The Russian government has once again refused to comply with the requirements of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which must firmly act to end the ongoing atrocities in Chechnya, Human Rights Watch said today. The organization made the appeal on the eve of the Commission's annual six-week meeting, which will start in Geneva on Monday, March 18
The Commission will hold its first session since the attacks in the United States on September 11. Human Rights Watch noted that a number of governments have cynically tried to take advantage of the anti-terrorist struggle to justify or intensify their own crackdowns on political opponents, armed insurgencies, or religious groups. The organization called on the Commission to monitor the effect of anti-terrorism measures on the observance of human rights.
Human Rights Watch also noted that this year's Commission again has an unusually high number of abusive governments among its 53 members. Members this year include Algeria, Bahrain, Burundi, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Kenya, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Togo, Uganda and Vietnam. Human Rights Watch called for an international inquiry to investigate abuses in Chechnya and establish an official record of violations committed by both sides during the conflict.
"Russian forces continue to commit atrocities in Chechnya," said Reed Brody, Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch. "For the past two years, the Commission has asked Russia to rein in its forces and bring abusers to justice. In light of the Russian government's failure to comply, the Commission must now act."
In 2000 and 2001, the Commission called on Russia to conduct an investigation of abuses by its forces and to allow designated U.N. human rights investigators and rapporteurs to monitor human rights on the ground. Russia has invited the special rapporteur on violence against women and a special investigator on children in armed conflict. But it has persistently refused to invite investigators on torture, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions, which are at the heart of the cycle of abuse in Chechnya. Not a single high-level commander has had to answer for atrocities.
"Countries that sponsored the resolution last year have an obligation to follow through this year," said Brody.
Human Rights Watch also pointed out that U.N. member states are increasingly electing abusive governments to serve on the Commission, including governments that refuse visits by Commission monitors. For instance, Commission envoys on torture and extrajudicial executions have been trying in vain for several years to visit Algeria, a country that has never received a Commission rapporteur.
"Having abusive governments on the Commission is like asking crooks to enforce the law," said Brody. "Governments eager to serve on the Commission on Human Rights must be willing to live up to the responsibilities of membership."
The group called on the Commission to press for the establishment of an international observer mission to monitor and report publicly on continuing abuses in Gaza and the West Bank. The organization said that such a presence could itself improve security for civilians while providing the international community with the independent and credible evidence needed to determine if further protective steps are necessary.
Human Rights Watch also called on the Commission to:
· Support efforts to hold accountable those responsible for atrocities in Afghanistan;
· Expand the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia
· Condemn the systematic violation of human rights in China;
· Renew the mandate of the Special Representative on human rights in Iran and to press for his access to the country;
· Establish monitoring offices in Sudan and neighboring countries;
· Seek a visit by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to those in U.S. custody in relation to the September 11 attacks, as well as to those held on Guantanamo Naval base;
· Support the expeditious establishment of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;
· Appoint a special rapporteur to monitor human rights in Uzbekistan; and
· Condemn abuses in Indonesia, in particular in Aceh and Papua.
