mardi 20 mars 2007

HRC 20.03.07: Implementation of General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 entitled “Human Rights Council” by Corinne

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The meeting begin by the presentation of reports:

Report of the Independent Expert on minority issues by Ms. Gay McDougall

“Minorities face high and disproportionate levels of poverty and the dynamics of that poverty are often more complex in nature and defy the rationale of common denominator policies for poverty alleviation. Often minorities are neglected or excluded from effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Recognizing the special connection between the situation or minorities and achieving the MNDs, I decided to focus my second annual report on this subject. (…) Governments (…) must give high priority to ensuring that disadvantaged miorities are considered in relation to their unique conditions of exclusion and discrimination, and consequent extreme and persistent poverty. (…) I have produced under my mandate a survey of reports of 50 countries on their progress toward the Millennium Development Goals, and selected Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) to determine if and how marginalized ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities are reflected in these documents. (…) The findings of this survex are revealing. Ethnic or linguistic minorities are mentioned in only 19 of the 50 MDG Country Reports reviewed. The inequalities experienced by religious minorities are mentioned in only two of the Report.(…) Minorities are virtually absent from the MDG country Reports from donor countries.(…) This is a weak understanding of the causes of poverty for minorities and its manifestations in the social, economic, cultural and political spheres. (…) The issue of discrimination, is noticeably absent in the poverty analyses and also in policy responses for poverty reduction.(…)

Visit to Hungary:
Hungary’s legislation and policy to address the situation of the Romas community are welcome. (…) Roma communities continue to experience widespread discrimination and exclusion, unacceptably low human development features, and severe levels of poverty. (…) Hungary has impressive anti-discrimination legislation in place(…) Hunagary must take stronger affirmative action measures or Roma community that seek to redress historic discrimination. More aggressive policies are required by the government , for example to enforce its policy of school desegregation (…) Hungary has rightly been seen as progressive in terms of its legislation and policy on minority (…).

Visit to Ethiopia
The Constitution of Ethiopia provides a strong foundation for rights, freedoms, and equality, recognizing the civil and political as well as economic, social and cultural rightof the diverse “nations, nationalities and peoples” of Ethiopia. (…) However,…, equal and effective participation of members of minority ethnic groupwithin a system of democratic decision-making remains unfulfilled..(…) My visit made it clear to me that ethnical federalism has served to further politicize ethnicity as the most salient individual and group marker , leading to new arenas, dynamics and dimensions of ethnic division, discrimination and exclusion.”

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants by Mr. Jorge A. Bustamante

He sent out a questionnaire to all UN memeber states on « Impact of certain laws and administrative measures on migrants ». Only 30 states answer!
“Visit of Korea:
(…) I noted that the civil society is highly organized to address the phenomena of migration(…) I strongly urge the Government of the Republic of Korea to:
- ratify the 1990 International Convention on the protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Memebers of their Families;
- review the Act Concerning the Employment Permit for Migrant Workers, the EPS Act;
- and protect the rights of migrant women including those involved in international marriages.

Visit of Indonesia:
(…) the experience of (;igrant)women during the migration processes were horrific; many recounted egregious physical and psychological abuses suffered during their employment abroad(…) I would urge the government of Indonesia to pay particular attention to amending the memorandum of understanding; the MOU signed with Malaysia in May 2006.(…)

Conclusion:
(…) These people (far from their homes and families) are the most vulnerable groups facing violence, hostility and widespread abuse. (…) The problem demands international cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination.(…) .

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people by Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen.
“small number of indigenous community facing serious risk of physical disappearance. This is the case in several South American countries in the Amazon region.(…) Extractive activities, large commercial plantations and non sustainable consumption patterns have led broad pollution and environmental degradation,….These processes have a particularly dramatic impact on indigenous peoples.(…)
Indigenous migrants are particularly exposed to violation of their human rights.

Visit to Ecuador:
The Political Constituion of Ecuador affirms several collective rights that are specific to indigenous people and nationalities.(…) The gradual deterioration of the indigenous habitat and the impact of extractive activities on the environement and on indigenous peoples’ righs are objects of special concern…Special attention should be given to the conditions of life of people living in isolation.(…)

Visit to Kenya:
(…) Their main problems (of hunter-gatherer and pastoralist communities), in terms of human rights, derive from the progressive loss and the environmental degradation of their lands, traditional forest and other natural resources as a result of both colonial and postcolonial dispossession.(…) The process of democratization in Kenya has allowed indigenous organization to place their concerns on the national agenda, especially in the discussion regarding constitutional reform. The Government announced important initiatives such as several projects of communal development in ari and semi-arid regions and the programme of universalprimary education.”

After these presentations the concerned states, 24 others countries and 8 Non-governemental organizations took the floor.

· The deadline for the submission of draft proposals has been set for Friday, 23 March
2007, at 6.00 p.m.

Aucun commentaire: