Academic literature on the topic 'UN. Special Representative on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia'

Even in oppressive countries, those responsible for abuses of human rights normally perform their deeds of commission and omission in private, away from the glare of publicity. Publicity and news attention encourage supporters of global human rights to address the violations of human rights of peoples and individuals. They speak up and demand action. Secrecy is a cloak for terrible crimes and violations.This is why, in the current international situation, those with responsibility for the United Nations’ efforts to advance universal human rights, and to expose violators, have increasingly looked to the media (especially international media) to support their efforts. Between the time in the 1990s when I discharged a mandate as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Human Rights in Cambodia (1993-6) and the more recent time in which I served as Chair of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on alleged human rights violations in the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea (DPRK) (North Korea) (2013-14), I noticed a significant change in the engagement of United Nations personnel with the media. A connection with media became more intensive, more time consuming and more professional. Moreover, it is supported from the top of the Organisation. The Secretary-General of the United Nations (Ban Ki-moon), the High Commissioners for Human Rights, other agency heads and mandate-holders have become much more willing to engage with media and much more skilful in doing so. By this I mean not only local newspapers, radio and television interviews but also international media and the new social networks, blogs, Reddit and the internet generally. Together these media can bring news, information and opinions of UN experts on human rights to an audience far wider than that which, in the past, had access to UN reports on human rights concerns.

AbstractAs one of only twelve UN country-specific mandate holders, and as the longest-serving UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Cambodia, my work has had a significant impact on the situation of human rights in that country, with many of my recommendations having been implemented by the government. The Parliament of Cambodia has enacted three fundamental laws designed to enhance the independence and capacity of the judiciary, and has amended the Constitution of the country to make the National Election Commission a constitutional, independent, and autonomous body, in line with my recommendations. In this paper I examine the role of the UN country-specific mandate holders, the approach that I took to implement my mandate in Cambodia, and the impact of my work in that country.

In September 1986, under the auspices of the refugee Studies Programme, an international seminar on the implementation of the OAU and UN Conventions and Domestic Legislation Concerning the Rights and Obligations of Refugees in Africa was held at Oxford Univerity. There were thirty-five participants from Africa, including academics and officials nominated by seventeen African governments. A number of eminent scholars, government officials, refugees, and agency personnel from Asia, Europe and the Americas were involved. The seminar focused chiefly on refugees in Africa, but one of its purposes was to acquaint participants with law, policy, and practice in all the regions of the world affected by mass exodus. Each African government representative presented a paper on the legal situation for refugees in their country. Guest speakers reported on the situation for refugees in Southeast Asia, Pakistan, Canada, Europe, Central America, Britain, the US, and Mexico. Through films and lectures, the participants were able to consider a range of related topics: for instance, how different development models lead to oppression; the psychological consequences of authoritarian regimes; the rights of the child; the special problems of women refugees; torture; and the problems of adaptation to life in asylum.

Resumen: En este informe, entregado a la señoraMargot Wallström, Representante Especial del SecretarioGeneral de las Naciones Unidas, sobre ViolenciaSexual en Conflictos, en su visita a Colombia, en Bogotá,16 de mayo de 2012, se ofrece un contexto general de laprecaria situación de los pueblos indígenas de Colombiadebido al conflicto armado, y a la presencia de fuerzasarmadas del país en territorios donde se desarrollan macro-proyectos. Luego se narra una serie de casos emblemáticosde violencia sexual y violaciones de los derechoshumanos de las mujeres indígenas, documentados pordistintas organizaciones no-gubernamentales, y se describenlas condiciones de impunidad y falta de atenciónpor parte del sistema de justicia. Finalmente se hacenuna serie de recomendaciones, de formas cómo la señorarepresentante debe exigir al gobierno colombiano que seprotejan los derechos de las mujeres indígenas.Palabras clave: Mujeres indígenas, Colombia, pueblosindígenas, violencia sexual, conflicto armadoIndigenous Women as Invisible Victims of theArmed Conflict in Colombia. Sexual Violence as a WarStrategyAbstract: This report, given to Mrs. Margot Wallström,Special Representative of the General Secretaryof the United Nations for Sexual violence in conflicts,when she visited Bogotá on May 16, 2012, offers a generalcontext of the precarious situation of the indigenouspeoples of Colombia due to the armed conflict and to thepresence of armed forces in territories when major developmentprojects are carried out. A series of emblematiccases of sexual violence and women’s human rightsviolations is narrated, and the conditions of impunity anlack of attention on the part of the justice system. Finally,some recommendations are made about ways in whichthe Special Representative should demand the protectionof the rights of indigenous women on the part of the Colombiangovernment.Key Words: Indigenous women, Colombia, indigenouspeoples, sexual violence, armed conflict Informe presentado a la señora Margot Wallström, Representante Especial del Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas, sobre Violencia Sexual en Conflictos, en su visita a Colombia, en Bogotá, 16 de mayo de 2012. Sometido por el Concejo de Mujeres, Familias y Generaciones de la Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia (ONIC).Traducido por Gabriela Castellanos.