21/49 Communications Report of Special Procedures - Communications sent, 16 March to 31 May 2012; Replies received, 16 May to 31 July 2012 / RightDocs

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Document Type: Final Report

Date: 2012 Sep

Session: 21st Regular Session (2012 Sep)

Agenda Item:

GE.12-16482

Human Rights Council Twenty-first session

Agenda items 3, 4, 7, 9 and 10 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,

political, economic, social and cultural rights,

including the right to development

Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

Human rights situation in Palestine and other

occupied Arab territories

Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related

forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation

of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

Technical assistance and capacity-building

Communications Report of Special Procedures*

Communications sent, 16 March to 31 May 2012;

Replies received, 16 May to 31 July 2012

Joint report by 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 in this

context; the Working Group on arbitrary detention; the Special Rapporteur on the

situation of human rights in Cambodia; the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural

rights; the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances; the Working

Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice; the

Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the Special

Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights; the Special Rapporteur on the

right to food; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to

freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom

of peaceful assembly and of association; the Special Rapporteur on freedom of

religion or belief; the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of

the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; the Special Rapporteur

on the situation of human rights defenders; the Special Rapporteur on the

independence of judges and lawyers; the Special Rapporteur on the rights of

indigenous peoples; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the

* The present report is circulated as received.

United Nations A/HRC/21/49

General Assembly

Distr.: General 7 September 2012 English/French/Spanish only

Islamic Republic of Iran; the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants;

the Independent Expert on minority issues; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of

human rights in Myanmar; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights

in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967; the Special Rapporteur on

contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related

intolerance; the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its

causes and consequences; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of

human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; the Special

Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or

punishment; the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and

children; Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation &

guarantees of non-recurrence; the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe

drinking water and sanitation; and the Special Rapporteur on violence against

women, its causes and consequences

Abbreviations

Adequate housing Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context

African descent Working Group on people of African descent Arbitrary detention Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Business enterprises Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other

business enterprises Belarus Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus Cambodia Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia Côte d‟Ivoire Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Côte d‟Ivoire Cultural Rights Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights Disappearances Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances Discrimination against women

Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice

DPR Korea Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea

Education Special Rapporteur on the right to education Environment Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a

safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment Eritrea Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea Extreme poverty Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Food Special Rapporteur on the right to food Foreign debt Independent expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial

obligations of States on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights

Freedom of expression Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

Freedom of religion Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Haiti Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti Health Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable

standard of physical and mental health Human rights defenders Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Independence of judges and lawyers

Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers

Indigenous peoples Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Internally displaced persons

Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons

International order Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order International solidarity Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity Iran Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Mercenaries The Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination

Migrants Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants Minority issues Independent Expert on Minority Issues Myanmar Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar OPT Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied

since 1967 Racism Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and

related intolerance Sale of children Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography Slavery Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery Somalia Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia Sudan Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan Summary executions Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Syria Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic Terrorism Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental

freedoms while countering terrorism Torture Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or

punishment Toxic waste Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound

management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes Trafficking Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children Truth Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation & guarantees of non-

recurrence Violence against women Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences Water and Sanitation Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation

Other abbreviations

AL Letter of allegation JAL Joint letter of allegation JUA Joint urgent appeal OL Other letter UA Urgent appeal

Contents Paragraphs Page

Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................... 3

I. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1–10 6

II. Communications sent and replies received ............................................................. 11 10

A. Communications sent between 16 March and 31 May 2012 and replies received by 31 July 2012 in relation to them ................................ 11 10

B. Replies received between 16 May and 31 July 2012 relating to communications sent before 15 March 2012 ................................. 12 54

Annex

Mandates of special procedures .................................................................................................... 70

I. Introduction

1. Special procedures are mandated by the Human Rights Council to report to it and for some mandates also to the General Assembly on their activities (see Appendix I).

2. At the fifteenth annual meeting of special procedures, held in Geneva from 23 to 27 June 2008, mandate holders supported the periodic issuance of a joint communications report to prevent inconsistencies among mandate holders reporting on the same communications to the Council; avoid duplication and rationalize documentation; allow the examination of cross-cutting human rights issues; and ensure that the content of communications and any follow-up would feed into the universal periodic review process more effectively (A/HRC/10/24, para 34-35). In 2009, the sixteenth annual meeting of special procedures mandate holders decided that a joint communications report would be prepared (cf. A/HRC/12/47, para 24-26), with this decision being reconfirmed by the seventeenth annual meeting of special procedures in 2010. Mandate holders decided that the report should contain summaries of communications, and statistical information (A/HRC/15/44, para. 26-27).

3. The Outcome of the review of the work and functioning of the Human Rights Council calls on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to maintain information on special procedures in a comprehensive and easily accessible manner, and encourages the use of modern information technology to reduce the circulation of paper (A/HRC/RES/16/21, Annex, para. 29 and 60).

4. The report strengthens transparency, efficiency and reduces documentation and related costs. Short summaries of allegations communicated to the respective State or other entity are included in the report, and the communications sent and responses received are accessible electronically through hyperlinks.

5. Communications are reproduced in the language in which they were sent. Replies received in Arabic, Chinese or Russian are included with translations into English, where available.

6. This report covers all urgent appeals and letters of allegations sent by special procedures mandate holders between 16 March and 31 May 2012 and all replies received between 16 May and 31 July 2012. Communications sent before 16 March 2012 are reported in A/HRC/20/30, A/HRC/19/44 and A/HRC/18/51 respectively.

7. The report also includes replies received between 16 May and 31 July 2012, relating to communications sent by special procedures mandate holders before 16 March 2012. Some of these replies supplement information communicated earlier by the respective State.

8. The present report contains urgent appeals sent by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and joint urgent appeals sent by them together with other mandates. It does not contain other types of communications issued by these mandates, processed according to their own distinctive procedures, which will continue to be reported exclusively in the annual reports of these two working groups.

9. The names of some alleged victims have been obscured in order to protect their privacy and prevent further victimization. Names of concerned victims who would otherwise have their identities protected are mentioned only when the concerned individual has expressively consented or requested to include his or her name in the public report. In the original communications, the full names of the alleged victims were provided to the

Government concerned. Names of alleged perpetrators have systematically been blackened out in State replies to preserve the presumption of their innocence.

10. In preparing the statistics included in this report, uniform reporting periods have been used, reflecting all communications sent between 16 March and 31 May 2012, and responses received in relation to these communications until 31 July 2012.

Table 1 Communications and replies by mandate

Mandate

Reporting period:

16 March to 31 May 2012

Reporting period:

1 June 2006 to 31 May 2012

Communications

sent

replied to by

31 July 2012

response

rate

Communications

sent

replied to by 31

July 2012

response

rate

Adequate housing 10 1 10% 215 88 41% Arbitrary detention (+) 18 5 28% 869 447 51% Belarus (**) N/A N/A N/A 2 2 100% Burundi (*) N/A N/A N/A 6 0 0% Cambodia 2 1 50% 12 2 17% Cultural Rights (1) 2 1 50% 6 5 83% Disappearances (+) 5 1 20% 174 55 32% Discrimination against women (2) 2 2 100% 8 7 88% DPR Korea 0 0 0% 5 1 20% Education 0 0 0% 58 34 59% Extreme poverty 3 1 33% 7 5 71% Food 3 1 33% 169 57 34% Foreign debt 0 0 0% 1 1 100% Freedom of expression 51 13 25% 1646 813 49% Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (3) 29 9 31% 150 82 55% Freedom of religion 10 6 60% 258 150 58% Health 12 2 17% 221 107 48% Human rights defenders 45 13 29% 1914 1041 54% Independence of judges and lawyers 28 5 18% 722 351 49% Indigenous peoples 3 1 33% 222 127 57% Internally displaced persons 0 0 0% 12 4 33% Iran (4) 7 1 14% 16 3 19% Liberia (*) N/A N/A N/A 2 0 0% Mercenaries 0 0 0% 51 18 35% Migrants 7 4 57% 131 79 60% Minority issues 7 2 29% 99 56 57% Myanmar 1 0 0% 59 26 44% OPT 2 0 0% 8 1 13% Racism 3 0 0% 64 37 58% Sale of children 0 0 0% 39 16 41% Slavery (5) 2 2 100% 16 13 81% Somalia 0 0 0% 6 1 17% Sudan 0 0 0% 9 0 0% Summary executions 32 10 31% 714 326 46% Terrorism 2 1 50% 184 78 41% Torture 32 9 28% 1370 682 50%

Mandate

Reporting period:

16 March to 31 May 2012

Reporting period:

1 June 2006 to 31 May 2012

Communications

sent

replied to by

31 July 2012

response

rate

Communications

sent

replied to by 31

July 2012

response

rate

Toxic waste 0 0 0% 29 16 55% Trafficking 2 2 100% 51 32 63% Truth (6) 1 0 0% 1 0 0% Violence against women 11 3 27% 303 156 51% Water and Sanitation (7) 2 0 0% 19 8 42%

(1) mandate established in March 2009 (2) mandate established in September 2010 (3) mandate established in October 2010 (4) mandate established in March 2011 (5) mandate established in September 2007 (6) mandate established in September 2011 (7) mandate established in March 2008; (*) mandates terminated; (**) mandate terminated but restablished in June 2012. (+) These figures do not include communications on standard cases sent to Governments by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances. Please note: Totals are higher than the actual number of communications sent or replies received in the given period, as many communications are sent jointly by two or more mandate holders.

A /H

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/2 1

/4 9

1 0

II. Communications sent and replies received

A. Communications sent between 16 March and 31 May 2012 and replies received

by 31 July 2012 in relation to them

11. Communications are sorted in chronological order. Copies of the full text of the communications sent and Government replies received may be accessed from the electronic version of this report available on the website of the Human Rights Council. Some names of individuals or other information have been rendered anonymous or otherwise unidentifiable.

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

16/03/2012 JUA

BHR 4/2012 Bahrain

Health; Torture;

Alleged denial of medical treatment of an opposition leader. According to the information received Mr. Hassan Mushaima, aged 64, a national of the Kingdom of Bahrain and an opposition leader, is currently detained in the Central Prison of Bahrain. Mr. Mushaima is the Secretary-General of the Haq Democracy Movement, a main opposition movement calling for democratic reforms. He was the subject of earlier communications dated 5 August 2011, 22 March 2011, 18 March 2011 and 2 February 2007 (see A/HRC/19/44; A/HRC/61/Add.4). According to the new information received Mr. Mushaima was sentenced by the National Safety Court, a military court, to life imprisonment on 22 June 2011. While in detention his cancer relapsed and the Bahraini authorities allegedly fail to provide immediate medical attention. Mr. Mushaima has allegedly not received any treatment in the past six months and is denied access to an independent medical doctor.

18/04/2012

16/03/2012 JUA

ETH 1/2012 Ethiopia

Arbitrary detention;

Torture;

Alleged ill-treatment of opposition leader by prison inmates allegedly at the instigation of prison authorities. According to the information received, Mr. Andualem Aragie, a young opposition leader from the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ), was severely beaten by his inmates while in custody in an unknown prison in Ethiopia. Mr. Aragie continued to be at serious risk of being the target of further violence by his prison inmates.

A /H

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/2 1

/4 9

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

19/03/2012 JAL

PSE 2/2011 Occupied

Palestinian

Territory

Summary executions;

Torture;

brother and father were reportedly released, while Mr. Hassan Mahammad El Hmidi remained detained. He had reportedly been subjected to intermittent beating which lasted for hours. On 10 June, Mr. Hassan Mahammad El Hmidi had died in Al-Shifa hospital after having undergone head surgery.

19/03/2012 JAL

OTH 6/2011 Other

Summary executions;

Torture;

Alleged beating and subsequent death in custody. According to the information received, on 3 June 2011, Mr. Hassan Mahammad El Hmidi was arrested by a group of the anti-drug police along with his father and two brothers. All three individuals were taken to the former premises of the preventive security apparatus located in Salah El Din Street in Central Gaza Strip. Mr. Hassan Mahammad El Hmidi‟s brother and father were reportedly released, while Mr. Hassan Mahammad El Hmidi remained detained. He had reportedly been subjected to intermittent beating which lasted for hours. On 10 June, Mr. Hassan Mahammad El Hmidi had died in Al-Shifa hospital after having undergone head surgery.

20/03/2012 JAL

CHL 2/2012 Chile

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Torture;

Alegaciones de actos de violencia, malos tratos y uso excesivo de la fuerza contra manifestantes en el contexto de unas movilizaciones a partir del 14 de febrero en la región de Aysén. Según las informaciones recibidas, del 14 al 23 de febrero se habrían llevado a cabo actos de protesta y violentos enfrentamientos entre agentes carabineros y manifestantes en Puerto Aysén, Coyahique y Puerto Chacabuco.

20/03/2012 AL

IND 4/2012 India

Health;

Alleged limited access to health facilities, goods and services related to the prevention and control of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the state of Manipur, India. According to the information received, people living with Hepatitis C, who are also injecting drug users (IDUs) and co-infected with HIV, allegedly have limited access to health facilities and services for HCV testing, diagnosis and treatment in Manipur. Due to unaffordable costs, these and other vulnerable populations are allegedly denied access to HCV medicines, such as pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Prevention activities such as professional and public education, counselling and regular screening programmes are allegedly also unavailable to the vulnerable groups.

25/03/2012

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1 2

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

21/03/2012 AL

ISR 3/2012 Israel

Freedom of expression;

Alleged raid on two Palestinian television stations by the Israel Security Forces (ISF). According to the information received, on 29 February 2012 ISF soldiers raided the headquarters of Watan TV and Al Quds Educational TV (AQTV) in Area A of the West Bank (Ramallah and al-Bireh respectively), and confiscated broadcasting equipment from both channels, as well as a large number of computers, equipment and documents from Watan TV. As a result, broadcasting by both television stations was suspended until partial transmission was made possible through the support of other Palestinian channels. Reportedly, no document explaining the purpose of the raid or the seizure of the equipment was presented, and the operation was carried out by officials from the Israeli Ministry of Communications, who were escorted by ISF soldiers. According to the ISF spokesperson, both channels have been broadcasting illegally, interrupting the transmission of television stations in Israel, and interfering with aircraft communication at Ben Gurion airport.

22/03/2012 JUA

AZE 2/2012 Azerbaijan

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Torture;

Alleged acts of ill-treatment and violence against peaceful protesters in the context of peaceful demonstrations held in the centre and the proximities of the city of Baku. According to the information received, on 6 March 2012 a number of youth activists gathered in the city centre of Baku to protest against the beating of two prisoners. Police reacted with violence resulting in the detention of at least 14 persons and a journalist, It is reported that a number of detainees were subjected to heavy beatings by the police. Moreover, on 17 March, another demonstration was held in the outskirts of Baku to express dissent and opposition to the current Government. A number of unidentified persons allegedly provoked violence against protesters, resulting in the arrest and detention of two members of a music band and an activist. It is reported that the three were also severely beaten while being transferred to a police station and that they may be subjected to acts of ill-treatment while in police custody.

08/05/2012

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Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

22/03/2012 JAL

BGD 2/2012 Bangladesh

Adequate housing;

Extreme poverty;

Food;

Alleged threats to the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to food and the right to housing posed by illegal sand extraction. According to the information received, around 12,000 villagers living on Mayadip Island on the Meghna River face increased risk of food insecurity and homelessness as a consequence of soil erosion caused by sand extraction carried out by two companies without government authorization. Reportedly a court order issued on 26 April 2011 requiring the cessation of the sand extraction from the riverbanks close to Mayadip Island is not being enforced in practice. It is alleged that unless the practice of extracting sand is stopped, erosion will have a lasting impact on livelihoods and food insecurity in the area and result in the mass displacement of the island‟s residents.

29/03/2012

22/03/2012 JAL

CUB 3/2012 Cuba

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Freedom

of religion; Human

rights defenders;

Alegaciones de detenciones arbitrarias, actos de hostigamiento y de violación del derecho de reunión pacífica de disidentes y de integrantes de las Damas de Blanco en la ciudad de la Habana, en el contexto de la próxima visita del Papa Benedicto XVI a Cuba. Según la información recibida, entre los días 17 y 18 de marzo de 2012, alrededor de unos 50-70 miembros del grupo de las Damas de Blanco habrían sido detenidos en el contexto de unas marchas pacíficas en la ciudad de la Habana.

26/03/2012

22/03/2012 JUA

MDV 3/2012 Maldives

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Torture;

Allegations of continuous excessive use of force by law enforcement authorities against, and the arrest and detention of protesters belonging to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). According to the information received, on 29 February 2012 the Maldives Security Forces reportedly assaulted women protesters who peacefully marked their opposition to the current Government. On 7 and 19 March 2012 Maldives Security Forces reportedly attacked MDP protesters in Malé, in the context of demonstrations held to express dissent and opposition to the current Government. According to reports, since 7 February 2012, 376 persons have been detained. Many allegedly do not have access to family nor lawyers. Reportedly, the Government did not release the names and number of the detainees.

A /H

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/2 1

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1 4

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

22/03/2012 JUA

PAK 3/2012 Pakistan

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of religion;

Summary executions;

Alleged death sentences on blasphemy charges in Pakistan. One of the cases was already the subject of an earlier communication (see A/HRC/16/53/add.1, case no. PAK 15/2010). According to the information received, a district court in Punjab province upheld Mr. Muhammad Ishaq's death sentence handed down to him in July 2009 for insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Mr. Ishaq has denied the charges of blasphemy. He was also denied bail and he has been in prison since the accusations were brought over three years ago. Furthermore, Ms. Asia Bibi was also sentenced to death for blasphemy since November 2010. Ms. Bibi has appealed her death sentence; however, her trial allegedly will not take place for another two years.

22/03/2012

22/03/2012 JAL

ZWE 4/2012 Zimbabwe

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Follow up on an alleged illegal decision suspending the activities of 29 NGOs in Masvingo. According to the information received, the decision of the Governor of Masvingo who ordered the suspension of the activities of 29 NGOs on 14 February 2012 is illegal as the domestic law does not provide the Governor with the authority to suspend the activities of any NGOs. When ordering the suspension of the 29 associations, it was argued that the associations concerned failed to submit to the Provincial Governor‟s office a certificate of registration together with a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the local authority. It is reported that there is no legal obligation for an NGO to register with the Provincial Governor‟s Office and there is no obligation for an NGO to conclude a MoU with

the local authorities. The suspension of 29 NGOs in the Masvingo province was the subject of an earlier communication (see A/HRC/19/44, case no ZWE 3/2012).

23/03/2012 AL

ETH 2/2012 Ethiopia

Migrants;

Allegation that a repatriation agreement between Norway and Ethiopia may place the returnees at risk of human rights violations. According to the information received, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the governments of Norway and Ethiopia concerning return of Ethiopian nationals residing in Norway was signed on 26 January 2012. Reportedly, the MOU does not provide any safeguards for the returnees. Furthermore, return may not be in the best interests of the children concerned.

A /H

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/2 1

/4 9

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

23/03/2012 JUA

HND 2/2012 Honduras

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders; Summary

executions;

Presunta ola de violaciones de derechos humanos contra periodistas, activistas campesinos y defensores de derechos humanos. Según la información recibida, en diciembre de 2011, el Sr. Leonel Espinoza, periodista y catedrático habría sido arrestado e intimidado por presuntos miembros de la policía que, posteriormente, le habrían puesto en libertad; y el Sr. Uriel Gudiel Rodríguez, camarógrafo del noticiero "Contacto Directo", habría sido amenazado por el Agente de Homicidios de la Dirección de General de Investigación Criminal en la aldea de Jutiapa, municipio de Danlí. En enero de 2012, el Sr. Matías Valle, portavoz del Movimiento Campesino del Aguán, habría sido asesinado por dos individuos en Colón, tras denunciar varias veces actos de hostigamiento contra campesinos. En febrero de 2012, el Sr. Luis Rodríguez, un periodista, el Sr. Javier Miranda Villalobos, su camarógrafo, del canal local por cable Catedral TV, así como el Sr. Juan Ramón Flores, el propietario del canal, y el Sr. Ramón Cabrera, gerente de Digicable, la empresa que proporciona el servicio de cable a Catedral TV, habrían recibido amenazas en relación con investigaciones acerca de un incendio en una cárcel en Comayagua; el Sr. Danilo Osmaro Castellanos, vicepresidente del Comité por la Libertad de Expresión (C-Libre), habría recibido amenazas de muerte contra él y su familia, tras haber criticado la administración local; la Sra. Mavis Ethel Cruz Zaldívar de Rodriguez, empleada de Radio Libertad, habría interpuesto una denuncia por amenazas contra ella y su familia, tras haber abordado el tema de la renuncia del Director de Investigación y Evaluación de la Carrera Policial; y la Sra. Saira Fabiola Almendras Borjas, estudiante de periodismo y colaboradora de los programas deportivos del Canal 30 y de Radio Cadena Voces, habría sido encontrada asesinada. En marzo de 2012, el Sr. Fausto Elio Hernández, periodista y conductor del programa “La Voz de la Noticia” de la estación regional “Radio

Alegre de Colón”, habría sido asesinado.

12/06/2012 10/05/2012

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1 6

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

23/03/2012 JAL

MAR 1/2012 Morocco

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Suivi de l‟allégation de refus de réceptionner les documents de constitution de

l‟Association sahraouie des victimes de graves violations des droits de l‟Homme

(ASVDH). Selon les informations reçues, la décision des autorités locales de refuser de réceptionner les documents de constitution de l‟ASVDH serait infondée en droit

et porterait atteinte à la liberté d‟association. L‟association aurait à plusieurs

reprises, directement et par l‟intermédiaire d‟un huissier de justice, remis le dossier de constitution auprès des autorités locales de Laâyoune où se trouve le siège de l‟association. Cette demande comporterait les différentes pièces légales nécessaires

à la constitution de l‟association, mais les autorités locales auraient refusé de réceptionner le dossier de constitution de l‟association. La situation de l‟ASVDH a

fait l‟objet d‟une précédente communication (A/HRC/20/30, case no. MAR 8/2011).

23/03/2012 AL

NOR 1/2012 Norway

Migrants;

Allegation that a repatriation agreement between Norway and Ethiopia may place the returnees at risk of human rights violations. According to the information received, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the governments of Norway and Ethiopia concerning return of Ethiopian nationals residing in Norway was signed on 26 January 2012. Reportedly, the MOU does not provide any safeguards for the returnees. Furthermore, Ethiopian nationals who have been politically active with the opposition may be at risk upon return to Ethiopia; and return may not be in the best interests of the children concerned.

25/05/2012

23/03/2012 JUA

VEN 1/2012 Venezuela

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Supuestos actos de estigmatización e intimidación contra varias ONG y defensores de derechos humanos. Según la información recibida, el 24 de enero de 2012, un artículo habría sido publicado en un blog denominado “Soberanía y Revolución”

que habría contenido acusaciones graves e intimidaciones contra la Sra. Liliana Ortega, Presidenta del Comité de Familiares de Víctimas del 27 de Febrero (COFAVIC); los Sres. Marino Alvarado, Rafael Uzcategui y Marco Ponce, integrantes del Programa Venezolano de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos (PROVEA); el Sr. Carlos Nieto Palma, Coordinador General de Una Ventana a la Libertad; el Sr. Feliciano Reyna, Presidente de Sinergia; y la Sra. Ligia Bolívar, Directora del Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB). El 23 de enero de 2012, la Ministra del Servicio Penitenciario habría confirmado que las ONG tenían prohibido visitar a los centros penitenciarios y habría hecho declaraciones difamatorias contra el Sr. Humberto Prado, Director del Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones (OVP).

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Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

26/03/2012 JAL

BGD 3/2012 Bangladesh

Discrimination against

women in law and in

practice; Summary

executions; Violence

against women;

Alleged acts of dowry related domestic violence leading to the death of two women. According to the information received, Ms. Akhi Shutrodhor and Ms. Mosammat Sabina Akhter were beaten by their husbands and in-laws, which led to severe injuries causing their death. The violence was allegedly related to the victims‟

parents‟ incapacity to pay the full dowry due to their financial situation.

29/03/2012

26/03/2012 AL

COL 4/2012 Colombia

Freedom of expression;

Presunta condena contra periodista. Según la información recibida, el 29 de febrero de 2012, el Sr. Luis Agustín González, director del periódico Cundinamarca Democrática, habría sido condenado a 18 meses de prisión y una multa de aproximadamente 5.000 dólares estadounidenses en relación con un editorial que cuestionaba la candidatura de la Sra. Leonor Serrano de Camargo al Senado. Al no tener antecedentes penales y al ser la pena privativa de libertad menor de tres años, el Sr. González no tendría que servir la condena en prisión, aunque tendría que pagar la multa establecida. El Sr. González habría anunciado su intención de presentar un recurso extraordinario de casación.

23/05/2012

26/03/2012 JUA

IRN 6/2012 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Iran;

Summary executions;

Torture;

Alleged imminent execution for non- serious crime and following a trial in violation of procedural safeguards. According to the information received, on 15 March 2010, Mr. Habibollah Golparipour was sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh (enmity against God) for his alleged cooperation with the Party For Free Life of Kurdistan following a five-minute trial On 1 August 2010, Branch 31 of the Supreme Court upheld his conviction and death sentence and did so again on 9 June 2011, following judicial review. At the time the communication was sent, Mr. Golparipour was at imminent risk of execution.

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27/03/2012 JUA

COL 3/2012 Colombia

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders;

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Summary

executions;

Supuestos actos de intimidación y amenazas de muerte contra defensores de derechos humanos. Según las informaciones recibidas, la Sra. Andrea Solangie Torres Bautista, abogada y miembro de la Fundación Nydia Erika Bautista para los Derechos Humanos, habría sido vigilada por personas desconocidas en varias ocasiones. Aún no se habría sido asignada ninguna medida de protección a la defensora. También se informa que el Sr. Hernando José Verbel Ocon, quien pertenece a la familia Verbel Rocha, que forma parte del Movimiento de Crímenes de Estado (MOVICE) Capitulo Sucre, habría sido amenazado de muerte el 11 de marzo de 2012 en San Onofre. Además, se informa que varios parapolíticos, paramilitares y miembros de una banda criminal habrían hecho una bolsa común para ofrecer una recompensa para quien asesinara al Sr. José Humberto Torres, abogado y miembro del Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Políticos (CSPP).

27/03/2012 JUA

IRN 5/2012 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Iran;

Alleged conviction and sentencing of two lawyers in relation to the discharge of their professional functions. According to the information received, Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani was arrested and charged with spreading propaganda against the system, setting up an illegal opposition group, gathering and colluding with intent to harm national security, and with accepting illegal earnings related to his acceptance of the Nuremberg International Human Rights Award in 2009. Mr. Soltani was allegedly allowed to see his file three months following his arrest. Several procedural irregularities have been reported in his case, including illegal extension of imprisonment after the period of pre-trial detention had expired, and lack of access to the records and legal material. Ms. Nages Mohammadi was allegedly sentenced to six years in prison by an appellate court. Ms. Mohammadi was charged with propaganda against the State, assembly and collusion against the State, and membership in the Centre for Human Rights Defenders.

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27/03/2012 JUA

PAK 4/2012 Pakistan

Freedom of religion;

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Minority

issues; Violence against

women;

Alleged abduction, forced marriage and forced conversion to Islam of a seventeen- year-old Hindu girl in Pakistan. According to the information received, Ms. X was abducted from her home on 24 February 2012, by Mr. Y and other armed men, including Mr. Z. Allegedly, she was held in custody in the residence of Mr. A, a member of the National Assembly. On 25 February 2012, Ms. X pleaded before a civil judge in Ghotki court to return home to her parents, she testified that she had been kidnapped and forced to change her religion against her will. On 27 February 2012, Ms. X again appeared in court but in Mathelo. During this second hearing, Ms. X was under pressure and changed her statement. The civil judge announced that she has embraced Islam and that she would be in the custody of Mr. Y. Since the court‟s announcement, Ms. X‟s whereabouts remained unknown to her family.

12/07/2012

27/03/2012 AL

PNG 1/2012 Papua New

Guinea

Independence of judges

and lawyers;

Alleged acts of intimidation against the Chief Justice, and other alleged attempts to curtail the independence of the judiciary. According to the information received, the Chief Justice, Mr. Salamo Injia, was arrested on 8 March 2012. Reportedly, on 2 August 2011, there was a change of Government and appointment of a new Prime Minister, Peter O‟Neill, which followed four months of absence by the Prime

Minister Michael Somare on medical grounds and intense political debate around leadership of the country. A special Supreme Court reference was reportedly filed challenging Mr. O‟Neill‟s Government for not being constitutionally formed nor legitimate. On 12 December 2011, the Supreme Court reportedly ruled 3-2 in favour of the reinstatement of Mr. Michael Somare as Prime Minister and made a declaration that Mr. O‟Neill‟s Government was unconstitutional. The Chief Justice was reportedly part of the majority bench. It is further reported that, in this context, the Parliament passed, on 21 March 2012, a Judicial Conduct Bill, which presented elements of concern with respect to the independence of the judiciary vis-à-vis the legislative and executive powers.

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27/03/2012 JUA

SYR 4/2012 Syrian Arab

Republic

Arbitrary detention;

Disappearances;

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Torture;

Allegations of arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention and possible enforced disappearances. According to the information received, on 15 March 2012, Mr. Rudy Uthman, a journalist and human rights activist, was arrested by members of the Syrian Air Force Intelligence in Damascus as he was taking part in a protest. Since his arrest, he had allegedly been held in incommunicado detention in an unknown location. On 17 March 2012, Mr. Saleh Shameya, a lawyer, member of the board and head of the legal department of the National Human Rights Organisation- Syria (NOHR-S) in Idleb, was reportedly arrested while observing a peaceful assembly in Idleb. Mr. Shameya, who has worked as a human rights defender, and has denounced conditions of detention in Syria, was reportedly arrested by the Syrian Intelligence Service Mukhabarat. His arrest took place in the context of a military operation against the demonstrators. Mr. Shameya had been held in incommunicado detention in an unknown location since his arrest

28/03/2012 JAL

BRA 2/2012 Brazil

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders; Summary

executions;

Alleged killing of two journalists. According to the information received, in July 2011, Mr. Mario Randolpho Marques Lopes, editor-in-chief of news website Vassouras na Net, was shot five times in the head by an unidentified gunman. He recovered after three days in a coma. On 8 February 2012, he and his girlfriend were reportedly abducted and were allegedly found dead the following day. Mr. Marques Lopes frequently reported on corruption among local officials, most recently the local judiciary. On 12 February 2012, Mr. Paulo Roberto Cardoso Rodrigues, editor of the daily newspaper Jornal Da Praça and the news website Mercosul News was reportedly shot dead by two men riding a motorcycle. Shortly before his death he had reportedly criticized the local mayor and shown support for an opposition candidate.

03/07/2012

28/03/2012 JUA

ISR 4/2012 Israel

Health; OPT; Torture;

Violence against

women;

Alleged arbitrary arrest and detention with sexual assault and torture by the Israeli military forces. According to the information received, Ms. X was arrested at her home by Israeli military forces and then taken to the Salem detention centre, where she was reportedly beaten and sexually assaulted. She started a hunger strike to protest her detention and was allegedly placed in solitary confinement as a result. Reports indicate that her detention is based on secret information collected by the Israeli Security Agency and available to the military judge but not to the detainee or her lawyers. In a press release on 14 March 2012, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 expressed concern about the situation of Ms. X and urged for her release.

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29/03/2012 JUA

PAK 5/2012 Pakistan

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Torture;

Alleged acts of intimidation and threats against human rights defender by security forces. According to the information received, on 9 February 2012, about 25 members of the Pakistani Rangers cordoned off the area around Mr. Muhammad Ali Shah‟s home in the town of Bin Qasim. Mr. Ali Shah is the Chair of the Pakistani Fisher folk Forum (PFF) and the General Secretary of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP). Reportedly, earlier that day a Rangers‟ Lieutenant Colonel had

telephoned Mr. Ali Shah and threatened him with kidnapping and death. These events are reported to have transpired in the wake of a peaceful protest held that morning by the workers of a garments factory in Karachi, in which Mr. Ali Shah is alleged to have participated. Reportedly, these events took place in a context of attacks, arbitrary arrests and threats against leaders of the Pakistan Fisher folk Forum during the past year, in an apparent response to their efforts to resist forcible land acquisition and the clearing of mangroves in coastal villages in and around Karachi.

29/03/2012

29/03/2012 JAL

UGA 2/2012 Uganda

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Health;

Human rights

defenders; Summary

executions;

Alleged re-tabling of a Bill, which would violate fundamental principles and norms of international human rights law if enacted. According to the information received, Bill N° 18 (also known as the Anti-Homosexuality Bill) was re-tabled by the Parliament of Uganda on 7 February 2012. Reportedly, there are several grave human rights concerns regarding the contents of the Bill. These include the imposition of the death penalty for „aggravated homosexuality‟, including for „serial

offenders‟ and those who are living with HIV; the criminalization of the „promotion

of homosexuality‟, including anyone who uses electronic devices, including the Internet, films, mobile phones for „purposes of homosexuality or promoting

homosexuality‟; and the criminalization of the failure to report to the authorities

those people who citizens suspect of being homosexual. The proposed legislation may arbitrarily discriminate against LGBTI people and associations advocating for human rights without discrimination.

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29/03/2012 JAL

ZWE 5/2012 Zimbabwe

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Torture;

Violence against

women;

Alleged conviction and sentencing of civil society activists in relation to the exercise of their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly. According to the information received, on 19 March 2012, Mr. Munyaradzi Gwisai, Ms. Antonater Choto, Mr. Tatenda Mombeyarara, Mr.Eddson Chakuma, Mr. Hopewell Gumbo and Mr. Welcome Zimuto, who had been arrested in February 2011 during a meeting where a video on the “Arab Spring” was

presented, were convicted of conspiring to commit public violence in violation of section 188 of the Criminal Code. It is reported that the conviction and sentencing violate the activists‟ rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and

further aim to induce fear among pro-democracy activists. They were reportedly subjected to torture and ill treatment by police while in detention. Furthermore, following the sentencing of these activists, seven supporters – Mr. Joram Chikwadze, Mr. Pride Mukono, Mr. Tinashe Chisaira, Mr. Tinashe Mtyaso, Ms. Cozet Chirinda, Mr. Francis Mufambi and Mr. Tryvine Musokeri - who were demonstrating outside the court, were arrested. They have been charged with disorderly conduct in a public place.

30/03/2012 JAL

BLR 1/2012 Belarus

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Summary

executions; Terrorism;

Alleged executions carried out in violation of due process safeguards. According to the information received, on 14 March 2012, clemency was denied to Mr. Dzmitry Konovalov and Mr. Vladislav Kovalev. Both men were reportedly executed on or around that day. On 17 March 2012, the family of Mr. Vladislav Kovalev received a letter from the Supreme Court of Belarus confirming his execution. His, as well as Mr. Konovalov‟s execution, were allegedly confirmed the same evening on State television. A complaint on behalf of Mr. Kovalev had been filed with the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which had requested the Government of Belarus not to proceed with the execution until the Committee had reviewed and issued a decision in the case. Mr. Kovalev and Mr. Konovalov were the subject of an earlier communication (see A/HRC/20/30, case no BLR 11/2011).

11/04/2012

02/04/2012 JUA

CRI 2/2012 Costa Rica

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Supuesto allanamiento y robo en la sede de una organización de derechos humanos. Según la información recibida, el 2 de febrero de 2012, la sede de Mulabi - Espacio Latinoamericano de Sexualidades y Derechos - que trabaja en temas relacionados a los derechos sexuales y reproductivos de lesbianas, bisexuales, personas trans e intersex (LBTI), y que además es la vivienda de la Sra. Natasha Jiménez, la coordinadora general de la organización, habría sido allanada y varios objetos de valor habrían sido robados.

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02/04/2012 JAL

LBN 2/2012 Lebanon

Discrimination against

women in law and in

practice; Migrants;

Slavery; Torture;

Trafficking; Violence

against women;

Allegations of repeated physical and sexual abuse of an Ethiopian migrant domestic worker, leading to suicide. According to the information received, Ms. Alem Dechasa, a 33-year-old Ethiopian migrant domestic worker, was repeatedly physically and sexually abused by her employer. As a result of fleeing her employer‟s house and seeking assistance at the Ethiopian Consulate in Lebanon, Alem Dechasa was physically beaten and forcibly dragged into a car by two men. It is alleged that Alem Dechasa was later taken to a mental institution where she committed suicide.

30/05/2012 06/06/2012

04/04/2012 AL

GNB 1/2012 Guinée-Bissau

Summary executions;

Allégation d‟exécution extrajudiciaire. Selon les informations reçues, les agents de

Police d‟Intervention Rapide (PIR) auraient tiré sur M. Iaia Dabó, agent de sécurité et frère de l‟ancien ministre de l‟Intérieur de Guinée-Bissau, le 27 décembre 2011 devant le siège de la Police d‟Intervention Rapide à Bissau. Aucune enquête

effective n‟aurait été menée sur les circonstances de l‟assassinat, et aucun agent de la PIR n‟aurait été traduit en justice.

04/04/2012 JAL

HND 3/2012 Honduras

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Summary

executions;

Alegaciones de asesinatos de abogados y de impunidad en estos crímenes. Según las informaciones recibidas, el Sr. Ricardo Rosales, miembro de la abogacía de La Ceiba, capital del Departamento de Atlantida, habría denunciado recientemente en un diario local graves violaciones de derechos humanos. Tres días después de la denuncia de estos actos, el 17 de enero de 2012, tres individuos habrían disparado al abogado mientras salía de su domicilio para ir a una audiencia. En meses pasados, otros cinco abogados habrían sido asesinados, esta vez en Tegucigalpa, capital de Honduras: José Isidro García, Judith Alemán, José Efraín Aguilar Cárcamo, Denys Esperanza López y Abelardo Castro Avil. En San Pedro Sula, habría sido asesinado el abogado Pastor Enrique Guzmán y en la ciudad de Olancho los abogados Alfredo Geovani Moradel Ramos y Ana Mélida Hernández. En 2011, el Ministerio Público de Honduras habría recibido 10 nuevos casos de amenazas de muerte contra abogados.

11/04/2012 JAL

BRA 3/2012 Brazil

Adequate housing;

Extreme poverty;

Health;

Alleged human rights violations committed during a specific police operation in São Paulo. According to the information received, since 3 January 2012, security forces at the São Paulo state level, in partnership with local authorities, have carried out operations in a central neighbourhood in São Paulo, unofficially named „Cracolândia‟, with the declared objective to combat drug trafficking. In spite of the declared aim, the vast majority of people displaced through these operations are allegedly not drug traffickers, but drug users and persons living in poverty.

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11/04/2012 JUA

BRA 4/2012 Brazil

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders; Summary

executions;

Alleged killing of environmental rights defender and death threats against another human rights defender. According to the information received, on 22 October 2011, two days after he and two fellow defenders had filed a complaint against illegal logging activities, Mr. Joao Chupel Primo, one of the leaders of the Area Settlement Project in the Riozinho Anfrisio Reserve, was shot and killed in the car repair shop where he worked in the city of Itaituba, Pará. Reportedly, on 17 February 2012, after having received assistance from Ms. Lygia Zamali Fernandes, who works with the Federation of Communities from Big Lake Land Area (FEAGLE), an organisation which seeks to promote rights of 140 traditional communities in Pará, the other two defenders were included in the National Protection Program for Human Rights Defenders. It is alleged that Ms. Zamali Fernandes began receiving threatening phone calls the next day and that these continued until 29 February 2012.

11/04/2012 JUA

IRN 7/2012 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Iran;

Summary executions;

Alleged risk of execution for crimes not deemed to be “most serious” following

trials in violation of procedural safeguards. According to the new information received, the death sentence of Mr. Abdolreza Ghanbari was upheld on appeal and his request for a pardon from the Amnesty and Clemency Commission was rejected at the end of February 2012. Mr. Ghanbari had been tried before Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on 30 January 2010, and sentenced to death for moharebeh (enmity against God) for alleged links with the banned opposition group, the People‟s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). It is further reported that Mr.

Mohsen Daneshpour Moghaddam and his son Ahmad Daneshpour Moghaddam had their death sentences confirmed on appeal. They were also convicted on the same charges in January 2010. They reportedly remained on death row. All of the accused had been arrested following the December 2009 Ashura religious commemorations. There were serious due process concerns regarding the conduct of their trials. The accused were the subject of a previous communication (see A/HRC/18/51, case no IRN 1/2011).

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12/04/2012 JAL

MEX 7/2012 México

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders; Summary

executions;

Supuestas amenazas de muerte y agresiones contra defensor de derechos humanos. Según las informaciones recibidas, el defensor de derechos humanos Dr. Ing. José Eduardo Naquid Lajud habría estado recibiendo amenazas por teléfono en promedio dos o tres veces al día. El defensor realiza estudios, de manera independiente, investigando las supuestas violaciones que sufrirían los residentes de la unidad habitacional “Las Américas” en Ecatepec, Estado de México, a los derechos a la

salud, a una vivienda adecuada, y al acceso al agua potable y al saneamiento, entre otros, supuestamente causadas por tierra contaminada. Estas amenazas habrían provenido de dos empresas con supuestos vínculos a dicha unidad habitacional, de las oficinas del Gobierno Municipal de Ecatepec, de las oficinas del Gobierno Estatal del Estado de México, de las oficinas estatales y locales de un partido político y de un penitenciario. Se informa que el defensor habría sido objeto de agresiones físicas en el pasado.

13/04/2012 JUA

UZB 3/2012 Uzbekistan

Health; Independence

of judges and lawyers;

Torture;

Alleged detention, subsequent trial in a military court and denial of adequate specialized medical care. According to the information received, Mr. X, national of Tajikistan and a former senior employee at Amantaytau Goldfields A.G.F. gold- mining Uzbek-British joint venture in Uzbekistan, was arrested by the Uzbek National Security Service officers while crossing the border from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan on 5 March 2011. On 18 June 2011, Mr. X‟s case was reportedly heard at

a closed trial at a so-called garrison court in Navoi and continued in the military court of Tashkent, Uzbekistan and on 9 August 2011, he was charged with espionage and sentenced to 12-year of imprisonment. On 6 October 2011, an Uzbek military court rejected Mr. X‟s appeal. Reportedly, Mr. X‟s health has dramatically

deteriorated while in prison and, all efforts to transfer him to Tashkent prison- hospital facility N 64/18 had been unsuccessful.

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16/04/2012 JAL

USA 3/2012 United States

of America

Minority issues;

Racism;

Alleged difficulties and obstacles to full voter participation and voting rights particularly for those belonging to minority groups. According to the information received, since 2011, several U.S. States have enacted a broad array of voting restrictions and allegedly discriminatory laws, or have otherwise impeded democratic political participation. These various restrictive measures fall into three general categories, each of which operates at a different point in the voting process: first, at the voter registration stage; second, at the early voting stage; and third, on Election Day itself. These measures and other efforts reportedly have discouraging or impeding impacts on political participation particularly by persons belonging to minority groups, particularly African-Americans and Latinos. Specifically, in 2011, 14 states passed 25 laws that together allegedly block more than 5,000,000 citizens access from voting. Since 2008 the ability to vote of persons belonging to such minority groups has allegedly been impeded through state legislative initiatives, state constitutional amendments, and executive orders that result in barriers to voting.

17/04/2012 JAL

KOR 1/2012 Republic of

Korea

Freedom of religion;

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Torture;

Alleged deportation and secret detention in Uzbekistan. According to the information received, Mr. X fled to the Republic of Korea in 2008 to escape religious persecution in Uzbekistan. Reportedly, on 7 February 2012, he was arrested on the basis of alleged illegal entry and stay in the country and was taken to Seoul Immigration Office where he remained detained for four days before he was transferred to the Hwasung Foreigner Detention Center. Allegedly, Mr. X was not allowed to file an asylum seeker application until after UNHCR intervened. On 21 March 2012, Mr. X was notified of the rejection of his application for refugee status and was deported to Uzbekistan. Mr. X was reportedly not given a chance to appeal to the Minister of Justice which he was entitled to within 14 days. His mother later learned from the local police that her son had been taken to the National Security Service by the so-called secret police. His fate and whereabouts remained unknown.

21/06/2012

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17/04/2012 JUA

UZB 4/2012 Uzbekistan

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of religion;

Torture;

18/04/2012 JUA

IRN 8/2012 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Iran;

Summary executions;

Torture;

Alleged imminent execution for not most serious crime and following a trial in violation of procedural safeguards. According to the information received, in November 2011, Mr. Aref Hamidian was sentenced to death on drug related charges, following a trial in which he did not have access to a defence lawyer and interpreters. The sentence was subsequently upheld by both the Supreme Court and the Appeal Court. The sentence was sent for implementation and at the time of the transmittal of this communication, Mr. Aref was at imminent risk of execution.

18/04/2012 JUA

ARE 2/2012 United Arab

Emirates

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders;

Independence of judges

and lawyers;

Alleged harassment of human rights defenders and arrest of an online activist. According to the information received, Mr. Saleh Al-Dhufairi was arrested on 6 March 2012. It is alleged that no reasons for the arrest were provided at the time. The Dubai Attorney General has referred Mr. Al-Dhufairi to the Federal State Security Prosecution in Abu Dhabi on charges of committing crimes threatening State security. He was reportedly released on bail on 20 March 2012. According to the information received, the authorities continue to perpetrate acts of harassment against Mr. Ahmed Mansoor, reportedly refusing to return Mr. Mansoor‟s passport or to issue him with a certificate of good standing, a pre-requisite for employment following his trial, which ended on 27 November 2011 and the pardon issued by the authorities on 28 November 2011. Reportedly, both Mr. Al-Dhufairi and Mr. Mansoor have been slandered in online forums and newspapers, and Mr. Mansoor has received threats, including death threats.

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20/04/2012 JAL

KHM 2/2012 Cambodia

Adequate housing;

Cambodia; Freedom of

expression; Freedom of

peaceful assembly and

of association; Health;

Alleged forced eviction of families from the Borei Keila community in Phnom Penh. According to the information received, on 3 January 2012, state and private security forces, violently and forcibly evicted around 300 families living in Borei Keila and reportedly destroyed their homes. On 11 January 2012 and on 2 February 2012, law enforcement officials allegedly arbitrarily detained a number of women, children and other residents who were peacefully protesting against their forced eviction. Reportedly, a number of residents had only been released after having accepted relocation to resettlement sites lacking to date basic services, potable water and sanitation services. These sites are reported not to conform to international standards on adequate housing. Since then about 600 persons were relocated, the majority are reportedly women and children as well as families living with HIV/AIDS who also suffer from tuberculosis and other diseases with no adequate access to medical care at those relocation sites.

20/04/2012 JUA

MEX 9/2012 México

Disappearances;

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Presuntos actos de hostigamiento e intimidación. Según la información recibida, el 8 de marzo de 2012, el Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos “Hasta Encontrarlos” inició una campana titulada “Campaña Nacional Contra la Guerra de

Felipe Calderón por la Justicia y Castigo a los Criminales de Estado”. El día 10 de

abril, la Policía Federal habría tomado fotografías a activistas que se encontraban distribuyendo información sobre dicha campaña en Michoacán. Se informa que hubo actos de hostigamiento e intimidación. El 12 de abril, un individuo se habría acercado a un activista durante otro acto de la asociación, quien presuntamente se encontraba distribuyendo información sobre la campaña, agarrándole con violencia, amenazándole y exigiendo que se identificase.

20/04/2012 JAL

TUN 1/2012 Tunisia

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Allégations d‟un usage excessif de la force et de restrictions illégitimes au droit à la

liberté de réunion pacifique. Selon les informations reçues, une manifestation tenue le lundi 9 avril 2012 à Tunis aurait été violemment dispersée dès qu‟elle s‟est

approchée de l‟avenue Bourguiba, visée depuis le 28 mars 2012 d‟une interdiction

de manifester. Il est rapporté que les forces de sécurité auraient dispersé les manifestants au moyen de gaz lacrymogènes et auraient, avec le soutien d‟hommes

habillés en civil, violemment frappé ceux qui tentaient d‟emprunter l‟avenue

Bourguiba. Des journalistes et des militants politiques ou de la société civile, y compris Zied Hani, membre du bureau exécutif du Syndicat national des journalistes tunisiens, Khemeis Ksila, membre de l‟Assemblée constituante, Ahmed Sadiq,

avocat et membre du Barreau, et Jouaher Ben Mbarek, membre du mouvement Doustourna, auraient été pris pour cible.

21/06/2012

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23/04/2012 AL

BOL 2/2012 Bolivia

Independence of judges

and lawyers;

Presuntas irregularidades en el proceso penal. Según la información recibida, en enero de 1998 se habría iniciado un juicio penal en contra de la Sra. Gaby Candia de Mercado, antigua alcaldesa de La Paz. El juicio se habría caracterizado por fuertes presiones políticas y mediáticas. La Sra. Candia habría sido detenida arbitrariamente durante seis días. El proceso penal contra ella continuó hasta la sentencia condenatoria dictada por la Corte Superior de Justicia del Distrito de la Paz el 3 de febrero de 2004, y seguiría hasta la fecha. El 11 de marzo de 2004, la Sra. Candia recurrió en apelación contra la sentencia. Hasta la fecha, todavía no se habría resuelto un conflicto de competencia para atender el recurso de apelación. Se informa también que se habrían cometido varias violaciones de las garantías judiciales durante este proceso penal.

02/07/2012 20/07/2012

23/04/2012 UA

SGP 1/2012 Singapore

Summary executions;

Alleged risk of execution for a drug trafficking offence following denial of a judicial appeal. According to the information received, Mr. Yong Vui Kong, a national of Malaysia, was arrested on 13 June 2007, on charges of drug trafficking. Mr. Yong was found in possession of 47.27 grams of diamorphine. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act in Singapore, a defendant is reportedly automatically presumed guilty of drug trafficking in cases where possession of heroin exceeds two grams. On 14 November 2008, Mr. Kong was sentenced to death pursuant to section 33 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Mr. Yong‟s last judicial complaint focused on the alleged unequal treatment before the law and unequal protection of the law. On 4 April 2012, the Court of Appeal of Singapore dismissed Mr. Yong‟s appeal.

02/07/2012

24/04/2012 JAL

USA 4/2012 United States

of America

Migrants; Minority

issues; Racism;

Allegation that the Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act discriminates against migrants. According to the information received, the act targets immigrants and people perceived to be immigrants, including persons of Hispanic origin, and has led to harassment, intimidation, and punitive sanctions in the state of Alabama. The act reportedly prohibits irregular immigrants from entering into “business

transactions” with the state, requires schools to verify the immigration status of their

students, provides for prolonged detention without bail for anyone who is suspected of being “unauthorized”, and provides that Alabama courts are not to enforce

contracts in which one of the parties is known to be undocumented. This act was the subject of an earlier communication (see A/HRC/19/44, USA 17/2011).

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25/04/2012 JUA

DZA 1/2012 Algeria

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Allégations d‟arrestation arbitraire. Selon les informations reçues, le 18 avril 2012,

M. Abdelkader Kherba, membre du Comité national de défense des chômeurs (CNDDC) et de la Ligue algérienne de défense des droits de l‟homme (LADDH),

qui filmait un sit-in en soutien au personnel de la justice en grève à Alger, aurait été arrêté. Il serait visé par une procédure en flagrant délit sur les chefs d‟incitation et de

participation à un attroupement. Selon les informations reçues, cette arrestation s‟inscrit dans le cadre d‟un climat général de répression entourant l‟action des

syndicalistes dans le pays et visant particulièrement les membres du CNDDC.

07/06/2012

25/04/2012 JUA

MEX 8/2012 México

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders; Summary

executions;

Alegaciones de una ola de violaciones de derechos humanos contra defensores de los derechos humanos de los pueblos y comunidades indígenas. Según la información recibida, el 15 de marzo de 2012, el Sr. Bernardo Vásquez Sánchez, líder de la Coordinadora de Pueblos Unidos del Valle de Ocotlán (CPUVO) habría sido asesinado en Ocotlán, Oaxaca, y el Sr. Andrés Vásquez Sánchez y la Sra. Rosalinda Vásquez que se trasladaban con el habrían sido heridos por disparos. El 21 de enero de 2012, el Sr. Maximino García Catarino, miembro de la Organización para el Futuro del Pueblo Mixteco (OFPM) habría sido arrestado en Ayutla de los Libres, Guerrero, y habría sufrido malos tratos tras su arresto. Además, habría órdenes de captura en contra de otros cinco miembros de la OFPM: Álvaro Ramírez Consepción, Audencio Ramírez Consepción, Ambrocio García Catarino, Marcelino García Catarino y Jorge García Catarino. El 22 de febrero de 2012, la Sra. Lucila Bettina Cruz Velázquez, co-fundadora de la Asamblea de los Pueblos Indígenas del Istmo de Tehuantepec en Defensa de la Tierra y el Territorio, habría sido arrestada en Istmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca.

26/04/2012 JUA

HND 4/2012 Honduras

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders; Summary

executions; Violence

against women;

Presuntos ataques, actos de hostigamiento y amenazas de muerte contra dos miembros del Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos en Honduras (COFADEH). Según la información recibida, el 22 de febrero de 2012, la Sra. Dina Meetabel Meza Elvir habría recibido dos mensajes a su celular que habrían contenido amenazas de muerte y de violencia sexual. Además, se informa que en el mes de abril de 2012, habría recibido llamadas amenazadoras y habría sido objeto de actos de hostigamiento. También se informa que la Sra. Kenia Veliza Oliva Cardona habría sido objeto de ataques y actos de hostigamiento a partir de julio de 2009 hasta noviembre de 2011.

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26/04/2012 AL

PAN 4/2012 Panama

Freedom of expression;

Presunta detención y deportación de ciudadana canadiense contratada por la Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC – Corporación Canadiense de Transmisión). Según la información recibida, el 20 de enero de 2012, la Sra. X, una ciudadana canadiense contratada por la CBC para trabajar en un documental sobre la minería canadiense en Panamá, habría sido detenida durante cuatro horas y deportada al llegar al Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen. La Sra. X habría pedido permiso varias veces para llamar a la Embajada de Canadá, pero las autoridades no se lo habrían concedido. La Sra. X habría sido permitida hacer una llamada a casa desde la puerta de embarque en el aeropuerto justo antes de su deportación.

26/04/2012 JAL

SWZ 2/2012 Swaziland

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Alleged undue restriction to the right to freedom of association and excessive use of force during demonstrations. According to the information received, in early April 2012, the Swazi Government de-registered the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), which, in a recent statement, called for the boycott of the 2013 elections. On 12 April, Swazi police forcibly disrupted a peaceful demonstration in Mbabane organized by the TUCOSWA and other civil society groups. 15 trade union members were reportedly arrested, including Mr. Muzi Mhlanga, Secretary General of the National Teachers‟ Union. On 14 April, police reportedly disrupted a

prayer gathering in the Lutheran Church in Manzini and arrested church leader Mr. Sydney Nyembe, an executive of the Commission of Concerned Church Leaders. The authorities are working on a censorship law which would allegedly ban Facebook and Twitter users from criticizing the King. These measures reportedly form part of an on-going campaign aimed at intimidating and silencing those calling for political reforms and promoting human rights in Swaziland.

27/04/2012 UA

SLV 1/2012 El Salvador

Independence of judges

and lawyers;

Supuesta injerencia en la independencia de la Judicatura. Según las informaciones recibidas, el Sr. Belarmino Jaime fue electo en la Sala de lo Constitucional por el periodo del 16 de julio de 2009 al 15 de julio de 2018, así como Presidente de esa Sala, de la Corte Suprema de Justicia y del Órgano Judicial por el periodo del 16 de julio de 2009 hasta el 15 de julio de 2012. El 24 de abril 2012, se habría designado como Magistrado Propietario de la Sala de lo Constitucional de la Corte Suprema de Justicia al abogado X en remplazo del Sr. Belarmino Jaime, quien continuará como Magistrado de la Corte Suprema, más no en la Sala de lo Constitucional. Se informa que esta decisión habría sido tomada como medida de represalia, en razón de las sentencias que la Sala de los Constitucional de la Corte Suprema de Justicia profiriera desde 2009, que han afectado intereses de ciertos grupos de El Salvador.

26/06/2012

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30/04/2012 JAL

IND 5/2012 India

Adequate housing;

Food; Health; Water

and Sanitation;

Alleged threats to the enjoyment of the rights to food, housing, water and sanitation, and health care for several communities in Banke, Nepal as a result of annual flooding caused by the Lakshmanpur Dam and the Kalkwala Afflux Bund. According to information received, annual floods threaten more than 3,000 families of Holiya, Bethani, Mattaiya, Fattepur, Bankatti and Gangapur in the Banke district of Nepal. While some flooding in the area is a natural phenomenon, the annual flooding has been aggravated since the construction of the Lakshmanpur Dam in 1985 and, in particular the Kalkwala Afflux Bund built between 1999 and 2000 by the Government of India along the Indo-Nepali border. Reportedly, the affected communities were not consulted prior to the construction of the dam and afflux bund in question. It is alleged that no proper resettlement plan has been put in place despite the challenges the affected communities face yearly.

30/04/2012 JAL

NPL 2/2012 Nepal

Adequate housing;

Food; Health; Water

and Sanitation;

02/05/2012 JAL

PAK 6/2012 Pakistan

Torture; Violence

against women;

Alleged rape of an 18-year-old girl by her stepfather, a police officer, for more than five years. According to the information received, Ms. X (18), a resident in Punjab Province was continuously raped for five years by her stepfather, a police officer of the area. The victim also stated that she was forced to have three abortions. She also reported that she had been threatened by the perpetrator not to talk about the matter with anyone, and that when she reported the facts to the police station, she was threatened not to file a complaint. It is finally reported that the mother of the victim has been disappeared for the last 10 months and her whereabouts remain unknown.

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03/05/2012 JAL

AGO 2/2012 Angola

Migrants; Violence

against women;

Alleged mass deportations of Congolese nationals from Angola to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the serious violations of their human rights in the expulsion process. According to the information received, in March 2012, over seven thousand DRC nationals were expelled from Angola, under degrading conditions, which included sexual violence against women. Allegedly, four DRC nationals who were detained by the Angolan authorities died of asphyxiation whilst awaiting deportation. These allegations follow up from on-going concern about the mass expulsions of migrants from Angola, and have been subject to investigations by the African Commission on Human and Peoples‟ Rights, UN Special

Rapporteurs (see A/HRC/18/51, case no AGO 1/2011) and the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

03/05/2012 JUA

ROU 1/2012 Romania

Adequate housing;

Minority issues;

Racism;

Alleged imminent forced evictions of approximately 300 Roma families from the settlements of Craica, Garii and Piritia in Baia Mare. According to the information received, around two thousand Roma residents of the settlements Craica, Garii and Pirita, in Baia Mare are to be forcefully evicted from their homes. Allegedly, the Baia Mare authorities have offered to relocate the affected communities to a former office building of an industrial factory. It is reported that families who have refused to relocate to this site, have not been offered an alternative relocation solution. The housing situation of Roma communities in Baia Mare was the subject of an earlier communication (see A/HRC/19/44, case no ROU 1/2011).

03/05/2012 JUA

SAU 7/2012 Saudi Arabia

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Independence of judges

and lawyers;

Allegations of acts of intimidation, excessive use of force and arbitrary detention against individuals exercising peacefully their rights to freedom of association, of peaceful assembly and of expression. According to the information received, on 10 April 2012, Mr. Mohammed Salih Al-Bajady was convicted of, inter alia, being a member of the human rights NGO Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, and calling on the families of political detainees to protest and hold sit-ins. In late March 2012, prosecutors reportedly imposed a foreign travel ban on human rights activists Mr. Muhammad Fahd al-Qahtani, Mr. Walid Abu al-Khair and Mr. Mukhlif Shammari for “security reasons.” On 10 March 2012, a sit-in at the University of King Khalid in Abha was allegedly met with excessive use of force. On 13 March 2012, the court hearing related to the case of Mr. Fadhil Ali Al- Sulaiman, who was charged with demonstrating, resisting arrest and injuring the security forces in relation to his participation in two peaceful assemblies in Hofuf in March 2011, was postponed.

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03/05/2012 JUA

UZB 5/2012 Uzbekistan

Arbitrary detention;

Torture;

Allegation of mistreatment and continued arbitrary detention. According to the information received, Mr. Erkin Musaev, Uzbek national, a former UNDP employee, was arrested by the Uzbek National Security Service on 31 January 2006, on charges of disclosure of state secrets, among others, and sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. On 9 May 2008, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared in its Opinion No. 14/2008 that the deprivation of liberty of Mr. Musaev was arbitrary. In early February 2011, Mr. Musaev was transferred from a prison in Bekabad city to a high security prison in Navoi region where he remained detained. Mr. Musaev has reportedly been subjected to intermittent beating, while detained in Navoi prison. He was reported to be in poor health. Mr. Musaev was the subject of earlier communications (see A/HRC/18/51, case no UZB 1/2011).

19/06/2012

04/05/2012 JUA

AZE 3/2012 Azerbaijan

Adequate housing;

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders; Torture;

Alleged violent attack on journalists. According to the information received, on 18 April 2012, Mr. Idrak Abbasov, an Azerbaijani journalist and reporter of the newspaper Zerkalo and of the Institute of Reporters‟ Freedom and Safety (IRFS),

was attacked and beaten by security service staff of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), while he was filming the confrontation between the residents of Sulutepe settlement in Baku and the security staff of SOCAR, who were demolishing homes in the area to develop oil resources. As a consequence of the attack, he was reportedly taken to hospital unconscious with serious traumas. Reportedly, Mr. Adalat Abbasov, brother of Mr. Idrak Abbasov, and Ms Gunay Musayeva, a journalist of the daily Yeni Musavat, were also subjected to violent attacks by the same group of men. Mr. Idrak Abbasov, was the subject of an earlier communication (see E/CN.4/2006/55/Add.1, para 26).

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04/05/2012 JAL

KHM 3/2012 Cambodia

Cambodia; Freedom of

expression; Freedom of

peaceful assembly and

of association; Human

rights defenders;

Allegations of restrictions to the enjoyment of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, opinion and expression which were reportedly faced by organizers and participants to the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples‟ Forum 2012 (ACSC/APF) under the theme “Transforming ASEAN into a People Centered

Community”. According to the information received, following the approval by the

Ministry of Interior to hold the conference, issued on the eve of the event, the management of the hotel where the conference was scheduled to take place, allegedly acting upon instructions by the authorities, imposed a number of restrictions on the ACSC/APF Organizing Committee. These include the removal of pictures displayed by a participating NGO from Myanmar on the wall of its stand in the exhibition hall; the request to submit to the hotel management any video or picture to be shown during the documentary films screening session; and the prohibition of four thematic parallel workshops, which were allegedly considered as “politically sensitive”.

27/06/2012

04/05/2012 JUA

IRN 9/2012 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Iran;

Summary executions;

Torture;

Alleged death sentence and imminent execution on charges of moharebeh (enmity against God). According to the information received, Mr. Hamid Ghassemi-Shall, dual national of Iran and Canada, was arrested on 24 May 2008 while visiting his mother in Iran. He was subsequently placed in solitary confinement in Evin prison for 18 months without any legal representation. While in pre-trial detention, he was allegedly forced to confess to the charges brought against him. In November 2009, Mr. Ghassemi-Shall was sentenced to death following an allegedly unfair trial by a Revolutionary Court. Pursuant to article 186 of the Penal Code of Iran, he was convicted of enmity against God (moharebeh) relating to alleged espionage and cooperation with the banned People‟s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). The

evidence used as a basis for his conviction consisted of a confession made under duress. On 7 November 2009, the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence.

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04/05/2012 JAL

MWI 2/2012 Malawi

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders;

Independence of judges

and lawyers;

Alleged prosecution of a human rights defender in relation to his legitimate activities and to the exercise of his right to freedom of expression. According to the information received, Mr. John Kapito, Chairperson of the Malawi Human Rights Commission, was approached by a group of police officers on 17 March 2012 who questioned him and proceeded to search his car, allegedly in search of guns and seditious materials, and his house later in the same day. Mr. Kapito was charged with possession of seditious materials, although no such materials were reportedly found, and possession of foreign currency. He was released on bail in time to travel to Geneva for a meeting of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Human Rights Institutions. It is alleged that this case is part of a pattern whereby sedition charges are used to silence human rights defenders in Malawi.

04/05/2012 JUA

MEX 10/2012 México

Human rights

defenders; Migrants;

Summary executions;

Presuntas amenazas de muerte y actos de intimidación en contra de defensores de los derechos de las personas migrantes. Según las informaciones recibidas, el 31 de marzo de 2012, dos hombres se habrían acercado al Padre Alejandro Solalinde Guerra, Director del Albergue del Migrante “Hermanos en el Camino” en Ixtepec,

con la intención aparente de atacarlo, pero habrían sido interceptados. Al día siguiente, el Padre Solalinde habría sido notificado que alguien había sido contratado a matarlo. El 19 de abril, el Padre Solalinde habría sido informado que había un hombre hospedándose en la localidad que habría manifestado recibir dinero para matarlo. El Padre Solalinde fue sujeto de comunicaciones anteriores (véase A/HRC/19/44, MEX 17/2011). A principios de abril de 2012, un hombre desconocido habría amenazado de muerte al personal de la Casa del Migrante “Frontera Digna”, el cual ya fue sujeto de una comunicación (véase A/HRC18/51, MEX 9/2011).

02/07/2012

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07/05/2012 JUA

MMR 2/2012 Myanmar

Health; Independence

of judges and lawyers;

Myanmar;

Alleged violation of due process safeguards and denial of access to appropriate specialist medical care. According to the information received, Mr. Phyo Wai Aung was accused of being involved in bombings during the traditional New Year festival which took place on 15 April 2010. The trial was allegedly held behind closed doors for the first 14 months. Defence lawyers were allegedly denied the right to cross- examine prosecution witnesses. At the sixth hearing, the judge ordered that charges be brought against the lawyers and their client for intentionally causing an insult to a judicial officer under the Contempt of Courts Act 1926. The judge reportedly cut off the defendant‟s testimony after only six hearings during which the defendant could not possibly go through all the rebuttals in the prosecution case, which involved charges carrying the death sentence. Reportedly, requests for the trial to be reheard and appeals for the defendant to receive specialist medical treatment went unheeded.

07/05/2012 JUA

LKA 2/2012 Sri Lanka

Freedom of religion;

Minority issues;

Alleged attack on Jumma Mosque in Dambulla and other places of worship. According to the information received, a crowd of about 2000 Sinhalese Buddhists, including high-ranking monks, protested and attacked the 60 year-old mosque on 20 April 2012. Reportedly, the Prime Minister‟s office released a statement on 22 April 2012, ordering the removal and relocation of the mosque. The decision was allegedly taken without consultation with the Muslim religious leaders or the local community. There were also reports of other incidents of attacks of places of religious worship in Anuradhapura, Illangaithurai Muhathuwaram (Lanka Patuna), Kalutara and Ambalangoda.

08/05/2012 JAL

CMR 1/2012 Cameroun

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Health;

Human rights

defenders;

Allégations de restrictions indues au droit à la liberté de réunion pacifique. Selon les informations reçues, une réunion visant à discuter des problématiques du Sida et des droits de l‟homme des minorités basées sur l‟orientation sexuelle, tenue le mardi 27

mars 2012 à Yaoundé, aurait été empêchée par les autorités, qui avaient dans un premier temps autorisé sa tenue. Un jeune homme, membre du Rassemblement de la Jeunesse Camerounaise, aurait, avec l‟aide de complices, violemment pris à partie et insulté Mme Alice Nkom et M. Stéphane Koche, qui travaillent pour les groupes organisateurs de l‟atelier. Il est également rapporté l‟interruption, par la police, d‟un

rassemblement pacifique organisé par le Mouvement pour la Défense des Droits de l‟Homme et des Libertés le 30 mars 2012 à Maroua, qui avait, dans un premier

temps, été autorisé par les autorités. M. Abdoulaye Math, président de l‟organisation, ainsi que 14 autres membres du Mouvement, auraient été arrêtés.

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08/05/2012 AL

PNG 2/2012 Papua New

Guinea

Freedom of expression;

Alleged restrictions on media freedom, including the establishment of a committee to monitor online activities, as well as recent cases of attacks against journalists by police officers. According to the information received, Mr. Patrick Talu, reporter for the Post-Courier newspaper, was threatened by police officers due their perceived negative reporting in the press. Mr. Mark Kayok, crime reporter for the National Broadcasting Corporation, was allegedly assaulted by a group of police officers who claimed that the media have not been reporting positively on them.

08/05/2012 JUA

SYR 5/2012 Syrian Arab

Republic

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders;

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Torture;

Allegations of prolonged incommunicado detention, ill-treatment and upcoming military court trials of human rights defenders. According to the new information received concerning those arrested during the raid on the offices of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) on 16 February 2012, Messrs. Bassam al-Ahmed, Jawan Farso and Ayham Ghazzoul, who had been held in incommunicado detention since their arrest, were informed on 22 April 2012 that they would be prosecuted by a military court on charges of “possessing prohibited materials with the intent to disseminate them”. Ms. Yara Badr, Ms. Razan Ghazawi,

Ms. Mayada Khalil, Ms. Sana‟ Zitani, and Ms. Hanadeh Zahlout, are reportedly being detained in the central prison of Adra in Damascus, facing the same charges. Messrs. Hani Zitani, Abdelrahman Alhamade and Mansour al-Omari, arrested during the raid, are reportedly being held in incommunicado detention in a military base in al-Mo‟damiya, and Messrs. Mazen Darwich and Hussayn Gharir have been held incommunicado in the AFI detention centre in El Mezzeh since their arrest. Allegedly, at least seven of those arrested have been subjected to ill treatment while in detention. This case was the subject of an earlier communication (see A/HRC/20/30, case no SYR 2/2012

10/05/2012 AL

CAN 2/2012 Canada

Indigenous peoples;

Follow up letter concerning the situation of the Attawapiskat community and broader issues related to the economic and social situation of First Nations in Canada. The follow up letter contains observations of the Special Rapporteur on the Attawapiskat situation as well as additional questions in light of the response of Canada (3/2011) to the Special Rapporteur‟s initial letter on the issue

(A/HRC/20/30). The follow up questions relate also to further allegations received concerning the formulas used for providing funding to First Nations in Canada.

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10/05/2012 JUA

COL 5/2012 Colombia

Disappearances;

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Presunta desaparición forzada. Según las informaciones recibidas, a las 3:30 de la tarde del 18 de abril de 2012, el Sr. Hernán Henry Díaz habría comunicado a su pareja sentimental por mensaje telefónico que estaba en el corregimiento de Puerto Vega. Este mensaje sería la última noticia que se conocería del Sr. Díaz y, su destino y paradero continuarían desconocidos. El Sr. Díaz es Vicepresidente de la Asociación Campesina del Sur Oriente de Putumayo (ACSOMAYO), integrante de la Mesa Departamental de Organizaciones Sociales, Campesinas, Afro descendientes e Indígenas del Departamento de Putumayo, miembro de la Federación Nacional Sindical Unitaria Agropecuaria (FENSUAGRO) y dirigente del movimiento de la “Marcha Patriótica”.

22/05/2012

10/05/2012 UA

PSE 3/2012 Occupied

Palestinian

Territory

Freedom of expression;

Alleged detention and harassment of individuals who have expressed criticism of Palestinian officials. According to information received, Mr. Yusef al-Shayeb, correspondent for the Jordanian daily Al-Ghad, has been detained and interrogated for an article he wrote regarding alleged corrupt practices at the Delegation of Palestine in Paris. Mr. Tarek Kahmis, reporter for Zaman press, was allegedly detained and interrogated after he posted comments on Facebook to condemn the arrest of Mr. Yusef al-Shayeb. Ms. Esmat Abdel Khalik, a university lecturer in journalism at Al Quds University, has been detained and interrogated for posts and comments posted on her Facebook page, including a call for the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority.

11/05/2012 UA

CYP 1/2012 Cyprus

Freedom of religion;

Alleged imminent deportation of a woman of the Bahá‟í faith and her daughter from

Cyprus to the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to the information received, Ms. X and her daughter, Iranian citizens, applied for refugee status in Cyprus on 14 October 2010. Reportedly, Ms. X‟s application was rejected twice and her case was

appealed to the Supreme Court, where the hearing was expected to take place on 14 May 2012. Ms. X was a Muslim who converted to Bahá‟í faith in Cyprus in

December 2010. Following her conversion, her deportation to the Islamic Republic of Iran could risk her facing severe punishment under the Iranian Apostasy Law and losing custody of her daughter as her ex-husband‟s family threatened.

30/05/2012

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11/05/2012 JUA

IDN 4/2012 Indonesia

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of religion;

Alleged charges of disseminating information aimed at inflicting religious hatred and religious blasphemy in Padang, West Sumatra of Indonesia. According to the information received, Alexander Aan posted a link on his Facebook wall that related to a comic strip alleging that the Prophet Mohammad slept with Zainab, the wife of his adopted son, Zaid. Mr. Aan allegedly was not aware that his Facebook wall privacy setting was public. His post caused much controversy and he was assaulted by some men from Pulau Punjung who accused him of blasphemy. It was reported that later, the police processed Mr. Aan‟s case and charged him for disseminating

information aimed at inflicting religious hatred under Article 78 of the Internet Law and religious blasphemy under Articles 156 a and 156b of the Criminal Code.

11/05/2012 JUA

RUS 2/2012 Russian

Federation

Arbitrary detention;

Cultural Rights;

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of religion;

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Violence

against women;

Alleged detention of band members of „Pussy Riot‟ in Moscow on the charge of

“hooliganism”. According to the information received, on 4 March 2012, Ms.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ms. Maria Alekhina were arrested and charged with hooliganism for allegedly performing a punk prayer at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral. Reportedly, Ms. Ekaterina Samutsevich was arrested on 15 March 2012 and charged with similar offence. Since their arrest, some of their family members, some people supporting them as well as one of their lawyers allegedly received threats. On 19 April 2012, Tagansky Court in Moscow had reportedly extended the detention of the three women to 24 June 2012.

14/05/2012 AL

CHN 5/2012 China

(People's

Republic of)

Health;

Alleged deteriorating health condition of detained refugees. According to the information received, Ms. X, aged 28, and her newborn child, both refugees from the Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea (DPRK), were held in Wuhong

administrative detention facility in Shenyang, China. It is reported that Ms. X was arrested by the Chinese authorities on 29 February 2012 in Kunming, China. Ms. X has allegedly not received adequate post-natal healthcare after giving birth while in custody. It is alleged that her health condition is deteriorating, and that her newborn child faces the risk of imminent death.

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14/05/2012 JAL

GTM 3/2012 Guatemala

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders; Summary

executions;

Presuntos asesinatos de un defensor de los derechos humanos y de tres otras personas. Según las informaciones recibidas, el 24 de marzo de 2012, alrededor de las 8.30 de la tarde, los Sres. Luis Ovidio Ortiz Cajas, Bildave Santos Barco, Fredy Leonel Estrada Mazariegos y Oscar Alexander Rodríguez habrían sido asesinados a tiros en la Ciudad de Guatemala. El Sr. Luis Ovidio Ortiz Cajas era el Secretario de Relaciones Públicas del Comité Ejecutivo Nacional del Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Salud de Guatemala (SNTSG), miembro del Foro por los Derechos Humanos y también fue co-fundador del Frente Nacional de Lucha (FNL).

13/07/2012

14/05/2012 JUA

IRN 10/2012 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of religion;

Iran; Minority issues;

Torture;

Alleged new arrests and continued detention of the members Bahá‟í faith community in the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to the information received, Mr. Bakhtiyar Rasekh, Mrs. Farahnaz Naimi (Rasekhi), Ms. Farin Rasekhi, Mr. Arman Mokhtari, Mr. Shayan Tafazoli, Ms. Naghmeh Zabihian, Mrs. Sousan Badavam (Farhangi), Ms. Nadia Asadian (Abdu‟l-Hamidi), Ms. Shiva Kashaninejad (Samiian), Mr. Natoli Derakhshan, Mr. Faramarz Firouzian, Mr. Shahnam Golshani, Ms. Maryam Akhzari, Mr. Nima Dehghan,Ms. Mojgan Emadi, Ms. Yekta Fahandezh, Ms. Mojdeh Fallah, Mr. Sam Jaberi, Mr. Sina Sarikhani, Mr. Payam Taslimi, Ms. Semitra Momtazian, Mr. Farid Emadi, Mr. Iman Rahmat Panah (Khah), Mr. Farshid Yazdani, Mr. Houman Zarei, Mr. Badiollah Nakhie, Mr. Taghi Haeri, Mr. Vahid Hasankhani, Ms. Baji Gez, Mr. Hasan Khani, Mr. Zabihollah Raoufi, Ms. Sayyareh Raoufi, Mr. Aminollah Raoufi, Mr. Nader Mavvadati, Mr. Nourollah Mavaddati, Mr. Vahid Kholousi, Mr. Haydar Kholousi, Mr. Zekrollah Yegan, Ms. Samin Ehsani, Mr. Vahed Kholousi and Ms. Mahsa Mehregani were arrested and detained in different parts of the Islamic Republic of Iran on various charges, mostly related to their faith.

19/06/2012 12/07/2012 12/07/2012

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14/05/2012 JUA

ISR 5/2012 Israel

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of expression;

OPT; Torture;

Allegation concerning more than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons who are currently engaged in an open-ended hunger strike. According to the information received, Mr. Bilal Diab and Mr. Thaer Halahleh, two Palestinian prisoners, are at immediate risk of death since they began their hunger strike on 28 February 2012. Information received also indicates that many prisoners have been subjected to excessive and abusive solitary confinement and prolonged isolation. Prisoners and their visitors have also undergone forced strip searches. Those involved in the hunger strike have been subjected to further punitive measures such as being constantly transferred between prisons; monetary fines; denial of family visits; denial of electricity and water supply; forced DNA sampling and limited access to lawyers and independent, external physicians. Some prisoners have been denied family visits since 2007.

14/05/2012 JAL

THA 2/2012 Thailand

Migrants; Slavery;

Trafficking;

Alleged trafficking of migrant workers from Cambodia and Myanmar for the purpose of labour exploitation and debt bondage. According to information received, Mr. X, a Cambodian in his thirties came to Thailand in December 2010 through a broker, CDM Trading Manpower Co Ltd, based in Cambodia. He entered into a contract with CDM to work at Phatthana Frozen Food Factory in Thailand. It is reported that his salary, attendance bonus and working days were less than what was stipulated in his contract. Accommodation and health care were allegedly not provided for. Moreover, part of his salary and his passport are reportedly withheld by his employer, to prevent him from leaving until his debts are settled. Reportedly, other cases point to a pattern of trafficking of migrant workers from Cambodia and Myanmar for labour exploitation and debt bondage in Thailand, particularly those working in Phatthana Frozen Food Factory and Vita Food Factory.

30/07/2012

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15/05/2012 JUA

CHN 4/2012 China

(People's

Republic of)

Disappearances;

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders;

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Torture;

Alleged threats and harassment against a human rights defender and his family and the alleged arbitrary detention or enforced disappearance of a number of his relatives and supporters. According to the information received, Mr Chen Guangcheng and his family have been under extralegal house arrest since September 2010, until Mr. Chen Guangcheng´s alleged escape on 22 April 2012. Reportedly, on 26 April 2012, a group of men attempted to break into the home of Mr. Chen Guangfu, brother of Mr. Chen Guangcheng. Reports indicate that Mr. Chen Guangfu was detained before being subsequently released and forbidden from leaving his village. Mr. Chen Guangfu‟s son, Mr. Chen Kegui, is allegedly in

custody in the Yinan County Detention Centre. Furthermore, on 28 April, Messrs. Chen Guangcun and Chen Hua, both cousins of Mr. Chen Guangcheng, were reportedly arrested. Their fate and whereabouts allegedly remained unclear. On 3 May 2012, Mr. Jiang Tianyong was allegedly detained and beaten after attempting to visit Mr. Chen Guangcheng in hospital. It is further alleged that Mr. Chen Guangcheng's wife, Ms. Yuan Weijing, was harassed and threatened following her husband's alleged escape.

15/05/2012 JUA

NPL 3/2012 Nepal

Adequate housing;

Extreme poverty;

Alleged forced eviction of 994 informal settlers on the „thapathali‟ settlement on the

Bagmati River bank in Kathmandu. According to the information received, 994 residents in the thapathali settlement, including 401 children, were forcibly evicted on 8 May, and 249 houses and a community school destroyed in the process. Allegedly, no prior notice was issued to families, and excessive force was used during the eviction. Alternative accommodation or housing has not been provided. It is reported that families, with nowhere else to go, have been staying on bare land at the site, in dire conditions. The government has allegedly not taken any relocation measures although it previously announced it intended to secure land for relocation and would cover three-months rent for each family as a temporary measure. Potential evictions of the Bagmati river bank settlements were the subject of a previous communication (see A/HRC/20/30, case no NPL 1/2012).

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15/05/2012 JUA

ARE 3/2012 United Arab

Emirates

Disappearances;

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Alleged revocation of citizenship, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of human rights defenders. According to the information received, Mr. Sheick Mohammad Abdel Razzak Al-Sadick, Dr. Ali Hussein Al-Hamadi, Dr. Shahin Abdallah Al-Huwsseni, Mr. Hussein Mounif Al-Jaberi, Mr. Hassan Mounif Al- Jaberi, Mr. Ibrahim Hassan Marzouki and Mr. Ahmed Gheith Sweidi, all members of the Islah Association, have had their UAE nationality revoked and, as a result of no longer having UAE nationality, have been detained. It is reported that some of the subjects of this urgent appeal had signed a petition which called for reforms of the legislature, including electoral reforms. It is alleged that another member of Islah, Dr. Ahmed Yousef Al-Zaabie, was arrested for obstructing the police when one of the seven got arrested, and that he was released on bail on 17 April 2012, but his family had not heard from him since his alleged release. The Chairman of the Islah Association, Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Kayed Al-Qasimi, was arrested on 20 April 2012 and is reportedly held in solitary confinement. Furthermore, the whereabouts of Mr. Saleh Al-Dhufairi, a member of Islah who allegedly was arrested on 29 April, remained unknown.

16/05/2012 JAL

BRA 5/2012 Brazil

Torture; Truth, justice,

reparation &

guarantees on non-rec;

The National Truth Commission of Brazil was formally constituted with the appointment of the Commission members on 16 May. Since the signing into law by President Rousseff in November 2011, this is the next critical step towards the establishment of the National Truth Commission responsible for investigating human rights violations, including killings, torture and forced disappearances committed under military rule between 1964 and 1985. The Special Rapporteurs referred to the benefits of a commission of inquiry (A/HRC/19/61) and the integral role the mechanism can provide to facilitating the formal investigation of legacies of killings, torture and other forms of ill-treatment, and pave the way to effective and fair prosecutions. Reference was also made to HRC Res. 18/7 of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non- recurrence, who can contribute, upon request, to the provision of technical assistance or advisory services on issues pertaining to that mandate.

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16/05/2012 JUA

IRN 11/2012 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Arbitrary detention;

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Iran;

Summary executions;

Torture;

Alleged incommunicado detention, torture, unfair trial and sentence to death for moharebeh. According to the information received, on 26 January 2009, security forces arrested Mr Behrouz Alakhani, a 26 year old Kurdish citizen, on charges of cooperation with the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) and participation in the murder of the Khoy Prosecutor. He was held incommunicado for 19 months before his transfer to Orumiyeh Central Prison, and was allegedly subjected to severe psychological and physical torture. During his detention, he was reportedly deprived of access to a lawyer and contacts with family members. In December 2010, Mr Alakhani was brought before Orumiyeh Revolutionary Court, where he was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for possessing and transporting arms, and to the death penalty on charges of moharebeh, following a trial which violated procedural safeguards.

16/05/2012 JAL

MYS 3/2012 Malaysia

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Torture;

Alleged excessive use of force by law enforcement authorities against peaceful protestors, and acts of harassment against media personnel and human rights defenders. According to the information received, a public sit-in organized by the Coalition for Fair and Free Elections (Bersih) in Kuala Lumpur on 28 April 2012 met with police brutality. The police reportedly used, in an indiscriminate manner, tear gas and water cannons to disperse the peaceful protestors injuring several of them. It is also reported that media personnel covering the protest were assaulted by security forces. Since this demonstration took place, Ms. Ambiga Sreenevasan, who is one of the leaders of the Coalition for Fair and Free Elections, has been, on different occasions, the target of severe and sustained acts of harassment and intimidation. Bersih members were the subject of a previous communication (see A/HRC/19/44, case no MYS 6/2011). Ms. Ambiga Sreenevasan was also the subject of a previous communication (see A/HRC/20/30, case no MYS 11/2011).

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16/05/2012 JUA

MEX 12/2012 México

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders;

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Summary

executions;

Presuntas amenazas de muerte y actos de intimidación en contra de defensores de derechos humanos y sindicalista. Según las informaciones recibidas, el 30 de marzo de 2012, un vehículo habría tratado de embestir el vehículo de la Sra. Alba Cruz Ramos. El 13 y 14 de abril, varios mensajes amenazadores, incluidas amenazas de muerte, habrían sido enviados a los celulares de la Sra. Cruz Ramos, el Padre Romualdo Francisco Mayrén Peláez y la esposa del Sr. Marcelino Coache Verano. Dichas amenazas habrían provenido del mismo número telefónico. La Sra. Cruz Ramos es abogada con el Comité de defensa integral de derechos humanos Gobixha – Codigo DH, y el Padre Mayrén Peláez es fundador del Centro Regional de Derechos humanos “Bartolomé Carrasco Briseño”, A.C., y de la Iniciativa

Ciudadana Oaxaca. Ambos defensores han trabajado en defensa de los derechos humanos del sindicalista y activista político el Sr. Coache Verano, quien ya fue sujeto de una comunicación anterior (ver A/HRC/13/22/Add. 1, para 1440).

16/05/2012 JAL

VEN 2/2012 Venezuela

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Terrorism;

Alegaciones recibidas sobre la reforma de la Ley Orgánica contra la delincuencia organizada y financiamiento al terrorismo y otras leyes recientemente en vigor que atentarían, principalmente, contra el derecho a la libertad de asociación. Según la información recibida, el 28 de enero de 2012 la Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela aprobó la reforma de la Ley Orgánica contra la delincuencia organizada y financiamiento al terrorismo. El texto contiene de un conjunto de disposiciones legales que atentarían especialmente contra el derecho de asociación, así como de expresión y reunión pacífica, por parte de la sociedad civil y partidos políticos en la oposición. Por otro lado, se informa también que esta legislación complementaría otras leyes ya en vigor, y en concreto: la Ley de Defensa de la Soberanía Política y Autodeterminación Nacional; la reforma de la Ley de Partidos Políticos, Reuniones Públicas y Manifestaciones; y la Ley que autoriza al Presidente de la República para dictar Decretos con Rango, Valor y fuerza de Ley en materias que se delegan.

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21/05/2012 JAL

BLR 2/2012 Belarus

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Independence of judges

and lawyers;

Alleged imposition of travel bans on, due process violations against and sentencing of human rights defenders. According to the information received, on 13 February 2011, the Minsk City Court dismissed Mr. Valiantsin Stefanovich‟s appeal, upholding an order to pay a fine of 53 million roubles for “non-payment or incomplete payment of taxes”. Mr. Stefanovich is the Vice-Chairman of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna”. On 24 January 2012, the Minsk City Court reportedly

dismissed the appeal of Ales Bialiatski, Chairman of “Viasna” and FIDH Vice- President, upholding the sentence of four and a half years imprisonment and fines totalling 757 million roubles for “tax evasion on a large scale”. It is alleged that

these criminal cases were politically motivated. Reportedly, Mr. Aleh Volchek, Head of Legal Aid to the Population, was sentenced to four days of administrative detention on 30 January for “petty hooliganism” after his organisation had published

a report on the trial of Mr. Bialiatski. In March 2012, Ms. Zhanna Litvina, chairperson of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), and Messrs. Valiantsin Stefanovich, Aleh Hulak, member of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC), Andrey Dynko, editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper “Nasha Niva”, and Harry Pahanyayla, chairman of the Legal Commission of the BHC, were all allegedly denied permission to leave the country. Viasna, the BHC, the BAJ and Nasha Niva were among the subjects of an earlier communication (see A/HRC/19/44, case no BLR 7/2011).

21/05/2012 JUA

BDI 1/2012 Burundi

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders; Summary

executions;

Allégations de menaces de mort à l‟encontre d‟un journaliste des droits humains. Selon les informations reçues, M. Bob Rugurika aurait reçu des menaces provenant de hauts fonctionnaires du Service National des Renseignements (SNR) et de la police. M. Rugurika est le rédacteur en chef de la Radio Publique Africaine (RPA), une station de radio privée diffusant des reportages sur des questions relatives aux droits de l‟homme au Burundi. Le 2 mars 2012, des officiers auraient appelé M.

Rugurika pour lui dire que le directeur du SNR était «très en colère» contre lui suite à ses reportages. Le 7 mars, ils auraient rappelé et averti: «Rappelle-toi que tu es jeune et que tu as besoin de voir vivre ta femme et ton enfant». Peu de temps après, entre le 27 et le 30 mars, deux jeunes individus non identifiés auraient circulé jour et nuit à proximité de la maison familiale de Bob Rugurika afin de surveiller les faits et gestes de celui-ci.

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21/05/2012 JAL

MNG 1/2012 Mongolia

Freedom of expression;

Independence of judges

and lawyers;

Alleged arbitrary detention of the former President of Mongolia. According to the information received, on 13 April 2012, Mr. Enkhbayar Nambar, 53 years old, former President of Mongolia and Chairman of the Mongolian People‟s

Revolutionary Party (MPRP), was taken into custody in Tuv Aimag Prison on charges of corruption, without the issuance of a proper court order and with restricted and monitored access to his legal counsel. It is alleged that the former President went on a hunger strike on 4 May and that his health deteriorated, requiring his transfer to a hospital. He was reportedly released on bail on 14 May and ended his hunger strike.

22/05/2012 JUA

ETH 3/2012 Ethiopia

Adequate housing;

Arbitrary detention;

Indigenous peoples;

Minority issues;

Summary executions;

Alleged incidents of violence, including against members of the Anywa community and the deteriorating security situation in the Gambella region following the involuntary displacement of communities from the region. According to the information received, recent violent incidents in the region have been triggered by the forced displacement of the minority/indigenous people of Gambella from their traditional territories which they have inhabited for centuries, in order to make way for agro business enterprises supported by the Government. Reportedly, in a series of events between February and May 2012, military forces have killed, injured, detained, or taken to unknown locations dozens of civilians, including Anywa people living in the Gambella region in general and in Abobo Woreda district in particular. These events were allegedly carried out in retaliation for killings by unknown gunmen of two police officers and numerous civilians. Several of these incidents were allegedly carried out in or around camps of Saudi Star Agro Plc., one of the two biggest foreign investors in the region.

24/05/2012 JAL

CAN 1/2012 Canada

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Allégations de restrictions arbitraires au droit de réunion pacifique et de l‟usage

disproportionné de la force contre des manifestants dans le contexte de mobilisations d‟étudiants à Montréal, Québec; et allégations de nouvelles lois portant indûment atteinte aux droits à la liberté de réunion pacifique et d‟association. Selon les informations reçues, de nombreuses manifestations

d‟étudiants tenues à Montréal et dans sa région, depuis le 13 févier 2012, auraient

fait l‟objet d‟un usage excessif de la force par la police. De plus, il est rapporté l‟adoption d‟un règlement municipal apportant des modifications au règlement de la

ville de Montréal et d‟une loi adoptée par l‟Assemblée Nationale du Québec (no.

78), le 18 mai 2012, qui contiendraient de nombreuses dispositions en contradiction avec les standards internationaux relatifs aux droits à la liberté de réunion pacifique et d‟association.

23/07/2012

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24/05/2012 AL

FIN 1/2012 Finland

Indigenous peoples;

Allegations concerning a decision by the Finland Supreme Administrative Court has the effect of diminishing Sami self-determination. According to the information received, in order to register on the Sami electoral roll to elect representatives of the Sami Parliament, the Parliament has required that potential registrants meet both self-identification and language requirements. On the basis of these criteria, the Sami Parliament of Finland declined to admit four individuals onto its electoral register. However, in September 2011, the Finland Supreme Administrative Court reversed the decision of the Sami Parliament and decided that self-identification by any person with any ancestor registered as “Lapp” dating back to as far as 1763

should be a sufficient criterion for registration. Concern is expressed that elimination of the language requirement for registration to the electoral roll will result in an influx of registrants to the electoral roll and a diluting of Sami decision- making power within the Sami Parliament.

09/07/2012

24/05/2012 JAL

HND 5/2012 Honduras

Freedom of expression;

Summary executions;

Presunto asesinato de periodista. Según las informaciones recibidas, el 9 de mayo de 2012, el Sr. Ángel Alfredo Villatoro, coordinador de informativos de la Cadena Radial “HRN” y co-presentador del programa informativo matutino, se dirigía desde su domicilio a su lugar de trabajo cuando seis hombres organizados en tres vehículos le habrían interceptado el vehículo en un cruce próximo a las colonias de San Ignacio y Tres Caminos de la ciudad de Tegucigalpa. Posteriormente, le habrían disparado en una zona despoblada próxima a la Colonia las Uvas de la ciudad de Tegucigalpa donde su cadáver fue encontrado.

25/05/2012 JAL

EGY 6/2012 Egypt

Summary executions;

Torture;

Alleged death in custody due to torture by prison guards. According to the information received, on 7 February 2012, Mr. Ahmed Ramzy Ali Amar, aged 27, who was serving his sentence at New Valley Prison, was beaten by prison guards following a dispute with one of the guards who came to search his cell. Subsequently, he was taken to a solitary confinement cell as punishment. He was pronounced dead two days later by prison security, who claimed that he had committed suicide, while his former cellmates reportedly saw marks of severe torture on his body.

17/07/2012

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25/05/2012 JUA

SAU 8/2012 Saudi Arabia

Arbitrary detention;

Human rights

defenders;

Independence of judges

and lawyers; Summary

executions; Torture;

Alleged arbitrary arrest and torture in detention of a human rights lawyer, and false charges brought against him. According to the information received, on 17 April 2012, Mr. Ahmed El-Sayed was detained upon arrival at Jeddah Airport and Saudi authorities reportedly informed his wife that he had been tried in absentia and sentenced to one year‟s imprisonment and 20 lashes for insulting the King. Mr. El- Sayed is an Egyptian human rights lawyer who represents a number of Egyptian citizens who have allegedly been detained arbitrarily in Saudi Arabia. Allegedly, on 21 April, Mr. El-Sayed confessed to drug trafficking while being tortured in Zahban Prison. On 24 April, the Saudi Embassy in Egypt allegedly issued a statement declaring that Mr. El-Sayed had been arrested for having 21,380 Xanax tablets in his possession, a claim that the Egyptian authorities in Cairo Airport reportedly deny. It is reported that Mr. El-Sayed was on trial at the time the communication was sent, and that the prosecution had requested the imposition of the death penalty.

29/05/2012 JAL

MEX 11/2012 México

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders; Summary

executions;

Alegaciones de asesinatos de trabajadores de la prensa. Según la información recibida, el 28 de abril de 2012, el cuerpo sin vida de la Sra. Regina Martínez Pérez, una periodista del semanario Proceso y defensora de derechos humanos, habría sido encontrado en su vivienda en la ciudad de Xalapa, Veracruz. La Sra. Martínez Pérez trabajaba sobre la problemática de los cárteles de droga y los vínculos entre grupos del crimen organizado y funcionarios gubernamentales. El 3 de mayo, los cuerpos sin vida de la Sra. Irasema Becerra y los Sres. Gabriel Huge, Guillermo Luna y Esteban Rodríguez habrían sido encontrados en un canal de aguas negras en la ciudad de Boca del Río, Veracruz. Los Sres. Huge y Luna eran reporteros gráficos que cubrían información policial en Veracruz. La Sra. Becerra era empleada administrativa del periódico El Dictamen, y el Sr. Rodríguez había trabajado como fotógrafo con varios medios de la prensa en Veracruz. El 17 de mayo, el Sr. Marco Antonio Ávila García, periodista que trabajaba sobre el crimen organizado en Sonora habría sido secuestrado y habría sido encontrado sin vida el día siguiente.

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29/05/2012 AL

SGP 2/2012 Singapore

Cultural Rights;

Alleged planned building of an eight-lane highway through the Bukit Brown Cemetery. According to information received, the Bukit Brown Cemetery, which is of remarkable natural, cultural and historical value, enables people to build a sense of identity and belonging to the region, is used as a space for the living cultural practices of people, is an important recreational and leisure space with a unique combination of heritage and nature, and provides a valuable database for researchers and scholars. In September 2011, the Government of Singapore reportedly announced the construction of a new road through the Bukit Brown Cemetery to relieve traffic congestion; the decision taken by the Government to build the road was allegedly not preceded by a meaningful consultation process.

27/07/2012

29/05/2012 AL

TUR 4/2012 Turkey

Adequate housing;

Alleged threat of mass forced evictions and additional violations of the right to adequate housing following the recent adoption of the Law for the Transformation of Areas under Disaster Risk. According to information received, the Law of 18 May 2012 threatens the enjoyment of the right to adequate housing of more than six million households. The Law presents a number of problematic provisions, in particular a lack of concrete definitions, accountability mechanisms, administrative or judicial recourse for affected communities, coupled with the extensive decision- making powers of Government and local authorities with regard to the determination of buildings to be demolished and the actual demolition process. The implementation of the Bill as it is may allegedly lead to mass forced evictions, infringements on the rights to property and housing, and to an increased number of people made homeless or left in worse housing and living conditions. Reports received indicate that there has been very little consultation with potentially affected communities and civil society organizations during the drafting of the Law.

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30/05/2012 JUA

COL 6/2012 Colombia

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Summary executions;

Violence against

women;

Presuntas amenazas de muerte, seguimientos y agresiones en contra de defensores de derechos humanos. Según las informaciones recibidas, el primero de mayo, el Padre Alberto Franco, Secretario Ejecutivo de la Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz (CIJP), habría sido seguido por hombres que se trasladaban en motocicleta. El 8 de mayo, el Sr. Danilo Rueda, un abogado de la CIJP, también habría sido seguido. Además, el 7 de mayo de 2012, un individuo no identificado habría disparado un arma de fuego hacia el interior de las oficinas de „Women‟s Link Worldwide‟ (WLW). El disparo habría roto el cristal de seguridad justo arriba de la cabeza de la Sra. Mónica Roa, directora de programa de WLW. También se informa que dos comunicados habrían sido publicados en el mes de mayo que amenazarían a varios defensores de derechos humanos y organizaciones de derechos humanos, uno en el nombre del grupo paramilitar „Los Rastrojos – Comandos Urbanos‟, y el otro en el nombre del grupo paramilitar „Águilas Negras – Bloque Capital‟.

30/05/2012 JUA

CYP 2/2012 Cyprus

Arbitrary detention;

Torture;

Alleged imminent deportation from Cyprus to the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to the information received, following persecution, harassment and subsequent arrest and secret detention, Mr. Morteza Kazemian, aged 46, and his family fled from the Islamic Republic of Iran to Cyprus, where upon arrival they applied for asylum status. After having their application for asylum rejected by immigration authorities of Cyprus, on an unknown date, Mr. Kazemian was provided with a letter informing him and his family to leave the country within 75 days. Fearing deportation, Mr. Kazemian‟s wife Soheila Sadeghdoost, aged 46, and daughter Marjan Kazemian, aged 21, fled to the United Kingdom but were subsequently sent back to Cyprus and arrested upon their return on 20 February

2012. Mr. Kazemian and his son, aged 15, were later reportedly arrested by the members of police in Cyprus and taken to Larnaca detention centre. The family remained detained in Larnaca detention centre and was reportedly facing imminent deportation to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

30/05/2012 JAL

PHL 2/2012 Philippines

Freedom of expression;

Human rights

defenders; Summary

executions;

Alleged killing of two human rights defenders. According to the information received, on 5 March 2012, Mr. Jimmy Liguyon was shot and killed at his home. Allegedly, the perpetrator declared that he had killed Mr. Liguyon for refusing to enter into agreements on behalf of his village with the San Fernando Matigsalug Tribal Datus Association (SANMATRIDA). Mr. Liguyon was the Vice-Chairman of Kasilo, an organization of indigenous peoples from the southern municipalities of Bukidon, and the village chief of Barangay Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon, and Mindanao. Reportedly, on 9 May 2012, Mr. Margarito Cabal was shot dead outside his home in Palma Village. Mr. Cabal was a member of the Save Pulangi Alliance, a coalition which opposes the construction of a hydro-electric dam in Mindanao which, once completed, allegedly threatens to submerge 22 peasant and indigenous communities.

30/05/2012 JAL

KOR 2/2012 Republic of

Korea

Freedom of expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Torture;

Alleged acts of harassment, intimidation and ill-treatment of peaceful protesters in Gangjeong village. According to the information received, peaceful protests were reported since April 2011 against the construction of a naval base on the coast of Gangjeong village. It is alleged that a number of peaceful protesters were subjected to acts of harassment, intimidation, ill-treatment and detention by the police. Demonstrators were protesting against the construction of the naval base, which is reportedly destroying the seashore.

31/05/2012 JAL

UGA 3/2012 Uganda

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Violence against

women;

Alleged continued acts of harassments and intimidation against human rights defenders. According to the information received, Ms. Ingrid Turinawe, who was on her way to participate in a public rally organized by the For God and My Country (4GC) group on 20 April 2012, was arrested by the police. It is reported that her breast was violently grabbed and squeezed by a police officer during her arrest. It is reported that Ms. Turinawe as well as other activists calling for political reforms in Uganda have been, over the past months, subjected to harassment and intimidation. On 4 April 2012, the political pressure group „Activists for Change‟ (A4C) was

declared as an unlawful society by the authorities, one day before a planned demonstration During the first week of May, the group „For God and My Country‟ (4GC) was also declared as an unlawful society.

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

5 4

B. Replies received between 16 May and 31 July 2012 relating to communications sent before

15 March 2012

12. The table below lists, in chronological order, communications dating before 15 March 2012 to which a reply or an additional reply has been received in the period between 16 May and 31 July 2012. Also included are replies from the governments that were erroneously omitted in the previous communication reports. Copies of the full text of the communications sent and the reply received during the reporting period can be accessed from the electronic version of this report available on the OHCHR website. Some names of individuals or other information have been rendered anonymous or otherwise unidentifiable. English translations of some replies received in Arabic, Chinese and Russian will be made available as soon as they are ready.

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

30/05/2008 JAL

GTM 11/2008 Guatemala

Freedom of

expression; Human

rights defenders;

Presunto asesinato de un periodista. Según las informaciones recibidas, el 10 de mayo de 2008, el Sr. Jorge Mérida Pérez, periodista corresponsal departamental del diario Prensa Libre, habría sido asesinado en su domicilio en el barrio Rosario de Coatepeque. Un hombre desconocido, luego de ingresar a su casa, le habría propinado cuatro disparos en el rostro. El Sr. Mérida había indicado a sus familiares y a uno de sus colegas que un sicario le había amenazado. Unos días antes su homicidio, el Sr. Mérida Pérez investigaba junto con el Sr. Francisco Matul, periodista en Cable DX, sobre casos de supuesta corrupción en la municipalidad de Coatepeque y a la presunta vinculación del alcalde con el narcotráfico. Se había previsto publicar los resultados de esas investigaciones en la Prensa Libre y en Cable.

24/05/2012

18/01/2010 JAL

VEN 1/2010 Venezuela

Freedom of

expression; Human

rights defenders;

Summary

executions;

Presunto asesinato de un defensor de derechos humanos. Según las informaciones recibidas, el 26 de noviembre de 2009, dos hombres no identificados habrían disparado contra el Sr. Mijail Martínez, hijo del Sr. Víctor Martínez, ex Diputado de la Asamblea Legislativa del Estado de Lara e integrante del Comité de Víctimas contra la Impunidad (CVCI). El Sr. Mijail habría muerto inmediatamente tras los disparos producidos en la puerta de su casa en Barquisimeto. El Sr. Martínez era integrante del CVCI, una organización de derechos humanos ubicada en el Estado de Lara, y productor de audiovisuales. Las alegaciones afirman que habría estado produciendo un documental acerca de las historias de las víctimas de violaciones de los derechos humanos supuestamente cometidas por agentes de la policía del Estado de Lara.

02/02/2010 24/07/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

24/06/2010 JUA

IRN 17/2010 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Summary

executions; Torture;

Violence against

women;

Alleged imminent execution of a woman sentenced to death by stoning for committing adultery. According to the information received, Ms Mohammadi- Ashtiani was initially sentenced on 15 May 2006 by a court in the city of Osku in the North West Iranian province of East Azerbaijan for the crime of having “illicit relations” with two men. She was sentenced to 99 lashes. On 10 September 2006, a

second charge relating to the same offence was brought against Ms Mohammadi- Ashtiani and she was charged with the offence of adultery before the Sixth Branch of the Penal Court of East Azerbaijan Province. Ms Mohammadi-Ashtiani denied the charge and according to information received, no relevant evidence was admitted against her and she was convicted solely on the basis of the judge‟s opinion that she had committed adultery. She was subsequently sentenced to death by stoning.

28/03/2011 16/07/2012

16/09/2010 UA

CHL 2/2010 Chile

Indigenous peoples;

Supuesta huelga de hambre por presos mapuche. Según la información recibida, 34 personas mapuche en diversos centros de la región del Bío Bío y la Araucanía estarían participando en una huelga de hambre desde el 12 de julio de 2010. Los presos mapuche en huelga de hambre habrían demandado al Estado el término de la aplicación de la ley antiterrorista en causas que les involucran, el término del procesamiento de presos mapuche por la justicia militar, la desmilitarización de las zonas mapuche, y la restitución de tierras ancestrales mapuche. 58 personas mapuche o simpatizantes al pueblo mapuche habrían sido procesadas o condenadas bajo la ley antiterrorista por hechos de protesta vinculados a la reivindicación de derechos por tierras o de derechos políticos. Véase las observaciones del Relator Especial sobre esto caso en A/HRC15/37.Add.1, parras 145-165 y la carta de seguimiento enviada por el Relator Especial el 5 de octubre de 2010.

23/09/2010

22/03/2011 JUA

SAU 2/2011 Saudi Arabia

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of

expression; Torture;

Alleged detention of protesters. According to the information received, on 4 March 2011, Mr. Muhammad al-Wad„ani, a 25 year-old teacher, was arrested in Riyadh by men in plain clothes, allegedly members of the General Intelligence, while participating in a protest. Other individuals who participated in the protest were allegedly also arrested. Reportedly, 24 men were detained on 3 and 4 March in connection with protests in the city of al-Qatif. They were subsequently released on 8 March 2011, without charge and allegedly only after having signed a pledge not to protest again. Mr. al-Wad„ani reportedly continued to be detained incommunicado, and is believed to be at risk of torture or ill-treatment.

24/07/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

5 6

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

27/04/2011 JUA

IRQ 2/2011 Iraq

Arbitrary detention;

Disappearances;

Freedom of

expression; Human

rights defenders;

Torture;

Alleged excessive use of force against peaceful protesters. According to the information received, since early February 2011, peaceful demonstrations had been taking place in Baghdad. On 13 February, Mr. Oday Alzaidy, an activist, was reportedly taken in an army vehicle, beaten and subjected to torture. On 17 February, Mr. Rezhwan Ali, aged 15, was reportedly shot dead after security forces fired at the crowd. Following the shooting by security forces, Mr. Surkew Zahid, aged 16, and Mr. Sherzad Taha, aged 28, died from sustained injuries. On 25 February, Mr. Mu„ataz Muwafaq Waissi and an unknown demonstrator were reportedly shot by security forces. On 24 February, Mr. Abdel-Jabbar Shaloub Hammadi was reportedly arrested, beaten and transferred to a police station in al- Baladiyat district where he was subjected to beating. On 25 February, Mr. Hadi al- Mehdi, a journalist and writer, was reportedly arrested, beaten and tortured. Mr. Sharwan Azad Faqi Abdallah, aged 35, an NGO worker, was reportedly arrested by security forces in Erbil, beaten and taken to the Asayish Gishti interrogation center where he was subjected to torture. On 1 April, Mr. Haidar Shihab Ahmad Abdel Latif, aged 24, was reportedly detained by security forces during the demonstration. His fate and whereabouts remained unknown. On 8 April, Mr. Ala Nabil, a political activist, was reportedly detained by security forces in Baghdad as he was leaving the demonstration. Mr. Nabil was reportedly previously arrested on 21 March and subjected to torture. On 13 April, Mr. Firas Ali, aged 30, a political activist, was reportedly detained at the office of the Federation of Workers‟ Councils and Unions by members of the armed forces who did not present an arrest warrant. Mr. Firas Ali was reportedly beaten, forced into a vehicle and driven away to an unknown destination. On 23 February, security forces reportedly raided the office of the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory in Baghdad, confiscating IT equipment and its archive.

09/07/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

16/08/2011 AL

CHL 3/2011 Chile

Discrimination

against women in

law and in practice;

Solicitud de información sobre el proceso y planes relacionados con el proyecto de ley sobre la discriminación. El Grupo de Trabajo sobre la cuestión de la discriminación contra la mujer en la legislación y en la práctica solicitó información sobre el proceso y planes relacionados con un proyecto de ley sobre la discriminación que estaba siendo examinado por el Congreso. El Grupo de Trabajo expresó su apoyo en principio a los esfuerzos de la Comisión de Constitución, Legislación, Justicia y Reglamento (la Comisión) para diseñar y producir el proyecto de ley que establece medidas contra la discriminación (Número 3815-07). El Grupo de Trabajo también tomó la oportunidad de destacar la importancia de algunas provisiones originalmente incluidas en el proyecto de ley y que fueron, más adelante, descartadas del texto que el Congreso estaba considerando al momento de enviar la carta. El Grupo de Trabajo pidió entonces información sobre los planes de la Comisión de tener en cuenta todas las consideraciones anteriormente planteadas en el proceso de revisión de la ley que se le requirió emprender. El Grupo de Trabajo recordó al Gobierno que en la etapa crucial de adopción de una nueva legislación contra la discriminación, le incumbe esmerarse en incorporar todas las normas y conceptos relacionados con los derechos de las mujeres y contribuir al desarrollo de buenas prácticas.

16/12/2011

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

5 8

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

11/10/2011 JUA

IRN 13/2011 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of

expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Iran; Torture;

Violence against

women;

Alleged arrest and detention, ill-treatment, judicial harassment and sentencing of women human rights defenders. According to the information received, Ms. Faranak Farid was arrested in Tabriz on 3 September 2011 by plain-clothes security officials. She was reportedly severely beaten during her arrest, subjected to ill-treatment during interrogation and forced to sign a document which she was unable to read. She was allegedly sentenced to ten days temporary detention based on charges of “insulting the Supreme leader”, “propaganda against the system” and

“acting against national security”. The arrest of Ms. Farid was reportedly linked to her involvement in peaceful demonstrations. On 4 September 2011, Ms. Fereshteh Shirazi was allegedly arrested and detained in Amol prison. It is suspected that the reason for her arrest may be related to her women‟s rights activities and entries made on her blog. The case is reportedly based on accusations of “acting against

State security”, “publicising lies” and “causing unease in the public mind.” On 14

September 2011, Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh was reportedly sentenced by Branch 54 of the Appeals Court to six years imprisonment and a ten-year ban on practicing as a lawyer. The sentence allegedly relates to charges of “propaganda against the state”,

“collusion and gathering with the aim of acting against national security” and

“membership of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre”. On 26 September 2011,

Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolution Court reportedly sentenced Ms. Narges Mohammadi to eleven years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion

against the national security”, “membership of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre” and “propaganda against the Islamic Republic”. The ruling reportedly

referred to Ms. Mohammadi‟s human rights activities as attempts to overthrow the

Islamic Republic. Ms. Shiva Nazar-Ahai was reportedly sentenced on 8 January 2011 by Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court to four years imprisonment to be spent in internal exile away from her home. The sentence reportedly relates to charges of “attempts to deface the Islamic Government”, “disturbing the public peace of mind” and “waging war against God”.

31/05/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

19/10/2011 JUA

IRN 14/2011 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Arbitrary detention;

Disappearances;

Freedom of

expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Independence of

judges and lawyers;

Iran; Violence

against women;

Alleged arrest, detention and sentencing of human rights defenders. According to the information received, on 25 July 2011, Mr. Ali Kalaei, a former member of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR), was summoned to serve a seven year prison sentence. Reportedly, on 31 July, Mr. Ahmad Ghabel, a religious scholar and activist, was taken to Vakilabad prison to serve a twenty-month prison sentence, and Mr. Saeed Jalaifar, a member of the CHRR, was detained in Evin Prison. Also on 31 July, Mr. Kouhyar Goudarzi, a member of the CHRR, and Mr. Behnam Ganji were reportedly arrested by plainclothes security forces and were later transferred to Evin Prison. On 1 August, plainclothes security forces allegedly arrested Mr. Goudarzi‟s mother, Ms. Parvin Mokhtareh, at her home. On 13 September, Mr. Mohammed Seifzadeh, a founding member of Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC), was reportedly summoned to court. The charges brought against the aforementioned individuals have included, inter alia, “propaganda against the system”, “offending the Leader of the revolution” and

“acting against national security”. In September 2011, several lawyers who

represent Dervishes, were reportedly detained, including Messrs. Farshi Yadollahi, Amir Eslami, Afshin Karampour and Omid Behroozi. Messrs. Mostafa Daneshju, another lawyer of the Dervishes, and Kayvan Samimi Behbahani, a member of the National Council for Peace, are reportedly serving prison sentences.

02/03/2012 04/05/2012 15/05/2012 20/07/2012

21/10/2011 JAL

IRN 15/2011 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Arbitrary detention;

Disappearances;

Terrorism; Torture;

On 21 October 2011, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Vice-Chair of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances sent a letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran related to their joint study on global practices in relation to secret detention in the context of countering terrorism (A/HRC/13/42). The joint study was part of a consultative process with States. In the same spirit of cooperation, the mandate holders/experts would like to continue engaging with States in ensuring appropriate follow-up to the joint study. In this context, they invited the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide them with information on measures taken to investigate the allegations contained in the joint study and if found true, to rectify the situation in compliance with international human rights norms and standards; to implement the related recommendations; and to provide any other relevant information.

19/06/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

6 0

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

28/10/2011 AL

IND 21/2011 India

Human rights

defenders;

Alleged raid on and search of the home of human rights defender. According to the information received, on 3 October 2011 an armed contingent of sixty police officials from the states of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh arrived in trucks at the home of Ms. Kavita Srivastava, National General Secretary of the People‟s Union

for Civil Liberties (PUCL), in Jaipur city, Rajasthan. The police allegedly searched Ms. Srivastava‟s home when she was not there, based on a search warrant which related to “a dangerous Naxalite”. It is reported that the police suspected that the

individual was sheltering in Ms. Srivastava‟s home; however, they did not find any

evidence of this. The police allegedly attempted to push Ms. Srivastava‟s elderly father and also harassed two domestic workers. It is further reported that police stopped her sister and her friend who were close to the house.

03/11/2011 23/07/2012

15/11/2011 JUA

IRN 18/2011 Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Independence of

judges and lawyers;

Minority issues;

Summary

executions; Torture;

Alleged imminent execution of Mr. Lo Zaniar (or Zanyar) Moradi and Mr. Loghman (or Loqman) Moradi. Mr. Zaniar (or Zanyar) Moradi and Mr. Loghman (or Loqman) Moradi, belonging to the Kurdish minority, were convicted of the charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh) and “corruption on earth” for

allegedly murdering the son of a senior cleric in Marivan, Kordestan province, north-eastern Iran, on 4 July 2009. In addition they were also convicted of participating in armed activities of Komala, a Kurdish opposition group. They were sentenced to public hanging on 22 December 2010 by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. On 12 October 2011, the Supreme Court upheld the convictions. It is alleged that both men were coerced into confessing to the offense of murder after being tortured for 25 days and that during interrogation Mr. Zaniar Moradi was subjected to lashing, vulgar insults and threatened with sexual violence. Reportedly these individuals have been targeted for arrest and execution on the grounds of their Kurdish ethnicity and political activism conducted by them or their family members.

11/06/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

08/12/2011 AL

USA 22/2011 United States of

America

Mercenaries;

Alleged impact on human rights compliance and accountability for human rights violations of proposed new legislation and recent domestic court decisions. According to the information received, although the Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Iraq will expire on 31 December 2011, some U.S. private military and security companies will remain in the country. The legal status and accountability of PMSCs in Iraq and elsewhere is unclear. The Civilian Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, which would extend United States jurisdiction over PMSC employees that commit certain crimes while working for the United States abroad, contains a carve-out for authorised intelligence activities that undermines the possibility of comprehensive criminal accountability for PMSC employees involved in serious human rights violations. Also according to information received, several recent United States court cases directly relate to, or potentially affect, contractor accountability: Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, Minneci v. Pollard, Al-Quraishi v. Nakhla, Al Shimari v. CACI, Saleh v. Titan and Mohamed v. Jeppeson Dataplan.

01/06/2012

09/12/2011 JUA

UZB 4/2011 Uzbekistan

Human rights

defenders; Torture;

Alleged ill-treatment and on-going detention of members of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU). According to information received, on 16 November 2011, Mr. Azamjon Formonov was subjected to beatings and ill- treatment while in detention at the 64/71 Special Regime Colony to force him to write a letter concerning his treatment while in detention. Other members of HRSU, Messrs. Nasim Isakov, Alisher Karamatov and Gaybullo Jalilov, continue to be detained and have allegedly been subjected to ill-treatment as well while in detention. Mr. Zafar Rahimov remains in detention since being imprisoned in October 2007. Mr. Khabibilla Okpulatov remains in detention since 2005 and his sentence was extended in August 2009 before he was due to be released. Mr. Azamjon Formonov and Mr. Alisher Karamatov were the subjects of previous communications (see A/HRC/4/37/Add.1 paras 715 & 719). Mr. Gaybullo Jalilov was the subject of previous communications (see A/HRC/18/51, case no. UZB 7/2010).

05/06/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

6 2

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

19/12/2011 UA

CAN 3/2011 Canada

Indigenous peoples;

Alleged dire social and economic conditions of the Attawapiskat First Nation, northern Ontario, Canada, and the alleged poor living conditions in aboriginal reserves. According to the information received, many of the Attawapiskat First Nation live in unheated shacks or trailers, with no running water, posing severe problems in light of the impending harsh winter. Reportedly, the Government of Canada has agreed to provide emergency housing in Attawapiskat to address the crisis situation. However, this assistance has allegedly been made contingent on third party management of funds, which the Attawapiskat First Nation rejects as not being responsive to their needs. The Band also reportedly continue to suffer from the effects of a number of disasters, including an oil spill in 1979 that destroyed the public schools and a massive sewage flood in 2009, allegedly caused by a DeBeers diamond mine located on Attawapiskat traditional lands. First Nations communities are reportedly systematically underfunded as compared to non-Aboriginal towns, and the federal government allegedly maintains a 2% cap on spending increases for core services for Aboriginal peoples and cities.

14/02/2012 14/02/2012

20/12/2011 JUA

THA 9/2011 Thailand

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of

expression; Human

rights defenders;

Independence of

judges and lawyers;

Alleged trial of human rights defender on charges of lèse majesté. According to the information received, on 30 April 2011, Mr. Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, human rights defender and magazine editor, was arrested at Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo Province, and charged with contravening the lèse majesté law. His arrest came only five days after he held a press conference in Bangkok launching a campaign to collect 10,000 signatures to petition for a parliamentary review of the lèse majesté law or Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code. He was reportedly detained in Bangkok Special Prison and transferred to Sa Kaeo Provincial Court on 12 November 2011. On 1 November 2011, his fourth bail request was denied. Different venues in different parts of Thailand, and different judges, have been allocated for the remainder of the hearing which will allegedly place an undue burden on Mr. Prueksakasemsuk. Mr. Prueksakasemsuk was the subject of a previous communication (see A/HRC/19/44, case no THA 5/2011).

04/04/2012 25/05/2012 29/06/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

26/12/2011 JAL

MDG 2/2011 Madagascar

Freedom of

expression;

Independence of

judges and lawyers;

Summary

executions; Torture;

Emploi illicite de la force par les forces de l‟ordre et meurtre allégués d‟un

substitut du procureur. Selon les informations reçues, le 8 décembre 2011, à la suite de sa condamnation par la Cour criminelle pour vol à main armée et association de malfaiteurs, M. X, officier de police, aurait été incarcéré à la maison d‟arrêt de Toliara, situé au cœur de la ville, dans le quartier de Bazar Be.

Désapprouvant l‟incarcération de celui-ci et afin d‟obtenir sa libération par la force, une cinquantaine de policiers de Toliara, sous les ordres d‟officiers

supérieurs, aurait pris d‟assaut la prison de Toliara en plein jour. Une vingtaine

d‟officiers de police se serait rendue au tribunal de 1ère instance de Toliara à Betela. Une altercation s‟en serait ensuivie entre ceux-ci et le premier substitut du procureur, Michel Rahavana. Les officiers de police auraient emmené de force M. Rahavana vers la prison de Toliara, l‟auraient menotté et rué de coups. Celui-ci serait décédé de ses blessures.

29/05/2012

06/01/2012 JUA

THA 10/2011 Thailand

Freedom of

expression; Health;

Torture;

Alleged long sentence on charges of lèse majesté and denial of medical treatment while in detention. According to the information received, on 3 August 2010, Mr. Ampon Tangnoppakul was arrested for sending four SMS messages considered offensive to the monarchy. On 23 November 2011, Mr. Ampon Tangnoppakul was convicted and sentenced to twenty years imprisonment on charges of lèse majesté in accordance with article 112 of the Thai Penal Code. Reportedly, Mr. Ampon Tangnoppakul was unable to access proper medical treatment during pre-trial detention. According to the source, Ms. Daranee Charnchoengskilpakul, currently serving an eighteen-year sentence for an alleged lèse majesté violation, has also been denied necessary medical treatment. Ms. Daranee Charnchoengskilpakul was the subject of a previous communication also dated 31 July 2009 (see A/HRC/14/23/Add.1, para. 2380).

25/05/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

6 4

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

23/01/2012 JAL

CHL 1/2012 Chile

Freedom of

expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Presuntas restricciones a libertad de reunión pacífica y expresión. Según las informaciones recibidas, el Proyecto de Ley que Fortalece el Resguardo del Orden Público propondría modificaciones del Código Penal y el Código Procesal Penal que podrían restringir la libertad de expresión y reunión pacífica, y criminalizar a las personas que ejerzan estos derechos. Propondría penas privativas de libertad por interrumpir el transporte público y la libre circulación de tráfico, invadir u ocupar edificios, y por incitar desórdenes, entre otros. Se informa que de esta manera se criminalizarían muchas protestas públicas, incluyendo a las personas que las convocasen, y que se limitarían las posibles ubicaciones de las protestas. El Proyecto de Ley también propondría permitir a las fuerzas de Orden y Seguridad consignar la existencia y ubicación de fotografías, filmaciones, y grabaciones de las manifestaciones. Según se informa, esta medida podría resultar en la intimidación de los periodistas, defensores de derechos humanos y otros individuos que graben y/o monitoreen las protestas.

13/03/2012

31/01/2012 JUA

MEX 4/2012 México

Disappearances;

Freedom of

expression; Human

rights defenders;

Presuntos actos de hostigamiento e intimidación. Según las informaciones recibidas, el 19 de diciembre de 2011, se publicó en un periódico un reportaje sobre el Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos “Hasta Encontrarlos”. En dicho reportaje, la Sra. Elena Barajas Mejía, un miembro de la organización, denunció la presunta desaparición forzada de un familiar. El 21 de diciembre de 2011, una camioneta se habría estacionado en varios puntos diferentes cerca del domicilio de la Sra. Barajas Mejía. El 15 de enero de 2012, un familiar de la Sra. Barajas Mejía y otro individuo habrían sido seguidos por una camioneta. El 18 de enero de 2012, se habría intentado interponer una denuncia ante la Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado de Michoacán, pero no habría sido aceptada. Se habría entregado un documento al Procurador del Estado de Michoacán, pidiendo las medidas necesarias para garantizar la seguridad de la Sra. Barajas Mejía y de los demás miembros de la organización.

02/07/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

31/01/2012 JAL

UZB 1/2012 Uzbekistan

Freedom of

expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Independence of

judges and lawyers;

Allegations of acts of harassment and intimidation, of forcible and arbitrary removal of peaceful protesters, and violation of fair trial safeguards in the context of two peaceful assemblies held in Tashkent. According to the information received, peaceful assemblies were organized in Mustaqilik Square and in Hamza district to raise awareness of the human rights situation in the country. The assemblies were conducted on 6 December 2010 and 4 April 2011, respectively. Shortly after, activists were detained and brought to the respective district courts of Yunusabad and Hamza. In each case, they were denied access to legal counsel and were sentenced with large fines for administrative violations.

29/06/2012

02/02/2012 JUA

TUR 1/2012 Turkey

Arbitrary detention;

Human rights

defenders;

Independence of

judges and lawyers;

Minority issues;

Terrorism;

Alleged arrest, detention and launching of criminal proceedings against lawyers in the context of anti-terrorism operations. According to the information received, on 22 November 2011, 39 lawyers and one legal worker were arrested in the scope of an operation aiming at dismantling an alleged terrorist network known as the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK), an organisation believed to be the “urban branch” of the armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The lawyers were

reportedly taken into custody in Istanbul for their alleged membership in KCK under charges of “membership of an illegal organisation” and “directing an illegal

organization”. The police had reportedly raided their offices and houses, searched

and confiscated their files and made copies of their hard drives

25/07/2012

03/02/2012 JUA

MDV 1/2012 Maldives

Arbitrary detention;

Independence of

judges and lawyers;

Allegation of increased tension between the Government and the Judiciary, which culminated on 16 January 2012 in the arrest and detention of the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court. According to the information received, Mr. Abdulla Mohamed was arbitrarily arrested in violation of the procedures established by the law and was reportedly held incommunicado until 20 January 2012. The Government has publicly explained the arrest as a consequence of the inability or unwillingness of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to take disciplinary action against judge Mohamed and therefore guarantee the accountability of judges in general. However legitimate may be the concerns over the effective functioning of the JSC, the behaviour of some judges and the situation of the judiciary as a whole, this does not authorize in any way resorting to unlawful arrest and detention, as in the case of Mr. Mohamed.

05/07/2012 27/07/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

6 6

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

15/02/2012 JUA

SDN 1/2012 Sudan

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of

expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association; Human

rights defenders;

Torture;

Alleged excessive use of force during peaceful demonstrations. According to the information received, on 22 December 2011, police and internal security forces violently dispersed a peaceful demonstration taking place at Khartoum University where students gathered in support of Manaseer, an ethnic group that was forcibly displaced by the construction of the Merowe dam. On 25 December 2011, a sit-in to protest the 22 December violence also met with the excessive use of force by the police. Police forces reportedly used teargas and batons and further injured numerous demonstrators. 70 students were reportedly arrested during the 25 December sit-in. On 30 December 2011, Mr. Taj Alsir Jaafar, a student activist, was arrested by security forces in Khartoum, presumably for participating in student protests from mid-December 2011 into January 2012. On 25 January 2012, six members of the student-led movement Girifna were arrested after taking part in a public forum on human rights.

23/05/2012

28/02/2012 AL

KHM 1/2012 Cambodia

Independence of

judges and lawyers;

Possible lack of impartiality in the investigation into a case of corruption involving a judge - According to the information received, on 20 January 2012, Judge XY was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Unit. Judge XY was allegedly caught taking a 5,000 USD bribe from a provincial land management official involved in a land dispute. Two days later, he was charged by Kandal Provincial Court with accepting a bribe. Judge YZ exercising his judicial function at the same court of Kandal Provincial Court is in charge of the investigation.

21/05/2012

28/02/2012 JUA

UZB 2/2012 Uzbekistan

Freedom of

expression; Human

rights defenders;

Independence of

judges and lawyers;

Alleged threats against and harassment of a human rights defender and her relatives. According to the information received, Ms Tatiana Dovlatova, member of the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan, has been subjected to threats and harassment, including alleged irregularities in judicial proceedings against her, since appearing on a Russian television programme on 24 April 2011 in which she spoke about the harsh living conditions of pensioners and disabled persons in Uzbekistan. In connection with the alleged unfair trials, she has been ordered to pay several fines, as a result of which she has been forced to sell her house, and she has reportedly had a travel ban imposed on her. Furthermore, it is reported that some of her family members have left the country due to the harassment which they faced, and other relatives have also allegedly been subjected to harassment.

18/06/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

29/02/2012 JUA

MDV 2/2012 Maldives

Arbitrary detention;

Freedom of

expression;

Freedom of peaceful

assembly and of

association;

Torture;

Allegations of excessive use of force against protestors belonging to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). According to the information received, on 7 and 8 February 2012, following the resignation of Mr. Mohamed Nasheed as President of the Maldives, supporters of his party demonstrated in protest. Law enforcement authorities reportedly used excessive force to quash such protests. Several demonstrators were injured, and a number were detained. At the time of drafting the urgent appeal, several individuals remained in detention or under house arrest.

02/07/2012 27/07/2012

01/03/2012 JUA

RUS 1/2012 Russian

Federation

Disappearances;

Freedom of

expression; Human

rights defenders;

Independence of

judges and lawyers;

Terrorism;

Alleged police harassment of two human rights defenders and confiscation of strictly confidential information on alleged human rights violations. According to the information received, Messrs. Anton Ryhzov and Igor Kalyapin are both affiliated with the Interregional Committee against Torture and the Joint Mobile Group, a coalition of human rights defenders who travel to Chechnya on a rotating basis in order to investigate allegations of torture and enforced disappearances. On 21 January 2012, Mr. Anton Ryzhov was reportedly detained for several hours by the Nizhny Novgorod transport police. During his detention, it is alleged that he was questioned about his human rights work and photographed. Strictly confidential information on alleged human rights violations was confiscated. On 18 January 2012, Mr. Igor Kalyapin was reportedly informed that the Chechen special police forces had submitted a request to the Chechen investigative authorities for a criminal case to be opened against him for the alleged disclosure of State secrets.

14/05/2012 22/05/2012

02/03/2012 JAL

MYS 2/2012 Malaysia

Freedom of

expression;

Freedom of religion;

Summary

executions;

Alleged arrest and deportation of a journalist. According to the information received, on 9 February 2012, Mr. Hamza Kashgari was arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport following the issue of an arrest warrant by the Saudi Arabian authorities. Mr. Kashgari is a journalist for Al-Belad (The Country), a newspaper owned by the Saudi Arabian Government, and a blogger. He was allegedly held in detention in the Travel Control Section in the Bukit Aman area of Kuala Lumpur. Prior to his arrest he had reportedly fled Saudi Arabia after accusations of apostasy were made against him in relation to an online post he had made concerning the Prophet Mohammed. On 12 February 2012, he was allegedly deported from Malaysia to Saudi Arabia and has since remained in detention in Riyadh. Despite publicly repenting and declaring himself a Muslim, Mr. Kashgari is reportedly at serious risk of being charged with blasphemy and consequently receiving a death sentence as a result of his post on Twitter.

04/06/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

6 8

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

09/03/2012 JAL

AUS 1/2012 Australia

Extreme poverty;

Indigenous peoples;

Alleged threat to the enjoyment of human rights by Australia‟s indigenous

communities, in particular the right to equality and non-discrimination, following the proposed adoption of the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2012. According to information received, the Bill (third reading) extends the uniform alcohol bans and alcohol management regimes within so-called “alcohol protected areas” within Northern Territory communities (Sections 27). The Social Security bill extends measures enabling compulsory income management of Centrelink recipients in certain circumstances (Schedule 1). The bill also extends the Government‟s Improving School Enrolment and Attendance through Welfare Reform Measure (SEAM) initiative, which allows for the suspension or cancellation of certain categories of Centrelink payments for lack of compliance with a notice relating to the school enrolment or attendance. The Stronger Futures Bill introduces “special measures” to allow the Commonwealth to amend Northern Territory legislation regarding leasing in Aboriginal community living areas and town camps (Part 3). In addition, there have reportedly been insufficient consultations with affected indigenous communities throughout the process of drafting the Stronger Futures Bills.

07/05/2012 20/07/2012

09/03/2012 JAL

NGA 1/2012 Nigeria

Freedom of religion;

Racism; Summary

executions;

Terrorism;

Alleged religion and ethnicity based violence by Boko Haram in northern Nigeria. According to the information received, Boko Haram had engaged in a series of attacks and bombings targeted on churches, Christians and the security forces since Christmas Day 2011. Boko Haram also allegedly imposed on the Christians and southerners a three-day deadline to leave the north on 1 January 2012. After the deadline, Boko Haram continued to launch attacks and showed a total disregard for human life in different parts of northern Nigeria. At least 185 people died in an attack in Kano on 20 January 2012. The latest attack on 26 February 2012, at Jos headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nigeria denomination (COCIN) reportedly killed three people and injured 37.

25/05/2012

A /H

R C

/2 1

/4 9

Date

Type

Case No

Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply

12/03/2012 JUA

BHR 3/2012 Bahrain

Health; Torture;

Alleged declining health of detained human rights defender on hunger strike. According to the information received, Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, former Protection Coordinator of Front Line, the International Organization for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, as well as the former President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), currently detained at the central prison of Bahrain, has begun a hunger strike on 8 February 2012. His health is reportedly rapidly declining. Mr. Alkhawaja does not receive intravenous therapy IV fluids anymore due to the actual weakness of his veins, and finds himself in a life threatening situation. Mr. Alkhawaja was the subject of previous communications (see A/HRC/19/44, case no. BHR 17/2011 and BHR 18/2011; A/HRC/18/51, case no. BHR 4/2011, BHR 5/2011 and BHR 9/2011).

13/04/2012 27/04/2012 11/06/2012

14/03/2012 AL

HUN 2/2012 Hungary

Freedom of

expression;

Allegation that new media laws still limit the rights to freedom of opinion and expression. According to the information received, despite some of the positive changes, such as the rulings of the Constitutional Court of the Republic Hungary on the media legislation, adopted on 19 December 2011, and the amendments, made by the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary on 7 March 2011, the Law on the Freedom of the Press and the Fundamental Rules on Media Content (Act CIV of 2010) and the Media Services and Mass Media Act (Act CLXXXV of 2010) (the “Media Law”) reportedly remain problematic with regard to the press freedom and the right to freedom of expression and opinion in Hungary due to certain issues, such as inadequate safeguards for the independence and impartiality of the regulatory authority, legal uncertainty, as well as disproportionate and unnecessary regulatory interventions and sanctions.

18/05/2012

Annex

Mandates of special procedures

Mandate title

Human Rights

Council

resolution

Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context

15/8

Working Group on people of African descent 18/28

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention 15/18

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus 20/13

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia 18/25

Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights 19/6

Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Côte d‟Ivoire 17/21

Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

15/15

Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order 18/6

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea

19/ 13

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances 16/16

Special Rapporteur on the right to education 17/3

Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment

19/10

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea 20/20

Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights 17/13

Special Rapporteur on the right to food 13/4

Independent expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights

16/14

Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

16/4

Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 15/21

Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief 14/11

Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti PRST 19/2

Mandate title

Human Rights

Council

resolution

Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

15/22

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders 16/5

Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers 17/2

Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples 15/14

Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons 14/6

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran 16/9

Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination

15/12

Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants 17/12

Independent Expert on Minority Issues 16/6

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar 16/24

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967

5/1

Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

16/33

Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography 16/12

Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery 15/2

Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity 17/6

Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia 20/21

Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan 18/16

Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions 17/5

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic S-18/1

Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

16/23

Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes

18/11

Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children 17/1

Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation & guarantees of non- recurrence

18/7

Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises

17/4

Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences 16/7

Mandate title

Human Rights

Council

resolution

Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice 15/23

Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation 16/2