Oral intervention on the report of Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa
13 October 2012
Honorable Chairperson, commissioners, distinguished delegates, The East and Horn of
Honorable Chairperson, commissioners, distinguished delegates, The East and Horn of
October 9, 2012 Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn Federal Democratic Republic
Check against delivery.
This is a joint statement on behalf of: Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Human Rights Watch, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, CIVICUS, International Federation of Human Rights Leagues
(FIDH), East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Human Rights House Foundation, International Commission of Jurists, International Service for Human Rights.
As South Sudan develops its state institutions, and with new leadership in Somalia, tackling impunity must be a matter of priority in both countries.
The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies express their deep concern at the ongoing grave human rights violations in Sudan.
With the election of a new President, Somalia is at a crossroads in its history. It is essential that all stakeholders take this opportunity to commit to the full promotion and protection of human rights in the country. The test of the new government will be whether it can deliver on human rights commitments. We therefore thank the Independent Expert for his report and detailed recommendations in this regard
Following the announcement on 21st August 2012 of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s death, Ethiopia’s new leadership should recommit the State to the full respect of its population’s human rights, especially the freedoms of association, assembly and expression, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP) said in a statement to the UN Human Rights Council yesterday
Following the announcement on 21 August 2012 of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s death, Ethiopia’s new leadership should recommit the State to the full respect of its population’s human rights. The Human Rights Council and Ethiopia’s international partners should equally take the opportunity to call for a number of pressing reforms to re-establish respect for the freedoms of association, assembly and expression as a matter of priority during this time of transition.
With Ethiopia standing as a candidate for election to this Council and with the change in leadership in the country following the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, EHAHRDP calls on the government to carry out important reforms to re-establish respect for the freedoms of association, assembly and expression as a matter of priority.
Excellency,
The undersigned organizations are writing to urge your delegation to ensure that serious and widespread human rights violations committed in Sudan are appropriately addressed by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) during its current 21st session. One year after the independence of South Sudan, the human rights and humanitarian situation in Sudan has deteriorated. Recent months have seen a widespread crackdown against dissenting voices, opposition groups and protesters