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February 18, 2005
Posted 9:51 AM
by Mary
Pressure Growing on Bush to Send Darfur Killings to The Hague
WASHINGTON - Despite his strong opposition, U.S. President George W. Bush is under growing pressure from human rights groups and U.S. allies to refer what his administration has called "genocide" in Darfur, Sudan, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.
In a long-awaited presentation to the UN Security Council Wednesday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Canadian Louise Arbour, said the ICC was the best forum for investigating and prosecuting those responsible for a two-year campaign of violence and pillage that has taken the lives of as many as 300,000 African tribespeople in Sudans westernmost region.
"Referral to the ICC is the best means by which to halt ongoing violations and prevent future ones," she said.
"With an already existing set of well-defined rules of procedure and evidence, the court is the best-suited institution for enduring speedy investigations leading to arrests and demonstrably fair trials," she told the Council members, supporting the recommendations made earlier by a special UN Commission of Inquiry.
Arbours appeal was also backed up by statements of the world's two largest international human rights organizations, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) and London-based Amnesty International.
February 12, 2005
Posted 2:01 PM
by Mary
UN eager to probe Oil-for-Food scandal, Annan's top aide tells US lawmakers: "
Mark Malloch Brown
[NOTE: MarK Brown is not exactly an "AIDE", he's the powerhouse former head of the UNDP]
9 February 2005 . A senior aide to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan told Congressional staffers in Washington D.C. today that the world body is undergoing managerial reforms while working to determine the truth about allegations of corruption and mismanagement surrounding its now-defunct Oil-for-Food Programme for Iraq.
Eager to get to the bottom of the Oil-for- Food scandal, the UN is willing to work with Congress wherever possible, Mark Malloch Brown stressed during meetings with a number of leading members of Congress - both Republican and Democrat - from the US Senate and House of Representatives, according to a read-out provided by a UN spokesman in New York."
Posted 1:31 PM
by Mary
Reuters AlertNet - U.N. sleuth hits Afghanistan over women's rights: "U.N. sleuth hits Afghanistan over women's rights
10 Feb 2005 17:27:22 GMT
Source: Reuters
GENEVA, Feb 10 (Reuters) - A United Nations investigator on Thursday urged Afghanistan's government to make more effort to promote the rights of women and especially to halt violence against them both inside and outside the home.
In a statement following a visit to the country earlier this month, Egyptian lawyer Cherif Bassiouni also called on the Afghan authorities to strengthen the rule of law, including the prison, justice and police system.
In a brief report, he said he was concerned over the situation of women -- three years after the ouster by U.S.-led forces of the government of the rigidly Islamist Taliban -- and their access to justice."
February 4, 2005
Posted 9:32 PM
by Mary
Responsibility to Protect - Engaging Civil Society |
United Nations S/2005/56
Security Council Distr.: General
28 January 2005
Letter dated 27 January 2005 from representatives of Australia, Canada and New Zealand to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council
All reports indicate that the situation in Darfur is deteriorating, and we are gravely concerned for the safety of those persons living there as the conflict continues. We believe that the Security Council is uniquely placed to assist in promoting and advancing the protection of civilians in the Darfur region. We would like to reiterate, in this regard, our strong support for the previous Security Council resolutions passed on Darfur, and our confidence in the importance of their full and effective implementation. As such, we would like to suggest a number of proposals, which we believe the Security Council should consider in addressing this situation further.
As a first measure, we believe that the Security Council should establish a committee to monitor the implementation of the arms embargo called for in resolution 1556 (2004) of 30 July 2004. This committee should not only establish mechanisms to monitor the arms embargo, but should also seek, ideally with the assistance of a panel of experts, to address the origins of arms flows to those actors covered in resolution 1556 (2004). We would anticipate that the committee would seek, among other things, to determine: (a) who is funding armed militias in Darfur, including pro-government militias, rebel movements and other emerging movements in their arms purchases; and (b) where the arms are coming from. Such a committee can help to ensure that existing Security Council resolutions are being properly implemented and identify areas where further attention by the Council may be necessary.
As a second measure, the Security Council should also look at designing targeted measures that may bring greater pressure to bear on all parties to the conflict to comply with their undertakings and with Security Council resolutions. Those measures could include individual travel bans and freezing of assets.
As a third measure, the Security Council should mandate the Secretary-General, in his next report on Darfur, to give further attention to an assessment of the extent to which the parties to the conflict have respected the obligations imposed on them by earlier Security Council resolutions. Analysis of compliance with the obligations outlined in resolutions 1556 (2004), 1564 (2004) (18 September 2004) and 1574 (2004) (19 November 2004) would ensure that conclusions drawn and measures proposed in future resolutions are grounded in fact and are meaningful.
Finally, should the International Commission of Inquiry established pursuant to resolution 1564 (2004) determine that crimes within the jurisdiction of the
International Criminal Court have been committed, we strongly believe that the Security Council should refer the matter to the Court as the most appropriate body to investigate such crimes.
We would be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the Security Council.
February 2, 2005
Posted 9:52 PM
by Mary
BBC NEWS | Africa | Ex-UN chief warns of water wars: "Ex-UN chief warns of water wars
By Mike Thomson
BBC News
Competition for water resources could provoke wars in Africa and the Middle East, Boutros Boutros Ghali has said. In an interview with the BBC, the former UN Secretary General urged the international community to ensure a fair division of water between nations.
Mr Boutros Ghali told Radio 4's Today programme that military confrontation between the countries of the Nile basin was almost inevitable. It would only be avoided if they could share water equitably, he said. "
Posted 9:30 PM
by Mary
UNFPA: ASSISTING IN EMERGENCIES: Asia Tsunami Disaster: "Asia Tsunami Disaster January 12, 2005
As part of a concerted international relief effort, UNFPA is taking the lead in ensuring that the special needs of women and youth are factored into the design and delivery of short- and medium-term humanitarian efforts.
Your donation to UNFPA will help meet the needs of women and families affected by this disaster during both the initial relief effort and the reconstruction phase.
Aceh Tsunami Survivors Need More Family Planning Supplies
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia, 25 January 2005 ?Nearly four weeks after the tsunami, doctors and local social workers say there will be an increased demand for contraceptives among the displaced population, as couples seek to prevent pregnancies while they are living in camps. more..
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February 1, 2005
Posted 8:24 AM
by Mary
EUobserver.com: "Darfur Court pitches EU against US
31.01.2005 - 10:31 CET | By Lisbeth Kirk
A five-member independent UN commission has recommended referring the Darfur case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
The report, leaked to the Los Angeles Times, also concluded that violence in the western region of Darfur in Sudan was not genocide, but found evidence of crimes against humanity with an ethnic dimension.
Having the ICC in The Hague deal with the case is set to meet strong opposition from the US, which has already proposed establishing a new court in Arusha, Tanzania for the prosecution of Darfur's war crimes.
EU foreign ministers are set to discuss the issue today at a meeting in Brussels.
The ICC has long been a bone of contention between the EU, which champions the court, and the US, which has refused to sign up to it.
Washington fears that its citizens will be subject to politically motivated prosecutions.
The ICC, which came into being one year ago, is the first permanent global criminal court to try individuals for genocide, war crimes and massive human rights abuses.
Some 1.8 million villagers have been left homeless and 70,000 are estimated to have died since the fighting began in Darfur early in 2003.
It was started by a rebel uprising in Darfur, which led to a crackdown by Sudanese forces and an Arab militia known as Janjaweed."
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"War does not determine who is right--only who is left." - Bertrand Russell
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