Special rapporteur for the UN commission on human rights Martin Scheinin presented his report to the UN general assembly
Press release 333/2005
27.10.2005
Director of the Institute for Human Rights at the Åbo Akademi University, Professor Martin Scheinin, who was last July appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism, made on 26 October his first appearance before the 191-member UN General Assembly.
Professor Scheinin presented to the Third Committee of the General Assembly his first report in which he outlined central guidelines and goals for his operations.
Scheinin particularly underscored that in their fight against terrorism Governments should never play into the hands of terrorists themselves. There could not be a greater victory for terrorists than to provoke Governments to engage in actions that depart from their obligation to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.
During the first months of his mandate, Scheinin has familiarised himself with, among other things, the issues associated with the right to a fair trial and the prohibition against torture. As far as future themes of the mandate are concerned, he mentioned specifically the freedom of association and assembly, the economic, social and cultural rights, as well as suicide attacks. Scheinin also intends to examine the methods by which acts of terrorism could be prevented by addressing the root causes of terrorism.
Indicative of the urgency of his mandate, already in the first months in office, Scheinin was contacted by several people and human rights organisations regarding that human rights have been violated in the name of counter-terrorism measures. He has initiated a dialogue about cooperation with approximately ten countries, and also addressed some individual cases. Together with three other Special Rapporteurs, Scheinin published yesterday an appeal criticising the way the trial against the people accused as organizers of the Andijan events has been prepared in Uzbekistan. He has also invested in establishing liaisons with other UN actors, such as the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council.
The dialogue conducted in positive atmosphere with different states reflected many of the current problems. Among the issues raised were, for instance, the rights of the people detained during armed conflicts; the new manifestations of discrimination based on nationality and ethnic origin; stricter rules on entry into a country; as well as changes to national laws with questionable human rights implications made in the name of national security. Scheinin emphasised that one of his central goals is to assist states to modify their legislation in a fashion that the future measures aimed at enhancing security would comply with the human rights obligations.
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Establishment of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism is among the most important achievements of the UN Commission for Human Rights this year. The mandate was established unanimously at the Commission on Human Rights, and the resolution was confirmed by the UN Economic and Social Council on 25 July.
The primary tasks of the Special Rapporteur are to make recommendations and give advice to states on the protection and promotion of human rights while countering terrorism, and to gather information about possible violations of human rights in connection with counter-terrorism measures, for instance, through country visits. The Special Rapporteur must also promote best practices, report regularly to the Commission on Human Rights and the UN General Assembly, and act in close cooperation with other human rights mechanisms.
The report of the Special Rapporteur (A/60/370) is available on the website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at www.ohchr.org. The website also contains general information about special rapporteurs and other experts of the Commission on Human Rights.
Additional information: Director Johanna Suurpää, Unit for Human Rights Policy, tel. +358 9 1605 6551, and First Secretary Satu Suikkari, tel. +358 40 530 4867 (on an official visit to New York, time difference -7 hours)