Commission on Human Rights hears from NGO's
charging violations around world
March - April 2003
A Woman´s Voice
International is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
The following testimonies and "interventions" were submitted by spokespersons from a coalition of partners at the NGO Parallel Meeting held during the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
1. Baroness Caroline Cox, International President Christian Solidarity Worldwide
2. Tarik Radwan, Attorney, Jubilee Campaign USA
3. Richard Chilvers, Christian Solidarity Worldwide
4. Mme. Hae Young Lee, Presenter
5. Lee Min-Bok, North Korean Defector
6. Cheol-Hwan Kang, Child Prisoner and North Korean Defector
7. Dr. Jae Won, Professor, Handong International Law School
8. Michael Meunier, President, U.S. Copts Association
9. Sang-Hun KIM, South Korean Activist and Panelist.
GENEVA, 3 April (UN Information Service) -- As the Commission on Human Rights continued its consideration of the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world, a lengthy series non-governmental organizations (NGOs) expressed concern this morning about situations in numerous countries and regions.
Widespread abuses of the rule of law and administration of justice, including arbitrary arrests, detentions, and torture, as well as measures undertaken in the fight against terrorism, were issues of particular concern to several NGOs. They pointed out that violations of the rule of law and administration of justice were particularly prevalent in situations of conflict and civil unrest, where -- they added -- impunity for human rights abuses often ran rampant.
Continuous and flagrant violation of civil and political rights in many countries and regions, including violation of the rights of free expression and freedom of religion, were also a source of deep concern to non-governmental organizations. In this connection, the international community and the Commission in particular were urged to provide and strengthen existing monitoring mechanisms to prevent systematic offenses.
Other speakers condemned violations of the human rights of vulnerable groups such as children, women, religious and ethnic minorities, and refugees.
The following non-governmental organizations addressed the meeting: Arab Organization for Human Rights; Baha’i International Community; International Federation of Human Rights Leagues; World Union for Progressive Judaism; Human Rights Watch; World Organization Against Torture; International Federation of Rural Adult Catholic Movements; International Save the Children Alliance; South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre; World Federation of Trade Unions; Afro-Asian Peoples’ Solidarity Organization - AAPSO; United Nations Watch; International Institute for Peace; International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic and Other Minorities; World Peace Council; A Woman’s Voice International; Agir ensemble pour les droits de l’homme; Centro de Estudios Europeos; World Muslim Congress; European Union of Public Relations; Transnational Radical Party; Europe-Third World Centre; Federacion de Associaciones de Defensa y Promocion de Derechos humanos; Dominicans for Justice and Peace; International Educational Development, Inc. and Franciscans International.
Speaking in right of reply were Representatives of Azerbaijan, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Kenya, Yemen, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Cuba, Angola, India, Japan, Kuwait, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
TARIK RADWAN, of A Woman’s Voice International, said North Korea and China had been ranked by
Reporters Without Borders as the worst two countries on earth with respect to press freedom. China had barred access by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to its border regions so that North Korean refugees had no way to explain to the world the suffering they faced. Risking everything, some refugees attempted to seek refuge in other embassies as their prospects within China were severe exploitation, sexual trafficking, and repatriation. Delivered back to North Korea, an individual could expect, among other things, torture by State Security Agents and internment in a forced-labour or political prisoner camp.
The Chinese solution to its North Korean refugee population was to eliminate the refugee population. That China should flout its international obligations was shameful -- that it should do so in favour of a regime such as North Korea’s tainted it all the more.
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