South Sudan/UN: Call to End the Repression and Persecution of Lawyers | Oral Statement to the 42nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council

September 27, 2019

…

Organizations: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
Item: Item 10: Interactive Dialogue with the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan
Date: 16 September 2019
Speaker: Paul Scambler

Oral Statement to the 42^nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council from Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), NGO in special consultative status

Mr. President,

Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada thanks the Commission for its oral report. We share the Commission’s concern about the securitization of the state and the absence of accountability mechanisms in South Sudan.[1]

LRWC deplores the enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of lawyer and human rights activist Dong Samuel Luak and political opposition member Aggrey Idri, who were abducted from the streets of Nairobi in January 2017.[2] Both men were vocal critics of the South Sudanese government. In April 2019, the UN Panel of Experts on South Sudan reported that it has corroborated evidence strongly suggesting that these men were kidnapped by the National Security Service (NSS), transported from Kenya to Juba, and executed at an NSS detention facility in Luri on January 30, 2017.[3]

We are alarmed by the apparent cooperation of Kenya in the enforced disappearances of Mr. Dong and Mr. Aggrey, and by the failure of Kenya and South Sudan to impartially and thoroughly investigate these cases. Those responsible have not been held accountable and the families of the victims continue to be denied access to adequate remedies for the losses they suffered.

We call upon the Council to urge the Governments of Kenya and South Sudan to:

…

Sudan: Call to End the Repression and Persecution of Lawyers | Oral Statement to the 42nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/human-rights-council-42-interactive-dialogue-on-south-sudan

https://www.miragenews.com/human-rights-council-42-interactive-dialogue-on-south-sudan/

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southsudan-united-nations-rights/south-sudan-denies-kidnapping-executing-prominent-critics-idUSKCN1S742C

https://www.voanews.com/africa/un-panel-south-sudan-killed-activists

https://www.voanews.com/africa/demands-sanctions-global-links-south-sudan-war-exposed

https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article66958

Egypt: Egypt detains more than 1,000 after anti-Sisi protests: NGOs

September 25, 2019

Egyptian authorities have arrested more than 1,000 people, two rights groups said Wednesday, in the wake of rare protests last week calling for the ouster of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The Egyptian Centre for Freedoms and Rights said 1,003 had been arrested, while the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights reported the figure of 1,298 detained.

Two prominent academics were also detained on Tuesday, a lawyer and a relative said.

Hazem Hosny, a Cairo University political science professor, was arrested on Tuesday night in front of his home, his lawyer Tarek al-Awadi said on his Facebook account.

French-educated Hosny was a spokesman for former Egyptian military chief of staff Sami Anan, who was detained after he attempted to run against Sisi in presidential elections last year.

The professor has been critical of Sisi on social media in recent days.

Hassan Nafaa, another prominent intellectual who teaches political science at Cairo University, was also detained from his home late Tuesday, family sources told AFP.

…

The growing list of arrests includes three journalists held for their coverage of the protests and award-winning human rights lawyer Mahienour El-Massry.

Egypt has also come under fire from rights groups for disrupting internet access to the popular app Facebook messenger and news sites such as the BBC.

https://www.france24.com/en/20190925-egypt-detains-more-than-1-000-after-anti-sisi-protests-ngos

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germany-criticizes-egypts-repression-on-civil-society/1594189

https://en.qantara.de/content/egypt-clamps-down-on-media-outlets-following-protests

https://www.albawaba.com/news/amnesty-international-urges-egypt-stop-crackdown-protesters-1310909

https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/egypt-arbitrary-arrest-of-ms-mahienour-el-massry

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/25/johnson-offers-words-of-praise-to-egypts-leader-despite-repression

Egypt’s Arab Spring Isn’t Over

https://allafrica.com/stories/201909250274.html

https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/egypt/67839/eu-item-4-statement-egypt-un-human-rights-council-42nd-session_en

https://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-ngos-say-up-to-1900-detained-after-anti-sissi-protests/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/26/over-1900-arrested-as-egypt-braces-for-more-protests

https://madamasr.com/en/2019/09/26/feature/politics/biggest-wave-of-arrests-since-sisi-took-office-1909-people-detained/

https://www.facebook.com/freemahienour/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahienour_El-Massry

https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/egypt/67840/node/67840_ar (ARABIC)

https://information.tv5monde.com/afrique/egypte-plus-de-1000-arrestations-apres-des-manifestations-anti-sissi-ong-323474 (FRANCAIS)

https://www.rferl.org/a/finally-a-defense-of-tajikistan-s-lawyers/30185435.html (FRANCAIS)

https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20190924_04626342 (DEUTSCH)

https://dekanttekening.nl/nieuws/egypte-sluit-prominente-mensenrechtenactiviste-op/ (NEDERLANDS)

https://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/utenriks/over-1000-pagrepet-i-arrestbolge-egypt/3423851661.html (NORWEGIAN)

More than 1400 people have been arrested last week in #EgyptProtests including political scientists Hazem Hosny, Hassan Nafaa, Khaled Dawoud, Magdi Magdy Qorqor and Mahienour El-Massry..
World leaders.. _ go ahead and turn a blind eye on human rights violations in! #Egypt 🙈🙉🙊

— Neven Melek نيفين ملك (@neveenmelek) September 25, 2019

#Egitto Si intensifica la campagna repressiva dei servizi segreti di Abdel Fattah el Sisi contro chi ha sostenuto o ha partecipato alle manifestazioni contro il regime. Arrestata anche Mahienour El-Massry, avvocata e nota attivista della difesa dei diritti umani. pic.twitter.com/wZ3TXC4QPB

— michele giorgio (@michelegiorgio2) September 24, 2019

Cameroon: Rights groups seek UN intervention to end Cameroon atrocities | Press release

August 26, 2019

Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), supported by the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR), has submitted a statement to the 42^nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council seeking an end to catastrophic atrocities taking place in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon.

Since October 2016, Anglophones in Cameroon have been the target of extreme violence and persecution by the Cameroon government. There is evidence of human rights violations that amount to crimes against humanity. A separatist movement has responded with violent acts against the State’s defence forces. Government officials and armed insurgency groups have reportedly perpetrated sexual assault, torture, and public humiliation of women and girls throughout Anglophone regions.

Other reported crimes against humanity in the Anglophone regions include murder and lethal force against civilian populations, mass arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture of persons in State custody, and deportation and forcible transfer of Anglophone populations.

To date, approximately 500,000 civilians have been forcibly displaced. Many internally displaced persons have relocated to remote bush areas with inadequate access to food, potable water, clothing, basic hygiene, or medical assistance for resulting diseases, including dysentery and malaria.

“Cameroon is now one of the largest sources of displaced persons in the world,” explained Pearl Eliadis, Senior Fellow at the RWCHR and co-author of the report ‘Cameroon’s Unfolding Catastrophe: Evidence of Human Rights Violations and Crimes Against Humanity.’ “The international community needs to work in solidarity to resolve this human rights crisis.”

“The gross human rights violations against unarmed civilians in the Anglophone Regions are horrendous,” added Felix Agbor Nkongho, Chair of the CHRDA and co-author of Cameroon’s Unfolding Catastrophe. “There must be accountability for these egregious crimes,” urged Nkongho, a lawyer who was himself arbitrarily detained by Cameroon authorities from January to August 2017.

…

Cameroon: Rights groups seek UN intervention to end Cameroon atrocities | Press release

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/20/cameroon-anglophone-separatist-leader-ayuk-tabe-handed-life-sentence

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/08/cameroon-trial-of-soldiers-for-killing-women-and-children/

https://theconversation.com/what-it-would-take-to-break-the-impasse-in-cameroons-deadly-crisis-122134

https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/08/20/cameroon-detainees-tortured

https://www.dw.com/en/a-new-surge-of-people-fleeing-cameroons-anglophone-regions/a-50186298

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Kamto

Main Home

https://www.hrw.org/fr/news/2019/08/20/cameroun-des-detenus-tortures (FRANCAIS)

https://www.voaafrique.com/a/human-rights-watch-d%C3%A9nonce-la-torture-de-d%C3%A9tenus-au-cameroun-/5049668.html (FRANCAIS)

https://lanouvelletribune.info/2019/08/cameroun-maurice-kamto-bientot-devant-un-tribunal-militaire/ (FRANCAIS)

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Kamto (FRANCAIS)

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Ndoki (FRANCAIS)

https://www.raoulwallenbergcentre.org/irwin-cotler-fr (FRANCAIS)

The Philippines: UN council adopts resolution calling for probe into PH human rights situation

July 11, 2019

A United Nations council on Thursday adopted a resolution calling for a probe into the human rights situation in the Philippines, a move that rights advocates welcomed as a step toward accountability in the face of what they call a “murderous” drug war.

The resolution approved by 18 countries in the 47-member UN Human Rights Council, requests UN High Commisioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet “to prepare a comprehensive written report” on the Philippines.

Fourteen other nations, including the Philippines and China, voted against. The remaining 15 abstained.

Philippine top diplomat Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr. said the resolution will have no effect.

“Such resolutions especially those passed by a tiny minority can and will be ignored. No consequences,” Locsin said on Twitter.

Locsin also warned that the “initiative to insult the Philippines with the assumption without proof that it commits gross abuses” will have “far reaching consequences”.

…

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/7/11/UN-council-probe-human-rights-resolution-PH.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48955153

https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/07/11/philippines-un-takes-critical-step-toward-accountability-0

https://theworldnews.net/ph-news/groups-hail-u-n-resolution-vs-drug-war-crucial-step-towards-justice

UN scrutiny on state of PH rights a ‘ray of hope’ amid ‘rampant EJKs’ – groups

https://www.rappler.com/nation/235172-un-human-rights-council-adopts-resolution-against-drug-war-killings-philippines

https://www.rappler.com/nation/235110-human-rights-groups-no-other-time-pass-un-resolution-vs-drug-war-killings-philippines

Military, Defense officials no-show at CA hearing on NUPL complaint

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/700718/nupl-lawyer-threatened-red-tagged-before-death-widow-tells-court-of-appeals/story/

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3018408/dutertes-drug-war-human-rights-activists-welcome-uns

Respondents to writ of amparo petition a no show in hearings

https://www.hrw.org/fr/news/2019/07/11/philippines-lonu-fait-un-pas-important-vers-le-devoir-de-justice-0 (FRANCAIS)

http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/l-onu-va-faire-un-etat-des-lieux-des-abus-des-droits-humains-aux-philippines-20190711 (FRANCAIS)

The Philippines/Iceland: Karapatan calls on UN member states to push Iceland’s proposal concerning human rights in PH

July 7, 2019

Human rights group Karapatan has called on the United Nations member states to support Iceland’s resolution regarding concerns on the prevailing rights woes in the Philippines.

On June 4, 2019, Iceland tabled a proposed resolution to the UN Human Rights Council, asking member-states to take concrete steps on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines during the council’s 41st session.

The said resolution was supported by 28 states, urging for further action on the reported rights violations in the country.

“We welcome the proposed resolution by Iceland and urge other UN HRC member-states to vote for its adoption.

Halfway into the Duterte government, extrajudicial killings have worsened within the regime’s repressive anti-narcotics drive and counterinsurgency campaign. While there are ongoing efforts to investigate these violations in the domestic front, the adoption of this resolution should jolt this government into remembering all the human rights obligations and treaties that it is mandated to uphold,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay.

Palabay is currently monitoring the HRC sessions in Geneva, Switzerland.

The proposed resolution expressed concern on reported cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrest and detention, intimidation and persecution of or violence against members of civil society, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, journalists, lawyers, members of the political opposition, and restrictions on the freedoms of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association.

…

Karapatan calls on UN member states to push Iceland’s proposal concerning human rights in PH

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/06/1932527/philippine-rights-defenders-support-icelands-call-external-probe-drug-war-killings

https://www.karapatan.org/Karapatan+calls+on+UN+HRC+member-states+to+support+Iceland%E2%80%99s+resolution+on+the+rights+situation+in+PH+

28 states urge UN to report on human rights situation in PH

https://www.rappler.com/nation/234655-iceland-files-resolution-united-nations-action-vs-drug-war-killings-philippines

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1074237

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-rights-un/philippines-faces-call-for-un-investigation-into-war-on-drugs-killings-idUSKCN1TZ22M

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/07/1932608/philippines-officials-hit-conduct-geneva-rights-meet

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/07/philippines-un-investigation-urgently-needed-duterte-war-drugs/

Daughter of slain lawyer graduates in UP with flying colors 

Rights group lauds Iceland’s resolution on PH rights situation

Palace says Amnesty International politicizing drug killings

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jul/09/war-on-drugs-makes-philippines-fourth-most-dangerous-country-report

A_HRC_41_L_20

https://www.amnesty.be/infos/actualites/philippines-drogue (FRANCAIS)

China/The Philippines/Saudi Arabia/Turkey: Statement: Attacks on lawyers in China, Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Turkey

July 2, 2019

On 1 July 2019, Lawyers for Lawyers together with Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association delivered a joint oral statement to the Human Rights Council on the attacks on lawyers in China, Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The statement was delivered during the 41st session of the Council.

 

The statement reads as follows:

Mr. President,

In countries where lawyers are imprisoned and prosecuted for defending rights, there is no equal access to justice or protection of rights.

In China, numerous human rights lawyers have been disappeared, arbitrarily imprisoned, tortured, or disbarred. In Saudi Arabia, lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair is one of hundreds of rights defenders arbitrarily convicted and detained. In Turkey, 311 lawyers have been arbitrarily convicted and detained since July 2016. In the Philippines, 40 jurists are among the “staggering number” of victims of extrajudicial killings since July 2016. Last month, eleven Special Procedures mandate holders called for an independent investigation of grave abuses in the Philippines.

We urge Council to:

…

Statement: Attacks on lawyers in China, Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Turkey

China: Trial of Rights Lawyer Li Yuhan April 9th

March 25, 2019

#TrialAlert Hearing in lawyer Li Yuhan “picking quarrels” case scheduled for 4/9 in Shenyang. Li is Wang Yu’s former lawyer & has been detained/mistreated in retaliation. UN called on China to release & compensate her in Oct 2018, but govt has refused

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders Facebook, 25/03/19)

https://www.nchrd.org/2017/12/li-yuhan/?fbclid=IwAR18NqLhiOG8xNhiYr87gtfb2bS-q-jIn1LBYLZakrZEH7ud18R_oX2tglE

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/women-rights-03082019143354.html

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/2185307/china-faces-barrage-criticism-over-jailing-human-rights

https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/profile/li-yuhan

https://chinachange.org/tag/li-yuhan/

https://www.lrwc.org/china-joint-statement-to-the-40th-session-of-the-human-rights-council-by-ishr-joined-by-lrwc/

http://www.camerepenali.it/cat/9791/avvocati_minacciati_in_cina.html?fbclid=IwAR2Q4TDJJ-ob__0cVezgFf6cQGL_9J_GodGkz5Y3vRAm0FvnCYFPrlyI5f0 (ITALIANO)

 

#China has a chance to honor its #HumanRightCouncil membership pledge: Free human rights lawyer #LiYuhan, whose detention's declared arbitrary by @UN_SPExperts #WGAD, as she faces trial on 4/9 aft 1.5yr detention. She was the lawyer of lawyer #WangYu. https://t.co/5BPpn19Ebl https://t.co/dd8CXV6DEO

— CHRD人权捍卫者 (@CHRDnet) March 22, 2019

Colombia: Protection of Human Rights Lawyers and Defenders | Oral Statement to the 39th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

September 20, 2018

Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
Date: 20/21 September 2018
HRC section: 39^th Session (Agenda Item 6)
Speaker: Mr. Paul Scambler

Oral Statement to the 39th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Regular Session – Oral Statement Item 6: UPR Outcomes: Colombia

Mr. President,

Lawyers for Lawyers [1] and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada [2] welcome the decision of Colombia to support [3] many recommendations made during its 3^rd UPR relating to the protection of human rights lawyers and defenders and the investigation of attacks and threats against them. We welcome Colombia’s voluntary commitment to continue adopting measures required for the protection of human rights lawyers and defenders [4]. We call on Colombia to effectively implement these recommendations [5] without delay.

Despite the November 2016 Peace Agreement,  there has been an increase in threats and attacks against human rights lawyers and defenders in Colombia. Since November 2016, hundreds of defenders have been killed and Colombian’s Ombudsman has stated that a human rights defender is killed every three days [6].

Lawyers who are defending vulnerable communities are the subject of threats, harassment and attacks, and are not always given sufficient protection measures to ensure they can perform their professional activities effectively and safely.

…

https://www.lrwc.org/columbia-protection-of-human-rights-lawyers-and-defenders-oral-statement-to-the-39th-session-of-the-un-human-rights-council/

https://reliefweb.int/report/world/human-rights-council-holds-general-debate-human-rights-situations-require-councils-0

https://www.ishr.ch/news/hrc39-l-states-largely-decline-cite-specific-cases-during-councils-first-discussion-reprisals

https://lawyersforlawyers.org/en/joint-oral-statement-on-upr-outcome/

India/Switzerland: Adv Deepika to attend Human Rights Session at Geneva

September 16, 2018

The International Human Rights Association of American Minorities (IHRAAM)-an ECOSOC affiliated Organization has invited Advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat to attend the 39th Session of the Human Rights Council at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from 10–28 September-2018.
Advocate Deepika Sing Rajawat, hailing from middle class Kashmiri Pandit family of Karihama, Kupwara, Kashmir (now settled in Jammu) is scheduled to attend, research and participate in the 39th session of the Human Rights Council on 19th of September.
It is imperative to mention herein that Deepika has been torchbearer in recent brutal rape and murder case of eight year old girl of village Rasana district Kathua.
Advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat has been conferred with Women of the Year Award by Indian Merchants Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ladies Wing, Mumbai in June 2018 at Mumbai for her contribution in women welfare initiatives. She has also been awarded with Humanitarian Award 2008 by Trinjan at festival of Mothers and Daughters at Vancouver BC Canada on June 24th 2018.
Deepika has been awarded with Women of the Centaury Award at Salute Success 2018 Thalilulam Block Panchayath Kazhimbram, Kerala on 17th June 2018 at Kochi for being a courageous woman.
Rajawat who has been working for Human Rights specially Child Rights and Women Rights since 2008, has also been awarded with Rippen Kapoor Fellowship in 2008 by Child Rights and You (CRY) for working on the Child Rights Violations in the militancy infested J&K.
She was also awarded with Sonjoy Gosh Media Fellowship by Charkha Foundation in 2008 for conducting study on the Child Rights Violations in the militancy infested areas of Jammu province.

…

http://www.knskashmir.com/Adv-Deepika-to-attend-Human-Rights-Session-at-Geneva-29910

https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/kathua-rape-victim-s-counsel-invited-at-human-rights-session-at-geneva/296616.html

http://thekashmirimages.com/2018/09/17/kathua-rape-victims-lawyer-invited-to-human-rights-session-at-geneva/

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/aidwa-members-take-out-rally-against-modi-regime/article24867291.ece

https://qrius.com/thousands-of-women-marched-in-delhi-a-week-ago-but-this-may-be-the-first-youre-hearing-about-it/

https://www.scoopwhoop.com/badass-indian-female-lawyers/#.0o4q05h7h

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/at-un-rajawat-seeks-support-against-women-abuse/655649.html

Turkey: Turkish gov’t jails not only journalist Karaca, but also his lawyers and judges who ruled to release him

March 7, 2018

The trial of Turkish journalist Hidayet Karaca (55) has already taken its place in judicial history because not only has he been persecuted by the Turkish government led by autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan but also both his lawyers and the judges who ruled to release him from jail have been imprisoned.

Hidayet Karaca, Ph.D., is an experienced Turkish broadcaster who also served as chairman of the board of directors of number of media associations such as Television Broadcasters Association and Television Audience Measurement (TİAK) in Turkey for years. After working as the bureau chief of the Zaman daily in İzmir and Ankara provinces, he was transferred to the Samanyolu Broadcasting Group in 1999 and served as Executive Director of the group for 17 years.

However, he was taken under custody by the police officers, who raided the television where he was in charge on December 14, 2014. He has been deprived of his freedom for about 4 years. Karaca was sentenced to 31 years of imprisonment in a trial. He has also been tried for another another case with almost the same accusations. This time aggravated life sentence has been demanded for him.

“I am defending myself under very difficult circumstances. Some of my lawyers have left, some of them were arrested. I could not even find a lawyer to write a petition for me,” said Hidayet Karaca during a hearing at a Turkish court where he was tried in August 2016.

…

https://stockholmcf.org/turkish-govt-jailed-not-only-journalist-karaca-but-also-his-lawyers-and-judges-who-ruled-to-release-him/

https://stockholmcf.org/intl-bar-associations-urge-turkish-govt-to-stop-arbitrary-detentions-torture/

https://stockholmcf.org/commentary-erdogan-govt-attacks-un-for-raising-rights-violations-in-turkey/

https://turkeypurge.com/outspoken-lawyer-banned-taking-gulen-linked-cases

https://stockholmcf.org/turkish-govt-detains-8-more-lawyers-43-people-over-alleged-links-to-gulen-movement/

http://communities.lawsociety.org.uk/human-rights/interventions/2018/intervention-letter-on-cases-of-detention-of-lawyers-and-human-rights-defenders-in-turkey/5064419.fullarticle

Seven respected international organisations address a joint statement to the United Nation on the mass arrests of Turkish lawyers, judges & prosecutors

https://ahvalnews.com/torture/international-lawyers-demand-un-action-torture-turkey

https://ahvalnews.com/press-freedoms/chilling-turkish-trial-slammed-press-groups

https://rsf.org/en/news/istanbul-trial-ends-jail-sentences-25-turkish-journalists