Commonwealth Human Rights e-Newsletter: November 2004   Commonwealth National Human Rights Commission (CNHRC) Project

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This e-Newsletter has been produced for Commonwealth National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) by the British Council, as part of the British Council's project to support networking and sharing between such NHRIs.

Content:

	1. Forthcoming Events 2. Awards 3. Reports and Publications 4. News Stories

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Conference on 'Implementation of the UNCRC: Making Children's Rights Work: National and International Perspectives' in Montreal from 18 - 20 November 2004 On November 20, 2004, the international community will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Several decades in the making, the Convention was adopted unanimously by the UN General Assembly on November 20, 1989, came into force only 9 months later (a UN record) and is ratified by 192 countries. It is the magna carta for the rights of children nationally and across the world. It will guide the struggle for the human rights of children for this century. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the CRC, the International Bureau for Children's Rights is organising, in collaboration with the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse of Québec, a conference dedicated to the implementation of the CRC in Canada and internationally. The event will bring together judges and prosecutors, lawyers and law-enforcement personnel, academics, professionals and other care workers concerned with child rights.

International workshop “National Institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations: An Agenda for Cooperation” in Sri Lanka from 22 - 25 November 2004 British Council in collaboration with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is organising an international workshop for National Human Rights Institutions of the Commonwealth from 22 to 25 November 2004 in Colombo , Sri Lanka . The workshop 'National Human Rights Institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations: An Agenda for Cooperation' is being organised under the Commonwealth National Human Rights Commissions' Project, supported by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The workshop will provide a platform for Human Rights Commissions and Non-Governmental organisations to identify opportunities and concrete mechanisms for cooperation and collaboration in the protection and promotion of human rights.  For more details, please write to Farah Kabir at farah.kabir@britishcouncil.org

Seminar on 'Disability and Human Rights' in London from 28 November to 3 December 2004 This seminar combines theoretical explorations of the issue of disability and human rights with the concerns of the international disabled peoples’ movement, within the context of the proposed new Convention, providing an important opportunity to promote essential dialogue between diverse stakeholders. The British Council seminar promotes a synthesis of theory and practice, with the overarching aim of advancing the effective enjoyment of human rights through the application of existing instruments as well as the proposed new Convention. If a new international legal instrument is to achieve what the UN’s human rights framework has thus far been unable to ensure, the process of its development must be informed by, and account for, the lived experience of disabled people.

Workshop for Chief Executives of National Human Rights Institutions in the Commonwealth Belfast , Northern Ireland : 30 January to 3 February 2005 This workshop, to be run jointly by the British Council and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, will look at some of the issues facing Chief Executives and Senior Managers of Human Rights Commissions and National Human Rights Institutions. These issues will include independence and accountability; relationships and the roles of the chief executives; legal strategy and strategic enforcement; political engagement and effective lobbying; communication strategies from public education to lobbying; budgeting. For more information, please contact Mary Redshaw at mary.redshaw@britishcouncil.org

 

AWARDS

Reebok Human Rights Award for young human rights activists The Reebok Human Rights Award recognises young activists who have made significant contributions to human rights causes through non-violent means. The Award aims to generate positive international attention for the recipients and to support their efforts. Since 1988, more than 60 recipients from over 35 countries have received the award. Honourees, who are 30 years of age or younger, receive a $50,000 grant from the Reebok Human Rights Foundation to further their work. Nominees are submitted from around the world by prominent individuals in the human rights community and by non-governmental organisations. The deadline to apply is 31 December, 2004.

 

REPORTS & PUBLICATIONS

Afghanistan

Between Hope and Fear Intimidation and Attacks against Women in Public Life in Afghanistan Warlords and the Taliban are undermining Afghan women's participation in the political process through ongoing threats and attacks, Human Rights Watch said in a report released recently. The 39-page report, “Between Hope and Fear: Intimidation and Threats Against Women in Public Life in Afghanistan,” details how warlord factions, the Taliban and various insurgent groups attack and harass women government officials, election workers, journalists and women's rights activists. The report describes how women are targeted for challenging women's traditional roles in society. Women journalists, activists and government officials have reported death threats, harassment and attacks for speaking out about sensitive women's rights issues such as divorce. Through intimidation and armed attacks, local warlord factions, the Taliban and other insurgent forces have forced the closure of women's development projects, which provide desperately needed education, health, rights awareness and job training to women and girls.

Report of the independent expert of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan The present report contains the findings of the independent expert, M. Cherif Bassiouni, on the current human rights situation in Afghanistan . It is based on research and consultations undertaken since his appointment in April 2004, on the basis of a mission to the country in August 2004 and extensive consultations held during that mission. The report is in partial fulfilment of the mandate established by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2003/77. As this is the first report of the independent expert, it surveys some of the major issues that have a determining impact on the human rights situation in Afghanistan . The situation in that country involves a wide range of issues, including past and present violations committed by State and non-State actors, both as elements of widespread and systematic policies, and as a result of individuals operating beyond the reach of the law.

Commonwealth

Human Rights and Poverty Eradication: A Talisman for the Commonwealth - CHRI 's millennium report This report, first published in 2001, has been substantially reworked to emphasise the situation in South Asia and is being reissued in a Hindi edition by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative with support from the British Council. The report looks at the nature and causes of poverty; examines the value of using a rights based approach to eradicate it; suggests ways in which it can be done and provides recommendations and urges governments to act in accordance with their own policy statements and legal obligations they have undertaken nationally and internationally (contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and other instruments). It also showcases statistics and case studies to illustrate the seriousness, depth and kinds of deprivation visible in the Commonwealth and South Asia.

Fiji Islands

National Security and Human Rights Handbook A landmark National Security and Human Rights Handbook has been launched by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces , Fiji Police Force and Fiji Prisons Service in partnership with the Fiji Human Rights Commission. The idea for a National Security and Human Rights Handbook for Fiji has its genesis in a Workshop organised by the Fiji Human Rights Commission on December 13, 2001 for the Heads and commanding officers of the Disciplined Services in Fiji - the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces, including the Navy, the Police Force, and the Prisons Service.

India

National Human Rights Commission, India releases report on prevention and atrocities against Scheduled Castes Dr. Justice A.S.Anand, Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission , has called on the Government to adopt a Rights based approach and not a welfare one in addressing the conditions of Scheduled Castes. Speaking at a function organized in Delhi to release the `Report on Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes authored by Shri K B Saxena, Justice Anand said, it is shameful that even today members of the Scheduled Castes are marginalized and atrocities perpetrated on them despite provisions outlined in the Constitution prohibiting discrimination. Justice Anand drew attention to the lopsided implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 and the lack of political will in removing the historical injustices faced by this section of society. The National Human Rights Commission has been deeply concerned about the Human Rights violations faced by persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes in general and Dalits in particular. Despite the Constitutional safeguards and protective provisions in a number of legislations enacted by the Parliament, the persistence of these violations is a matter of grave concern to the Commission. The regularity with which such instances are being reported in the media underline the need for addressing them without any further delay.

International

Addressing gender-based violence from the reproductive health/HIV sector: A literature review and analysis This USAID Interagency Gender Working Group document provides a literature review and analysis of developing country programmes that have addressed or challenged gender- based violence with a link to the reproductive health (RH)/ HIV sectors. The review highlights four approaches to addressing gender-based violence: behaviour change communication (BCC), community mobilisation, service provision, and policy. It also examines programmes aimed at youth and those serving refugees, internally displaced populations, and returnees. Although programme evaluation data was weak and did not focus on the impact of gender-based violence initiatives on sexual reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, the authors found that certain elements should be incorporated into future gender-based violence initiatives.

Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: report submitted by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment continue to be meted out by many States, often in the name of fighting terrorism, a United Nations human rights expert warns as he calls for a complete prohibition on the practice. The warning came from Theo van Boven, Special Rapporteur on torture, as he presented his annual report to the General Assembly's social, humanitarian and cultural committee. The committee also heard reports by the Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the freedom of religion or belief; the right to food; and the human rights of migrants. Mr. van Boven notes that several countries did not respond to his requests to make inspection visits, including the United States in the case of the detention facilities it runs in Afghanistan , Iraq and Guantanamo Bay .

Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance: report prepared by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir The growing tensions between religious communities in many countries will only worsen if governments try to restrict the right to freedom of religion or belief. Asma Jahangir, the newly appointed Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, says in her office's annual report to the General Assembly that governments must play "a delicate role" to ensure that religious tensions do not transform into violent confrontations. Presenting her report to the General Assembly's social, humanitarian and cultural committee (also known as the Third Committee), Ms. Jahangir said some States had unduly restricted freedom of religion when they introduced anti-terrorism measures, thereby running the risk of breeding further intolerance. In the report, Ms. Jahangir criticizes the move of some countries to restrict the practice of certain religious rites or ceremonies in the belief that those rites encourage intolerance.

Background Study on the Illicit Trade in Human Organs: "Coercion in the Kidney Trade? A background study on trafficking in human organs worldwide" by GTZ (German Agency for Technical Cooperation) There is little conclusive evidence of people or children being killed for their organs. With the growth of human trafficking as a modern day slave trade, one could clearly argue that a working person enslaved is of higher value than his or her organs. Some media reports have cited examples of street children in Latin America and children from impoverished families in Eastern Europe being kidnapped or sold and subsequently murdered for their organs. Media reports have also connected the illegal adoption trade to trafficking in organs, though this has not been verified. There are reported cases of children being trafficked within and from Africa for their organs to be used in rituals.

Northern Ireland

The Hurt Inside: The Imprisonment of Women and Girls in Northern Ireland , report by Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission published detailed research into the care of women in prison in Northern Ireland . The research focuses on the effects of the prison regime on women at Mourne House, Maghaberry, and was carried out between March and June 2004, before the women were moved to Hydebank Wood Young Offenders' Centre. The report, entitled 'The Hurt Inside', presents stark findings regarding the lack of progress in areas such as adequate healthcare, which were identified for improvement by the Government's own prisons watchdog in 2002. During the research a series of significant and disturbing events took place.

"Countering Terrorism and Protecting Human Rights” report by Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission published a report arguing that the current provisions for detaining foreign terrorist suspects without trial in the United Kingdom should be repealed. The report urges the Government to ensure that its anti-terrorism measures fully comply with the Council of Europe's Guidelines on Human Rights and the Fight against Terrorism (2002). Referring to the very negative effects of internment in Northern Ireland during the early 1970s, the Commission strongly recommends in its report, entitled Countering Terrorism and Protecting Human Rights that the UK Government should abandon its current strategy of allowing foreign terrorist suspects to be held indefinitely without trial under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. It proposes instead that a number of other changes should be made to the ordinary law in order to deal with the threat from terrorists.

Uganda

Uganda Human Rights Commission's annual report The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) presented it's sixth annual UHRC report to Speaker Edward Ssekandi at Parliament on 18 October, 2004. During the presentation the Commission lauded the army for improving its observation of human rights, but said cases of torture still persisted in detention centres. The commissioner for complaints and investigations, Constantine Kaahwa Karusoke, said "The state of the human rights situation in the country has generally improved, and we are very grateful for this. But there are some remaining black spots that need to be sorted out." The report also said the state minister for security had admitted that torture was originally used as a method of extracting information from suspects, but that it was subsequently agreed that it be eliminated.

United Kingdom

Death trap: the human cost of the war on asylum The Institute of Race Relations (IRR), UK has published a roll call of death of the 180 asylum seekers and undocumented migrants who have died either in the UK or attempting to reach the UK in the past fifteen years. No section of the society is more vulnerable than asylum seekers and undocumented migrants. Forced by circumstances beyond their control to seek a life outside their home countries, prevented by our laws from entering legally and from working, denied a fair hearing by the asylum system, excluded from health and safety protection at work, kept from social care and welfare, vilified by the media and therefore dehumanised in the popular imagination, their hopes of another life are finally extinguished.

 

NEWS STORIES

ANTI-TERRORISM

United Nations: Proposed Anti-Terrorism resolution undermines human rights Amnesty International made an urgent appeal to members of the UN Security Council to revise an anti-terrorism resolution which would seriously undermine human rights including the right to freedom of expression and religion. Council members were under strong pressure from the Russian Federation to adopt the resolution despite the use of language so broad and vague that peaceful political or human rights activists can easily be detained, prosecuted or extradited under its binding provisions.

ASYLUM

Human rights of migrants deteriorating, warns UN expert Migrants face increasingly harsh conditions around the world, from exploitation in the workplace to frequent episodes of xenophobia or racism to detention if their status is irregular, a United Nations human rights expert says. Gabriela Rodríguez Pizarro, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, says the phenomenon of people-smuggling is also worsening, driven by criminal organizations.

CHILD RIGHTS

Children in South Asia deserve better protection from sex abusers and traffickers A call to do more to target those supplying children in South Asia for the sex trade and other forms of labour has been made at a meeting in Colombo . Eight governments in South Asia along with UN agencies, NGOs and young people have been meeting to look at what is being done. The meeting is the first in the region to review progress since commitments were agreed at the 2001 2nd World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children held in Yokohama , Japan.

Child Protection: A Handbook for Parliamentarians Adopting and enforcing strong laws protecting children, overseeing government activity, allocating financial resources, raising awareness and providing advocacy are what parliamentarians can do to help alleviate children's suffering. This International Parliamentarian Union (IPU)/UNICEF co-publication serves as a catalyst for action, providing examples of parliamentarians' responses to the challenges of child protection and addressing 10 specific protection issues: birth registration and the right to identity; protection of children in armed conflict; sexual exploitation of children; trafficking and sale of children; harmful traditional practices; violence and neglect; alternative care; juvenile justice; child labour; and the rights of child victims.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Putting victims first: Domestic Violence, Crime & Victims Bill – UK As the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill reaches its Third Reading in the House of Commons, the UK government has reaffirmed its determination to provide better protection for victims of domestic violence by giving more powers to the police and courts. One of the measures in the Bill will establish an independent commissioner for victims to give them a powerful voice at the heart of Government.

DEATH PENALTY

World Day Against the Death Penalty: "War on Terror" is no justification for executions The "War on Terror" must not be used to justify reversing progress on the abolition of the death penalty, Amnesty International said as more than 90 countries prepared to mark the World Day against the Death Penalty on 7 October 2004. The warning came from the Secretary General of Amnesty International Irene Khan in a speech to the Second World Congress against the Death Penalty in Montreal , organised by the World Coalition against the Death Penalty. Over half the countries of the world, 118, have now abolished the death penalty in law or practice, Turkey being the latest. In Europe and Central Asia, only Belarus and Uzbekistan are known to carry out executions while all but five states ( China , Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran , Pakistan and USA ) have banned the execution of children. However, there have also been setbacks.

HEALTH

National Human Rights Commission, India asks Government to protect HIV/AIDS affected children against discrimination The National Human Rights Commission has asked the Centre and all the States to take effective measures to protect children affected by HIV/AIDS especially in the area of education and health care. Deeply concerned about the discrimination faced by such children, the Chairperson of the Commission Dr. Justice A.S. Anand has asked that these recommendations be considered: i) Enact and enforce legislation to prevent children living with HIV/AIDS from being discriminated against, including being barred from attending schools. ii) Address school fees and related costs that keep children, especially girls, from going to school. iii) Provide all children, both in and out of school, with comprehensive, accurate and age-appropriate information about HIV/AIDS. iv)Provide care and protection to children whose parents are unable to care for them due to HIV/AIDS. Institutional arrangements must be made for extending medical aid to such children. (Hospitals and medical professionals should not be allowed to turn away people who are HIV positive from being treated). The Commission took note of a report by the Human Rights Watch, which has criticised the Government for doing "little to protect children already living with HIV/AIDS" and "for virtually ignoring" the affected children. The report said that children are not an important factor in policy formulation.

Mental health resources and services needed - not law changes Australian Human Rights Commissioner Dr Sev Ozdowski and the Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) have called on the NSW Government to provide adequate resources and services to support people with mental health issues rather than adjusting mental health laws. HREOC and the MHCA have been conducting an extensive national community consultation on the capacity of the mental health care system in Australia . Dr Ozdowski said a review of the situation in NSW has revealed shocking inadequacies in the system, and as a consequence, an unacceptable level of suffering and neglect.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS

UK boost for Human Rights The UK 's commitment to human rights was given a further boost when Lord Falconer announced the outcomes of a major Government review of human rights treaties. One important change resulting from the review is that, for the first time, the UK will accept an individual petition mechanism under one of the core UN human rights treaties - the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This means that people in the UK will be able to take complaints about discrimination against women directly to the UN body that monitors the treaty.

Indian government under pressure over the right to work Civil society organiSations and communist parties have stepped up pressure on the Indian government to provide the right to work, saying it is the political will and not money that is an impediment. At a convention on the proposed Employment Guarantee Act (EGA) in Indian capital New Delhi , individuals and civil society organizations decided to launch a campaign to put pressure on the government to expedite the right to work act. They plan to start a ‘march on foot' on 10 December 2004, which is also the National Human Rights Day.

Africa Human Rights Day: African governments must demonstrate their commitment to establish an effective and independent African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights African governments should not further delay or undermine the full and effective establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights ( African Court ), Amnesty International said on the 18th anniversary of the entry into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (African Charter). All 53 member states of the African Union (AU) have ratified the African Charter, which is the main regional instrument for the promotion and protection of human rights in the continent. The African Charter guarantees civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights. They include the rights to life and integrity of person; liberty; fair trial; freedom from slavery; freedom from torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment; freedom of expression; family life; to seek and obtain asylum; education and housing and the right to the best attainable state of physical and mental health. However, 18 years after the African Charter entered into force, these rights remain under severe attack. African governments generally have failed to address adequately the human rights problems confronting the continent.

Legislation soon for new rights body in the UK Ministers are determined to press ahead with legislation to set up a single equality body, despite the Commission for Racial Equality's unexpected rejection of the merger with the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission. The deputy minister for women and equality, Jacqui Smith said that no single body had a veto on the merger and she wanted to put the legislation on the statute book before the general election next year. "All the other equality bodies and business, and the Disability Rights Commission supported the proposals that we consulted on with respect to a single commission," she said. "The priority now is that we make progress, but clearly in a way that reassures the Commission for Racial Equality and its stakeholders that actually a new body will strengthen the ability to tackle racism wherever it occurs.

UN to boost its support for human rights protection in numerous countries The United Nations is launching a new initiative to strengthen its support in promoting and protecting human rights in countries around the world. Known as "Action Two," the plan is a response to a report by Secretary-General Kofi Annan on ensuring that the world body devotes its attention to the priorities identified by its Member States. The scheme ultimately aims to develop a common understanding of the linkages between human rights and development or humanitarian actions, establish thematic groups to deal with human rights issues in UN country teams, and have UN agencies develop cooperative programming arrangements to support national efforts to foster a culture of human rights, including through education. The initiative also seeks to encourage the ratification of the seven principal human rights treaties, which deal with racial discrimination, civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, discrimination against women; the prohibition against torture, child rights, and the rights of migrants and their families.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission asks 'What will a Bill of Rights do for the most vulnerable" At a workshop the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission asked for views on how a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland can best protect the rights of people who most need it. The Commission has been working on its Bill of Rights Project since March 2000. After carrying out extensive pre-consultation inquiries over an 18-month period, it issued a detailed set of proposals in September 2001 ("Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland ").

RIGHTS OF THE DISABLED

Equality Commission, Northern Ireland welcomes greater access for disabled people Disabled people joined the Equality Commission to welcome changes to the law that should dramatically improve access to goods, facilities and services for everyone with a disability. The event was held in Castle court Shopping Centre as part of the Commission's Access All Areas campaign. Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) anyone providing services to the public – whether paid for or free – may now have to make changes to the physical features of their premises to ensure that disabled people can use their services. It includes shops, banks, hotels, parks, pubs, cinemas, hospitals, advice agencies and professionals such as solicitors firms or estate agents – and that's just a few examples. The changes they may have to make are not limited to the way into and out of buildings, they include things like – the signs inside and outside buildings, toilets and places to wash, steps and stairs, lifts and escalators and places to park.

TORTURE

UK : Promises on Torture Don't Work The British government has said it is seeking “diplomatic assurances” that terrorism suspects deported to their home countries will not be tortured there. It argues that, on receipt of such assurances, the men—many of whom have been held without trial for more than two years—could safely be deported. But experience shows that these assurances are an ineffective safeguard against torture, says Human Rights Watch. Torture is prohibited absolutely under article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, incorporated into UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998.

Torture 'widespread' in Uganda Uganda 's security forces routinely torture suspects, the Human Rights Commission says in its annual report. The report says torture is "indispensable" in the operations of some security agencies. In March, Human Rights Watch accused the authorities of using torture as a method of suppressing opposition.

TRAFFICKING

South Africa : Caution urged over new human trafficking laws The problem of human trafficking in South Africa is coming under greater scrutiny as the state investigates new legislation to plug existing loopholes. South Africa is a signatory to the United Nations Protocol on Trafficking in Persons, and hopes to have comprehensive domestic legislation in place by 2006, according to the International Organisation on Migration (IOM). According to the Geneva-based International Organisation for Migration (IOM), South Africa is the regional centre of an intricate trafficking network that recruits women and children from Mozambique , Angola , Malawi , Eastern Europe , Thailand and China.

UN launches container control programme to fight illicit trafficking The United Nations crime fighting agency has teamed with customs agencies around the world to combat the illegal transport of people, weapons and drugs in the more than 7 million shipping containers that move around the globe each day. The Container Control Programme is intended to support port control measures in developing countries, bringing together new teams of customs officials and police, and providing them with training and equipment to target illicit trafficking via maritime freight containers. Launched by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO), the programme's $1.4 million first phase will begin at the ports of Guayaquil , Ecuador , and Dakar , Senegal . Similar port control activities will expand to Pakistan and Ghana next year.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Statement to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women The year 2004 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1979. Since its entry into force two years later, the Convention has been ratified by 178 States. It contains human rights standards for women and girls in the civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and any other area. This comprehensive scope underlines the interdependence and indivisibility of human rights. The Convention aims at the universal enjoyment of these rights by all women, in all parts of the world, in public and in private life.

Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General speaks about women, peace and security at UN Security Council Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Winston Cox addressed the United Nations Security Council in New York on the 28th October. He spoke on the Review of Progress and Implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, and Peace and Security. The Deputy Secretary-General highlighted the Secretary-General's good offices activity in peace-building and conflict resolution. He noted with concern that women and children are targets of violence in armed conflicts and victims of crimes against humanity. Mr Cox said the Commonwealth Secretariat is integrating gender issues in all peace and conflict management processes.

 

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