United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-11-03

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Monday, 3 November 1997

HEADLINES

• United Nations Secretary-General sends a three-man mission to Iraq.
• UN expert reports that extrajudicial killings and torture continue in Iraq; but the Government rejects the charge.
• Amid political crisis, Haiti still requires international assistance, says new report of UN Secretary-General.
• Co-author of World Bank report on HIV/AIDS says epidemic has "skyrocketed from 2 to 57 per cent in the Ukraine.
• New UN report says Internet worsens problems of child pornography, sale of children and child prostitution.
• United Nations human rights expert recommends immediate probe into use of Internet for racist propaganda.
• United Nations Secretary-General says partnership with non- governmental organizations is a necessity.
• Security Coordinator downgrades security level in Congo- Brazzaville as situation there improves.
• Government of Rwanda agrees to transfer three persons to testify in International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
• United Nations Expert on Somalia schedules second visit to Mogadishu to assess human rights situation there.

On Sunday, the Secretary-General said he was "deeply concerned about the potentially grave consequences" of the decision announced by the Government of Iraq on 29 October not to allow United Nations inspectors of United States nationality to carry out their tasks in Iraq.

The mission, led by Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi, includes diplomats Emilio Cardenas and Jan Eliasson. The Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, Tariq Aziz, informed the Secretary-General in a telephone conversation on Monday that the Government of Iraq will receive the mission.

Meanwhile, the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) has decided to send letters to the Security Council describing the latest incidents in Iraq.

The Chairman of UNSCOM, Ambassador Richard Butler, on Monday ordered his inspectors to attempt to go out in the field and conduct investigations. Three teams, dealing with missiles, chemical weapons, and biological weapons, went out to carry out inspections at certain sites in Iraq.

According to United Nations Spokesman Fred Eckhard, the missile team was the first to reach the inspection site. "They were told that they could proceed with the inspection but not with any members of United States nationality."

The leader of the team explained that this was unacceptable, and that the skills of the Americans were essential to a full and adequate investigation. Consequently, the team went back. When the other teams heard that the missile team had turned back, they too turned back, Mr. Eckhard said.

In a written response to the report, the Iraqi Government rejects the findings as politically motivated. "Van der Stoel's persistence in holding the political leadership of Iraq responsible, as he claims, for alleged violations of human rights is to be regarded as open interference in the internal affairs of Iraq and a transparent attempt to disparage the legitimate national political system."

Mr. van der Stoel cites examples of extrajudicial and collective executions, including the alleged killing of a number of women and children in early April by government forces. Also that spring, "hundreds of political detainees are said to have been executed in Abu Ghraib Prison". The report also documents allegations of torture as well as reports of persons dying of torture while in detention or following poisoning while in prison. The Special Rapporteur refers to persons who suffered serious side-effects after their release from prison, including paralysis and severe bleeding. "Before dying, the victims stated that prison personnel had forced them to eat unusual food during the last days of their stay in detention."

The report also discusses reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions "on a wide scale" throughout Iraq, obstacles to the free flow of information, cases of forced eviction and displacement. "The Special Rapporteur concludes that there is no freedom of thought, opinion, expression or association in Iraq."

In its response to Mr. van der Stoel's report, the Government of Iraq states that "there are matters that are more basic, that have a greater impact on people's lives and that deserve to receive greater attention from the United Nations and bodies such as that for which van der Stoel is supposed to be acting" including the impact of sanctions on human rights. Such measures, the response states, have adverse consequences including corruption and crime. "In the case of Iraq, these are a result of the comprehensive embargo being maintained against the country, and the Government of Iraq is endeavouring to apply the laws in force meticulously with a view to limiting the impact of crimes threatening society."

In an interview with United Nations Radio, following the release on Monday of the report, Confronting AIDS: Public Priorities in a Global Epidemic, Martha Ainsworth said that the Ukraine "has very high levels of HIV infection among injecting drug users. It just skyrocketed in an 11-month period, infection levels went from about 2% to 57%."

Ms. Ainsworth pointed out, however, that the epidemic continued to have the largest concentration of the epidemic continued to be in Africa. In the Sahelian countries of Mali and Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Cameroon, parts of Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire, Ms. Ainsworth said, HIV infection levels are high among people with high-risk behaviour. "These are people who have multiple sexual partners, and who do not use condoms. Yet it hasn't spread as widely as in other countries into the general population."

In other countries most of which are in southern Africa, but also include Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin and Guinea-Bissau, HIV infection levels are high, even among the general population.

On the HIV epidemic world wide, Ms Ainsworth said "there are 23 million adults infected worldwide with the HIV virus, and 9 out of every 10 infections is in developing countries. About half of the infections in developing countries are in women, and worldwide about 800,000 infections are in children."

The implications of the HIV/AIDS epidemic have a devastating effect on the economies of developing countries, where the life expectancy has been reduced for the economically active persons. "In Cote d'Ivoire and in Zimbabwe, life expectancy is more than 10 years shorter than it would have been without the AIDS epidemic. It is also increasing poverty and raising the number of orphans."

"Now, there is an opportunity to intervene and directly to work with people with the riskiest behaviour to help prevent the infection from spreading outward. These countries need to act very quickly", Ms Ainsworth said.

Responding to a request from President Pr‚val for continued United Nations assistance to the Haitian National Police, the Secretary-General says he has begun to contact Governments to see whether they could make personnel available to the United Nations should the Security Council decide to establish a follow-on mission when UNTMIH's mandate ends on 30 November.

The report finds progress in instilling discipline in the police force in some parts of the country, but in others, "human rights violations and abuse of authority by the police are on the rise, and some officers have even allowed the force to become politicized". The lack of an adequate police presence in some remote areas has prompted some citizens to form vigilante brigades, "which is especially worrisome in view of the proliferation of weapons". The Secretary-General also expresses concern about the development of private security agencies, "which are largely tolerated but not controlled by the authorities" and sometimes operate outside of the control of the National Police.

According to the report, UNTMIH continues to work on renovating police stations around the country. The Mission has emphasized the training of units in the National Police specializing in crowd control, rapid reaction and Palace security, and work in these areas is "developing well". But, the Secretary-General stresses, "in the political and economic climate prevailing in Haiti, the National Police will need international assistance if it is to continue to pursue its own institutional development while meeting the country's increasing security needs".

The report, written by Ofelia Calcetas-Santos, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child pornography and child prostitution, says the Internet can be used by paedophiles to contact each other and exchange information relating to their sexual interest in children, the report warns. Computer technology can also be used to alter images, with the result that "life-like child pornography is now being created without using any real children at all".

The report also covers international developments relating to the sale of children, child pornography and child prostitution. In Africa, the Special Rapporteur finds that the abduction of children for military service is particularly alarming. Child prostitution is also a growing problem on the continent, especially in South Africa. In Asia and the Pacific, there is extensive trafficking in both women and children. Child abandonment, kidnapping, trafficking for labour bondage and children in prostitution continue to be widespread in Bangladesh. The problem of child prostitution is also growing in Sri Lanka.

"Sex tourism and child prostitution also remain a serious problem in the Latin American and Caribbean region", the Special Rapporteur writes. As elsewhere, Ms. Calcetas-Santos finds a close link to extreme poverty, lack of education, drug abuse and the increasing number of street children.

One of the main problems in Western Europe and other developed States appears to be the spread of child pornography material, as well as rings of paedophiles cooperating in the abuse of children. "One specific case which greatly perturbs the Special Rapporteur is the suicide of a 12-year old boy in Upper Austria, who killed himself after photographs showing him being sexually abused by a paedophile had been posted on the Internet."

The Special Rapporteur does report some positive developments, noting that "the popularity of radio as a primary method by which information is received cannot be overestimated". She cites a programme developed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Mozambique involving a radio drama series which conveys messages on the importance of staying in school, how to deal with sexual harassment, AIDS-awareness and other delicate issues such as female genital mutilation, early marriages and the domestic workload of girls.

In his report to the General Assembly, Maurice Glele-Ahanhanzo says the situation of racism and racial discrimination has "improved very little". In his earlier report, the Special Rapporteur had noted "the alarming increase in manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance".

Mr. Glele-Ahanhanzo says that the use of new communication technologies, particularly the Internet, has led to new forms of racism and racial discrimination. The Special Rapporteur says that he welcomes the governmental, legislative or judicial measures taken or envisaged in some countries to combat racism and racial discrimination.

However, he adds, "the situation in this area continues to be cause for concern and requires a more proactive approach at the national and international levels in order to stem the proliferation of these evils".

The Special Rapporteur reiterates his recommendation to immediately convene a world conference on racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia, adding that the question of immigration and xenophobia should be included on the agenda.

In a message to the twentieth General Assembly of the Conference of Non- Governmental Organizations in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council, delivered in Geneva on Monday by Gillian Sorensen, Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations, Mr. Annan said that the non-governmental organizations commitment to United Nations aims and ideals, and their varied expertise, "are great assets for the world's people and for the world Organization."

"Whatever the field -- human rights, humanitarian relief, sustainable development, international law, disarmament, mine clearance, poverty eradication -- your effectiveness and influence are indisputable."

He said that the non-governmental organizations' involvement in the work of the United Nations occurred at a time when the global agenda had "never been so varied, so pressing or so complex."

Mr. Annan said that as part of the reform process of the United Nations, "we are broadening our view of what is meant by human security. Today, security is increasingly understood not just in military terms, and far more than the absence of conflict." He said that security encompassed economic development, social justice, environmental protection, democratization, disarmament and respect for human rights.

According to the Secretary-General, these "pillars of peace" are interrelated. "Progress in one area begets progress in another" he said, adding that no country can get there on its own, and none exempt from the risks and costs of doing without.

"As we address these challenges, I look forward to expanding and deepening our ties. I am also keen to learn of the proposals you will decide upon at this Conference", the Secretary-General concluded his statement.

According to a United Nations Spokesman, the entire country is now under "phase four", meaning that security and essential humanitarian staff can soon return to work there.

Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, had been a scene of fierce fighting which broke out between the forces of President Pascal Lissouba who was eventually deposed by the victorious forces of General Denis Sassou Nguesso. Mr. Nguesso has formed a new government in Congo- Brazzaville.

"This is a highly symbolic decision which confirms the quality of cooperation between the Rwandan Government and the Tribunal", said Judge Laity Kama, the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

It is the first time that such a decision has been made since the Tribunal was established in November 1994 to prosecute persons responsible for genocide and serious violations of international humanitarian law between 1 January and 31 December 1994.

Jean-Paul Akeyesu, who was Bourgmestre of the Taba commune during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, is one of the 21 persons who have been arrested and detained in the Tribunal's detention facilities. The trial of Mr. Akeyesu is being conducted at the same time as the trials of Georges Anderson Rutaganda, Obed Ruzindana and Clement Kahyishema, who are accused of participating in the genocide which left approximately 500,000 people dead.

Ms. Rishmawi's mandate from the Commission on Human Rights is to report on the human rights situation in Somalia and to assess the possibility of establishing a programme of advisory services and technical assistance to strengthen the protection of human rights in the country.

The Independent Expert believes that, despite the absence of a national government, there are possibilities of implementing programmes, in cooperation with United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, to support and strengthen local initiatives and provide training to improve the administration of justice in Somalia.

Ms. Rishmawi is expected to travel to Hargeisa on 5 November. She will go to Bossasso on 8 November and to Mogadishu on 10 November before returning to Nairobi on 11 November. In Nairobi, she will meet with representatives of United Nations agencies who have programmes in Somalia as well as staff of the Department of Political Affairs. She will also meet representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the European Union and non- governmental organizations as well as individual Somalis who might have recent information about the human rights situation in their country.

In Hargeisa, the Independent Expert will arrange for the visit of two forensic experts from Physicians for Human Rights. They will conduct at her request, in the first week of January 1998, an on-site assessment of a mass grave discovered in the town in June 1997. The local authorities asked Ms. Rishmawi for assistance in investigating the mass grave which they say appears to contain hundreds of bodies including those of women and children. Many of those killed were bound by the wrists and appear to have been victims of the military during fighting between 1988 and 1990.

The results of the mission will be reflected in the Independent Expert's report to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which will convene in March-April 1998.

From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article