(Español) GENEVA – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, today strongly condemned the murder in Honduras of human rights defender Berta Cáceres, founder of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations Honduras (COPINH) and leader of the Lenca community of Río Blanco. Her statement was endorsed by Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai and a number of other UN independent experts. The murder of Ms. Cáceres took place earlier this week despite precautionary measures granted by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for her protection after an increase in the number of death threats she had received for years because of her work denouncing violations of human rights against indigenous peoples. The Special Rapporteur met Ms. Cáceres during her first official visit* to Honduras in November 2015, when the indigenous leader facilitated meetings with the Lenca community. At Río Blanco, the UN expert received information about the community’s opposition to the Agua Zarca hydroelectric dam which had led to killings, harassment and threats to members of the community. “It is very likely that this killing is linked to her work in defense of human rights of the indigenous Lenca people,” Ms. Tauli-Corpuz said, recalling... Continue reading →
(English) GINEBRA – Dos expertos de las Naciones Unidas exhortaron hoy al Gobierno de Venezuela a garantizar la seguridad de todos los ciudadanos en el marco de las elecciones legislativas de este domingo, e instaron a remover urgentemente cualquier obstáculo a la participación pública pacífica. “Restituir plenamente el espacio para la libertad de expresión, reunión y asociación, así como asegurar la rendición de cuentas de los responsables por los incidentes de violencia, serán clave para aliviar las tensiones políticas en Venezuela, y para asegurar la gobernabilidad democrática del país”, dijeron los Relatores Especiales sobre la libertad de expresión, David Kaye, y sobre el derecho a la libertad de asociación, Maina Kiai. “Las autoridades deben garantizar la seguridad personal de todos aquéllos que aspiren a intercambiar ideas y opiniones en los días previos al proceso electoral”, dijeron los expertos, señalando el reciente asesinato del político de oposición Luis Manuel Díaz, durante un acto de campaña electoral en el estado Guárico. Además, se ha informado de otros atentados en distintos eventos pacíficos de naturaleza política y electoral, a tan sólo días de las votaciones del 6 de Diciembre. “El asesinato de Luis Manuel Díaz es una señal muy... Continue reading →
(Español) GENEVA – Two United Nations human rights experts today called on the Venezuelan Government to guarantee the security of all individuals ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections, and to urgently remove all obstacles to peaceful public participation. “Reinstituting full space for the freedoms of expression, association and assembly, and ensuring accountability in all reports on violence is key to dissipating political tensions in Venezuela and to ensuring democratic governance,” said the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression, David Kaye, and on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai. “Authorities must ensure the safety of those trying to exchange ideas in the last days of the electoral process,” the experts said, recalling the recent killing of opposition politician Luis Manuel Díaz following a campaign rally in Guárico state. There have also been reports of attacks against other peaceful political events just days before the 6 December vote. “The killing of Luis Manuel Díaz is a very worrying sign of how the environment for political participation in Venezuela has deteriorated,” they warned. “A peaceful electoral process requires, at a bare minimum, that the Government guarantee the security of all – particularly at... Continue reading →
Issue No. 17 of the Assembly and Association Briefing, the newsletter of Maina Kiai, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. In this issue: • UN experts warn that Brazil anti-terrorism law may threaten fundamental freedoms • Kiai urges European Court to establish “clear and strong standards” on assembly rights • Burundi: Experts urge Security Council to follow resolution with ‘concrete’ steps • Bangladesh NGOs: Kiai warns against proposed funding bill • Special Rapporteur urges Chile to scrap proposed ‘identity check’ bill • High time to protect sexual and reproductive rights defenders in the Americas • Civil society needs ‘new tactics’ to reverse shrinking space, Special Rapporteur tells Asia-Pacific activists in Seoul • Background reports compare laws on businesses and CSOs in 34 states • Freedom of association and assembly: By the numbers • Special Rapporteur news in brief: November-December 2015 • World briefing: Freedom of assembly and association in the news For a link to the newsletter, click on the image at right or click here (4.1MB file) or here (6.8MB full resolution file). To subscribe to our newsletter, please drop us a line at info@freeassembly.net with the subject line... Continue reading →
GENEVA - United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai has published a legal analysis warning that pending changes to Chile’s criminal procedure code – which liberalize police powers to stop, search and identify people – may violate international law. Chile’s draft bill number 9985-07, which is currently being considered by lawmakers, proposes two significant changes to the country’s Procedural Penal Code (Código Procesal Penal). The bill would introduce a new provision in the law, article 12, giving police the general power to stop and check the identity of any person, without any indication or suspicion of a crime. A person failing or refusing to produce proof of identity could then be brought to the nearest police station, where they would face up to four hours of detention while additional identification procedures take place. The bill would also amend article 85 of the law to allow broader use of identity checks and searches in the context of a crime or suspected crime. “These provisions raise two significant questions under international law,” Kiai writes in the analysis. “First, since identity controls affect the human rights of the people concerned, when may they be used and how will authorities guard against abuses? Second, do the detention periods of eight (in the... Continue reading →
English GENEBRA – O projeto de lei antiterrorismo atualmente em discussão no Congresso brasileiro está redigido em termos demasiado amplos e poderia restringir indevidamente as liberdades fundamentais, alertou, hoje, um grupo de relatores especiais da ONU (*). “Estamos preocupados que a definição do crime estabelecida pelo projeto de lei pode resultar em ambiguidade e confusão na determinação do que o Estado considera como crime de terrorismo, potencialmente prejudicando o exercício dos direitos humanos e das liberdades fundamentais”, disseram os relatores. O projeto de lei no. 101/2015 visa definir os crimes de terrorismo no Brasil e dispõe ainda sobre procedimentos investigatórios e processuais. No dia 28 de outubro de 2015, o Senado brasileiro aprovou a proposta por 34 votos favoráveis e 18 contrários. O texto alterado deve voltar à Câmara dos Deputados. "Lamentamos que o atual projeto de lei excluiu um artigo anterior que estabelecia uma salvaguarda importante que garantia que a participação em manifestações políticas e em movimentos sociais não fosse considerada no âmbito dessa lei,” disseram os relatores. Os relatores especiais compartilharam suas preocupações com as autoridades brasileiras que, por sua vez, forneceram explicações adicionais sobre o... Continue reading →
Portugues GENEVA – Proposed anti-terrorism legislation currently being considered by Brazil’s Congress is too broadly drafted and may unduly restrict fundamental freedoms, warned today a group of UN Special Rapporteurs including Maina Kiai. “We fear that the definition of the crime established by the draft law may result in ambiguities and confusion as to what the State considers a terrorist offence, potentially undermining the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the independent experts said. Law N° 101/2015 seeks to define crimes of terrorism in Brazil and provides for other investigative and procedural provisions. On 28 October 2015, the Brazilian Senate passed the legislation by 34 votes to 18. The amended text now returns to the lower house. “We regret that the current draft excluded a previous article establishing an important safeguard that would protect participation in political demonstrations and social movements from falling under the legislation’s scope,” the experts said. The Special Rapporteurs shared their concerns with the Brazilian authorities, who in turn provided further clarifications on the draft law. “States have a duty to protect civil society and the rights that are critical to its existence and development, such as the rights to... Continue reading →
Issue No. 16 of the Assembly and Association Briefing, the newsletter of Maina Kiai, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. In this issue: • Kiai calls on Chile to eliminate “vestiges of dictatorship” detrimental to assembly rights • UNSR presents report to General Assembly, urges States to promote civil society by elevating its treatment to the same level as business • Experts urge Latin America and Caribbean: adopt trend-setting environmental agreement • UN expert urges Angola to release 14 activists detained for criticizing Government • Draft law threatens independence and existence of Kazakh NGOs, Kiai warns • Heyns and Kiai wrap up consultations for recommendations on facilitating assemblies • Freedom of association and assembly: By the numbers • Special Rapporteur news in brief: October 2015 • World briefing: Freedom of assembly and association in the news For a link to the newsletter, click on the image at right or click here (3.4MB file) or here (5.4MB full resolution file). To subscribe to our newsletter, please drop us a line at info@freeassembly.net with the subject line “subscribe to newsletter.” For other recent newsletters, see the links below: The Assembly and Association Briefing,... Continue reading →
GENEVA – In an open statement published today (available in English and Spanish), a group of United Nations human rights experts, including Maina Kiai, expressed their strong support for the efforts by governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to agree on a regional legal instrument on rights of access to information, participation, and justice in environmental matters. “Sustainable development and human rights are interrelated,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, John Knox, as 20 country members of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), representing more than 500 million people, prepare for the next round of negotiations from 27-29 October in Panama City. “Rights of access to information, participation, and justice are at the fulcrum of the relationship,” Mr. Knox said on behalf of the group of UN experts. “When the people most affected by environment and development policies, including indigenous peoples and women, who are often the primary caregivers in the family, can exercise their human rights to information, participation, and remedy, then the policies are most responsive, fair and effective.” “This negotiation is one of the most important steps ever taken to protect and promote environmental democracy at the... Continue reading →
(English) SANTIAGO/GINEBRA – El Relator Especial de las Naciones Unidas, Maina Kiai, instó hoy al Gobierno de Chile a eliminar "los vestigios de la dictadura" que van en detrimento de la libertad de reunión pacífica en el país, y a continuar con las reformas para que el país pueda "ocupar el lugar que le corresponde como un líder mundial en los derechos humanos". "Chile ha logrado grandes avances desde su retorno a la democracia hace 25 años", dijo el Sr. Kiai al final de la primera visita* al país de un experto independiente encargado por el Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU de promover la realización de los derechos de la libertad de reunión pacífica y de asociación de todo el mundo. "Sin embargo, aún persisten vestigios de antaño que no tienen cabida en el Chile de hoy", señaló. "El fantasma de esa época acecha especialmente al sector de la seguridad, principalmente Carabineros de Chile —y específicamente las Fuerzas Especiales— en su función de custodiar los conflictos sociales y manifestaciones”. El relator expresó su preocupación sobre el manejo en la práctica de las protestas. Durante su visita, recibió información de numerosos y variados ejemplos de violaciones cometidas por la policía durante protestas, incluyendo la fuerza excesiva y el acoso... Continue reading →
