Date: 21 September 2015 HRC Section: Agenda Item 4 General Debate Speaker: Ms. Vani Selvarajah Joint Oral Statement to the 30th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Regular Session by Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, Lawyers for Lawyers and the Asian Legal Resource Centre, NGOs with Special Consultative Status China: Crackdown on lawyers and other advocates violates international law obligations. Mr. President, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, Lawyers for Lawyers and the Asian Legal Resource Centre call on Council to address the ongoing wrongful arrests and detentions in China of lawyers engaged in human rights work. . Since the beginning of July over 284 human rights lawyers, their staff and […]
Category: ALRC AT THE UN
ASIA: Broken Justice systems enable arbitrary detention and slavery
Proactive response from the Special Procedures and the Council is expected to enable states to dismantle structures that facilitate slavery and degradation of rights, and to rebuild the justice systems needed to protect lives and the dignity of all persons
INDONESIA: Unresolved enforced disappearances keep family members in the dark
Indonesia’s present government also does not have any plans to work on the issue of disappearances. Moreover, the Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP) does not regulate and prosecute enforced disappearances.
INDIA: Government must put an end to outlawed Manual Scavenging now
Ask the Government of India to not utilize the Supreme court granted exception of entering manholes in special cases with prior written orders from the Chief Executive Officer of the concerned civic body(with full protective gears). Instead, adoption of scientific technology to clean sewers must be introduced by the Government of India.
BANGLADESH: Public justice system incapable of addressing relentless enforced disappearance
The Bangladesh Judiciary has contributed to the recurrence of enforced disappearances by abdicating its constitutional authority and responsibility to guarantee the right to life and personal liberty of persons.
INDONESIA: Lack of justice and reparations strengthens impunity and encourages recurring violations
It is tragic that the circumstances of human rights abuse victims in Indonesia are totally different to that of the alleged perpetrators. The perpetrators have never been brought to court and are enjoying transitional democracy by establishing political parties and running for elections.
INDIA: Ensure no submergence without complete rehabilitation of Sardar Sarovar Dam affected
Increasing the height of the dam in these circumstances will endanger the survival of around 40,000 families still awaiting alternative land, livelihood, and housing at resettlement sites.
ASIA: Council should lead reforms of judicial institutions to realise rights
The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and Franciscans International wish to bring to the immediate attention of this council that the judges, prosecutors, and lawyers in Asia face acute forms of suppression of their freedom to engage in their profession independently. Perhaps Hong Kong, South Korea, India, and Japan are exception to this general category.
SOUTH ASIA: Domestic justice system requires reform to address extrajudicial executions
The fight against extremism and crime are the excuses the governments in India and Pakistan often cite for resorting to extrajudicial executions. Harsh legislations, like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, which is implemented in several regions of India, provide statutory impunity for extrajudicial executions, better known as “encounter killings” in South Asia.
ASIA: Freedoms of Expression, Opinion, Assembly, and Association being curtailed in Asia
The government is also curtailing the freedom of peaceful assembly and association of civil society organisations and the political opposition. There is a tangible fear that, in the absence of space for liberal voices, radical groups will proliferate.