Vienna, 28 March 2006--  In connection with a meeting on Human Rights Defenders organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to be held in Vienna on 29-30 March, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) wishes to call attention to the severe persecution of women human rights activists and their families in Uzbekistan, which includes inter alia forced psychiatric detention, beatings, and politically-motivated trials.

“Women in Uzbekistan are very active in human rights defense, and women are paying a heavy price for defending human rights there.  No one can accept these persecutions, which cannot be tolerated by Uzbekistan’s international partners,” stated Aaron Rhodes, Executive Director of the IHF.

Research carried out by the IHF shows that the Uzbek authorities are now using the Soviet-era technique of forcibly detaining activists in psychiatric hospitals exclusively against women human rights defenders and political activists. 

The IHF denounces the recent detention in psychiatric hospitals of women human rights defenders Shokhida Yuldasheva and Lydia Volkobrun and urges the international community to express solidarity with them by firmly condemning this practice, and conditioning relations with Uzbekistan upon changes. 

As protecting women human rights defenders is a priority of the Austrian Presidency of the EU, the IHF calls upon the EU to demand the immediate release of  Shokhida Yuldasheva and Lydia Volkobrun. The EU should also address the wider climate of persecution faced by women human rights defenders and their families.

Information on cases of persecution suffered by women human rights defenders and their relatives follows:

Shokhida Yuldasheva (a signatory, together with Elena Urlaeva, of a letter published on 15 March 2006 condemning repressive acts by the authorities against Muslims—see below) was arrested on 17 March and suffered beatings. She is currently held in a psychiatric hospital in the city of Karchi.

Lydia Volkobrun, a 69-year old activist, was arrested on 17 March 2006 and is currently held in a psychiatric hospital in Tashkent. As a former staff member of the police department, she has, on several occasions, written complaints about illegal actions taken by police officers.  In 2004 she was forcibly detained in a psychiatric hospital on two occasions.

On 15 March the husband of Elena Urlaeva, a prominent activist who has been forcibly imprisoned in psychiatric institutions several times, suffered injuries as a result of an attack by strangers while he was waiting at a bus stop. Mashurov Mansur lost consciousness and had to be taken to the hospital with a broken nose. This act of aggression is very similar to those suffered by other activists and their relatives and is considered to have been carried out by professionals.

Urlaeva was detained by the police on 28 August 2005 for dissemination of leaflets of the opposition party “Ozod Dekhonlar” and for posting a caricature of the national symbol of Uzbekistan. She was released from hospital on 27 October 2005, but was temporarily placed under house arrest after her release. In 2002 Urlaeva had been forcibly held in a psychiatric institution on two occasions (for a total of six months) due to her human rights work. During this time Urlaeva reported that she received forcible injections of psychiatric drugs and that the hospital staff had tied her to the bed to administer the injections which caused chronic headaches, and problems with her heart and kidneys.

Mukhtarova Dilzora, a member of Ezgulik, was arrested on 26 December 2005, and has been accused of murder. In a note sent from prison, she claims to have been tortured. 

Tadjibaeva Mutabar, leader of the club of “Flaming Hearts” in the Fergan province, was arrested on 7 October, the day before she planned to go to Ireland for an international conference for human rights defenders. She was charged with extortion for politically motivated reasons. On 6 March she was sentenced to eight years in prison for "anti-government activity" and receiving money from Western governments to disrupt public order. She was found guilty on 13 charges, including threatening public order, fraud, theft and blackmailing local businessmen.

Gavkhar Yuldasheva, a member of Ezgulik from Jissak province, was beaten on 3 January 2006 before a meeting with representatives of foreign embassies. She was arrested and taken to the Regional Department of the Minister of Interior (ROVD) where she beaten; she was unable to walk after this. She was subsequently released.

On 1 March Nadira Khidojatova, coordinator of the opposition party “Sunshine Coalition of Uzbekistan” and sister of Nigora Khidojatova, a leader of the opposition party Ozod Dekhkonlar, was sentenced to 10 years on false chargers of extortion, plunder, embezzlement and theft. Nigora’s husband, Arif Aidan, was recently killed by Uzbek citizens in Kazakhstan in what some consider to be an act directed against his wife.

Imamova Munozhaat, a member of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) in Jizzak province, is under constant surveillance and receives regular threats ordering her to cease her human rights activities. On 15 August 2005 she visited the city of Jizzak to meet the chair of HRSU branch B. Khamroev. She was detained near his flat and beaten. At the time she was 3 months pregnant and as a result lost her child. As in the cases of many other human rights defenders, police request regular reports on all her movements and she is not allowed to exit the region.

Bolbekova Bukhvol, a member of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) in Jizzak province, was dismissed from the position of Chair of the women’s council of the village by order of the regional khokim (administrator) after the Andijan events. She is under constant surveillance; police request regular reports on all her movements and she is not allowed to exit the region.

Togaeva Khurshida, Chair of the Pakhtakor regional branch of the HRSU in Jizzak province, is under close surveillance. On 23 September, she was beaten by two strangers who asked her which ambassadors had B. Khamroev (Chair of the HRSU branch in Jizzak) visited. She was hospitalized as a result of this attack.

Both Kurbanova Saida, member of the HRSU in Jizzak province and Fazieva Gulnora, member of the Initiative Group of independent human rights defenders in Tashkent, are under constant surveillance and are not allowed to leave their respective regions.

Cited in: "Uzbekistan: Women human rights defenders being forcibly detained in psychiatric hospitals," International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. 28 March 2006.

The U.S. Department of State released its annual "Country Reports on
Human Rights Practices" on 8 March 2006. The reports evaluate human rights
conditions in 196 countries worldwide. Published annually since 1977, the reports address the progress that has each country has made as well as identify the challenges that still remain. Each county report includes sections on women and trafficking in persons.

Compiled from: "2005 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices", Bureau of
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 8 March 2006. See the full report.

A report entitled “Forced Marriages in Council of Europe Member States” written by Edwige Rude-Antoine was released last year. The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers considers forced marriage as an act of violence against women as it is carried out without the consent of the persons concerned. The report examines the ways in which forced marriages occur and the numerous issues involved, as well as assess the ways in which the law can prevent them from occurring. The report also addresses the limits of a legal approach and the importance of programs initiated in the social sector. The study examines forced marriage in 28 member states.

Compiled from: Forced Marriages in Council of Europe Member States, Edwige Rude-Antoine, Council of Europe, 2005.

With plans underway to create an EU Fundamental Rights Agency to replace the EU Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia in Vienna, the EU has had to work in conjunction with the Council of Europe to ensure that the mandate of the new agency does not overlap with that of the Council's. The Council of Europe and the EU are currently in talks to find a solution to this problem. The Council of Europe argues that it is better positioned to deal with human rights monitoring as it is the oldest body of that kind in the world, with current membership that includes all European states, except Belarus; it does, however, support a human rights agency as part of the EU. The new EU agency will assess community laws and their effects on human rights as well as improve dialogue between human rights agencies, EU institutions and member states. Main concerns include the lack of decision-making power that the new institution will have, as well as its limited mandate. The shift from the previous body to the Fundamental Rights Agency is set to take place in 2007.

Compiled from: “EU and Council of Europe in talks over new fundamental rights agency,” Lisbeth Kirk, EUobserver.com, 16 March 2003

After months of intense negotiations, the United Nations General Assembly voted 170 to 4 to create a new human rights body, the Human Rights Council. The body will have different voting rights associated with membership, improved geographical representation, more meetings and will be directly linked to the General Assembly as a subsidiary body. A Member State can be voted onto the Human Rights Council with a two-thirds majority vote, the same vote that can remove a country that is engaged in gross and systematic human rights violations. The first elections to the council will be on May 9^th, with the first session planned for the 19^th of June. There will be 47 members on the council.

The United States was one of the four states that voted against the creation of this new human rights body on the grounds that the new institution falls short of its high standards. The U.S. claims that it supports the body’s overall mission and, once created, the U.S. is prepared to fund and possible join the new Human Rights Council.

Compiled from: “In ‘historic’ vote, General Assembly creates new UN Human Rights Council,” UN News Center, 15 March 2006; “U.N. Rights Council Gets U.S. Support- Backing Comes Despite Skepticism” Colum Lynch, washingtonpost.com, 15 March 2006

The European Parliament approved a new EU gender institute on March 14. The competition to host the institution has intensified between Slovakia, Lithuania and Slovenia. With increased campaigning, each country has begun to highlight what it can offer the institute. Lithuania argues that its proximity to the Scandinavian states is its biggest strength. Slovakia believes that it is the ideal candidate because of its location near the EU agency for fundamental rights in Vienna. As a state that argues its devotion to gender equality issues as well as its location near the Balkan States, who hope to join the EU, Slovenia argues that it is best suited to host the institution. The EU gender institute will focus on research and analysis of gender issues and will disseminate its findings to other EU institutions. The hope is that this information will be taken into consideration when policy decisions are made.

Compiled from: Three Countries Step Up Fight to Host EU Gender Institute, Lucia Kubosova, EUobserver.com, 14 March 2006.  

Tajikistan recently submitted a combined initial, second and third periodic report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The report outlines the status of the state’s implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which it ratified on 26 June 1993. The report describes the status of women in the context of a recently ended civil war and a newly democratic state.

Tajikistan reports that it has passed legislation under The Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan that punishes acts that indicate discrimination against women. The state notes that the number of cases that have been brought to the courts and the true number of victims of violence are not equal. Few cases have been brought to the courts, but Tajikistan attributes this to a reluctance on the part of women to discuss their experiences with law enforcement. The state also voiced support for the collection of data and the study of violence against women, as well as educational programs for the public and for government employees, medical personnel, journalists and police officers.

Domestic violence is an issue of great concern as very few women report this form of violence. There are, however, criminal provisions that punish family violence. The report acknowledges that few men have been criminally charged unders such provisions.

Compiled from:  Combined initial, second and third periodic report of States Parties Tajikistan, to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/TJK/1-3, 7 June 2005.

The Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination, Miloon Kothari, released a 2006 report on women and housing. In her examination of the issue, Kothari assessed the obstacles in the realization of women's right to housing. Kathari defined states' responsibilities in the protection of this human right to be broader than recognition of these rights legally; it also encompasses implementation. The obstacles found by the Special Rapporteur include discriminatory cultural and social norms, violence against women, privatization, homelessness and multiple discrimination.

In regard to the effects of violence against women, the Special Rapporteur reminded states of their obligation to prevent, investigate and punish domestic violence as well as provide services for victims. Kothari argues that legislation enacted on domestic violence should include housing provisions, as many women who seek to leave their husbands often face discrimination in their search for adequate housing.

Compiled from: “ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS: Women and adequate housing,” Miloon Kothari, United Nations Commission on Human Rights, 27 February 2006.

Published in: OSCE Mission presents manual on domestic violence for Kosovo's social workers, OSCE Press Release, March 13, 2006.

According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 500 Georgian women are victim to trafficking every year. However, officials say that this number is an estimate and that cases that come to the attention of the police are merely the tip of the iceberg. An increase in trafficking activity within Georgia is only expected to increase in the near future given the country's widespread poverty and high unemployment rates, as most trafficking victims are young, poor, and female. An IOM trafficking hotline operator commented that every case she'd heard in the past months involved the search for a job abroad.

While Georgian anti-trafficking activists report a new determination to tackle the issue, bureaucratic issues and legal and bureaucratic barriers preventing victims from coming forward are hindering the government's response. Specifically, the inability to access information from Turkey, the neighboring country to which many women are trafficked, hampers efforts to prosecute trafficking offenders. Victims' fear of  police and bureaucratic obstacles pulls trafficking rings further underground. Some country experts believe Georgian police could be more proactive in addressing trafficking issues; instead of relying on victims to come forward, experts say police should take initiative and actively investigate situations themselves. Finally, activists and experts advocate for the government to address the root problem behind trafficking: the lack of employment in Georgia and the resulting poverty. 

Compiled from: Molly Corso, Human Trafficking Takes Toll on Georgia, Eurasia.net., 3 March 2006.

In this week's Talking Point we'll have a look at what happens here with illegal migrants and sex workers.

Among the many other changes to take place in the Czech Republic since 1989, this country has been confronted with rising prostitution, and a new phenomenon: the trafficking of people. At the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, they have established a special Department for Crime Prevention, which deals specifically with illegal migrants and the sex trade. Jitka Gjuricova, the Director of the Crime Prevention Department, explains the situation of the Czech Republic with regards to human trafficking:

"The Czech Republic is a source country, which means that people are taken from here abroad. We are also a transit country because we link the poor east to the wealthy west. However, we're also a destination country, because as far as the prices of sexual services are concerned, the costs here are very reasonable for clients from the west. The economy is still on a different level than in Germany or Austria, for example, so the prices here can be one-third less, though lately they've also been rising—since we entered the EU."

The International Organization for Migration in Prague is one of the key sources of assistance for women who end up in the Czech Republic against their will, or discover upon arrival that promises of a job as an au pair or housekeeper are non-existent, and they are instead expected to work in the sex trade. Lucie Sladkova, who heads the IOM mission in Prague talks about what the situation is like in the Czech Republic with regards to the trafficking of people:

"I would say that the situation in the Czech Republic is similar to other European countries. So, the legislation is in place and there are the provisions within the penal code to prosecute traffickers. There is also a program or kind of referral system to help and assist victims of trafficking. We cooperate with charities, so there are protection services in place in the Czech Republic. Also, we handle the safe return of victims of trafficking to other IOM missions in their home countries, where the protection program is in place, and there are shelters and rehabilitation centres for psychological, medical, or social help, etc."

Is the Czech Republic a transit country for the trafficking of women, or is it a destination country?

"The situation in the Czech Republic—I would call it a destination country, more and more. We owe a lot to foreign women and girls because when IOM Prague managed the Raise Awareness campaign, the target group were Czech women and girls, and there was no information campaign targeting foreign girls and women, and I think that we should do a lot to inform them about the risks and misconceptions that are here in the Czech Republic about the counter-trafficking situation."

It sounds to me like you're describing a shift in terms of location, or the destination of women. So, where are Czech women being trafficked to primarily, and for whom is the Czech Republic a destination country?

"If we speak about Czech girls and women, I have the information that they are mostly trafficked to Italy—at least we have some returns from Italy. Now we have the information from Sweden, from the UK, and also recently we got the information from the Hague. If we talk about the Czech Republic as a destination country, more and more of the girls are from the former Soviet Union, or Russian-speaking countries. Mainly Moldova, Ukraine, but also from European countries like Bulgaria and Romania."

How does the trade of women happen here? Who is running the show? Is this a Czech operation—that is, Czech men who are involved as the pimps, or are there foreigners involved in this happening as well?

"Since we are now talking about the organized crime networks, there are always Czech men or agencies involved, because when you recruit you must have the local knowledge. So the whole chain, or organized network, is not only from Czech origin, but there are local agencies involved because you have to have the information that is specific to the Czech situation."

Could you provide some statistics? How many people are we talking about?

"I don't have any hard data on that, but if we talk about those who were assisted, then for the last two years it was 35 girls and women overall."

What are some of the conditions for assistance to these women?

"The main condition in this referral system or in this program for protection is that they have to cooperate somehow with the Czech police, which means that they should be ready to provide some information and go court and help with the prosecution of traffickers. This is very harsh and could also be a very dangerous condition."

Given that this is a regional problem, what is the IOM doing to promote awareness of the issue of trafficking women and children in the region?

"There is no country in the region that did not participate in the raise awareness campaigns. So, all the IOM offices in the region were providing information through these campaigns. Some of the IOM offices are also service providers, so in some countries there are shelters that are managed by IOM. Here in the Czech Republic we rely on the services of NGOs."

Where the sanctions against such crimes are concerned, Jitka Gjuricova summarizes the situation:

"Abuse of people for the purpose of sexual acts is punishable by several laws in the Czech Republic, and the most severe sentence is 5 years. Our criminal law also addresses human trafficking, and there the harshest sentence is 12 years. Unfortunately, our experience is that criminals don't receive the most severe sentences because there is often a problem proving the case. In one of the latest cases, a woman even testified in court, and despite this her trafficker received only a 2-year sentence. So unfortunately, we have the same experience as in many other states—that is, the maximum sentence is not applied often and the sanctions are not high."

The problem with trafficking in human beings and the sex trade is surely something that the Czech Republic will be battling in the future as well.

Cited in: Linda Mastalir, Human Trafficking: the Czech Republic as a Destination Country, Radio Prague, 7 March 2006.

All rights reserved. Radio Prague grants the right to redistribute this information in electronic or printed form, in whole or in part for non-commercial use only; distribution must include this copyright notice, the date of publication, and Radio Prague's postal or email address.

E-mail: cr@radio.cz

Grbavica, Jasmila Zbanic's taboo-breaking movie featuring a Bosniak woman raped by a Serb soldier, received a standing ovation from five thousand viewers after premiering on March 1st in Sarajevo's Zetra Olympic Hall.  The movie broaches what is perhaps one of the former Yugoslavia's most pervasive social taboos in a way that de-emphasizes its political aspects and instead focuses on the human needs of love, recognition, and forgiveness.  Esma, the central character of the movie, is a Bosniak woman raped by a Serb solider in a prison camp during the Bosnian War, as part of the widespread tactic of using rape as a strategy of war to humiliate enemies.  Esma bears a daughter, Sara, as a result of the rape and both women are consequently cast out of the family due to the social stigma surrounding rape.  The movie was shot in Sarajevo with the support of partners in Austria, Germany, and Croatia.  Despite the positive reception in Sarajevo, the film's premiere in Banja Luka, the main city in Bosnia's Serb-dominated region, has been cancelled due to controversy, while its Belgrade screening is still scheduled to take place.  Grbavica was also this year's Golden Bear prize winner, the first prize of the Berlin Film Festival.

Compiled from:  "Sarajevans Acclaim First Film About Rape Victims", Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, 3 March 2006.

The National Institute of Jusice, the research division of the U.S. Department of Justice, has issued a report entitled "Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Rape Victimization: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey".  Written by Patricia Tjaden and Nancy Thoennes, the research finds differences in rape prevalence relating to age, gender, race/ethnicity, and age at which victims are first raped.  The survey also comments on the status of rape as one of the most underreported crimes in the U.S. despite broad attempts to increase public education and awareness of the crime.  Furthermore, the report cites "significant gaps in understanding rape victimization" due to a general lack of research in the area; although research levels have been increasing in recent years, much progess remains to be made.  The researchers conclude the report by offering recommendations on how and on what topics future research should be conducted.

Compiled from: "Publications Summary", National Institute of Justice, 6 March 2006. 

The UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Yakin Ertrk, released
a report on the state of this human rights abuse in the Russian Federation on January 26, 2006. The report identifies both deep rooted patriarchal values as well as socioeconomic conditions, largely due to the political and economic transition after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as main causes for the marginalization of the status of women in the Russian Federation.

The report outlines the numerous ways in which the human rights of women in
the Russian Federation are being disregarded. There is a lack of domestic
legislation on this issue, inadequate action being taken by the state to
ensure that those that perpetrate this crime are being held accountable, as
well as insufficient social institutions for those that have been victims
of this human rights abuse. The report reminds the Russian Federation of
its responsibilities to prioritize this issue as a state that has ratified
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women and its first Optional Protocol.

Compiled From: "Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women its Causes and Consequences: Mission to the Russian Federation," Yakin Erturk, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, January 26, 2006.

On January 20, 2006, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences, Yakin Erturk issued her third report to the Commission on Human Rights in its sixty-second session.  The report's broad themes include "Integration of the Human Rights of Women and the Gender Perspective: Violence Against Women" and "The Due Diligence Standard as a Tool for the Elimination of Violence Against Women."  Erturk focuses on the changing nature of global economic and political structures and how these changes impacted women's guaranteed human rights.  She also comments on the "due diligence" measure of evaluating state's efforts to recognize and punish violence against women, saying that it is state-centric and does not promote prevention of violence against women.  The report concludes by stating that a more inclusive vision of human rights for women is possible through enforcing the due diligence standard to make states compliant with international law, concentrating on the roots of violence against women, and holding non-State actors accountable as well.     

Compiled from: "Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women. its Causes and Consequences," Yakin Erturk. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 1 March 2006.

A new report, entitled “Sexual Harassment at Work: National and International Responses,” was released by the Conditions of Work and Employment Program at the International Labour Organization. The author, Dierdre McCann, is a labour lawyer who conducts research on the legal regulation of working conditions.

The report assesses the worldwide effort to prevent and combat sexual harassment in the workplace. It looks at regional and international instruments, domestic legislation and the role of social organizations and NGOs. The report also identifies what responsibilities the employer has, as well as the most effective measures and policies a company can take to prevent and combat this form of sexual harassment.

Click here to read the Full Report.

The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies, along with other partner organizations, has released a training manuel entitled "Honour Related Violence: Prevention of Violence against Women and Girls in Patriarchal Families." The document is an extension of the institutional goal of Kvinnoforum, the Founder of Women's Forum, to raise awareness and recognition of honour related violence as a specific and specialized type of violence against women. This new document is aimed at European civil society in order to best share practices, knowledge, and techniques in working to end honor-related violence. 

Please see the report "Honour Related Violence: Prevention of Violence against Women and Girls in Patriarchal Families" for more information.

Security Council

5379^th Meeting (AM)

Problem of Sexual Abuse by Peacekeepers Now Openly Recognized, Broad Strategy in Place to Address it, Security Council Told

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, briefing the Security Council today on steps taken to address accusations of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeeping personnel, said peacekeeping was a dangerous business.  “We dishonour these brave men and women when we fail to prevent or punish those from within their ranks who victimize the very people peacekeepers are meant to protect and serve.”

Mr. Guéhenno said that neither the Department of Peacekeeping Operations nor the Member States had discussed the matter until the revelation that a shockingly large number of United Nations peacekeepers had committed such misconduct in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Today, with the severity of the problem openly recognized and a broad United Nations strategy in place to tackle it, concrete meaningful progress was being made.

To be “clear and up front”, however, there was still a considerable way to go, he continued.  Not all troop contingents or staff on the ground fully supported all aspects of the “zero tolerance” policy, particularly as it pertained to prostitution.  He sought cooperation to address that particular point, and he called for the strengthening of peacekeeping operations and the Office of Oversight Services’ (OIOS) capacity to investigate violations, while respecting due process.  Once those hurdles were overcome, it should be possible to significantly narrow the gap between zero tolerance and full compliance, he said.

The Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, warned that allegations against United Nations peacekeeping personnel would remain unacceptably high until all four corners of the strategy were secured.  Moreover, with every improvement in the mechanisms designed to facilitate complaints, there would likely be occasional spikes in accusations.  Nevertheless, and despite that, the numbers of allegations currently being registered in some locations was still cause for considerable concern.

He said that Member States, together with all personnel in the field, should exert even greater efforts in all the missions concerned to draw down those numbers.  Ultimately, the sexual exploitation and abuse issue must be viewed, not as some ephemeral issue of passing importance, but as the serious topic it was.  It was difficult to change a culture of dismissiveness, long developed “within ourselves, in our own countries and in the mission areas”.  Because peacekeepers and their colleagues were performing a service of immense worth for the world community, it was all the more urgent to remove the blight of sexual exploitation and abuse on what was otherwise a distinguished and appreciated performance.

Calling the sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers “one of the greatest stains on UN history”, the United States’ representative, whose delegation holds the Security Council presidency for the month, said it was absolutely unacceptable that horrific crimes of sexual abuse and exploitation had been committed by United Nations peacekeepers against individuals they had been assigned to protect.  In his national capacity, he urged speakers to act now, not only to pursue justice and a resolution to crimes already committed, but to set up the necessary institutions, mechanisms, training, and oversight procedures to ensure that they were not repeated in existing and future peacekeeping operations.

He said that failure to act on the matter would have profound implications for both existing and potential future peacekeeping missions.  As the next operation was planned in Darfur, he did not want to worry about possible headlines of United Nations peacekeepers there raping the very population they were entrusted to protect.  He concurred fully with Under-Secretary-General Guéhenno when he said last May that it was precisely the United Nations image and reputation that gave it the credibility and reputation to work so effectively in war-torn countries and bring peace and stability to millions across the world.  Eliminating such misconduct was integral to the success of peacekeeping.  Resolving and preventing future acts of sexual exploitation and abuse called for the same fundamental shift in the culture of the way the Organization operated, he said.

Speakers voiced broad agreement that only by holding itself to the highest standards of ethical conduct could the Organization preserve the credibility and moral authority necessary to carry out its mission in societies already vulnerable and deeply wounded by the turmoil and brutality of war.  They rejected the behaviour of those individuals within the peacekeeping operations that threatened to tarnish the name and image that had allowed the United Nations to work effectively in war-torn countries and echoed their support for the United Nations zero tolerance policy.

They also noted the considerable efforts that had been made recently by the Secretary-General and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to ensure progress in that regard.  For example, more than 221 peacekeepers had been investigated, 10 civilians had been fired, and more than 88 uniformed personnel had been repatriated.  Conduct and discipline units had been established in some peacekeeping missions and the number of gender and children advisers in United Nations peace support missions had increased.  It was generally acknowledged, however, that the problems persisted in several missions.  Troop-contributing countries, therefore, were urged to ensure that their deployed personnel were appropriately trained and held to the highest standards of conduct.  Continuing to tear down the “wall of silence” was deemed imperative to restoring the reputation of the United Nations and all those who represented it.

Representatives of the following countries also participated in the discussion:  France; China; Russian Federation; Ghana; Congo; United Kingdom; Greece; Slovakia; Peru; Denmark; Japan; Argentina; Qatar; United Republic of Tanzania; Brazil; Singapore; Austria, on behalf of the European Union; and Canada.

Cited In: Problem of Sexual Abuse by Peacekeepers Now Openly Recognized, Broad Strategy in Place to Address It, Security Council Told, Press Release, UN Department of Public Information, 23 February 2006.

After months of lobbying by human rights advocacy groups and negotiation between United Nations member countries, the UN has unveiled its proposal for the creation of a new, more effective Human Rights Council.  The current Human Rights Commisson, which has been widely criticized for giving seats to countries with dismal human rights records, such as Sudan and Zimbabwe, would be replaced with a Human Rights Council, consisting of 47 members elected by a majority of UN members. The Council would meet at least three times a year and its members would undergo a systematic review of their human rights records. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the plan, seen as a key component of UN reform, was the best option for a new human rights body and expressed hope that the proposal would be approved by the General Assembly.  Several human rights groups have sent a letter in support of the new Council to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. 

Compiled from: New UN Rights Council Put Forward, Susanna Price, BBC, 23 February 2006; Support Grows for New UN Human Rights Council, Edith M. Lederer, Washington Post, 24 February 2006.

A report issued by Amnesty International (AI) on the state of violence against women in the Russian Federation confirms worldwide concern that inadequate action is being taken by the state to protect women affected by violence in the family and to make sure that those who perpetrate it are held accountable. It is estimated that a woman dies from domestic abuse every hour in the Russian Federation. The report stresses the need for comprehensive measures to be taken by the government to educate the population and public officials on the seriousness of this human rights abuse, as well as provide services for those that have been victims of this crime.

The Russian Federation is bound by international human rights treaties that it has ratified, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The report calls for the Russian Federation to enact legislation that specifically prohibits violence in the family, arguing it is required under the CEDAW.

Compiled from: “Nowhere to turn to -Violence against women in the family,” Amnesty International, February 20, 2006.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has said that Belgrade has until 27 February to arrest war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic, B92 and Beta reported on 23 February. If Mladic is not apprehended by that date, Rehn said he will recommend to the EU Council of Ministers that all negotiations with Serbia and Montenegro for a Stabilization and Association Agreement be suspended indefinitely. "I hope that Serbia will be able to complete its full cooperation and that we will not have to end the discussions," Rehn said. "It is up to Serbia to decide between its European future and its nationalistic past," he added. BW 

Published in: EU Gives Serbia and Montenegro Firm Deadline on Mladic, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 24 February 2006.

EU Officials Back Off Deadline for Serbia on Mladic
The European Union will stop short of cutting off talks with Serbia and Montenegro on 27 February, and instead will issue a stern rebuke to Belgrade for not arresting war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic, Reuters reported. "We are not going to give an ultimatum. That is not the right way," Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels. Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot also rejected the idea of setting a deadline for Serbia to arrest Mladic. EU officials earlier hinted strongly that talks on a Stabilization and Association Agreement with Belgrade, which began in November, could be suspended if Mladic was not arrested (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17, 21, and 24 February 2006). BW

Published in: EU Officials Back Off Deadline for Serbia on Mladic, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 27 February 2006.

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