Colext/Macondo
Cantina virtual de los COLombianos en el EXTerior
--------------------------------------------------
Para re-estrenar el nombre (COLEXT) y ademas para darle un sabor
internacional, les envio copia del ultimo comunicado de AI al respecto de
los derechos humanos en Kosovo y su implementacion en el consejo de
seguridad con las Naciones Unidas.
Fernando, muchas gracias por el envio de la lista a talklist, parece que
todo esta funcionando sin novedad.
Martha
=======
News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
News Service 113/99
AI INDEX: EUR 70/93/99
10 JUNE 1999
Kosovo
Human Rights must be central in the implementation of the UN peace plan
NEW YORK -- Amnesty International welcomed the inclusion of human rights
protection and promotion in the resolution on Kosovo adopted today by
the Security Council.
The resolution sets the framework for addressing the appalling
violations of human rights and humanitarian law that have taken place in
the province and elsewhere in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
Amnesty International said today. It could lay the foundations for the
future observance of human rights and international humanitarian law.
However, Amnesty International urges that the protection of human rights
should be given central place in the implementation of the Security
Council resolution. Amnesty Internationals concerns are the following :
Protecting the civilian population in Kosovo from reprisals and
protecting human rights abuses.
The international security presence will be responsible for ensuring
public safety and order. Amnesty International is concerned that members
of the Albanian, Serb or other ethnic communities are vulnerable to
reprisals and other attacks on their life and safety in the period
leading up to, during and after the withdrawal of FRY police and
security forces. The risk of such reprisals is greatest before the
envisaged international civil presence -- which will have a distinct
mandate to protecting and promoting human rights -- is established.
Amnesty International therefore urges that the international security
presence takes full responsibility for protecting human rights in this
period. All peace-keeping personnel should be trained to upheld the
highest human rights and criminal justice standards.
Another pressing concern is the safety of all prisoners held in Kosovo,
especially those held on political grounds and captured combatants, who
are particularly vulnerable. Amnesty International calls on all parties
to take prompt and effective measures to protect their rights and
safety. There should be an orderly transfer of authority with regard to
all prisons and detention centres. In particular, the ICRC should be
given urgent access to prisoners and detainees to verify their safety
and conditions of detention.
The protection and safe return of refugees
The Security Council resolution expresses the commitment to provide for
the safe and free return of all refugees and displaced persons to their
homes. However, in order for refugees to return to Kosovo, there should
be an independent and impartial assessment that it is safe to return.
Any return to Kosovo should be voluntary, and adequate information about
the situation in Kosovo should be provided to refugees, enabling them to
make an informed, truly voluntary decision.
Many refugees have had their identity documents confiscated upon fleeing
Kosovo. Amnesty International calls on the international security
presence to ensure that documentation issued to refugees by
international and local agencies should serve as identity documentation,
including for the purpose of legitimate re-entry.
Amnesty International also calls on the international community to
continue to afford protection to refugees who have fled Kosovo, and to
continue in its efforts to share the responsibility of hosting refugees
through the evacuation programme, until it has been determined that
conditions are conducive to return.
Protection of evidence for the International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia
Amnesty International welcomes the granting of priority access for the
Tribunals investigators to Kosovo and urges that all peace-keeping
personnel should be instructed to act in accordance with the advice of
Tribunal investigators to protect witnesses and material evidence, such
as grave sites. Investigators from the Tribunal should have full access
to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Effective human rights monitoring
In order to properly implement the Security Council provision of
protecting and promoting human rights, the following key principles
should be adhered to: - independent human rights monitoring reporting
directly to the Special Representative of the Secretary General
- frequent and comprehensive public reporting
- monitoring of continuing and past human rights violations
- full access for human rights monitors including to places of
detention
Peace- keepers to abide by the highest human rights standards
The security forces constituting the international security presence
must be bound to observe the highest international human rights
standards. A mechanism should be created to investigate allegations of
breaches of these obligations by peace-keeping personnel. In addition
all international forces entering Kosovo should meet the principles laid
down in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations guidelines and all
peace-keeping personnel should be at least 18 and preferably 21 years
old.
Early involvement of the local population and human rights groups in
implementation
The resolution rightly identifies the need for the international civil
presence to coordinate its work closely with international humanitarian
organizations, but the same does not appear to apply to human rights
organizations. Since the promotion and protection of human rights is a
key concern of the civil presence, implementation of the Security
Council resolution should now be developed in close cooperation with
representatives of the local population as well as national and
international human rights groups.
For further information please see report: Amnesty Internationals
recommendations for the protection of human rights in post-conflict
peace building and reconstruction in Kosovo, AI Index: EUR 70/91/99.
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