South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR)

SAHR Condemn the Attack on MTV/MBC Network Office in Sri Lanka

South Asians for Human Rights vehemently condemn the attack on the MTV/MBC office at Braybrooke Place, Sri Lanka on 22^nd March 2010. The attackers forced themselves into the premises of the head office of the Sirasa media network while hurling stones and other objects causing extensive damage to the building and surrounding vehicles. Several members of the Sirasa staff have also sustained injuries due to this attack.

SAHR also notes with dismay and concern the many other attacks, murders and arbitrary arrests of media personnel during the past months in Sri Lanka. The increase in such acts and the pathetic attempts at investigation of these acts portray the level of impunity in the country.

SAHR calls for an independent unbiased investigation to be conducted ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice to face a fair trial. SAHR also underlines the responsibility of a truly democratic state, to protect media freedom, and thus call upon relevant authorities to ensure the protection of media organisations thereby preventing such incidents in future.

On behalf of South Asians for Human Rights 

Dr Hameeda Hossain

Co-Chair SAHR

23.03.2010

South Asians for Human Right (SAHR), Secretariat:345/18,Kuruppu Road (17/7 Kuruppu Lane ) Colombo 08.SRI LANKA. Tel:94-11-5549183,Jel/Fax: 94-11-2695910, Emajl:sahr@sltnet.lk Websitetwww.southasianrights.org

 

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HRCP’s Annual Report Launching “State of Human Rights in 2009”

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Flat No. 2, Block No. 20, PHA , G-7/1, Islamabad, Ph: 2203397 E-mail: hrcp@dslplus.net.pk March 19, 2010 Dear Sir/Madam, HRCP’s Annual Report Launching “State of Human Rights in 2009” Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) will release its annual report “State of Human Rights in 2009” at a press conference on Monday, 22nd March, 2010, 3.00pm at Islamabad (Holiday Inn) Hotel, Melody, Islamabad. The press conference will be addressed by: Ms. Asma Jahangir, Chairperson, HRCP Mr. I. A Rehman , Secretary General, HRCP We shall be grateful if you could participate. Thanking with best regards, Yours Faithfully, I .A. Rehman Secretary General Programme Details : Date : March 22, 2010 Day : Monday Time : 3.00pm Venue : Islamabad Hotel (old name Holiday Inn) Melody, Islamabad RSVP : Muhammad Asif Ph. 051-2203397 , Mobile: 03335616190

 ICJ deplores deferral of discussion of secret detention study by

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS

Commission internationale de juristes -Comisión Internacional
de Juristas

” dedicated since 1952 to the primacy, coherence and implementation of international law and principles that advance human rights ”

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE – COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

For immediate release                                                

Geneva, 04 March 2010

The ICJ today expressed its disappointment at the decision by the UN Human Rights Council to defer on flawed procedural grounds the discussion of a global study documenting secret detention, torture and enforced disappearances in the name of counter-terrorism in some 80 countries around the world.

 “The study is a lurid account of gross human rights violations and crimes, which have served to erode the rule of law in countries around the world. It provides compelling

evidence of the crisis in human rights and accountability in counter-terrorism demanding urgent attention.” said the International Commission of Jurists.

The report was ready for discussion at the 13^th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. It raised high expectations of victims around the world and the global human rights community that the preeminent human rights body of the United Nations would take robust action to stop secret detention and to ensure their right of victims to remedy and reparation.

Instead the Human Rights Council engaged in a debate about mandates and procedures

following which it deferred the report for a later discussion. The ICJ considers that there is no question but that this report falls flatly and fully within the mandates of the four Special Procedure mechanisms that elaborated it.

Those mechanisms – the Special Reporter on torture, the Special Reporter on Counterterrorism and Human Rights, the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention – have been able to  address secret detention effectively and in a comprehensive and integrated way.

The ICJ is concerned, moreover, that this deferral constitutes another in a line of

continuous attempts by states at the UN Human Rights Council to limit and undermine the independence of its special procedures and independent mandates. These mechanisms are among the most important elements of the universal protection system.  They need strong support, not be weakened by political bickering.

For more information, please contact Lukas Machon (+76 3454065) or Gerald Staberock at the ICJ (+41 229793803 or +41 793775446).

The ICJ is an international non-governmental organisation comprising sixtyof the world’s most eminent jurists and has a worldwide network of national sections and affiliated organisations

33, rue des Bains, P.O. Box 91, 1211 Geneva 8, SwitzerlandTel: +41(0) 22 979 3800 – Fax: +41(0) 22 979 3801 – Website: http://www.icj.org – E-mail: info@icj.org

HRCP dismayed at police failure to recover abducted infant

Lahore, March 02, 2010: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over the failure of the police and a public hospital inMultan to recover a 22-day-old child abducted from the hospital on February 21.

HRCP said in a statement that the police had failed to show the urgency required in a case of this nature.

According to the statement, “Abduction of infants from hospitals has unfortunately become a frequent occurrence of late, making efficient and expeditious investigation all the more desirable. That does not seem to be the case in the abduction of a 22-day-old child from Nishtar Hospital, Multan. The staff for the ward from where the child went missing has not been questioned about the circumstances of the abduction. The Commission cannot emphasise enough the government’s responsibility to protect the rights of all people, including the very young.

It is also a matter of concern that the family claims that instead of finding fault with the hospital staff, a team constituted by the hospital to investigate the matter had compelled the family to accuse their relatives who are issueless.

The police and the hospital administration must do their utmost to recover the child at the earliest and address concerns of the family regarding the quality of the investigation.”

 by: I. A. Rehman

(Secretary General)