
rights, victims and persons concerned need to know that satisfactorily with the 1503 independent expert. As a
they can turn to the international community, and that the consequence the procedure should become public. FIDH
Human Rights Council will hear these voices, giving full also calls for a public condemnation of the increasing
significance to the protection mandate with which they are repression in Iran through the adoption of a resolution.
entrusted.
FIDH also urges the Human Rights Council to maintain
Pursue institutional building the different country mandates, as for each situation, the
The session will also be an opportunity to pursue the perpetuation of significant and grave human rights
discussion around the creation of the review of mandates, violations requires to do so. In particular FIDH calls for the
i.e. the Special Procedures, and the Universal Periodic maintaining of the independent expert on the Sudan and on
Review (UPR). For the Special Procedures, FIDH believes the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, as well as
that there should be an increased possibility to interact with of the full mandate of OHCHR in Colombia.
the differents sessions of the Council, a nomination
procedure which strengthens and guarantees against State Ethnic repression is continuing in Myanmar as well as
interference, and that their mandate should be reinforced forced labour, and following the impossibility for the UN
through an increased condemnation of States who refuse to to obtain a satisfactory evolution form the Burmese
cooperate with them. Concerning the Code of Conduct, authorities, FIDH calls for a special session of the HRC to
this should not include methods of work, and it should be held on this situation.
ensure that the responsibilities of States are also
highlighted in the Code, e.g. sanctions or removal from FIDH calls for the HRC to thoroughly debate and act upon
the Council should States continuously fail to cooperate the situations of the People's Republic of China and the
with the Special Procedures. Russian Federation, as repression of human rights
defenders, the rule of law, and freedom of expression
As for the UPR, as stated on numeros occasions, FIDH continues in impunity.
calls for States participating in these negociations to be
guided by the objective of strengthening their mandate to Public condemnation should also occur on the killings of
protect from human rights violations. This means, in legal left groups and peasants in the Philippines; on the
pratice, that the UPR should be action oriented, and killings at the beginning of 2007 in Guinea with the intent
performed on the basis of thorough reports from to suppress the local population who were peacefully
independent sources, including Special Procedures, Treaty demonstrating for their rights – in this respect, the Council
Bodies and NGOs. The UPR should not be an isolated should support the Hign Commissioner's call for an
review, but should be interrelated to existing monitoring international fact finding mission. The Council should also
mechanisms and be based on implementing their condemn the grave human rights violations and
recommendations. NGOs should be able to participate at humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic, as
all stages of the review. Independent experts should be well as the killings of women (feminicide) in Guatemala.
involved at all stages of the review, and a concrete action- The United States of America continues to violate human

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FIDH position paper

rights by holding detainees in Guantanamo in arbitrary

conditions, and is also responsible for torture of detainees.

From a thematic perspective, FIDH calls for the renewal of

all the mandates that were to expire this year, in particular
the mandate of the UN Special Representatve on the
Protection of Human Rights Defenders. We also call for
particular attention to be brought on States who
repeatetedly refuse to cooporate with UN Special
Procedures.

FIDH supports the continuation of the mandate of the

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on
Transnational Corporations and Human Rights, and
believes that the responsibilities of States should be
clarified, and if necessary expanded in order to meet the
need to effectively protect victim's rights. FIDH asks for
the Council to request the Representative to highlight the
obligation of States to protect human rights they are bound
to comply with, both within their national territory and
extra-territorially.

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FIDH position paper

Les événements ont également été condamnés à plusieurs

AFRICA reprises par plusieurs instances internationales, et
notamment par le Secrétaire général de l'ONU M. Ban Ki-
1. GUINEE CONAKRY moon (22 janvier et 13 février), le Directeur général de
l'Organisation internationale du travail M. Juan Somavia
La FIDH et son organisation affiliée, l'Organisation (12 février 2007), et la Haut Commissaire aux droits de
guinéenne des droits de l'Homme (OGDH), l'Homme Mme Louise Arbour (24 janvier et 13 février),
recommandent au Conseil des droits de l'Homme laquelle a également demandé qu'une commission
d'adopter une résolution condamnant les violations internationale d'enquête soit dépêchée en Guinée.
graves des droits de l'Homme commises en République
de Guinée et appelant à la mise en place d'une En relayant ces préconisations, le Conseil des droits de
Commission internationale d'enquête. l'Homme contribuera à une éventuelle sortie de crise
durable et à la prévention de nouvelles violations graves
Le 10 janvier 2007, les syndicats guinéens soutenus par la des droits de l'Homme.
société civile ont débuté une grève générale fondée sur des
revendications économiques et sociales qui s'est Ainsi la FIDH et l'OGDH demandent au Conseil des
accompagnée de manifestations antigouvernementales droits de l'Homme d'adopter une résolution
réclamant la nomination d'un premier ministre de
consensus et exigeant des autorités le respect des droits de − condamnant fermement l’usage démesuré et
l'Homme et de la bonne gouvernance. Ces manifestations excessif de la force par les forces de sécurité
ont été réprimées dans le sang par les forces de sécurité guinéennes au cours des récentes manifestations dans
faisant environ 60 morts et plus de 150 blessés parmi la différentes parties du pays, entraînant la mort de
population civile. nombreux civils et faisant de nombreux blessés parmi
les manifestants ;
En dépit de la signature du Protocole du 27 janvier entre
les dirigeants syndicaux et les autorités de Conakri portant − demandant la mise en place d'une commission
accord sur la nomination d'un nouveau Premier ministre de d'enquête internationale indépendante pour
consensus, aux pouvoirs élargis, la grève générale a été enquêter sur les massacres récents et sur les violations
relancée le 12 février pour contester la nomination à ce des droits de l'homme dans le passé, identifier les
poste de M. Eugène Camara, proche du président Lausana responsables et les traduire en justice pour qu’il soit
Conté. La répression arbitraire des manifestations qui ont mis fin à l’impunité;
suivi l’annonce de cette nomination aurait fait environ 60
morts et de très nombreux blessés. Cette répression aurait − demandant aux autorités guinéennes d'ordonner la
été orchestrée par wdes unités spéciales de l’armée, libération immédiate de toutes les personnes
notamment la "Compagnie mobile d’intervention et de arrêtées au cours de la manifestation sans avoir fait
sécurité" et le "Bataillon autonome de la sécurité l'objet de chefs d'accusation valables et, si ceux-ci
présidentielle", ainsi que par des mercenaires et d'anciens existent, de faire en sorte que ces personnes
guérilleros en tant que forces paramilitaires bénéficient rapidement d’un procès équitable, tout au
gouvernementales. long duquel leurs droits procéduraux soient garantis;

Par ailleurs, des violations graves des droits de l'Homme, − appellant au respect et au rétablissement des libertés
tels des centaines d'arrestations arbitraires, des violences individuelles et syndicales.
sexuelles et des pillages, ont été perpétrées par les forces
de sécurité lors des 12 jours d'état de siège décrété le 12
février par le président Conté.

L'Union africaine dans un communiqué du 16 février 2007

a « déploré les pertes en vies humaines enregistrées lors
de la grève générale de janvier 2007, ainsi que celles
survenues au cours du mois de février 2007 ». Le Conseil
de paix et de sécurité a « condamné fermement l’usage
disproportionné de la force et la répression contre les
populations civiles » et, à cet égard, a « demandé
l’ouverture, en collaboration avec la Commission
africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples, d’une
enquête indépendante afin d’identifier et de traduire en
justice les auteurs des exactions et autres actes de violence
perpétrés au cours de ces évènements ».

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perte d'un enfant, membres de la famille assassinés, sous-

2. RÉPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE alimentation... Atteintes dans leur intégrité physique et
morale, les victimes souffrent doublement de leur
stigmatisation au sein de la société centrafricaine et de
La FIDH et son organisation affiliée, la Ligue l'indifférence générale quant à leur situation d'extrême
centrafricaine des droits de l'Homme (LCDH), détresse physique, sociale et économique.
recommandent au Conseil des droits de l'Homme
d'adopter une résolution condamnant les graves Les défenseurs des droits de l'Homme qui tentent
violations des droits de l'Homme commises en de faire écho à cette situation dramatique sont l'objet de
République centrafricaine (RCA) et appelant à la mise menaces de mort et de harcèlements...
en place d'un Bureau du Haut-Commissariat des droits
de l'Homme à Bangui. Enfin, il est à relever que la plupart des acteurs de
l'actuel conflit en RCA sont les mêmes que ceux présumés
La situation sécuritaire est extrèmement précaire hauts responsables des crimes commis en 2002 et 2003
dans le nord-ouest du pays, notamment dans les régions de contre la population civile à l'occasion de la tentative de
Ouham et de Ouham-Pende. La population civile fait face coup d'Etat du général Bozizé, démonstration probante des
à une véritable crise humanitaire. Les attaques quasi ravages de l'impunité. En effet, en avril 2006, la Cour de
quotidiennes entre éléments armés rebelles et les troupes cassation a déclaré les juridictions centrafricaines
centrafricaines sont perpétrées en violation du droit “incapables” de mener des enquêtes et des poursuites
international humanitaire : des témoignages font état contre les auteurs des crimes les plus graves commis sur le
d'exécutions sommaires, de violences sexuelles, de pillages territoire centrafricain à l'occasion de la tentative de coup
systématiques. Les villages sont incendiés, notamment sur d'Etat et a renvoyé cette affaire devant la Cour pénale
l'axe Kabo - Kaga Bandoro. Les témoignages font porter la internationale, saisi de la situation en République
responsabilité de ces crimes tant sur les éléments des centrafricaine depuis décembre 2004.
groupes rebelles que les membres de l'armée,
particulièrement les éléments de la garde présidentielle. La FIDH et la LCDH appellent le Conseil des droits de
Par ailleurs, profitant de l'insécurité généralisée dans le l'Homme à adopter une résolution :
Nord du pays, on assiste à la recrudescence du phénomène
des coupeurs de routes qui attaquent et pillent la - condamnant les graves violations du droit
population. international humanitaire et du droit international
des droits de l'Homme commises par les
Le nord-est de la RCA, est également le théâtre belligérants contre la population civile en RCA;
d’affrontements réguliers entre forces rebelles et l'armée
centrafricaine. Les combats sont menés en violation du - exigeant des partis en conflit le strict respect
droit international humanitaire, entraînant la mort de des dispositions internationales de protection des
nombreux civils. Aucun rapport officiel n'établit pourtant droits de l'Homme et du droit international
objectivement l'ampleur des crimes commis contre la humanitaire;
population civile. L'intervention récente de l'armée
française au côté des troupes loyalistes et le retour en grace - exigeant des parties en conflit un cessez-le-feu
dans la capitale d'un des chefs rebelles, Abdoulaye immédiat;
Miskine, auraient néanmoins atténué le nombre d'attaques
ces dernières semaines. - demandant aux parties en conflit de faciliter la
circulation et l'activité des organisations
Le 17 janvier 2007, le coordinateur humanitaire humanitaires dans le nord du pays;
des Nations unies pour la République centrafricaine, Toby
Lanzer, a déclaré qu' “un million de personnes ont besoin - demandant aux autorités nationales de mettre
d’aide humanitaire après un an de combats sporadiques tout en oeuvre pour que les auteurs des crimes les
entre groupes armés non identifiés et les forces armées plus graves soient poursuivis et jugés
centrafricaines dans le nord de la République conformément au dispositions internationales de
centrafricaine”. Le nombre de personnes déplacées par les protection des droits de l'Homme;
violences à l’intérieur du pays est estimé à 150 000, tandis
que 80 000 autres ont fui vers le Tchad et le Cameroun - demandant aux autorités nationales de
voisins, selon le Haut-Commissariat des Nations unies respecter l'intégrité physique et morale des
pour les Réfugiés. défenseurs des droits de l'Homme, et plus
généralement de respecter les dispositions de la
Nombreuses sont les personnes qui portent les Déclaration sur les défenseurs des droits de
stigmates de ce pays livré à la violence : femmes, enfants l'Homme adoptée en 1998 par l'Assemblée
et personnes âgées violés, enfants nés des viols, personnes générale des Nations unies;
atteintes du virus du Sida, personnes amputées, orphelins,

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FIDH position paper

- demandant aux autorités nationales d'accepter

la visite des Rapporteurs spéciaux des Nations
unies sur les exécutions sommaires,
extrajudiciaires et arbitraire, sur la torture, sur les
détentions arbitraires et sur les défenseurs des
droits de l'Homme;

- demandant aux agences des Nations unies

présentes en RCA d'apporter leur soutien aux
victimes des conflits, notamment aux membres de
l'Organisation pour la compassion des et le
développement des familles en détresse
(OCODEFAD), en aidant aux activités,
notamment en fournissant des vivres et des
médicaments et en finançant un suivi médical et
psychologique;

- appelant la mise en place à Bangui d'un

bureau droits de l'Homme du Haut-
commissariat ayant le mandat de promouvoir
l'Etat de droit par le biais de la coopération
technique; de faire des rapports sur l'évolution de
la situation des droits de l'Homme dans le pays; et
de coordonner avec le BONUCA et tout autre
organe du Conseil de sécurité présent en RCA la
protection de la population civile, notamment des
défenseurs des droits de l'Homme et des victimes
de crimes internationaux;

- Encourageant le Procureur de la Cour pénale

internationale saisi par le gouvernement
centrafricain en décembre 2004 à ouvrir dans les
plus brefs délais une enquête sur la situation en
RCA.

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FIDH position paper

Plus, basée en Ituri, ont été menacés de mort par des

3. RÉPUBLIQUE DÉMOCRATIQUE DU éléments de l’Union des patriotes congolais (UPC) « pour
CONGO avoir fourni des informations à l’accusation » dans la
procédure menée par la Cour pénale internationale (CPI)
La FIDH et ses organisations membres en République contre Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. Le président du Groupe
démocratique du Congo, l'ASADHO, le Groupe Lotus Lotus de Kisangani, M. Dismas Kitenge, a fait l’objet
et la Ligue des électeurs, recommandent au Conseil des d’actes d’intimidation répétés de la part des cadres du Parti
droits de l'Homme d'adopter une résolution du Peuple pour la reconstruction et la démocratie (PPRD)
condamnant les violations graves des droits de pour être intervenu à une conférence de presse sur les
l'Homme commises en République démocratique du élections présidentielles. M. Mbaya Tshimanga, président
Congo (RDC) et recommandant le renouvellement et le de l’organisation Journaliste en danger, a fait l’objet d’un
renforcement du mandat de la MONUC, notamment véritable harcèlement judiciaire au motif qu’il « travaillait
sur la protection des défenseurs des droits de l'Homme pour l’opposition ». Pour avoir dénoncé les troubles
et des victimes des crimes les plus graves. sécuritaires à l’est du pays, le président de la Voix des sans
Voix, M. Floribert Chebeya, est resté en clandestinité
Les graves violations des droits de l'Homme sont plusieurs semaines et les locaux de son organisation ont été
quotidiennes en République démocratique du Congo fermés plus d’un mois.
(RDC).
Enfin, en dépit de l'engagement de certaines poursuites
Au Bas-Congo, des affrontements meurtriers se sont judiciaires en RDC, la FIDH et ses organisations membres
déroulés entre les membres du mouvement politico- dénoncent avec force l’impunité des auteurs des graves
religieux Bundu Dia Kongo (BDK) et les éléments de la violations des droits de l’Homme et du droit international
Police Nationale du Congo (PNC) et des Forces armées de humanitaire, pour certains encore présents dans les plus
la RDC (FARDC) dans plusieurs parties de la province les hautes sphères politiques et militaires du pays,
31 janvier et 1er février. Les affrontements à Muanda, hypothéquant ainsi l’établissement d’une paix durable en
Boma et Songolo qui auraient fait plus d'un centaine de RDC. A cet égard, le procureur de la CPI doit
victimes ont eu lieu après l’appel du BDK à observer une impérativement élargir les charges retenues contre Thomas
journée « ville morte » le 1er février en contestation des Lubanga, premier accusé de la Cour sur la situation en
résultats des élections au Gouvernorat de la Province du RDC, et poursuivre d’autres hauts responsables des
Bas Congo. La Mission des Nations unies en RDC violations des droits de l’Homme perpétrées depuis juillet
(MONUC) a également été la cible des troubles, avec, 2002. La FIDH et ses organisation membres insistent
notamment, l’enlèvement et la destruction d’un de ses également, conformément au principe de complémentarité,
chars. Ces événements rappellent combien les opérations sur le fait que les autorités congolaises compétentes
de désarmement doivent redoubler d’intensité. doivent renforcer la lutte contre l’impunité des crimes les
plus graves.
La persistance des violations graves des droits de l'Homme
à l'est du pays est également extrêmement préoccupante.
Selon le rapport mensuel de la MONUC de janvier 2007,
La FIDH et ses organisations membres appellent le
« les militaires des Forces armées de la RDC (FARDC)
Conseil des droits de l'Homme à adopter une
continuent à commettre des violations graves des droits de
résolution :
l’homme, en particulier des atteintes au droit à la vie, à
l’intégrité physique (viol et mauvais traitements de civils)
et au droit à la liberté et à la sécurité de la personne − condamnant les violations graves des droits de
humaine (arrestations arbitraires, détentions illégales et l'Homme perpétrées contre la population civile,
enlèvements) au Nord Kivu, au Sud Kivu et en Ituri ». Par dont la responsabilité incombe notamment aux
ailleurs, « les membres des groupes armés ont continué à FARDC et aux différents groupes armés présent à l'est
commettre des abus des droits de l’homme à l’encontre du pays;
des populations du Nord et du Sud Kivu, ainsi que de
l’Ituri ». − appelant à la mise en place d'une commission
d'enquête internationale pour faire la lumière sur les
Par ailleurs, les défenseurs des droits de l’Homme qui massacres commis au Bas-Congo et mettre en exergue
dénoncent les violations des libertés fondamentales et du les responsabilités;
droit international humanitaire font de façon récurrente
l’objet de menaces, harcèlement et intimidations, de la part − demandant aux autorités congolaises
des autorités nationales et des éléments des groupes armés. - de se conformer aux résolutions du Conseil de
Après l’assassinat de plusieurs défenseurs en 2005, sécurité des Nations unies, notamment les
l’Observatoire pour la protection des défenseurs des droits résolutions 1493 du 28 juillet 2003, 1533 du 12
de l’Homme, un programme conjoint de la FIDH et de mars 2004, 1552 du 27 juillet 2004, 1565 du 1er
l’OMCT, a été amené à multiplier ses interventions en octobre 2004, 1592 du 30 mars 2005, 1596 du 18
2006. Pour exemples, plusieurs membres de l’ONG Justice avril 2005, 1616 du 29 juillet 2005, 1649 du 21

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FIDH position paper

décembre 2005 et 1654 du 31 janvier 2006, 1698 - élargir son mandat d’assistance des populations
du 31 juillet 2006; civiles aux personnes déplacées ;
- de se conformer aux textes internationaux et - contribuer à la lutte contre l’impunité de tous les
régionaux de promotion et de défense des droits auteurs des crimes les plus graves en coopérant
de l’Homme ratifiés par la République pleinement avec la Cour pénale internationale ;
démocratique du Congo ;
- inciter le gouvernement congolais à poursuivre
- de restaurer l’Etat de droit et l’autorité de l’Etat les réformes des institutions publiques de manière
sur l’ensemble du territoire en coordination avec à promouvoir la bonne gouvernance et à favoriser
la MONUC et dans le respect des droits de la confiance des populations en ces institutions.
l’Homme ;
- de procéder au désarmement complet des
groupes armés, assurer leur démobilisation
effective et leur réinsertion dans la vie civile ;
- d’établir un registre national de détention légale
d’armes et renforcer la lutte contre le trafic
d’armes en provenance de l’étranger ; garantir que
les individus démobilisés responsables d’actes
criminels et de violations des droits de l’Homme
soient traduits en justice.
- de garantir l’intégrité physique et morale des
défenseurs et plus généralement de garantir les
droits des défenseurs des droits de l’Homme tels
que définis dans la Déclaration sur les défenseurs
des droits de l’Homme adoptée par l’Assemblée
générale des Nations unies le 9 décembre 1998
- d'inviter les rapporteurs spéciaux
3. recommandant le renouvellement et le
renforcement du mandat de la MONUC, celle-
ci devant
- établir comme priorité d’action la neutralisation
des groupes armés actifs dans les régions de l’Est
du pays ;
- s’assurer que le gouvernement congolais
garantisse la sécurité et le respect des droits
fondamentaux aux populations civiles, notamment
aux défenseurs des droits de l’Homme et aux
témoins des graves violations du droit
international humanitaire appelés à agir auprès
des instances judiciaires nationales et
internationales ;
- en cas de défaillance des autorités congolaises à
cet effet, et en vertu de la résolution 1674/2006
relative à la protection des civils en période de
conflit armé, adoptée le 28 avril 2006, assurer
directement la protection des populations civiles
et des défenseurs des droits de l’Homme en
renforçant la capacité d’action de son unité de
protection des défenseurs, témoins et victimes des
violations des droits de l’Homme ; en rendant
effectif son rôle de prévention des violations par
l’interprétation extensive de sa capacité d’action
« en cas de danger imminent » pour la population
civile ;

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FIDH position paper

attacks against civilians and the grave violations of human

4. SUDAN / DARFUR rights, in particular the forced depopulation of entire
areas in the region, rape and sexual violence against
women and girls, abduction of women and children »
The International Federation for Human Rights
(FIDH) and the Sudan Organisation Against Torture Considering the ongoing serious humanitarian and
(SOAT) call upon the Human Rights Council to adopt a human rights violations in Darfur and the
resolution condemning the serious violations of human neighbouring countries:
rights and humanitarian law, urging Sudan to accept
the deployment of an international UA-UN peackeeping FIDH and SOAT express their disappointment at the
mission in accordance with resolution 1706 of the refusal of the Sudanese Government to grant access of the
United Nations Security Council, and recommending U.N. High-Level assessment mission to Sudan. Our
individual and targetted sanctions should the organisations remind that the Government of Sudan
Government of Sudan repeatedly refuse the unimpeded decided to bar the mission from visiting Darfur and
access of the UN High level assessment mission announced publicly its refusal to grant visas to the
established following the UNHRC 4th Special Session. members of the mission, contradicting past agreements
between the UNHRC and the Sudanese government.
Ongoing humanitarian law and human rights violations
in Darfur: FIDH and SOAT also condemn the repeated refusal by
Sudanese Government of the deployement of an hybrid
Nearly four years of fighting in Darfur between rebels and UN-AU peacekeeping force as recommended by the UN
pro-government militias has led to the deaths of more than Security Council Resolution 1706 (2006). Our
200,000 people, and forced more than two million people organisations consider that the African peacekeeping force
to flee their homes. stationed in Darfur has been unable to ensure the security
of civilians and aid workers seeking to give assistance to
The violence has been rising in Darfur in 2006 and 2007 the large numbers in need. During the AU Summit of
despite the 5 May Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) reached Heads of State which was held in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
in Nigeria between Khartoum and one Sudanese rebel in January 2007, the UN Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki-
group – the Sudan Liberation Movement, SLM. The UN moon, restated that he wants « concrete commitments that
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Sudan will open the door to a joint UN-AU force, to
(OCHA) releasing on February 22, 2007 its latest replace the current overstretched AU troops ».
overview of the situation in Darfur, reported « that almost
50,000 more people were forced to flee violence in the FIDH and SOAT welcome the submission of evidence by
region last month alone ». « New population the International Criminal Court Prosecutor on February
displacements were registered weekly in January as 27, 2007 to the Court's Pre-Trial Chamber in connection
attacks on villages, sexual violence and intimidation with individuals suspected of having committed war
continued to force large numbers of people to move crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. Our
throughout Darfur. Generalized violence, attacks on organisations request the government of Sudan to fully
humanitarian assets and bureaucratic impediments cooperate with the ICC, notably by transferring the
continued to affect humanitarian operations », the suspects to the Court.
overview states. The attacks on aid workers, resulting in
the withdrawal of international agencies, mean that access
to basic human needs including, water, food, health care Consequently, FIDH and SOAT urge the Human
and shelter will be cut off for the millions whose lives are Rights Council to adopt a resolution
dependent on this aid;
− condemning the serious violations of human rights
The regionalisation of the conflict, including the and humanitarian law committed by the belligerents
movement of arms and militia across the Chad and Sudan in Darfur and the neighbouring countries;
border and the reports that fighting connected with the − condemning the Government's failure to protect its
Darfur conflict and the unrest in Chad has also spread into own citizens;
the Central African Republic, results in an increase in − urging the Sudanese authorities to :
human rights and humanitarian law violations in those − put an end to the violations of human
countries; rights and international humanitarian law
against civilians, humanitarian workers and
In 2005 and 2006, the African Commission on Human and AMIS forces;
Peoples' rights adopted two resolution condemning the − respect the ceasefire agreements, the DPA
serious human rights violations committed in the region, and all UN resolutions,
notably calling upon the Janjaweeds supported by the − disarm its militias including the Janjawid;
Government of Sudan to « cease with immediate effect all − re-engage in a political dialogue with the

10
 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

non signatories of the DPA;

− hold accountable perpretators of
international crimes and serious violations
of human rights and to fully cooperate with
the ICC organs in accordance with UNSC
Resolution 1593 referring the Darfur situation
to the ICC;
− respect regional and international human
rights instruments ratified by Sudan;
− deploring the Government's failure to accept the
UNHRC High-Level assessment mission and urging
him to grant an unimpeded access to Sudan before the
end of the current session;
− should the Government repeatedly refuse such access,
recommending the adoption of indivual and targetted
sanctions;
− urging Sudan to accept the deployment of an
international UN-AU peackeeping mission in
accordance with UNSC Resolution 1706 to enforce
the DPA agreement, to protect civilians and to support
all international agencies and humanitarian
organisations in order to ensure immediate, full, safe
and unhindered access to the affected people in Darfur
in order to facilitate delivery of humanitarian
assistance.

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

AMERICAS politique et l'armée colombienne. Dans ce contexte, la

Cour Suprême de Justice a ordonné l'arrestation de 5
1. COLOMBIE membres du Parlemen. Le Procureur Général de la Nation
a, lui, demandé la détention de l'ex-directeur du DAS, allié
En 2006, la Colombie est toujours ravagée par le même du Président Uribe, Jorge Noguera.
conflit armé interne, caractérisé par tous types d'abus
commis aussi bien par les forces armées régulières, les Après deux ans de blocage et d'inaction totale, doublés
groupes paramilitaires que par les factions de guérillas. La d'une campagne médiatique accusant les FARC du
démobilisation des groupes paramilitaires demeure massacre du 21 février 2005 contre 8 membres de la
largement factice, malgré les déclarations du Communauté de Paix de San José de Apartadó, la FIDH a
Gouvernement. Les groupes armés irréguliers continuent reçu avec satisfaction l'annonce de la mise en examen de
de se financer essentiellement par le biais du trafic des 56 militaires présumés responsables du massacre, et attend
drogues. l'ouverture d'un procès juste et équitable, apportant vérité,
La population civile reste la plus touchée, entre personnes justice et réparation.
déplacées, disparitions forcées, exécutions, assassinats et
enlèvements. Relations entre le gouvernement et les factions de
Les défenseurs des droits de l'Homme et les médias sont guérillas
toujours les cibles privilégiées d'attaques et d'exactions. En 2006, le Gouvernement colombien a maintenu des
contacts avec l'ELN (Armée de Libération Nationale) dans
Démobilisation des groupes paramilitaires, impunité et le but de préparer la tenue de négociations de paix.
liens avec les forces militaires Les discussions entre le Gouvernement et les FARC
En 2006, le gouvernement a affirmé que plus de 30000 (Forces Armées Révolutionnaires de Colombie) sur un
présumés paramilitaires ont été démobilisés. De nombreux possible échange humanitaire, ont été suspendues par le
doutes persistent toutefois sur la véracité de ces Gouvernement après un attentat à la bombe commis en
déclarations et sur l'efficacité du processus de octobre 2006 où les FARC ont été tenues pour
démobilisation, visant à garantir l'obtention de la vérité, la responsables par le Gouvernement.
justice et une juste réparation. L'influence des groupes Aussi bien les FARC que l'ELN ont continué à commettre
paramilitaires est toujours forte, en témoignent des tous types d'abus contre la population civile, notamment
rapports sur leur infiltration de l'organisme d'intelligence des kidnappings, exécutions, attentats à la bombe. Il faut
nationale DAS (Departamento Administrativo de rappeler que les factions de guérillas sont à l'origine de la
Seguridad), ainsi que la formation de nouveaux groupes, plupart des utilisations de mines antipersonnelles, ainsi que
selon le rapport de la Mission de soutien au processus de du recrutement d'enfants soldats.
Paix de l'OEA.

En mai 2006, la Cour Constitutionnelle de Colombie, dans Déplacés internes

sa résolution sur la Loi 975 ou « Loi de Justice et Paix »,
qui prévoit une réduction drastique des peines applicables
aux paramilitaires responsables de délits et crimes graves,
a approuvé ces exonérations de peine mais a également
apporté des améliorations substantielles. Effectivement, en
vertu des nouvelles dispositions, les paramilitaires doivent
reconnaître l'ensemble de leurs crimes et donner réparation
aux victimes en puisant dans leur patrimoine légal et
illicite, et tout mensonge ou nouveau délit est synonyme de
perte des bénéfices de réduction de peine. De surcroît, au
titre de l'interprétation de la Loi par la juridiction
constitutionnelle, les procureurs doivent mener une
enquête sur tous les délits et crimes reconnus par les
paramilitaires.
Suite à cette décision, le gouvernement a publié un décret
reprenant partiellement les dispositions de la résolution,
mais conférant aux dirigeants paramilitaires des réductions
supplémentaires des peines, qui les affranchissent de
peines privatives de liberté.
Avec un total cumulé de 3,7 millions de personnes
déplacées, la Colombie est le deuxième pays au monde
(derrière le Soudan) où la crise des déplacés internes est la
plus aiguë. Les conditions de vie des personnes déplacées
sont innommables. D'après le CICR et l'Eglise catholique,
elles n'ont pas accès aux services d'hygiène minimum.
La politique gouvernementale en faveur du retour des
communautés déplacées sur leurs terres est loin d'être
appropriée. Celles-ci, faute de reconnaissance et de prise
en compte officielle de leur situation, sont contraintes de
rejoindre leurs terres et leurs foyers alors que la sécurité
n'y est pas assurée.
La FIDH accueille favorablement la mise en place
progressive, en 2006, d'un programme conjoint d'assistance
aux personnes déplacées, soutenue financièrement par
l'Agence des États Unis pour le développement
international (USAID) et coordonné par l'Organisation
Internationale pour les Migrations (OIM) et la Fondation
Panaméricaine pour le développement.

Depuis fin 2006, un scandale, dit de « parapolitique », a

éclaté en Colombie, laissant apparaître au grand jour
l'importance des liens entre les groupes paramilitaires, la

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper
Défenseurs des droits de l’Homme1
Tous les types d'abus ont encore été commis en Colombie
cette année, contre des défenseurs des droits de l'Homme,
des journalistes, des membres de syndicats, de dirigeants
paysans, et parfois leurs familles : assassinats et tentatives
d'assassinats, disparitions forcées, d'actes d'intimidation, de
harcèlement et de torture, arrestations et détentions
arbitraires, menaces et agressions, campagnes de
diffamation et effractions dans les locaux des ONG;
enlèvements, etc.
Ainsi de la détention arbitraire et des actes de harcèlement
contre Jesús Javier Dorado Rosero, Directeur du CPDH
(Comité permanent pour la défense des droits de
l’Homme) dans la région de Nariño et membre de la
Direction du Syndicat des Professeurs de Nariño, par des
agents du DAS (Departamento Administrativo de
Seguridad). Ceci révèle un contexte de menaces et d'actes
de harcèlement acharné contre les membres du CPDH en
2006, et ce malgré les mesures provisoires de protection
dictées par la Cour interaméricaine des droits de l’Homme
en faveur de ses membres.
L'acte le plus significatif est l'assassinat de Gregorio
Izquierdo Meléndez, membre principal du Comité
département du CPDH en Arauca, et Présidente du
Syndicat des entreprises publiques d'Arauca, le 13
septembre 2006. Le CPDH a également dénoncé l'irruption
d'agents de police et l'inspection dans ses locaux de
Bogota, sans autorisation.
Le Collectif d'avocats “José Alvear Restrepo” a lui aussi
dénoncé l'irruption arbitraire et l'inspection sans
autorisation, par les forces de police, des sièges du
Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de
Alimentos et de la rédaction de l'hebdomadaire Voz, ainsi
que le vol de matériel des locaux de la Consultoría para
los Derechos Humanos y el Desplazamiento, à Bogotá.
Tout cela a eu lieu la veille du 7 août 2006, jour de la prise
de fonction du Président Álvaro Uribe Vélez, pour un
deuxième mandat. Les agents de police ont prétexté des
opérations de sécurité préventive et de lutte antiterroriste.
Yolanda Izquierdo a été assassinée le 31 janvier 2007
devant la porte de chez elle. Elle était, aux côté notamment
de Manuel Argel, agriculteur, à la tête du groupe de
victimes des paramilitaires, présent au cours des dernières
audiences de l'ex chef des groupes d'autodéfense Salvatore
Mancuso. Elle avait dénoncés les nombreuses menaces
dont elle faisait l'objet.
Pour toutes ces raisons, la FIDH demande au Conseil
des Droits de l’Homme des Nations Unies d’adopter
une résolution sur la situation des droits de l'Homme en
Colombie, dans laquelle elle,
- exige du Gouvernement colombien qu'il lève la réserve à
1
Les situations des défenseurs de droits de l'Homme cités
ont été dénoncées par l’Observatoire pour la protection des
défenseurs des droits de l’Homme, qui est un programme
conjoint entre la FIDH et l'OMCT.
l'art. 124 du Statut de Rome afin que tous les crimes de
guerres commis par les groupes armés en Colombie fassent
l'objet d'une enquête et soient jugés par la CPI;
-
demande au Procureur Général de la Cour Pénale
Internationale d'ouvrir une enquête sur la Colombie,
prenant en compte toutes les communications qui lui ont
déjà été soumises, y compris un document de la FIDH;
-
exhorte le gouvernement colombien à reconnaître
officiellement le travail légitime des défenseurs des droits
de l'Homme, ainsi que le devoir qui incombe à toutes les
autorités de les protéger et de les soutenir;
-
demande de mettre en œuvre toutes les recommandations
du bureau du Haut Commissaire des droits de
l'Homme en Colombie et de renouveler intégralement le
mandat de la Haute Commissaire aux droits de l'Homme
afin qu'elle puisse réaliser pleinement sa tâche;
-
exige la révision de la politique de sécurité
démocratique à l'aune des obligations internationales en
matière de droits de l'Homme et de droit international
humanitaire;
-
demande au Groupe de Travail sur les détentions
arbitraires d'envisager la possibilité d'une visite en
Colombie dans le but d'enquêter, entre autres, sur les
détentions qui résultent de la mise en place des politiques
antiterroristes;
-
demande au gouvernement colombien de signer et ratifier
la Convention internationale pour la protection de
toutes les personnes contre les disparitions forcées
approuvée par l’Assemblée Générale des Nations Unies le
20 décembre 2006;
réclame l'adoption de mesures concrètes pour que des
enquêtes soient menées sur les crimes commis, que
ceux-ci soient jugés et que des sanctions soient appliquées,
afin de respecter les droits des victimes, en particulier en
ce qui concerne le procès sur le massacre de la
Communauté de Paix de San José de Apartado.
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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

Poursuite des actes de harcèlement et des détentions

2. CUBA
En 2006, malgré un remaniement (certes limité) du
pouvoir politique en juillet, la situation des droits de
l’Homme à Cuba n'a guère évolué. La FIDH tient à
rappeler que la République de Cuba n’a toujours pas
ratifié les principaux instruments internationaux de
protection des droits de l’Homme, tels que le Pacte
International relatif aux Droits Civils et Politiques, le
Pacte International relatif aux Droits Economiques,
Sociaux et Culturels, ni la Convention Interaméricaine
des Droits de l’Homme, principal instrument de sa
région. Cuba n'a pas ratifié non plus le Statut de Rome.
Défenseurs des droits de l’Homme2
Libération conditionnelle
Le 28 février 2006, le Tribunal municipal de Playa a
prolongé pour raisons de santé la libération conditionelle
de M. Oscar Espinosa Chepe, journaliste indépendant,
précisant qu’il serait contrôlé par les “facteurs politiques”
de son quartier (Parti et de la jeunesse communiste Partido
y Juventud Comunista, du Comité de défense de la
révolution Comité de Defensa de la Revolución, de
l’Association des combattants de la révolution Asociación
de Combatientes de la Revolución et de la Fédération des
femmes cubaines Federación de Mujeres Cubanas, entre
autres), et que sa libération pourrait être révoquée sur la
base de leurs informations.
Le 5 décembre 2006, M. Hector Palacios Ruiz, membre
actif du Projet Varela (projet de 2002 qui demande la tenue
d’un référendum au sujet de la liberté d’expression et
d’association, la libération de tous les prisonniers
politiques, la modification de la loi électorale et la
possibilité de créer des entreprises) et libraire indépendant,
s’est vu lui aussi accorder la liberté conditionnelle pour
raisons de santé.
De même, fin 2006, M. Marcelo López Bañobre, membre
de la Commission cubaine pour les droits de l’Homme et la
réconciliation nationale (Comisión Cubana de Derechos
Humanos y Reconciliación Nacional - CCDHRN),
demeure en liberté conditionnelle pour raisons de santé.
Arrêtés en mars 2003 lors d’une vague d’arrestations
massives de défenseurs des droits de l’Homme cubains,
MM. Espinosa Chepe, Palacio Ruiz et López Bañobre
avaient été respectivement condamnés à 20 ans, 15 ans et
25 ans de prison pour “conspiration”. Les trois hommes,
étroitement surveillés, sont susceptibles d’être arrêtés de aucun fait précis ne peut être reproché à la personne
nouveau à tout moment.
2
Les cas des défenseurs de droits de l'Homme cités ont été en détention et en résidence surveillée. M. Virgilio
dénoncés par l’Observatoire pour la protection des
défenseurs des droits de l’Homme, qui est un programme à sept ans de prison et Mme Ana Peláez García à deux ans
conjoint entre la FIDH et l'OMCT.
Les actes de harcèlement à l’encontre de M. Juan Carlos
González Leiva, président de la Fondation cubaine des
droits de l’Homme (Fundación Cubana de los Derechos
Humanos), se sont accrus en 2006, bien que sa peine de
quatre ans d’assignation à résidence se soit achevée le 10
mars 2006.
Mme Tania Maseda Guerra, membre de la Fondation
venue le rejoindre en signe de soutien, subit de fait les
mêmes actes de harcèlement. De nombreux militants et
proches de M. González Leiva, qui tentent régulièrement
de lui venir en aide, sont bousculés ou frappés, à l’instar de
Mme Yodalis Calderín Nuñez, sa nièce, et du
psychologue Antonio Legón Mendoza.
En 2006, Mme Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello présidente
de l’Assemblée pour la promotion de la société civile
(Asamblea para la Promoción de la Sociedad Civil -
APSC) et membre de l’Institut des économistes
indépendants, a continué de faire l’objet d’actes de
harcèlement incessants de la part des forces de sécurité, de
civils, de militaires et de paramilitaires, depuis sa
libération conditionnelle le 22 juillet 2004.
Le 28 février 2006, à la Havane, quatre agents du
Département de sécurité de l’État (Departamento de
Seguridad del Estado - DSE) ont fouillé le domicile de M.
Roberto de Miranda Hernández, dirigeant du Collège
des professeurs indépendants de Cuba (Colegio de
Pedagogos Independientes de Cuba - CPIC), en liberté
conditionnelle, et de son épouse, Mme Soledad Rivas
Verdecia, membre de l’organisation des Dames en blanc
(Damas de Blanco: épouses de dissidents cubains
emprisonnés qui, vêtues de blanc, se réunissent chaque
dimanche à La Havane et dans d’autres villes du pays pour
demander leur libération).
Depuis leur participation à la Journée internationale de la
femme, le 8 mars 2006, à l’instar de Mme Aurora
Gonzáles Veliz, plusieurs membres de la Fédération
latino-américaine des femmes rurales (Federación
Latinoamericana de Mujeres Rurales - FLAMUR), dans la
province de Pinar del Río, font l’objet de menaces de la
part de la police politique.
Arrestation et détention arbitraire
Les arrestations qui se fondent sur des motifs politiques
sont toujours de rigueur et elles sont, par leur nature même,
constitutives de détention arbitraire puisque, en général,
concernée, ou bien les motivations évoquées sont factices.
Fin 2006, M. Virgilio Mantilla Arango et Mme Ana
Peláez García, membres de la Fondation cubaine qui
avaient été condamnés en avril 2004 restent respectivement
Mantilla Arango avait en effet été condamné en avril 2004
et demi de résidence surveillée, accusés d’ “atteinte à
l’image du président cubain”, de “résistance et de

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

désobéissance à l’autorité publique” et d’ “incitation à − Exprime sa grave préoccupation à l’égard de la

troubler l’ordre public”. situation des droits de l’Homme à Cuba;
Le 22 juillet 2005, une trentaine de personnes avaient été
arrêtées à La Havane à la veille d’une manifestation − Exige la libération immédiate et inconditionnelle
pacifique prévue devant l’ambassade française, visant à des prisonniers politiques et de toutes les personnes
dénoncer la “normalisation” des relations entre l’Union faisant l’objet de détention arbitraire;
Européenne et Cuba et à obtenir la libération de prisonniers
politiques. Tous avaient été relâchés, à l’exception de M. − Exige que la législation soit modifiée de façon à
Oscar Mario Gonzalez Perez, de M. René Gómez garantir la liberté d’expression et d’opinion, ainsi
Manzano, avocat et vice-président de l’APSC, et de M. que les droits à la liberté d’association et de
Julio César López Rodríguez, vice-président du Front de la réunion et en particulier qu’il soit dérogé à la Loi 88
ligne dure (Frente Línea Dura). Fin 2006, M. René Gómez de Protection de l'indépendance nationale et de
Manzano reste en détention. l'économie cubaine (Protección de la Independencia
Nacional y de la Economía de Cuba);
La FIDH rappelle que la détention arbitraire est interdite au
titre de l’article 9 de la Déclaration Universelle des Droits − Incite le Gouvernement cubain à ratifier les
de l’Homme et que cette interdiction a acquis une valeur principaux instruments internationaux protecteurs
de jus cogens, ce qui lie la République de Cuba bien des droits de l’Homme et notamment les Pactes de
qu’elle ne soit toujours pas partie aux principaux traités et 1966 et le Statut de Rome;
conventions qui protègent les droits de l’Homme.
De surcroît, il faut rappeler que les conditions de détention − Exhorte le Gouvernement cubain à retirer la peine
à Cuba ne respectent pas les standards internationaux de de mort de son Code Pénal.
l'ensemble de règles minima pour le traitement des
prisonniers et des détenus de l'ONU. Les prisonniers sont
soumis à des traitements dégradants, à des conditions
extrêmement difficiles (insectes, rats dans les cellules) et
ne bénéficient pas des conditions d'hygiène minimum.
L'eau n'est pas potable et les aliments qu'on leur sert sont
avariés.
Les personnes détenues - journalistes, défenseurs des droits
de l’Homme, dissidents politiques ou syndicalistes - le sont
pour avoir exercé leur droit à la liberté d’opinion et
d’expression ainsi que leur liberté de réunion et
d’association, protégées au titre des articles 18, 19 et 20 de
la Déclaration Universelle des Droits de l’Homme.

Peine de mort
Cuba figure toujours parmi les États appliquant la peine de
mort, ce que la FIDH déplore. Celle-ci est prévue par le
Code de Procédure Pénale pour 112 cas, dont 33 sont des
délits de droit commun. Une réforme de 1999 a étendu la
peine capitale comme sanction des crimes et délits de trafic
de drogue, vol avec usage de la violence et corruption de
mineurs. Le 20 décembre 2001, le Parlement a approuvé à
l'unanimité une loi qui étend les dispositions contre-
terroristes et qui réaffirme l'usage de la peine de mort pour
les actes de terrorisme les plus graves. Trois personnes ont
encore été condamnées à la peine capitale et exécutées en
2003. Ces exécutions récentes démontrent un manque de
volonté politique de la part du régime cubain de mettre en
place un moratoire immédiat, en vue d'une abolition
universelle et définitive de la peine de mort, dans la lignée
de la Déclaration finale du 3ème Congrès mondial contre
la peine de mort (Paris, 1er au 3 février 2007).

Pour toutes ces raisons, la FIDH demande au Conseil

des Droits de l’Homme des Nations Unies d’adopter
une résolution dans laquelle elle :

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

syndicalistes, contre MM. José Arturo Ramos Pérez,

3. GUATEMALA
En 2006 la situation des droits de l'Homme au
Guatemala s'est dégradée. Malgré les 10 ans des
Accords de Paix, ceux-ci sont toujours peu, ou ne sont
même pas, appliqués par les autorités concernées. Les −
défenseurs des droits de l'Homme demeurent les cibles
privilégiées d'attaques et de menaces. L'impunité
continue de régner, le cas de l'ex dictateur Rios Montt −
étant tout à fait emblématique à cet égard. Les actions
violentes commises contre les femmes ou
« féminicides » restent très préoccupant. Le Guatemala −
fait toujours partie des pays non abolitionnistes de la
peine de mort.
Francisco Javier López López, Carlos Rolando Ramos
Rodríguez, Delfino López Alonzo et Alejandro López
Esteban, membres du Syndicat Clermont, affilié à la
Confédération centrale générale des travailleurs du
Guatemala.
les enlèvements : M. Erwin Estuardo Orrego Borrayo,
dirigeant du Front d’urgence des vendeurs des
marchés du Guatemala.
les détentions arbitraires : M. José Xoj, dirigeant de
la Coordination des organisations paysannes et
indigènes de Petén.
les vols ou tentatives de vol avec effraction,
notamment dans les locaux de nombreuses ONG.

Défenseurs des droits de l’Homme 3 Création d'une Commission indépendante de l'ONU

Tous les types d'exactions, de violences et d'attaques à visant à lutter contre l'impunité
l'encontre des défenseurs restent monnaie courante, tels La FIDH accueille très favorablement l'accord signé le 12
que: décembre 2006, entre Ibrahim Gambari, Secrétaire général
− les actes d'assassinats dont ont été victimes, entre adjoint aux affaires politiques de l'ONU et le Vice-
autres, de Mme Meregilda Súchite, dirigeante de la président guatémaltèque, Eduardo Stein, qui vise à aider le
communauté de Tuticopote Abajo et membre du Guatemala dans sa lutte contre l'impunité et prévoit
Réseau de femmes de l’Observatoire des droits de l'établissement d'une Commission internationale contre
l’Homme, mis en place par le Centre d’action l'impunité. Celle-ci a un mandat initial de deux ans pour
juridique des droits de l’Homme; et de M. Antonio enquêter sur « l'existence de groupes et d'organisations de
Ixbalan Cali, président de l’Association des sécurité illégaux et clandestins » et pour aider les autorités
agriculteurs de Santiago Atitlan, association membre judiciaires guatémaltèques à engager des poursuites.
de la Coordination nationale indigène et paysanne, et
de son épouse Mme María Petzey Coo. Cour Pénale International (CPI)
− de harcèlement et d'intimidation à l'encontre En 2003, le Tribunal Constitutionnel de Guatemala a
notamment de Mme Gloria Aurora González Vásquez déclaré que le Statut de Rome n'était pas contraire à la
et Mme Argentina Osorio Azañón de l'Association des Constitution du Guatemala, malgré cela, aucune initiative
femmes Ixqik et de plusieurs éducateurs de Casa en vue d'une signature et d'une ratification du Traité n'a été
Alianza – Guatemala. prise.
− les enquêtes bloquées, comme celle sur le meurtre de
M. Harold Rafael Pérez Gallardo, avocat travaillant au Impunité
sein du bureau juridique de l’ONG Casa Alianza Après de longues années d’impunité et face à l’inaction du
Guatemala, qui a été ouverte par le ministère Public. système judiciaire guatémaltèque, les autorités judiciaires
Les auteurs de cet acte n’ont toujours pas été espagnoles ont lancé en juillet dernier des mandats d’arrêt
identifiés. Selon le ministère, la PNC n’aurait pas internationaux, et transmis aux autorités guatémaltèques
obtenu suffisamment d’informations. des demandes d’extradition à l’encontre de sept personnes
− les disparitions forcées, notamment de M. Oscar exerçant les plus hautes responsabilités afin qu’elles soit
Humberto Duarte Paíz, secrétaire de l’Association jugées en Espagne pour génocide, torture, disparition
pour le développement de la ville de Quetzal et des forcée et exécutions extra-judiciaires.
quartiers de Aledeñas, de San Juan Sacatepéquez. La justice guatemaltèque a accepté ces mandats d'arrêts le
− les menaces y compris de mort, proférées par 18 novembre 2006. Elle doit maintenant exécuter les
exemple contre M. Maynor Roberto Berganza demandes d'extraditions, en particulier celle de l'ex
Bethancourt, avocat spécialisé dans la défense des dictateur Ríos Montt, l’un des principaux accusés, car il
droits de l’Homme; Mme Erenia Vanegas, membre de s’est officiellement porté candidat à la députation lors des
l’Unité de protection des défenseurs des droits de prochaines élections générales qui auront lieu en septembre
l’Homme du Mouvement national des droits de 2007. Les dépôts de candidature seront ouverts le 2 mai
l’Homme du Guatemala. prochain, et le Tribunal Suprême Electoral les validera
− les poursuites judiciaires à l'encontre de dans le courant de l’été. A cette date, il bénéficiera de 4
ans d’immunité parlementaire.
3 Si les plaintes déposées par des associations de victimes,
Les cas des défenseurs de droits de l'Homme cités ont été au Guatemala, en Espagne, et devant la Cour
dénoncés par l’Observatoire pour la protection des Interaméricaine des Droits de l’Homme, ne connaissent
défenseurs des droits de l’Homme, qui est un programme pas d’avancées majeures, il risque ainsi de n’être jamais
conjoint entre la FIDH et l'OMCT.

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

inquiété, et les millions de victimes du conflit, de ne jamais aux défenseurs des droits de l’Homme et à respecter les
recevoir la réparation morale qu’elles réclament depuis tant accords de paix de 1996.
d’années.
Appelle le Congrès guatemaltèque à adopter les mesures
Féminicide législatives nécessaires à la ratification du Statut de
Les actions violentes commises contre les femmes restent Rome.
très préoccupant et pour la plupart impunies. Les motifs
qui les sous-tendent en sont également variés (politique, Soutien l'accord entre les Nations Unies et le Guatemala
violence domestique, crime fondé sur la différence sur la création d'une Commission internationale contre
sexuelle, vengeance des mafias). Il n'existe pas encore l'impunité au Guatemala.
d'analyse précise du phénomène, de ses origines, de toutes
ses manifestations; toutefois, un schéma particulier semble Incite le Guatemala à la mise en place d'un moratoire
prendre corps: celui de violations systématiques à l'égard immédiat, en vue d'une abolition universelle et définitive
de la femme fondées sur sa seule condition de femme. de la peine de mort, dans la lignée de la Déclaration finale
Le Guatemala a ratifié, dans le domaine du droits des du 3ème Congrès mondial contre la peine de mort (Paris,
femmes, aussi bien la « Convention sur l'élimination de 1er au 3 février 2007), et à la ratification du protocole
toutes les formes de discriminations à l'égard des femmes » additionnel de la Convention Interaméricaine des Droits de
en 1982 que la «Convention interaméricaine pour prévenir, l’Homme contre la peine de mort et du second protocole
sanctionner et éradiquer la violence contre les femmes » en facultatif du Pacte International relatif aux Droits Civils et
1995 et la « Convention contre la torture », ainsi que, plus Politiques sur l’abolition peine de mort.
généralement, la « Déclaration Universelle des Droits de
l'Homme, » le « Pacte International relatif aux droits civils Demande à toutes les autorités guatémaltèques de mettre
et politiques » et la « Convention Américaine des droits de en œuvre les réformes et mesures nécessaires à
l'Homme », qui reconnaissent le droit à la vie. l’accomplissement des recommandations du Bureau du
Haut Commissaire des Droits de l’Homme du
Peine de Mort Guatemala et de conserver l’intégralité de son mandat de
En réponse à la persistance de la pratique de la peine de consultant et observateur de la situation des droits de
mort, le Gouvernement avait annoncé avoir deux projets de l’Homme, notamment en ce qui concerne les droits des
loi : un pour abolir la peine de mort et un autre pour peuples indigènes.
clarifier le droit de grâce, mais aucun de deux n'a à ce jour
été adopté.
Comme l'a rappelé le Comité des droits de l'Homme des
Nations Unies, le crime de kidnapping sans avoir causé la
mort de la victime ne peut être considéré comme un crime
des plus graves au sens de l'article 64 du Pacte, il ne peut
donc donner lieu à l'application de la peine de mort 5. Or
pour ce seul crime il y a aujourd'hui, au Guatemala, 11
condamnés à mort.

Considérant la gravité de la situation tant sur le plan des

droits civils et politiques que sur celui des droits
économiques et sociaux, la FIDH demande au Conseil des
droits de l’Homme des Nations Unies d’adopter une
résolution sur le Guatemala dans laquelle elle :

Exhorte le Gouvernement guatémaltèque à lutter contre

l’impunité et à améliorer le système de justice en
exécutant les demandes d'extraditions des principaux
responsables des crimes de génocide.

Demande instamment aux autorités de garantir leur soutien

4
Conformément à l’article 6 du Pacte international relatif
aux droits civils et politiques la peine de mort ne peut être
infligée que comme sanction des crimes les plus graves.
5
Comité des Droits de l'Homme des Nations Unies,
observation finales sur le rapport du Guatemala 17,
A/56/40, 2001

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

conclusions were issued by the UN Human Rights

4. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Committee in May 2006 and the UN Committee against
Torture in July 2006.
Violations of human rights in the context of the “War The ICRC called said that the entire system at Guantanamo
on Terror” was “tantamount to torture.”

The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH)
and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR),
express their deep concern at the continuing human
rights violations being committed by the United States
in the context of the so-called “War on Terror,” and in
particular with regards to detainees’ rights. Enforced
disappearances, arbitrary and indefinite detention,
torture, and other cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment and denials of effective remedies and due
process, constitute patent violations of the United
States’ obligations under international customary law
and treaties it has ratified.
Treatment of Detainees and the situation in Guantánamo
Since gaining control of detainees, the U.S. military has
held them virtually incommunicado at Guantánamo Bay,
Cuba, under conditions that violate their constitutional and
international rights. Isolation for up to 30 days, beatings,
round-the-clock interrogations, extreme and prolonged
stress positions, sleep deprivation up to 50 days, sensory
assaults, removal of clothing, hooding, and the use of dogs,
are interrogation techniques approved for use by the
Military at Guantánamo by the most senior Department of
Defense lawyer. It has also been proven that these
techniques have been applied in other U.S. detention
facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As more information has become available, it is clear that
many of those who have been held at the U.S. Naval
Station at Guantánamo Bay– some as young as 13 or as old
as 80 – are not violent terrorists or “enemy combatants” but
merely individuals caught in the wrong place at the wrong
time, often with tenuous (at best) connections to terrorist
organizations. Out of the 760 men who have been detained
at Guantanamo, only 3 are currently charged with a crime,
and over 350 have been released. Yet, about 395 remain
detained indefinitely, without access to justice. In some
cases it appears as though the seizure and detention of a
person involved a mistaken identity or a mistranslation of
an Arabic, Pashtun, or Dari name.
The United States has indicated publicly that close to one
hundred of the prisoners have been cleared for transfer or
release. Yet, it has not moved swiftly to accomplish those
transfers. No transparency exists in this process nor are
timetables firmly established.
On February 16, 2006, five United Nations Special
Rapporteurs released a report determining that the prison is
a “torture camp” and demanding that the U.S. shut down
the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, release or try the
detainees and “refrain from any practice amounting to
torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.” Similar
The situation has worsened since these reports were issued.
The U.S. has completed the building of a new permanent
prison known as "Camp 6." Such facilities are designed to
maximize the sensory deprivation of the prisoners. Every
prisoner is kept in solitary confinement. The lights are on
continually, and there are no windows to the outside.
Limited outdoor recreation is provided; some prisoners,
only taken out for exercise at nighttime, are never exposed
to daylight.
In September 2006, the President announced the transfer
into Guantanamo of 14 so-called “high value” detainees
who had previously been held for years in CIA “black
sites.” Since these transfers, the United States government
has erected insuperable barriers to access to these
detainees. Lawyers have been prevented to meet with their
clients, on grounds that their knowledge of the types of
“alternative interrogation methods” that were used on him,
and of the locations of the “black site” prisons where he
had been held, is “top secret.”
The Military Commissions Act 2006 and the impossibility
for the detainees to challenge the legality of their
detention
On September 29, 2006, the Military Commissions Act
(MCA) was passed by the U.S. Congress. It purports to
retroactively (back to 9/11) strip from any “alien detained
by the United States,” anywhere in the world, who is
“detained as an enemy combatant or is awaiting such
determination” the right to file a habeas corpus petition
challenging the legality of his or her detention. This
provision ostensibly applies to all Guantánamo detainees
whose habeas petitions were pending in the federal trial
courts at the time of the law’s passage. Another section of
the statute prohibited any court from reviewing any aspect
of the treatment, detention, transfer, trial or conditions of
confinement of an detainee designated an “enemy
combatant.” This inability to file civil suits prevents
detainees from holding accountable perpetrators of abuses
and their commanders, in violation of international human
rights law’s imperative to provide effective remedies.
Retroactive amendments (back to 1997) have also been
made to the U.S. War Crimes Act in order to immunize
possible authors of war crimes. Indeed, “grave breaches”
to the Geneva Conventions have been narrowly limited and
redefined. The President is given sole discretion to punish
other violations of the Geneva Conventions that do not rise
to the level of “grave breaches” – including degrading
treatment in violation of Common Article 3 – and to
approve whatever interrogation techniques he deems legal
and appropriate. In addition, the MCA states that no US
court may apply international law to determine whether

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

Common Article 3 has been violated and is punishable. humanitarian law;

Also, according to the MCA, evidence obtained by
coercion is admissible in a military commission if it is (1)
reliable, (2) probative, and (3) serves the “interests of
justice.” The standard for evidence obtained through
coercive interrogations is very low – evidence obtained
from interrogations prior to December 2005 (enactment of −
the Detainees Treatment Act) can be admitted even if it is
found to result from cruel, inhuman, and degrading
treatment.
The practice of extraordinary renditions
FIDH strongly condemns the U.S. Government’s practice
of “rendering” persons under its control to countries and/or
secret detention facilities where it is aware torture occurs.
It is not publicly known how many people the Government
has rendered to indefinite detention and torture, although −
estimates range from 150 to many thousands.
As pressure to close the facility mounts, the use of illegal
transfers from Guantánamo to human rights abusing
regimes seems likely to increase. The U.S. must ensure
that detainees are not sent to countries where they face −
torture or persecution.
The Government also claims to get “diplomatic
assurances” from the foreign government that the detainees
will not be tortured, but such assurances are unenforceable,
not monitored and not open to public scrutiny. Potential
transferees cannot challenge the credibility or reliability of
these assurances before an independent judicial body, and
there is no requirement that the United States government
take the past human rights history of the receiving country
into account.
− guarantee the independence of the judiciary in
conformity with the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights and United Nations basic
principles on the Independence of the Judiciary,
including among other things, executive compliance
with the decisions of the federal judiciary;
promptly charge and try all detainees against whom
the United States intends to bring charges, in
accordance with international fair trial obligations;
− treat the detainees held at Guantánamo who are
eligible for release or transfer in accordance with
international obligations and principles, including the
principle of non-refoulement, and thereby refrain from
rendering individuals to countries where there are
substantial grounds to believe that they would face an
imminent risk of grave human rights violations,
including torture and persecution;
take immediate and concrete steps to investigate all
military and intelligence officers and soldiers who
are alleged to have participated in the torture, abuse,
or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of the
Guantánamo detainees, and prosecute those involved
to the fullest extent of the law; and
respect its international obligations when the
United States seeks to override or restrict
fundamental rights with the aim of combating
terrorism.

FIDH and CCR call for the adoption of a resolution

publicly condemning these policies and practices and
the content of the new legislation. The resolution should
urge the United States authorities to, inter alia:

− cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteurs and

provide immediate, complete, and unimpeded access
to the Guantánamo detention facilities and the
detainees being confined there;
− fully implement the recommendations of the five
Special Rapporteurs in their February 16, 2006
report on the circumstances of Guantánamo;
− guarantee the physical and psychological integrity
of all detainees held by the United States government
in Guantánamo and the observance of all human rights
in accordance with the government’s international and
regional undertakings;
− amend the Military Commissions Act in order to
authorize all detainees to challenge the legality of their
detention before the courts and to fully implement the
United States’ obligations under the Geneva
Conventions and, international human rights and

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

ASIA and MIDDLE EAST formation and function of independent organizations. The
judiciary is not able to provide protection for civil society
1. MYANMAR activists given that it is subservient to the ruling military
regime.

The International Federation for Human Rights The dire humanitarian crisis is worsened by the
(FIDH) and Altsean Burma maintain their serious increasingly strict conditions imposed by the Burmese
concerns regarding the institutionally entrenched, regime on humanitarian organizations, in some cases
systematic and widespread violations of human rights amounting to a complete denial of access, so that they are
occurring in Burma. Despite more than 29 resolutions unable to carry out their missions to help the thousands of
adopted by the UN General Assembly and the displaced facing the greatest needs. In 2006, the
Commission on Human Rights calling for national International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which
reconciliation and democratization in Burma, as well as is mainly contributing to protect and promote the rights of
the actions undertaken by the former UN Secretary prisoners in Burma, was forced to temporarily shut down
General Kofi Annan and his office over the past ten five field offices. To date, the regime has prevented the
years, and the four envoys to Burma mandated by the ICRC from resuming prison visits suspended since
UN Commission on Human Rights, the State Peace and December 2005.
Development Council's (SPDC) unlawful methods of
political and ethnic repression have consolidated. Repression of ethnic communities
The Burmese regime's attacks on ethnic communities has
Over the past year, the Burmese military junta has not been continuing throughout 2006.
undertaken any action in favour of national reconciliation.
Indeed, in September 2006, the regime publicly declared Attacks on villages in ethnic areas by the army since late
that it will never engage in discussions with the NLD and 2005 have led to extensive forced displacements. There is
ethnic minorities. Instead, NLD leaders and democracy reportedly a total of 540,000 internally displaced persons
activists have increasingly been subjected to harassment in Burma with minimum prospects of return and resettle-
including arbitrary arrests and restrictions on freedom of ment. The regime does not recognize the existence of inter-
expression and assembly. nally displaced persons within its borders and severely re-
strict access to them by United Nations agencies and other
The reform process proposed in the road map and the work humanitarian actors.
of the National Convention have produced absolutely no
concrete results and the military campaign in the ethnic ar- In November 2005, the SPDC began an offensive targeting
eas of eastern Burma is having a terrific effect on human communities in Eastern Burma which has continued to this
rights with 27 000 internally displaced people in 2006 date. Unusually, the offensive continued throughout the
alone in the region. wet season, targeting villages unprotected by armed oppo-
sition groups, leaving communities trapped in the jungle
Repression of diverging opinion shelters while their crops and homes burned and home-
Throughout 2006, democracy activists in Burma have been lands lain with new landmines. Those arriving in Thailand
subjected to severe repression. They are still arbitrarily report witnessing SPDC soldiers commit extra-judicial
arrested by the military junta. In September 2006, the three killings, rape and torture. An estimated 27,000 have been
most prominent student leaders of Burma, Min Ko Naing, displaced in the offensive, 2,000 prisoners and countless
Ko Ko Gyi and Htay Kywe were arrested by the Burmese civilians have been used as porters, and 341 people have
military regime; thanks to the international pressure, they been documented as killed.
have been released on 11 January 2007. All had already
served over 15 years in prison. They have been released in In western Myanmar, the Rohingya Muslim minority has
2004 and 2005 and since then, they have been working long been discriminated against, and is denied citizenship
tirelessly to bring about democratic changes in the country under the 1982 Citizenship Law. Rohingya asylum-seekers
by peaceful means. continue to flee to Bangladesh and Malaysia. In Burma,
Rohingyas are subject to serious abuses, notably forced
Only days after the most recent visit to Burma by UN labour (brick-baking, construction of roads, bridges, model
Under-Secretary for Political Affairs, Mr. Ibrahim villages and military facilities, camp maintenance, porter-
Gambari, in May 2006, during which he was allowed to ing), arbitrary taxation, extortion and land confiscation, re-
meet briefly with Aung San Suu Kyi and called for her strictions on freedom of movement, persecution of political
release, her detention was once again arbitrarily prolonged and community leaders, torture, and destruction of
for yet another year. mosques and madrassa.

The effective laws and judicial system do not facilitate the Forced Labour
emergence and strengthening of the civil society in Burma. Forced labour involving portering, sentry/patrol duty, mili-
The 1988 Association Law enacted by the regime prohibits tary and SPDC infrastructure projects, and commercial

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

agriculture activities is still prevalent throughout Burma. FIDH, and Altsean Burma call upon the Human Rights
Burma has acceded to the International Labour Organiza- Council (HRC) to convene a special session of the
tion (ILO) Convention No. 29 that prohibits forced labour, Human rights Council on the human rights situation in
and in 2000 it issued an Order outlawing the practice. Burma. In that framework, the HRC should urge the
However, it is not being effectively implemented due to a Burmese authorities to:
lack of political will. In 2005, the regime announced a pol-
icy of prosecuting people who lodged what it considered to − Put an end to the harassment, arrest and detention of
be “false complaints” of forced labour, leading to a situa- members of the National League for Democracy and
tion where the victims rather than the perpetrators are pun- political activists;
ished. The State-controlled press has also published arti- − Immediately and unconditionally release Daw Aung
cles attacking ILO. The effect of this has been to strength- San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners;
en the sense of impunity enjoyed by those who benefit − Ensure the immediate, safe, and unhindered access to
from forced labour. all parts of the country for international humanitarian
organizations to provide assistance to the most
In June 2006, the ILO Conference of States parties vulnerable groups of the population;
required from Burma concrete results in two areas: − Immediately cease military operations and attacks
releasing any person who had been imprisoned following against civilian populations in ethnic areas;
contacts with the ILO and achieving an agreement with − Stop the use of forced labour, duly protect victims
ILO on a credible mechanism for dealing with complaints bringing legal suits in forced labour cases against any
of forced labour with all necessary guarantees for the retaliation and fully cooperate with the ILO;
protection of complainants. However, in November 2006, − Stop dam projects on the Salween River in view of its
because of the lack of progress on those points, the ILO tremendously damaging impact on the environment
governing body asked the ILO Director-General to bring and human rights of local communities;
the relevant documentation to the UN Security Council − Begin a meaningful, transparent and inclusive
when it considers the situation in Myanmar and to the dialogue with all political parties and ethnic groups
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for any in order to achieve a genuine process of national
action that may be considered appropriate. reconciliation
The hydropower project planned on the Salween River
with joint venture between the Burmese regime and
Chinese and Thai state-owned companies is particularly
worrying. The Salween River flows southward through
Shan and Karenni States in the East of Burma, and along
the Thai-Burma border through Karen and Mon States.
Damming the river poses a threat to the livelihoods of local
ethnic nationality communities and will inevitably lead to a
massive population displacement and the eradication of
indigenous cultures. One of the dams – Weigyi – will be
built on the border of Burma’s Karen and Karenni States.
Although much of the area has already been cleared out by
military offensives and forced relocations, approximately
30,000 people will be impacted, with 26 villages and two
entire towns submerged. An entire tribe of people the
Yintalai, who now number a mere 1,000, are threatened
with expulsion and assimilation when they will be forced
off to relocate with no compensation, or any consideration
of the animistic traditions that necessitate access to
homeland.

Of concern to communities living in affected states is the

“Shwe” natural gas pipeline project proposed by India, and
another proposed pipeline cutting across the length of
Burma to China. A pipeline corridor to India is already
being cleared. The area is already becoming increasingly
militarized, and reports of forced labor in the context of
infrastructure development have already emerged. The
human rights implications of the pipeline to China, which
will cut across several states is feared to be devastating.

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

alarming, and also reflects the growing use of both police

2. PEOPLE's REPUBLIC OF CHINA and extrajudicial violence against individual human rights
defenders.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
and Human Rights in China (HRIC) express their serious Undermining Freedom of Expression and Access to
concern regarding alarming human rights trends in China Information
in 2006, including the repression of human rights Freedom of expression in China is restricted for both
defenders, the rule of law, and freedom of expression, individuals and the media. Restrictions on the right to
including censorship of the media and the Internet. FIDH freedom of expression and information are enacted by
and HRIC are further concerned about the failure of the legal, technical and social tools, resulting in censorship,
Chinese Government to take steps to remedy the detention self-censorship and the availability of only limited,
of individuals found to be arbitrary by the UN Working government-approved, information. In particular, the
Group on Arbitrary Detention, and to implement the comprehensive state secrets system limits access to
numerous recommendations of UN Treaty Bodies and information and reporting on a range of issues including
Special Procedures. natural disasters and pollution, application of the death
penalty, and the criminal justice system. The resulting lack
Hardening official attitude towards Human Rights of transparency throughout the Chinese legal and
Defenders results in increasing crackdowns in 2006 governing system undermines good governance, an
Continued detentions and heavy sentences for journalists, independent rule of law, and sustainable development.
lawyers, Internet activists and other human rights
defenders reflect the Chinese government’s hardening Despite protections in the Constitution and promises
attitude in the lead up to both the 17th Party Congress in related to freedom of expression and the media in the lead-
2007 and the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. In up to the 2008 Olympics, the practice of restricting
particular, heavy sentences, detentions and arrests in 2006 reportage and detaining journalists has continued. Whereas
send a chilling message to human rights defenders and regulations passed in December 2006 allow foreign
others seeking to express their views. These sentences and journalists relatively free access to report in China, they
arrests include those of Chen Guangcheng (self-taught are currently set to expire following the Olympic Games,
lawyer and activist, sentenced to four years and three and official announcements made in January and February
months in prison for gathering a mob to disrupt traffic); 2007 limit the subject and scope of information that can be
Ching Cheong (journalist, sentenced to five years reported on by all journalists. At the same time, technical
imprisonment for subversion); Gao Zhisheng (lawyer, controls regulate what information individuals have access
sentenced to three years imprisonment, suspended, for to online, and criminal sanctions can be imposed on
subversion); Yan Zhengxue (artist, detained October 18, individuals that seek to express views considered
2006, currently awaiting trial on charges of subversion); politically sensitive on web logs, Internet forums and in e-
and Zhao Yan (journalist, sentenced to three years mails.
imprisonment for fraud).
Recommendations
In addition, numerous individuals that travel to Beijing to These disturbing trends that are both systemic and have
petition the government for reasons ranging from official serious consequences for individuals have developed
corruption, to land seizures, to withholding payments, are despite numerous recommendations made by UN Treaty
detained and often sentenced to periods of reeducation- Bodies and Special Procedures, including those related to
through-labor (RTL). Others are brought up on criminal individual detentions. In the lead up to China’s review by
charges. On December 18, 2006, three petitioners, Du the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism in whatever
Yangming, Wang Shuizhen, and Tian Baocheng, were form it may take, we urge Human Rights Council members
given prison sentences ranging from one to two-and-a-half to consider the many recommendations made to China that
years in prison on charges of “causing a disturbance.” have not been implemented. These include:
− Close monitoring of implementing recommendations,
Threats to building a Rule of Law including those related to arbitrary detention and
Concerns related to building a rule of law and independent women’s rights. Both the Committee on the
judiciary remain and are becoming more serious. Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the
Tightening regulations, procedural obstacles, and UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention noted that
increasing harassments and threats against lawyers, all many of the recommendations made in earlier reviews
demonstrate an increasingly severe crackdown on the legal and country visits remain unimplemented in reports
profession. This crackdown has important implications for made in 2005 and 2006 (UN Working Group on
legal defense work, access to justice, due process rights, Arbitrary Detention, Committee on the Elimination of
and the development of an independent, transparent and Discrimination against Women);
accountable rule of law. − Take steps to remedy the detention of individuals
found to be arbitrarily detained, including Yao Fuxin,
The trend of physical harassment of lawyers is particularly Yang Jianli, Liu Xianbin, Zhao Changqing, Hu

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

Shigen, and Zhao Yan (UN Working Group on

Arbitrary Detention);
− Lessen controls on the Internet to make scientific and
other information more widely available (Committee
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights);
− Take legislative measures to make a clear-cut
exemption from criminal responsibility of those who
peacefully exercise rights guaranteed by the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UN Working Group on
Arbitrary Detention);
− Define the crime of torture in accordance with the
Convention against Torture (Special Rapporteur on
Torture);
− Reforms of the Criminal Procedure Law, to fall in
line with fair trial standards laid out in the
International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (Special Rapporteur on Torture).

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

on the one hand, and the armed groups on the other hand.
3. PHILIPPINES
Total Impunity
The perpetrators of the extrajudicial killings are rarely
2005 and 2006 have been black years indeed for human identified by the police and never brought to justice. No
rights in the Philippines. Politically motivated high level military has ever been put on trial for
extrajudicial killings have reached unprecedented involvement in human rights violations. According to
levels, and very few - if any - have been prosecuted and various testimonies, the lawyers taking up cases against
condemned for such acts. members of the army or the police are generally harassed
and threatened. The witnesses and the relatives of the
The exact number of extrajudicial killings varies according victims are also threatened, if not killed. There is no
to different sources, but all converge to denounce the high meaningful witness protection programme in the
number of killings, the fact that they are politically Philippines, in spite of the existence of the Witness
motivated, and in their immense majority thought to be Protection, Security and Benefit Act of 1991.
perpetrated most often by members of the military, by the
police, or by groups linked to them. The number of cases is Human rights defenders face huge risks in order to
clearly on the rise since 2005. In addition, with the coming document the violations and assist the victims. The tribute
election for the Congress in May 2007, local groups expect they paid in 2006 is particularly heavy. The Observatory
a further increase of violence. for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint
programme of FIDH and OMCT, recorded 23 cases of
According to Karapatan, 206 civilians were killed in 2006 extrajudicial killings of human rights defenders in 2006
(189 in 2005). Among them, 165 were affiliated with alone.
various peaceful and legal left organisations (Bayan and
Anakpawis in particular), while 17 human rights defenders, In July 2006, in her State of the Nation Address, President
members of Karapatan, are also among the victims. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared “In the provinces under
the jurisdiction of the 7th Division, Jovito Palparan is
The main victims of the killings are members and leaders fighting the enemy. He will not retreat until people are free
of legal organisations (peasant and fishermen from the terror of the night and are able to see the dawn of
organisations, teachers’ associations, women’s groups, justice and freedom”. This was interpreted by local human
workers unions, etc), perceived by the authorities as close rights groups as a green light for further human rights
to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its violations against civilians by the Army since Jovito
armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA). Palparan is well known for being involved, directly or
through henchmen, in numerous cases of disappearances,
In 2006, there have also been several cases of extrajudicial torture and extrajudicial killings of civilians.
killings of farmers in connection with agrarian reform. In
those cases, the police investigations were extremely The authorities explain the high number of extrajudicial
flawed – and the landlords belonging to powerful families killings as being the result of an internal purge within the
enjoy total impunity. CPP. Such purges have indeed taken place in the 1980s
and in the beginning of the 1990s, when the CPP arrested,
A Schizophrenic Policy tortured and even killed many of its own supporters,
Bayan, an umbrella mass organisation ideologically close accusing them of being agents of the military. Since the
to the CPP, and its members (left political parties, trade mid-1990s, certain target killings have taken place of left
unions, etc) are legal organisations in the Philippines; leaders who decided to leave the armed struggle and
however, they are regularly designated as “fronts of the compete for the elections instead.
NPA” in the speeches of high level militar and government
officials. Such statements make them legitimate targets. In However, all local human rights groups concur to
the provinces, it is reported by various sources that the definitely reject such an explanation for today’s large
military exert harsh pressure on civilians, inducing them number of killings. Such an explanation is also
not to support those groups if they want to avoid contradicted by the fact that the so-called left groups
repression. fiercely denounce those killings.

This situation is paradoxical since those groups, unions,
parties and NGOs are legally entitled to operate in the
Philippines. That amalgam clearly contributes to the fact
that the leaders, members and sympathisers of legal
organisations and political parties have been victims of
numerous targeted extrajudicial killings. Even if they
might share the same ideology, a clear distinction should
be drawn between peaceful legal parties and organisations
Following the national and international indignation at the
high number of extrajudicial killings over the past year, the
government established the Melo Commission in August
2006 to inquire in media and activists’ killings. Its
composition has been largely criticised by local human
rights groups as resulting in a lack of credibility and
impartiality. In addition, it could not compel witnesses to
testify; it did not have a witness protection programme;

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FIDH position paper

and the Melo Commission announced that it would achieve
its work by the end of December 2006, which constituted a
very short timeframe.
Since the appointment of the Commission, the extrajudicial
killings have continued unabated. FIDH welcomes the
public release by the government of the Melo Commission
report, on February 23, after the UN special Rapporteur on −
extrajudicial executions in visit in the country the same
month recommended to do so.
On 31 January 2007, after it received the Melo
Commission’s report, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo −
“urged the Supreme Court (SC) to form a special court that
will conduct a speedy trial of all cases of extrajudicial
killings in the country”. The President also “ordered newly
appointed Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and
Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon
Jr. to come up with an updated document on the principles
of command responsibility focusing on the alleged
involvement of retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan in
extrajudicial killings”.
belonging to the opposition in the absence of
meaningful evidence against them, and free
Congressman Crispin Beltran
− publicly and unambiguously denounce attacks on legal
left groups, and put an end to allegations of collusion
between peaceful opposition groups and illegal armed
groups
ensure that there is no intrusion of the military into
civil administration
− adopt the Bill on torture implementing the UN
Convention Against Torture, ratified by the
Philippines
ratify the newly adopted UN Convention on Enforced
Disappearances and adopt an implementing legislation

FIDH recalls that the State has a duty to protect the rights
to life and to physical integrity. It should consequently
prevent, but also investigate and prosecute the perpetrators
of such human rights violations. A “special court”
conducting “a speedy trial” does not seem an appropriate
response to the extrajudicial killings. Only prosecution of
high level officials for human rights violations will send a
signal to the authors of extrajudicial killings that such
behaviour will not be tolerated anymore.

The large number of extrajudicial killings combined with

the systematic impunity of the perpetrators obviously
generates a climate of fear, particularly detrimental to
democracy. There are credible reports that members of the
security forces are often involved in the extrajudicial
killings, or did not intervene to prevent them. The fact that
the victims are by large found among the leaders and
members of so-called left groups gives credit to those who
denounce the existence of a concerted plan to neutralise
those opposition groups. The various declarations by high
level military and even government officials blurring the
line between legal organisations and illegal armed groups
are of utmost concern in that regard. Beyond eliminating
them, the objective of such policy may also be to bring
those groups back in the clandestine armed struggle, which
would further justify a strong militarization in the country.

FIDH calls upon the UN Human rights Council to urge

the government of the Philippines to:

− ensure that a fully independent body be in charge of

the investigation of the cases of extrajudicial killings
− put in place a meaningful programme of protection of
victims and witnesses before, during and after the
enquiry and the judicial procedures
− drop the charges of rebellion filed against civilians

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

FIDH and LDDHI vigorously denounce such executions,

4. ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Harassment of union leaders, human rights activists,
journalists, bloggers and any persons having an
independent or differing opinion has been continuing in
the Islamic Republic of Iran. Repression has been
increasing over the past months in particular against
women’s rights groups, trade union members, as well
as religious and ethnic minorities. Lawyers have also
been increasingly targeted for defending cases
perceived as sensitive by the authorities.
Ethnic Minorities
Since the beginning of this year, executions have been on
the rise in Khûzistân, a neighbouring region with Iraq
where the Arab minority is living. Protests asking for
increased autonomy (right to publish in Arabic, etc) had
taken place in the region in April 2005. Violent clashes had
opposed protesters to the police, resulting in a number of
injured. Since then, bombings occurred in Ahwaz and
other cities in the region. The Iranian authorities replied to
those attacks through massive condemnations to death of
men belonging to the Arab minority.
which follow blatantly unfair trials. Under such
circumstances, it is totally impossible to know whether
those persons really participated in terrorist acts, or were
simply political activists asking for more autonomy or for
the independence of the province. No crime, whatever its
gravity, can justify such a denial of the fair trial
guarantees, which constitute a non-derogable right, even
“in time of public emergency which threatens the life of
the nation” (Art. 4 of the ICCPR as interpreted by the UN
Human Rights Committee). Our organisations fear that
Iran may currently be executing political prisoners – and
not the real authors of violent attacks, which would be an
extremely worrying move.
On 14 June 2006, Mr. Saleh Kamrani, lawyer in Tehran,
disappeared. He has reportedly been detained in the Evin
prison, without charges, and subsequently released. Before
his arrest, Mr. Kamrani had defended political prisoners
arrested after they had protested against the publication in
May 2006, in a pro-government newspaper, of a comics
which had offended many Turk-Azeri citizens. He had
already been victim of harassment in the past because of
his activities in favour of the defence of ethnic minorities.

On 9 November 2006, the Iranian Supreme Court Women’s Rights

confirmed the death sentences for "Mohareb" ("being at A campaign on women’s rights launched last August by
war with God") against ten persons belonging to the Arab local groups in Iran has been repeatedly targeted by the
minority. The trial of the ten men had however been held authorities. The on-line campaign is asking for the
in secret, access to their lawyers had been denied during elimination of all forms of legal discrimination against
the pre-trial phase, and six lawyers who had been women in the Iranian legislation, and for the legislator to
defending them had been arrested and subsequently freed review and amend existing laws, so that they conform with
on bail, in blatant violation of the UN Basic Principles on the government’s commitments to international human
the Role of Lawyers. rights conventions. The “For one million signatures”
website was shut down several times since its launch, and
Three of the ten men were executed in mid-December. In the campaigners had to reopen it on new domains.
spite of a call launched by three UN independent experts to
stop the execution of the remaining seven sentenced to In addition, on January 27, 2007, Ms. Mansoureh
death “following a secret, grossly unfair trial”, four of Shojaei, Ms. Sedigheh Taghinia (alias Tal’at Taghinia)
them were executed in late January. The last three, Majed and Ms. Farnaz Seifi, three journalists at the forefront of
Alebooghasbish, 30, Ghasem Salamat, 41, and Abdol-Reza the campaign, were arrested at the Imam Khomeini
Sanvati, 34, were executed on February 14, 2007. Airport, and prevented from leaving the country. They
were on their way to India to participate in a journalism
On 13 February 2007, eleven members of Iran's workshop. They were transferred to the 209 section of the
Revolutionary Guards have been killed after a car bomb hit Evin Prison, in Tehran, and subsequently released on bail
their bus in Zahedan, capital of the Sistan-Baluchestan the next day. A hearing should take place in March on the
province which borders both Afghanistan and Pakistan in basis of unknown charges.
South eastern Iran. The Baluch ethnic minority is living
in that province, which is among the poorest in Iran. Iran's Human rights defenders and trade unionists
Fars news agency said “a group called Jundallah [Allah's In the Evin prison, the pressure against political prisoners
brigade, a Sunni group] under the leadership of is on the rise. In November 2006, dangerous prisoners
Abdolmalek Rigi, [head of] the eastern rebels in the condemned for ordinary crimes have been transferred to
country... took responsibility for this terrorist act.” On 15 the Evin prison in order to provoke and beat political
February, the UN Security Council condemned the prisoners. Among the victims, Nasser Zarafchan, lawyer
"terrorist attack" against the bus. On 19 February 2007, and human rights defender, has been beaten on November
Nasrollah Shanbe-Zehi, sentenced to death by a local 13, 2006.
branch of the revolutionary court, was hanged in public at
the site of the bombing for his alleged role in the attack. Mr Nasser Zarafchan was arrested in August 2002 and
sentenced to 5 years imprisonment in connection with

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

statements made about the regime's role in the murder of
intellectuals in 1988. He has been denied access to medical
treatment following severe illness and his requests for
medical leave have been blocked by the Chief Prosecutor
of Tehran. He remains in detention despite his
deteriorating health.
On 16 July 2006, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran
sentenced Mr Abdolfattah Soltani, lawyer and founding
member of the DRHC, to 5 years imprisonment on charges
of disclosing classified information, in connection with his
role as defence lawyer in the case of Ms. Kazemi, an
Iranian-Canadian photographer who died in 2003
following torture and ill treatment in custody. Mr Soltani
had called into question the fairness and independence of
the trial following her death. He had been freed on a 100
000 euros bail in March 2006, after spending more than
seven months in prison. His appeal is still pending.
Dozens of journalists, webloggers and students are
regularly brought before courts, although most of them are
freed on bail. In January 2006, e.g., Mr Arash Sigarchi,
journalist and blogger, was sentenced to three years in
prison for “insulting the Supreme Guide” and “propaganda
against the regime” and imprisoned several days later. He
is still in prison.
They are currently free.
FIDH and LDDHI urge the Human Rights Council to
adopt a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran
and to appoint a Special Rapporteur on Iran. FIDH
and LDDHI call on the Iranian authorities:
To immediately and unconditionally free all those
arbitrarily detained;
To guarantee the physical and psychological safety of all
those detained;
To conduct effective investigations into allegations of
violations of human rights;
To put an end to discrimination against minorities, and
women's groups;
To implement fair trial guarantees;
To adopt an immediate moratorium as a first step towards
the abolition of the death penalty;
To implement the recommendations of the UN human
rights mechanisms and treaty bodies;
To ratify CAT, CEDAW and the Statute of the ICC,
without incompatible reservations.

The members of the Tehran Workers’ Union and of the

Suburb Bus Company’s Union (Sherkat-e Vahed) are being
increasingly repressed. On 19 November 2006, Mr.
Mansoor Osanloo, President of the trade union, and Mr.
Ebrahim Madadi, Vice-president, were arrested by
plainclothes police officers, who refused to show any
warrant. Mr. Osanloo had already been in jail from
December 2005 to August 2006. He was eventually
released on 19 December 2006, after he paid a bail of 150
millions toman (125.000 euros). Mr. Osanloo’s trial will
take place in March.

In Iranian Kurdistan, on 13 November 2006, a

Revolutionary tribunal condemned Mahmoud Salehi
Spokesperson of the organisational committee to establish
trade unions and former Chairperson of the Saqez Bakery
Workers’ Union, and Jalal Hosseini, member of the Saqez
Bakery Workers’ Union, to heavy prison sentences
(respectively 4 and 2 years imprisonment) for having
organised a sit-in on the occasion of the 1st May 2006
celebrations. They appealed their sentence and are
currently free on bail. Those two trade unionists had
already been condemned to respectively five and three
years imprisonment in November 2005 on the charge of
association with the banned political association Komala
(Kurdish nationalist organisation). Because they had
participated in the same sit-in, Mr. Mohsen Hakimi,
member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, was
condemned to two years in prison on 27 November 2006;
and Mr. Borhan Divargar, member of the Saqez Bakery
Workers’ Union, was also condemned to two years in
prison on 17 October 2006. Their appeal is still pending.

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper
5. OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
FIDH remains deeply preoccupied by the grave human
rights and humanitarian law violations in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories and deplores the refusal by Israel to
let the mission mandated by the Human Rights Council
investigate the human rights violations perpetrated in Beit
Hanoun.
Restrictions on Movement
The Israeli Army has continued to impose a tightened siege
on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Rafah International Crossing Point has remained under
closure since 25 June 2006, even though it has been
opened for few hours during the last few weeks. FIDH,
informed by its member organization the Palestinian
Center for Human Rights, notes that commercial crossings,
especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing were partially
reopened, but many goods and medical supplies are still
missing in markets in the Gaza Strip.
On Friday, 16 February 2007, IOF opened the new Erez
International Crossing Point under new procedures. Yet,
according to Palestinians who traveled through the new
crossing point, the Army imposes the same restrictions on
their movement as in the past.
FIDH recalls that the closure of the border crossings
amount to a form of collective punishment against the
civilian Palestinian population. These measures constitute
violations of the right to freedom of movement as
enshrined in the UDHR and the ICCPR.
Annexation Wall
The construction of the wall, has been accompanied by the
creation of a new administrative regime, the “permit
regime”, regulated in a series of orders issued by the Israeli
Military Command in the Occupied West Bank, turning the
lives of Palestinians living near the wall and those who
make a living from farming, into a bureaucratic nightmare.
The construction of the Wall inside the West Bank has
continued since the last session of the Human Rights
Council. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued a new
military order seizing 44600 square meters of land in
Brouqin and Kufor al-Dik, southwest of Nablus, for
alleged military purposes to establish a security fence. The
IDF plan to initiate a new stage of the construction of the
Wall in the area. The construction of this section of the
Wall will isolate large areas of land in the two villages, and
will deprive them of their need for expansion.
Additionally, the IDF issued 17 military orders concerning
areas of land isolated by the Wall to the west of Ethna
village, west of Hebron. According to the orders, 11
Palestinian families would be forced to leave their houses
and not to build any structure in the area.
Around Occupied East-Jerusalem, the length of the wall
will be 180km, out of which 5km only will follow the
Green Line. The construction of the wall multiplies the
surface of East-Jerusalem by 2.3 by including big new
settlements together with their development zones.
The construction of the wall is resulting in the destruction
of large amount of property and is in violation the right to
property as enshrined in article 17 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and in customary
international law. Israel is also depriving the Palestinians
from enjoying their most basic rights granted by the
ICESCR and violates the right to work, the right to an
adequate standard of living, including the right to food, the
right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health and the right to
education.
Settlement Activities
The settlement activities have continued and worsened all
over the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, since the Israeli
disengagement from the Gaza Strip.
Israeli settlers living in the West Bank continued their
systematic attacks on Palestinian civilians and property.
The Israeli army also continued to destroy civilian property
for the purpose of settlement expansion.
As an example, over a period of 7 days, between 15 and 21
February 2007, the IDF demolished 12 houses and a
number of animal farms, claiming that they were built
without licenses. IDF also demolished a house in Qutna
village, northwest of Jerusalem, for the same reason.
Additionally, IOF confiscated 21 donums of land in
Tulkarm, and 665 square meters in Beit Ummar village,
north of Hebron. Israeli settlers launched 5 attacks on
Palestinian civilians, which injured 3 Palestinian civilians
(two children and an old man).
On 28 February 2007, Israeli governing bodies unveiled a
preliminary plan to build a new settlement of 11000 units
near the East-Jerusalem's Airport, that would be connected
to another settlement in Beit El area by a tunnel. If
approved, it would be the largest Israeli settlement project
in East Jerusalem since 1967.
FIDH recalls that the establishment of settlements violates
international humanitarian law. Article 49 of the Fourth
Geneva Convention prohibits the occupying power to
transfer citizens from its own territory to the occupied
territory (Article 49). The Hague Regulations prohibit the
occupying power to undertake permanent changes in the
occupied area, unless these are due to military needs in the
narrow sense of the term, or unless they are undertaken for
the benefit of the local population.
Moreover, the settlements lead to the infringement of
international human rights law it leads to the violation of
the rights of the Palestinians to self-determination,
equality, property, an adequate standard of living, and
freedom of movement.
Furthermore, FIDH stresses on the necessity to intervene to
put an immediate end to Israeli destruction of Islamic holy
sites in Occupied Jerusalem, around Al Aqsa Mosque.
Israel was officially planning to replace a damaged
wooden bridge leading to Al Aqsa Mosque with a stone
ramp. Following protests of Palestinians, the mayor of
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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

Jerusalem has decided to stop these works. Nevertheless, enable the payment of salaries to the Palestinian public
separate excavations will continue, which may endanger servants, notably in the education and health care
Al Aqsa foundations. FIDH, following its member departments, and requests the Israeli government to
organization the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, stop withholding the taxes which are the property of
recalls that these works constitute a violation of cultural the Palestinian Authority;
and religious rights of the Palestinian population as well as − requests the government of Israel, the occupying
the entire Muslim community. Moreover, the destruction power, to respect international humanitarian law and
of Islamic holy sites by the Occupying power constitutes a human rights and consequently to stop immediately
flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. any current military operation in the OPT;
− requests the government of Israel to free
unconditionally the Palestinian ministers, the members
Serious violations of economic and social rights of the Palestinian Legislative Council currently
As previously stated by FIDH, following its mission in the detained , and the Palestinian Armed Groups to release
OPT between 25 June and 2 July 2006. poverty and the Israeli soldier captured in the Gaza Strip.
unemployment have risen in dramatic proportions in the
Gaza strip and in the West Bank. According to the World
Bank's previsions in March 2003, it was estimated that by
the end of 2006, the average personal income would
decrease by 30 percent in real terms, that unemployment
would increase to 40 percent (from 23 percent in
December 2005) ; and that poverty levels would climb
from 44 percent to 67 percent. The financing plan
proposed by the European Union and adopted by the
Quartet is a step forward in the humanitarian support to the
Palestinian population.
Unfortunately, it does not guarantee the payment of
salaries to the Palestinian civil servants, notably in the
education and health care departments. The interim
funding mechanism proposed by the World Bank on May
7, 2006 would have enabled the payment of these salaries.
Deplorably, the Quartet did not choose to provide so.
Consequently, the salaries of the civil servants of the PA
have not been paid since March 2006. The Palestinian
Authority has 152,000 civil servants, an average of 6
persons depend on each one of those civil servants. Thus,
over 900,000 persons, almost one quarter of the total
population of the OPTs, are affected by the nonpayment of
salaries to the civil servants in the OPTs, and are currently
essentially without any financial resources. The recent
transfer of Tax payment by Israel has not benefited the
Palestinian population that remains in an extreme dire
financial situation.

FIDH therefore calls upon to the Human Rights Council to

adopt a resolution which, inter alia:
− strongly condemns the violations of international
humanitarian law and human rights perpetrated by all
the parties in Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories;
− requests the United Nations Security Council to
deploy an interposition force in the OPTs granted with
the mandate to halt the worsening of the humanitarian
crisis by ensuring the supply of food, water, medicine,
fuel and electricity to the Palestinian population, and
to ensure protection of the Palestinian civilian
population;
− demands that the Quartet reviews the mechanism of
humanitarian aid aimed at the Palestinian population,
following the World Bank propositions, in order to

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

are subject to legal proceedings, to regular tax inspections,

EUROPE threats, attacks and theft of data.
In April 2006 a law entitled “Amendments to Some
1. RUSSIAN FEDERATION/CHECHNYA Federal Laws of the Russian Federation”, came into
force addressing all non-profit organisations, including
Extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture those working on the defence of human rights. This law
and looting are still ongoing in Chechnya. Impunity is still restrains the capacity of international or foreign NGOs
high, and only few crimes are followed by a proper acting in the country, to toughen the registration conditions
investigation. FIDH observed last year that torture is still afor NGOs, and to strengthen the powers of the authorities
key element of the anti-terrorist activity of security to interfere in their activities.
services in Chechnya and the decisions of courts on the
cases related to terrorist activity or participation in illegal The new legislative obstacles to freedom of association
armed formations in a great number of cases are based on and the ensuing exploitation of the judicial system
evidence extracted under torture and self-accusations. continue to be combined with many smear campaigns,
Nearly all witnesses declare that grave human rights orchestrated at the highest official level, and aim at
violations, including torture, murders and disappearances discrediting the independent organisations and their
are carried out against the civilian population by law- members. For example, on January 22 and 23, 2006, Mr.
enforcement bodies, especially paramilitary « ethnic Sergei Ignachenko, official representative of the Russian
Chechen » units belonging to the Russian enforcement secret services (FSB), accused several human rights NGOs,
structures, which benefit from an ever present impunity. including the Moscow Helsinki Group, the Nizhniy-
Novgorod Committee against Torture, the Centre for
Illegal places of compulsory detention created from the Democracy and Human Rights and the Eurasia
very beginning of "counter-terrorist operation" remain the Foundation, of being funded by the British Secret Service.
place where the use of torture is particularly widespread. Similarly, on September 27, 2006, Mr Ramzan Kadyrov,
Prisoners of unofficial places of detention fail to be President (former Prime Minister) of the Republic of
officially registered either as detained or arrested people, Chechnya, said in an interview with Novosti, that human
and many detainees disappeared from these unlawful rights organisations in Chechnya lacked objectivity in that
prisons without trace. FIDH is particularly concerned they only “defended terrorists” without “caring about the
about allegations of torture and ill-treatments of detainees fate of their kin”. Such accusations are a real danger to
in the Second Operational Investigative Bureau (ORB-2) defenders insofar as they still provide their violators with a
and its sub-offices in the Chechen Republic. certain “legitimacy” and, in addition, they stigmatise them
in the eyes of the general public.
The unresolved nature of the Chechen conflict is
tremendously affecting the human rights and humanitarian
In her annual report published in March 2006, Hina Jilani,
law situation in three neighboring republics of Chechnya:
Special Representative of the Secretary General on the
Ingushetia, North Ossetia and Kabardino-Balkaria. The
situation of human rights defenders reiterated her
wide range of systemic human rights violations and the
« concerns regarding the personal safety and security of
impunity of security forces for their criminal acts
human rights defenders in the Russian Federation ».
contribute to the overall deterioration of the security
Furthermore, she said she was « concerned regarding the
situation in the entire Northern Caucasus region.
restrictions on freedom of association and expression
allegedly being imposed on human rights organizations
Freedom of expression and the labeling of those connected with these NGOs as
terrorists ».
Freedom of expression and above all of the media is
increasingly violated. Pressure is exerted on the national Racism and radical nationalism
TV channels preventing live broadcasting, free political
debates with opposition parties, free information about the For several years observers have noted the development of
Russian political situation. The organized stifling of radical nationalist and racist movements and attacks in
expression also concerns the written press, as a growing Russia. The bomb explosion thundered on August 21, 2006
numbers of titles have been bought by financial companies on the Cherkizovskiy market in Moscow killed 10 people
close to the president or state controlled (Gazprom), such instantly, and wounded more than 50 individuals. As the
as the recent transfer of ownership of the critical daily investigation demonstrated, terrorists belonged to
newspaper Kommersant. The tragic murder of Anna nationalistic groups and this crime was racially motivated
Politkovskaya is a recent example. since the market employees are often ethnically non-
Russian.
Human rights defenders
Mass riots took place on 2 and 3 September 2006 in a
Attacks on Human Rights Defenders are increasing small town of Kondopoga in the North of St. Petersburg
alongside restrictions of their rights. Many organisations between Chechen and Russian inhabitants. Many people

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

were beaten, two Russian ethnic men were killed, two and urge Russian authorities to put an end to the
more died – presumably - in the hospital, some others were practice of illegal prisons, disappearances and all acts
seriously injured. of violence against civilians;

On April 7, 2006, Mr. Samba Lampsar, student and −
active member of the NGO African Unity, was
assassinated by an unknown person in Saint-Petersburg.
The presumed weapon of the crime, which was decorated
with a swastika and the inscription “White Power”, was
found nearby.
− guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of
FIDH notices that efforts to combat the hate offences
continue to lag behind the radical nationalist activity.
Furthermore, the proceedings are extremely long, the
sentences are often probational and, indeed, many racist
offences are never detected.
remind Russian authorities that all legislative or
institutional reform must comply with principles of
democracy and the Rule of Law, particularly the
representation of all trends making up society and urge
them to comply with human rights instruments on
freedom of the association;
human rights defenders and stop immediately all acts
of violence and harassment towards them, stop all acts
of defamation against human rights defenders, carry
out a complete and impartial investigation on cases of
attack and harassment;

Law enforcement bodies − urge Russian authorities to fight racism through the
adoption of appropriate statutes and creation of
Moreover, law enforcement bodies, especially police, efficient mechanisms;
continue to be a source of human rights violations. − improve conditions of the military service and carry
Arbitrary detentions, torture, humiliating and cruel out an independent investigation into the widespread
treatment, falsification of evidence are still current issues. systematic practice of torture in the Russian army;
Effective mechanism of control over the law enforcement
structures are lacking. The situation of the penitentiary − invite the Human rights council's special procedures
system is also preoccupying. that have requested a visit, according to their terms of
reference, including the SRSG on human rights
Situation in the Russian army defenders, the SR on the right to freedom of opinion
and expression and the SR on freedom of religion or
FIDH also notes with a great concern the extremely serious belief;
situation in the Russian army. A practically established
system has grown up of hazing young soldiers who have − More generally comply with the provisions of the
been recruited for military service which leads to their Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, as adopted
murder, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and by the United Nations on December 9, 1998 and other
other human rights violations. Psychological torture is international mechanisms.
used, as are refined methods of extorting money,
intimidation and humiliation but typically there is no
action by the commanding officers and the crimes and
offences in the unit are concealed. The Prokuratura and
military authorities cannot and will not provide an
effective investigation into cases of torture in the RF
Armed Forces, particularly with regard to the existing
procedure of preliminary inquiry by the commanding
officers of military units. On their return to civilian life,
young men bring a violent and even criminal type of
behaviour. The lack of rehabilitation for victims of
violence and their perpetrators means that more serious
crimes are committed.

Recommendations
FIDH requests the Council on Human Rights to recognize
the gravity of the situation prevailing in the Russian
Federation, notably in Chechnya, and ask the authorities to
inter alia:
− condemn on-going grave violations of human rights in
Chechnya, in particular extra-judicial killings,
enforced disappearances and torture in and around the
Republic and impunity of authors of these violations,

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

dependent on political authorities, it is largely corrupt, and

several persons condemned to death have been judged on
2. UZBEKISTAN
the bases of confessions extracted through torture.
FIDH expresses its deepest concern at the ongoing
Since the independence of Uzbekistan, hundreds of people
systematic repression in Uzbekistan. Dangerous trends
have been condemned to death at unfair trials, and have
noticed recently were especially flagrant during and
been executed without any assurance of due process of
after the Andijan's events.
law. It is currently impossible to identify how many people
are condemned to death each year, as the governement has
Systematic repression against human rights defenders failed to publish comprehensive statistics about the number
and civil society organisations of death sentences and executions. Families of executed
persons are not informed about the date of the execution,
Human rights defenders are being subject to a wave of nor are they given the remains of their dear ones.
systematic repression that followed the events of Andijan
in May 2005. The authorities have continued to make use The presidential decree of 1 August 2005 provides for the
of this repressive context to muzzle the civil society, and abolition of the death penalty as of 1 January 2008. After
further suspend many organisations on the basis of this date, all death sentences will be replaced by a sentence
restrictive laws adopted or reinforced in the last few years. of life imprisonment. No moratorium has been planned for
Many of them were condemned for longs prison sentences, the period between now and the 1 of January, 2008, which
placed in psychiatric hospitals or were forced to leave the increases the threat of execution to people already
country. sentenced to death and those presently on trial. The decree
on the abolition of the death penalty also provides for the
The offices of the Eurasia Foundation, of Freedom House construction of a special prison to receive all the inmates
Uzbekistan and of Counterpart International were closed sentenced to life imprisonment. It will be built at Jaslyk, in
following complaints from the Ministry of Justice. the region of Kungrad, where the climate is extremely
Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ordered the harsh.
closure of the office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (HCR), on March 17, 2006, on Many are condemned to death based on confessions
the grounds that the HCR had completed its mission and obtained under torture, and corruption is an integral part of
that there was no reason to justify its continued presence in the investigation, trial and appeal process in such cases.
Uzbekistan, illustrates the willingness of the Uzbek
authorities to deny any external interference in their
internal affairs6. The FIDH welcomes the presidential decree announcing
the abolition of the death penalty in 2008, but regrets that it
Signatures on amendments of freedom of association in is does not have an immediate effect, or as a minimum,
January 2006, provides many restrictions. In particular, that a moratorium is not adopted on executions until full
organisations holding any meeting or assembly requires the abolition will be in force.
previous authorisation of the competent national
authorities. Additionally, the support or funding of
“political activities” by an organisation will be sanctioned Torture and ill-treatment
by a fine. These amendments also aim at dissuading
Torture is commonplace in all detention centres, however,
foreign NGOs from participating in the political situation
it is particularly widespread in custody and during the
of the country (article 239 of the Criminal Code), such as
initial stages of the inquiry. Provisional detention centres
an activity led by political parties or “mass movements”.
are under the mandate of the Ministry of the Interior, not
The involvement of a foreign NGO in such activities will
the Ministry of Justice, and this makes supervision of
be sanctioned by a fine.
procedures more difficult. The Uzbek government does not
allow independent visits to detention centres, places of
In this context, Uzbek defenders, already the victims of
temporary detention, police cells, preventative detention
fierce repression for several years, have become
centres or the premises of the NSS.
increasingly isolated. Their situation has once again
deteriorated considerably in 2006.
Torture and ill-treatment are endemic, systematic, routine
and often used to extract confessions. Confessions
Administration of Justice and death penalty
obtained under torture and used as the only evidence to
The FIDH international fact-finding mission went to ensure a conviction, demonstrate flagrant disrespect for the
Uzbekistan in May 20057, and compiled a testimony which law. Under the law, the accused has the right to a lawyer
confirmed the following: the judiciary remains wholly within 24 hours of their arrest. However, those detained
6
are often held as witnesses, eventually to be accused and
See press release by FIDH, 22 March 2006. arrested themselves. Sometimes, family members of those
7
FIDH Report "The Death Penalty in Uzbekistan: Torture and Secrecy" detained are also arrested and forced to confess through
N426/2, October 2005

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

methods of torture, in order to support charges of the Andijan, and to establish accountability for the acts of
accused through confessions and witness statements. violence ;
It is extremely difficult to prove that torture has taken − take immediate and concrete steps to tackle endemic
place, and to obtain an independent medical certificate to corruption, investigate corrupt officials and prosecute
that effect. Whilst under investigation, detainees can only to the full extent of the law ;
request a doctor in the event of a dire emergency. Doctors
called to attend to prisoners are under the mandate of the − guarantee the independence of the judiciary in
Ministry of the Interior, and lack independence and ob- conformity with the ICCPR and the UN Basic
jectivity. Principles on the Independence of Judiciary ;
Extraditions to Uzbekistan to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of all
citizens, and observe human rights in accordance with
After the events in Andijan, hundreds of people were international and regional undertakings ;
arrested and accused of terrorism, a crime punishable by
the death penalty. Many of those who fled the repression in − cease harassment and intimidation of people whose
neighbouring countries are now turned back and face views differ from the authorities ;
torture and death, in violation of non refoulement
− treat the Uzbek refugees extradited to Uzbekistan from
principles.
the other countries in accordance with international
On 10 August 2006, Louise Arbour expressed her grave obligations and to release them from detention or
concern at the deportation of four Uzbek refugees and an promptly charge and try them in accordance with
asylum seeker who had left the country after Andijan international fair trial principles ;
events by the Kyrgyz Republic to Uzbekistan.
− to put an end to all acts of harassment and reprisals
FIDH expresses its deepest concern at numerous against human rights defenders in Uzbekistan in
allegations of disappearances of Uzbek asylum seekers on conformity with the Declaration on Human Rights
the South of Kyrgyztan organized by Uzbek secret Defenders, adopted by the United Nations’ General
services. According to HCR8, on 10 July 2006, one Uzbek Assembly on December 9, 1998 ;
asylum seeker disappeared, in then days which followed,
HCR lost sight of four others Uzbek nationals. − render its laws on the freedom of association
consistent with international human rights law ;
On 24 October 2006 Mr Rustam Muminov, of Uzbek − adopt an immediate moratorium on the executions till
nationality, was returned although the European Court for the death penalty will be completely abolished ;
Human Rights had decreed provisional measures to be
taken by the Russian authorities to prevent his extradition − more generally, conform with the provisions of the
to Uzbekistan. Since his extradition, no information Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and with all
concerning the whereabouts or detention of Mr Rustam other international human rights instruments to which
Muminov have been made public. Uzbekistan is a party.
The resolution should also urge the Russian, Ukrainian,
Kyrgyz and Kazakh authorities to, inter alia refrain from
Recommendations further deportation of refugees and asylum seekers to
countries where there are substantial grounds to believe
that they would face an imminent risk of grave human
FIDH requests that the Human Rights Council recognize rights violations, including torture, and where their life is
the gravity of the situation prevailing in Uzbekistan, and in danger, as in Uzbekistan where the death penalty is still
adopt a resolution by which it will transfer the 1503 practiced and the right to a fair trial is not guaranteed.
procedure into a public realm, transfer the mandate of the
independent expert into one of a Special Rapporteur on
Uzbekistan, with the task of presenting a report to the UN
Human Rights Council.
The resolution should also urge the Uzbek authorities to,
inter alia:
− cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, as well as
with the different UN Human Rights Special
Mechanisms ;
− create an international mission to investigate events in

8
www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/UNHCR/b93b9d
0ef8f18148bdb95a7c215e21a7.htm

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

THEMATIC PRIORITIES victims, without effective remedies.

1. BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS When the UN Sub-Commission for the promotion and
protection of human rights adopted the Norms on the
Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other
FIDH has closely followed the work of Professor John Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights,12
Ruggie, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary FIDH strongly supported both this initiative and its result.
General, on the issue of transnational corporations and The Norms represent the most elaborate effort to date,
other business enterprises and human rights.9 The Special clarifying implications for the activities of companies and
Representative offered a detailed response to the position human rights universally recognized by the international
paper FIDH prepared, on the basis of the interim report community.
submitted to the Council in February 2006.10 This has
constituted the beginning of a sustained dialogue, focused At the same time, like the UN Commission on Human
in particular on the second component of the mandate of Rights itself in Resolution 2005/69, FIDH does
the Special Representative, which requests that he acknowledge the weaknesses and ambiguities of the Norms
‘elaborate on the role of States in effectively regulating adopted in August 2003 by the Sub-Commission on
and adjudicating the role of transnational corporations Human Rights, in particular the vagueness of notions such
and other business enterprises with regard to human as “sphere of influence” or “complicity,” to delineate the
rights, including through international cooperation’.11 extent of their human rights obligations. It acknowledges
that the Norms leave open a crucial question: how the
No one denies the need to further improve the means of implementation, in particular regards to the State,
accountability of transnational corporations which commit ensure that no human rights violation committed by a
human rights violations directly or by complicity. When transnational corporation is left unpunished and without
large corporations operate in weak governance zones, remedy.
where the territorial State has essentially retreated, or
where they operate under the jurisdiction of authoritarian However, doctrinal and practical uncertainties cannot be
States who routinely commit serious human rights abuses, used to remain passive. FIDH believes that market-based
the territorial State is either unable or unwilling to solutions and voluntary initiatives are not an adequate
effectively control the operations of transnational alternative. FIDH believes other routes must be explored,
corporations. Where the competition for inward investment in particular regarding the obligation of States to control
places States in a weak bargaining position vis-à-vis transnational corporations.
foreign companies, they may be led to offer tax holidays,
exemptions from local regulations, or special advantages FIDH supports the continuation of the mandate of the
which seriously limit both the beneficial impact of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on
presence of foreign investors on the territory, and the Transnational Corporations and Human Rights, and is
ability of the host State to monitor the behaviour of confident that he will offer constructive
corporations thus induced to invest within the State recommendations in his final report.
concerned. Similar to individuals, transnational
corporations should not be authorized to commit human In keeping with the classical understanding of the
rights violations, or be complicit with such violations international law of human rights as primarily addressed to
(whether by aiding, abetting, encouraging the violations, or States, we might seek to emphasize the obligation of States
by benefiting from them), and be left unpunished – and the not only to protect the human rights of all persons under
their jurisdiction, but also to contribute to the protection of
9
UN Commission on Human Rights, Res. 2005/69, ‘Human
human rights outside their territory, both by controlling the
rights and transnational corporations and other business private actors on which they may exercise extra-territorial
jurisdiction and by taking into account fully their human
enterprises’, adopted on 20 April 2005 by a recorded vote of
49 votes to three, with one abstention (chap. XVII, rights obligations in the negotiation and conclusion of
E/CN.4/2005/L.10/Add.17). international agreements, especially where such
10
agreements liberalize trade or investment, and thus grant
Both the position paper of FIDH, of March 15, 2006, and the
answer of the SRSG J. Ruggie, of March 20, 2006, are rights to transnational corporations. As stated in resolution
available on the website of FIDH : www.fidh.org 2005/69 of the Commission on Human Rights, that the
11
On 3-4 November 2006, a seminar on extraterritorial stateresponsibilities of States should be clarified and, if
legislation as a tool to improve the accountability of necessary, expanded, in order to meet the need to
transnational corporations was organised in Brussels undereffectively protect the rights of the victims of the
the mandate, jointly with the Secretary General of FIDH and
activities of transnational corporations.
in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights. The seminar benefited from the support of the
Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, External Trade and In the view of FIDH, the primary responsibility of the
Development Cooperation, and of the Human Security Policy territorial State, under the jurisdiction of which the
Division of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and
12
International Trade. U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/38/Rev.2 (2003).

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

violation occurs, is not necessarily exclusive of the

responsibility of other States, in particular that of the
national State of the parent corporation of the multinational
group. By agreeing to consider a company as its ‘national’,
a State should accept the responsibilities this entails. By
analogy to the 1982 Montego Bay Convention on the Law
of the Sea which defines the duty of the flag State to
‘effectively exercise its jurisdiction and control in
administrative, technical and social matters over ships
flying its flag’,13 States could be imposed an obligation to
adopt legislation, applicable to all the activities of any
corporation considered to have its nationality, wherever the
corporation operates, and ensuring in particular that a) the
company respects the human rights recognized in the main
international instruments, in particular the core UN human
rights treaties and the 8 main conventions of the
International Labour Organization ; that b) the company
effectively controls its subsidiaries, affiliates or franchises,
whatever their nationality, in order to ensure that they
respect basic human and labour rights ; and that c) it inserts
a provision concerning respect for the rights listed in all its
contracts with suppliers or sub-contractors.14 In addition,
States could be obliged to impose sanctions and to provide
for remedies, ensuring that any violation, by a company to
whom such legislation is addressed, of its prescriptions,
will lead to effective, proportionate and dissuasive
sanctions, and that the victims will have a right of access to
courts in the home State in order to seek compensation,
unless the victims have access to effective local remedies,
in the jurisdiction in which the abuses were committed.

13
See Article 94 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS), signed in Montego Bay on 10 December
1982.
14
Inspiration could be sought from international instruments
imposing extraterritorial obligations on States (obligations to
control their nationals), such as the OECD Convention on
Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in
International Business Transactions adopted on 21 November
1997 (in force since 15 February 1999), or the International
Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of
Terrorism, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution
54/109 of 25 February 2000.

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

Les dirigeants paysans et indigènes sont ainsi victimes

d’une rare violence comme aux Philippines, ou nombre
2. DÉFENSEURS DES DROITS DE L'HOMME d’entre eux ont été assassinés en 2006. La situation reste en
outre particulièrement préoccupante pour les défenseurs
des sans terre au Brésil ou les dirigeants de la communauté
En 2006, les défenseurs des droits de l’Homme ont, dans Mapuche au Chili. Dans ce contexte, les militants engagés
un grand nombre d’Etats, continué de payer au prix fort dans le droit à un environnement préservé font l’objet de
leur détermination et leur engagement en faveur des droits représailles, à l’instar de deux membres du Mouvement
de l’Homme et des libertés fondamentales. environnemental d’Olancho, assassinés le 20 décembre
2006 au Honduras.
En 2006, la FIDH et l'OMCT, dans le cadre de leur Les dirigeants syndicaux continuent également de se
programme conjoint, l’Observatoire pour la protection des heurter à une forte répression dans plusieurs pays
défenseurs des droits de l’Homme, ont ainsi recensé 98 cas d’Amérique latine, notamment en Colombie, en Corée du
d’assassinats ou de tentatives d’assassinats et près de 334 Sud, au Zimbabwe ou encore en Iran.
cas de détentions arbitraires. De même, en Asie notamment, les avocats et défenseurs de
milliers de familles victimes d’expulsions forcées et
Qu’ils soient avocats, dirigeants syndicaux, chefs de souvent très violentes, dans le cadre de projets de
communautés indigènes, défenseurs de l’environnement, réurbanisation ou d’implantation industrielle, ont été
ou simplement engagés dans la lutte contre l’impunité ou harcelés, poursuivis, arbitrairement détenus. Tel a
en faveur de la paix dans leur pays, ces hommes et ces notamment été le cas au Bangladesh, au Cambodge, en
femmes sont le plus souvent considérés comme des Chine, en Thaïlande, ou encore au Vietnam.
« ennemis de l’Etat », à faire taire. Quels que soient les Enfin, celles et ceux qui défendent les minorités ethniques
auteurs des violations à leur encontre (étatiques, privés ou restent particulièrement ciblés. En Fédération de Russie,
paramilitaires), ceux-ci bénéficient le plus souvent de la les défenseurs des droits des minorités et les militants anti-
plus grande impunité. fascistes ont, plus que jamais, fait l’objet de violences,
dans un contexte de recrudescence de la xénophobie. En
La répression visant les défenseurs et/ou leur famille est Turquie, les défenseurs des minorités kurde ou
multiforme : ils sont l’objet d’assassinats ou de tentatives arménienne restent également la cible de représailles,
d’assassinats (Fédération de Russie, Colombie, comme est venu en attester l’assassinat de M. Hrant Dink,
Guatemala, Honduras, Mexique, Irak, Philippines, rédacteur en chef du journal turco-arménien Agos, le 19
Thaïlande), de menaces de mort (Colombie, Guatemala, janvier 2007.
Ouzbékistan, Burundi, République démocratique du
Congo (RDC)), de torture et de mauvais traitements Par ailleurs, l’intégrité physique et psychologique des
(Colombie, Chine, Népal, Ouzbékistan, Tunisie, défenseurs reste particulièrement mise à mal dans les pays
Zimbabwe), d’arrestations et de détentions arbitraires ou zones de conflits ou de crise, tels que l’Afghanistan, la
(Bélarus, Djibouti, Ethiopie, Iran, Chine, Cuba, Colombie, l’Irak, la RDC, les Philippines ou encore le
Ouzbékistan, Israël, Syrie, Turkménistan), de poursuites Sri Lanka. En Syrie, plusieurs défenseurs des droits de
judiciaires (Algérie, Russie, Ouzbékistan, Soudan), ou l’Homme, notamment MM. Michel Kilo et Anouar Bunni,
encore de campagnes de diffamation (Fédération de restent détenus pour avoir signé une pétition appelant à une
Russie, RDC, Colombie, Pérou). normalisation des relations entre le Liban et la Syrie. Cette
pétition, d’une importance toute particulière, était une
Cette répression passe aussi par la multiplication de lois initiative conjointe d’intellectuels et de défenseurs des
restrictives visant, de la part des Etats, à neutraliser la droits de l’Homme syriens et libanais, la première de la
société civile et à sanctionner les membres d’organisations sorte.
non gouvernementales (ONG) pour leur seul engagement
en faveur des droits de l’Homme et de la démocratie De même, celles et ceux qui luttent contre l’impunité sont
(Fédération de Russie, Soudan). Au Pérou par exemple, exposés à de fortes représailles (Guatemala, RDC, Iran,
la Loi 25/2006-PE, qui modifie la Loi 27692 portant Ouzbékistan). Par exemple, en Argentine, de nombreux
création de l’Agence péruvienne de coopération actes d’intimidation et menaces ont été exercés contre des
internationale (APCI), organisme décentralisé sous la familles de victimes, des témoins et des défenseurs des
tutelle du ministère des Affaires étrangères, a été adoptée droits de l’Homme impliqués dans la lutte contre
le 8 décembre 2006. Cette loi pose de nouveaux obstacles à l’impunité des crimes commis pendant la dictature
la recherche de fonds des ONG et prévoit des sanctions militaire. Ainsi, en septembre 2006, plusieurs défenseurs
contre les ONG qui mènent des activités considérées des droits de l’Homme, dont M. Leandro Despouy,
comme “portant atteinte à l’ordre public ou à la propriété vérificateur aux comptes de la République d’Argentine et
privée ou publique. » rapporteur spécial des Nations unies sur l’indépendance
des juges et des avocats, ont reçu des menaces après avoir
La FIDH et l'OMCT sont tout particulièrement préoccupée dénoncé la disparition de M. Jorge Julio López, ancien
par le sort des défenseurs des droits économiques, sociaux détenu-disparu et témoin clé dans le procès contre l’ancien
et culturels.

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

directeur général du Département d’enquêtes de Buenos

Aires, M. Miguel Osvaldo Etchecolatz, poursuivi pour
crimes contre l’humanité. De même, en République
centrafricaine les femmes qui luttent contre l’impunité,
notamment des crimes sexuels en temps de conflit, ont été
l’objet de graves menaces, telles les membres de
l’OCODEFAD (Organisation pour la compassion et le
développement des familles en détresse).

Dans certains cas enfin, la répression systématique de la

part des autorités rend impossible toute activité
indépendante et organisée de défense des droits de
l’Homme, comme au Turkménistan, en Birmanie, en
Corée du Nord, au Vietnam, au Laos, en Erythrée, dans
certains pays du Golfe ou encore en Libye.

La FIDH et l'OMCT appellent donc le Conseil des droits

de l'Homme à :
- demander aux Etats de coopérer totalement avec la
Représentante Spéciale du Secrétaire Général sur les
Défenseurs des Droits de l’Homme à la suite de ses lettres
d'allégation, et en l'invitant selon ses propres termes de
référence,
− demander aux Etats à mettre en oeuvre les
recommandations émises par la Représentante
Spéciale du Secrétaire Général sur les Défenseurs
des Droits de l’Homme à leur égard.

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 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper
3. WOMEN’S RIGHTS
The fundamental right to equality is affirmed in numerous
international human rights instruments. In 1995, at the
United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women,
states adopted the Beijing Declaration, reaffirming their
commitment to “the equal rights and inherent human
dignity of women and men” and recognizing that persisting
discrimination against women is an obstacle to
democratization, development and the eradication of
poverty. Under the Beijing Platform for Action, states
undertake to take concrete measures to “ensure equality
and non-discrimination under the law and in practice”. The
UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of 1979, now
ratified by almost all states, requires states to take all
necessary measures to ensure women’s right to equality
with men is respected.
Yet, despite these commitments, discrimination against
women remains widespread in many societies. Although
some progress has been made, the level of implementation
of CEDAW in national legislation remains partial and
numerous discriminatory laws, policies and practices
persist.
Equality under the Law: reforming discriminatory
legislation
Under CEDAW, states parties have a clear obligation to
reform or abolish laws that discriminate against women.
The Beijing Platform for Action also explicitly calls upon
states to “revoke any remaining laws that discriminate on
the basis of sex”. In 2000, a special session of the UN
General Assembly, convened to consider progress made
under the Beijing Platform for Action, established a target
date of 2005 for the elimination discriminatory laws.
However, two years later, many states have still failed to
do so.
Existing discriminatory legislation relates principally to
nationality and citizenship; marriage, divorce, custody of
children, inheritance and property rights; labour
legislation; and sexual violence and crime. Some
examples, amongst many others, of discriminatory
legislation maintained by states in violation of their
obligations under CEDAW, include the following:
Marriage, divorce, custody of children, inheritance and
property rights: In several countries, including Algeria and
Mali legislation enshrines the principle that women are
required to obey their husbands. In Chile, the Civil Code
provides that the husband heads the marital partnership and
administers all joint property and property belonging to the
wife. In many countries, including Burkina Faso, Benin,
Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon,
Japan, Mali, Niger, Romania, Tunisia and Vietnam, the
legal age for marriage is lower for women than for men. In
Gambia, the Constitution explicitly exempts from the
prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of gender,
legislation governing personal status, in particular
concerning adoption, marriage, divorce, burial and
inheritance.
Sexual violence and crime: In Iran, the Criminal Code
provides that two women witnesses are the equivalent of
one male witness and that in cases of adultery ‘the
testimonies of women alone cannot prove guilt of
innocence’ but can constitute ‘false accusation’ punishable
by flogging. In Pakistan, the Zina Ordinance provides that
to prove the crime of rape, the testimonies of four male
witnesses are required. In Syria, the Criminal Code
authorizes “honour killings”, providing that men who kill
their wives or sisters after catching them committing
adultery are exempt from penalty.
It is clear that reforming discriminatory laws is only one
aspect of eliminating discrimination, which ultimately
requires changing often deep-rooted attitudes and
prejudices. In addition, laws must be effectively
implemented, women must be informed of their rights and
have access to remedies for violations. Equality under the
law is, however, a necessary condition for ending
discrimination. Discriminatory laws perpetuate stereotypes
and prejudices, whilst legislative reform is a means of
changing attitudes. Furthermore, the failure to reform
explicitly discriminatory legislation is one of the strongest
signals of a state’s lack of political commitment to
effectively implement its obligations under CEDAW.
FIDH calls upon all states to abolish or reform all
discriminatory legislative provisions, in order to
guarantee women equality under the law.
FIDH calls upon all states parties to CEDAW to adopt
necessary legislation to fully implement the Convention
in domestic law.
Withdrawal of reservations to the CEDAW Convention
Almost a third of all states parties to CEDAW have entered
reservations to the Convention representing a significant
obstacle to effective implementation of the right to
equality. Currently 57 of the 185 states parties maintain
reservations to the Convention. Reservations weaken
states’ commitments under the Convention and some are
so broad that they almost empty ratification of any value.
Many of these reservations are incompatible with the
object and purpose of the Convention and are therefore
impermissible under international law.
Several of the most recent parties (including Algeria,
Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the
United Arab Emirates) have entered reservations. The
principal provisions concerned by these reservations are
articles 2 (general obligation to eliminate discrimination),
9 (nationality), 15 (equality before the law) and 16
(marriage and family relations).
38
 UN Human rights Council – 4th Session (12 – 30 March 2007)
FIDH position paper

attention.
FIDH calls upon all states that have entered
reservations to CEDAW to remove them in their − FIDH calls upon the Human Rights Council to
entirety. appoint a Special Rapporteur on Laws That
Discriminate Against Women.
Ratification of the Optional Protocol to CEDAW
The Optional Protocol to CEDAW (OP-CEDAW), adopted
in 1999, sets up an essential mechanism to ensure the
effective implementation of CEDAW.

Under the OP-CEDAW, individuals and groups of

individuals are entitled to submit communications to the
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against
Women alleging violations of CEDAW by a state party,
thereby granting victims of violations access to justice
where they are unable to obtain remedies at the national
level.

The OP-CEDAW also allows the Committee to undertake

inquiries on the basis of information received into grave or
systematic violations of the Convention, reinforcing the
Committee’s capacity to monitor implementation of the
Convention and to make appropriate recommendations to
states on necessary reforms.

84 states parties to CEDAW have ratified the Optional

Protocol. However, over half of all states parties have yet
to ratify this instrument. The failure to ratify indicates a
lack of commitment by state parties to ensure that the
rights enshrined in the Convention are effectively enjoyed
by women.

FIDH urges all states which have not yet done so, to
ratify the Optional Protocol to CEDAW, without
further delay.

Appointment of a Special Rapporteur on Laws that

Discriminate against Women
FIDH considers that an additional monitoring mechanism
is urgently needed in order to ensure that remaining
discriminatory laws are reformed or abolished and thereby
to achieve the full and effective implementation of the
Beijing Platform for Action and CEDAW.

Since 2005 and Beijing + 10, FIDH has campaigned

alongside other international NGOs for the appointment of
a Special Rapporteur on Laws That Discriminate Against
Women. FIDH considers that the establishment of such a
mechanism, with a specific mandate to focus on
discriminatory legislation, would be complementary to
existing mechanisms and would support and strengthen the
work of the CEDAW Committee and the Special
Rapporteur on Violence Against Women. The mechanism
would contribute to reinforcing dialogue with states on this
issue, accelerate legislative reform and ensure that the
issue of discrimination against women receives systematic

39