Posted 10:35 AM
by Mary
Rights Expert Demands Access to Afghan Prisons
Reuters
Sunday 22 August 2004
KABUL, Afghanistan - A U.N. human rights expert criticized U.S. military authorities in Afghanistan on Saturday for barring him from visiting detention centers, and he described one Kabul prison he did visit as "inhuman."
The lack of transparency "raises serious concerns about the legality of detention and conditions of those detainees," M. Cherif Bassiouni said.
Former prisoners have said they were tortured and abused while in U.S. custody in Afghanistan, raising concerns that the mistreatment of U.S.-held prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison that was uncovered this year was not an isolated episode.
The U.S. military, which this month had been expected to release an internal report on allegations of prisoner abuse, turned down Bassiouni's request to visit centers where suspected militants are held.
Bassiouni was allowed to visit Kabul's notorious Pul-i-Charkhi jail, run by Afghan authorities, where about 725 Taliban members and their Pakistani allies are being held.
He pronounced conditions there "inhuman" and said the prisoners should be freed.
Bassiouni has been in Afghanistan for a week. He said the nation had made progress in the last two years, but he also listed violations including torture and arbitrary arrest.
Bassiouni was appointed by the U.N. as an independent expert on human rights in Afghanistan in April. He is to deliver a report to the General Assembly in October.
Posted 10:33 AM
by Mary
PLEASE NOTE ON YOUR CALENDAR
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
The September Meeting of the CONGO Committee on Children's Rights will take place on Thursday August 26th, 2004 at UNICEF HOUSE, on 44th street between First and Second, in the Conference Room on the fourth floor, from 1:15 to 2:45 pm as usual. The Steering Committee decided on this earlier schedule in order to avoid the traffic congestion that will inevitably accompany the Republican Convention in early September.
This first meeting of the academic year will be a major planning meeting, with much new information distributed and decisions to be taken. We would thus greatly appreciate if you could attend, if at all possible. We will look forward to seeing you at that time!
PS An agenda will follow. Please RSVP and let us know if you do not currently carry a UN badge, so that we can leave your name at the UNICEF Information Desk.
Posted 10:48 PM
by Mary
"Renewing the commitment to Rule of Law and Human Rights: the way forward"
Mary Robinson
Tuesday Sept 21, 6pm FREE
See Cuny catalogue on their website
Graduate Center,
CUNY 365 5th ave
http://web.gc.cuny.edu/cepp
continuinged@gc.cuny.edu
