Protests continue in Sudan, with rights workers and diplomats claiming that over 100 demonstrators have been killed due to excessive force from authorities. The situation is of great concern. The UN Special Rapporteur on assembly and association has addressed this issue before with the government of Sudan. In August 2012, Maina Kiai and six other UN experts an official communication to the government of Sudan regarding a series of protests in July 2012. At one event – where people were protesting fuel prices – authorities reportedly fired live ammunition into a group of demonstrators, killing at least 12, including five minors. We requested more information from the government of Sudan. More than a year later, they have yet to respond. A copy of our communication can be found... Continue reading →
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, today condemned the violence that has been taking place on the streets of numerous cities across the world in response to an anti-Islamic film, warning that protest demonstrations and rallies must be peaceful in order to be protected by international human rights law. “The right of peaceful assembly must not serve as an excuse to commit violence,” Mr. Kiai stressed. “Expressing views or discontent is necessary, while safeguarding full respect for the right of peaceful assembly. In this context the killing of innocent people and the violent destruction of property are totally unacceptable.” Echoing a statement* by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, the Special Rapporteur stated that it was “deeply shocking that people lost their lives in this violence,” and called on the relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. He also commended authorities which have already taken steps in this respect while condemning the violence. “It is the duty of States to distinguish between peaceful and non-peaceful protesters. The latter must be prosecuted and brought before an independent court that guarantees the right to due process,” Mr. Kiai... Continue reading →
A group of United Nations independent experts today expressed alarm at the degree of violence and deterioration of the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association which have led to loss of life in Egypt, ahead of parliamentary elections planned for 28 November 2011. “The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is an inherent element of democracies,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Mr. Maina Kiai, expressing deep concern at reports announcing the death of protesters in violence over the weekend. “The Egyptian authorities must stop using violence and engage immediately in a genuine national dialogue with all groups of society. An independent investigation should be immediately initiated into the cause of death and escalation of violence.” For the UN Special Rapporteur on summary executions, Mr. Christof Heyns, “the use of lethal force is not an option when controlling demonstrations, dissent must be tolerated and not restrained with excessive force which can lead to loss of life. I strongly urge the security forces to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid the escalation of violence and take immediate measures to protect the right to life of the demonstrators.” “The right to freedom of expression is a cornerstone for... Continue reading →
A group of UN human rights experts* today warned that the scale and gravity of the violent crackdown in the Syrian Arab Republic continues unabated, and reiterated their call for an immediate end to the violent strategies adopted by the Government to quash the on-going demonstrations. “We continue to receive reports on systematic use of excessive force resulting in killings and injuries; allegations of torture, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention of protestors; targeting of human rights defenders; and unjustified limitations on freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression,” the independent experts said. Arbitrary executions: “The indiscriminate use of heavy artillery against demonstrators cannot be justified; no State is allowed to use its military force against an unarmed civilian population regardless of the situation prevailing on the ground,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns. “The killings that result are clearly arbitrary executions and punishable under international law.” Torture: “Syria has disregarded, and continues to, every international norm against torture and ill-treatment,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Méndez. “Its leaders must cease such acts immediately and... Continue reading →
