tag:www.imadr.org,2010:/statement//29 2010-11-15T02:56:50Z Movable Type 3.33 tag:www.imadr.org,2010:/statement//29.935 2010-10-01T10:56:38Z 2010-11-15T02:56:50Z

(in cooperation with the Central Council...

IMADR (in cooperation with the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma) IMADR Oral Statement, Human Rights Council 15th Session Item 9: Interactive Dialogue with SR racism 28 September 2010 Mr. President, IMADR, on behalf of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, welcomes the reports of the SR on racism and express its support to Mr. Muigai’s efforts in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. In recognition of the seriousness of the issues and challenges posed by extremist political parties, movements and groups, as documented in his report on the implementation of GA resolutions 63/162 and 64/147, we are highly concerned about growing trends of discrimination, discriminatory acts and incitement thereof in different regions of the world. These incidents in most cases target specific groups such as migrants or minority groups who are improperly blamed for existing problems such as unemployment and/or insecurity. The situation becomes even more alarming, when derogatory statements are made by public figures, especially politicians, who, as the Special Rapporteur notes, attract the attention of large audiences and have greater influence on the public debate, hence can encourage discrimination and violence creating a climate of fear. In this context we are particularly concerned by the situation of Roma people in France, where careless public pronouncements have incorrectly ascribed “crimes” to them. The systematic dismantling of their camps and their collective deportation have been often carried out in a particularly inhumane and discriminatory fashion. Labelling the Roma as “security risks” stigmatises the entire Sinti and Roma community and follows the common practice of extremist racist political parties in some other European Countries. Such a discriminatory approach especially initiated by head of a State is particularly irresponsible as it makes extreme right-wing positions acceptable to the general public and, as history has shown, presents a serious danger of right wing violence. Many Roma people came to Western Europe, including France, to escape exclusion, discrimination, extreme poverty and violence in their home countries. Their deportation merely drives them back into the conditions and hardships they had left behind. Against this backdrop, we urge the French government to stop their counter productive policies of collective deportation of Roma and, in collaboration with other EU members, to seek lasting solutions in full respect of the dignity and rights of all people. Finally, with regard to his recommendations in paras 29 and 31 of the report, we would like to ask the SR whether he can suggest more concrete steps concerning 1) states’ engagement with vulnerable communities and 2) fair representation of all minorities at national and regional levels. In conclusion, we urge all states present here to consider seriously the implementation of the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur to take concrete actions and provide practical solutions to all those whose human rights are actually violated. Thank you Mr. President. Speaker: Daisuke Shirane]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2010:/statement//29.934 2010-10-01T10:52:40Z 2010-11-15T02:56:52Z

IMADR IMADR Oral Statement, Human Rights Council 15th Session Item 2 & 3: General Debate 16 September Mr. President, IMADR appreciates the efforts of the High Commissioner and all other stakeholders in promoting and protecting all human rights in different regions of the world. In particular, we share the concern about the situation of Human Rights defenders expressed by the High Commissioner in her opening statement of this Council session. Taking this opportunity we wish to remind the Council about a number of committments made by Sri Lanka, especially during the UPR process and at the special session of May 2009. Up until now the government of Sri Lanka has failed to provide adequate information on cases of dissappearance, such as the Vice Chancelor of Easter University, and the jounalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, and these are only two examples of many. Furthermore, assasinations and extra-judicial killings have not been inviestigated. We are also alarmed by the manner in which provisions related to the indpendnt commissions – as laid down in the 17th amendemnt to the constituion - has been completely abolished through the recently introduced 18th amendment. The Human Rights Commssion in Sri Lanka will have grave implications in the new turn of event. In fact we wish to share with the members of the Council that the Civil Rights Movement, the Organization of Professional Associations, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka have all warned the government not to resort to the “urgent bill” procedure. Some leading academics have also stated that constitutional reforms, including elections, go to the heart of what it means to be a democracy in the modern-day. We recommend the council to take note of the present development in Sri Lanka and its human rights implications and request the government of Sri Lanka to inform the HRC, in particular on following two points: 1) the status of the national action plan for human rights; and 2) the procedure of the appointment of the Commissioners for the Human Rights Commission as laid down in the new constituional amendment – especially regarding, whether the new provisions adhere to the Paris Principles. Thank you Mr. President. Speaker: Daisuke Shirane ]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2010:/statement//29.918 2010-09-08T09:30:59Z 2010-11-15T02:56:54Z

IMADR tag:www.imadr.org,2010:/statement//29.902 2010-06-21T16:26:08Z 2010-11-15T02:56:56Z

IMADR IMADR Oral Statement, Human Rights Council 14th Session Item 9: General Debate Mr. President, IMADR wishes to express our concern regarding the situation of IDPs in Sri Lanka. Out of more than 290,000 people displaced since 1st April 2010 in Sri Lanka , only 142,772 have returned to their villages, in fact many of them are in temporary shelters, unable to return to their homes due to lack of infrastructure, incomplete de-mining or on the basis of security considerations and takeover of their lands by the military. 64,093 are still in camps in Vavuniya and Jaffna and about 92,791 with host families. • There is grave concern regarding the capacity of the UNHCR and other aid agencies engaged in provision of relief to these IDPs to continue their work over the next few months. • In several places in the Vanni, the takeover of land by the Army and Navy prevents IDPs from returning to their places of origin, for example in Mullikulam and Sannar in Mannar districts. 2 IDP women have been raped this month at Visvamadu by armed forces personnel where resettlement is going on. The judicial process is taking place. It is the responsibility of GOSL to prevent any such occurrences in future. In terms of budgetary allocation, the government of Sri Lanka continues to give extraordinary priority to military expenditure – the budget allocation for resettlement of IDPs is about 1% of the defense expenditure which is estimated 210 billion rupees for 2010. Mr. President, we also would like to draw the attention of the Council to the suffering of 260 million people throughout the world who are affected by the discrimination based on work and descent. In the UN efforts to address this issue, the “draft UN Principles and Guidelines for the Effective Elimination of Discrimination based on Work and Descent” were developed by the former Special Rapporteurs of the Sub-Commission on Human Rights, namely Professors Yozo Yokota and Chinsung Chung and included in their report. While the report was accepted as a UN official document (A/HRC/11/CRP.3) at the 11th HRC, the principles and guidelines have not yet been recognised as an UN standard in addressing this form of discrimination. Taking this opportunity, we would like to reiterate our call for the early adoption of the draft principles and guidelines as such by the Human Rights Council. Thank you Mr. President. Speaker: Daisuke Shirane]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2010:/statement//29.901 2010-06-21T16:22:51Z 2010-11-15T02:56:58Z

This statement was prepared for the clus...

IMADR This statement was prepared for the clustered ID with SR on trafficking, but due to the limited number of NGO speakers who could take the floor it could not be orally presented. IMADR Oral Statement, Human Rights Council 14th Session Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with SR freedom of expression, SR extrajudicial execution, SR trafficking Mr. President, IMADR is pleased to welcome Ms. Joy Ezeilo and her second annual report as well as its addendums. We also would like to take this opportunity to express our support to Ms. Ezeilo’s efforts in the combat against trafficking in persons. In recognition of the seriousness of the issue and dimension of trafficking in persons as well as complications in the combat against it, we fully support the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur promoting regional and sub-regional cooperation and mechanisms based on human rights-based and victim-centred approach. Therefore, we call for all the states, especially destination countries as well as receiving countries of migrants: • to ratify all relevant international instruments, such as UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its Palermo Protocol as well as the ICRMW; • to adopt appropriate and comprehensive definition of trafficking and its victims, so that victims of trafficking are NOT identified and treated as offenders or criminals; • to more effectively cooperate with all stakeholders including civil society actors; • to develop regional and sub-regional cooperation as recommended by the Special Rapporteur; • to recognise that trafficking is occurring for various types of labour exploitation and affects men and boys; • to more effectively address root causes of trafficking; • to protect victims of trafficking with a holistic approach providing comprehensive assistance to them including psychological, medical, social assistance in the native language, legal assistance, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes, and longer residence permit with work permit; in this regard, all law enforcement officials must have a clear understanding of when a person should be considered and identified as a victim of trafficking. Besides, with regard to Special Rapporteur’s visit to Japan, we also appreciate her thorough analysis of the situation and comprehensive and concrete recommendations to Japanese Government. We request the Japanese Government to take these recommendations seriously, and to engage in genuine combat against trafficking in persons including appropriate recognition and full protection of victims. All efforts must be taken to combat trafficking. Nevertheless we reiterate that regional and sub-regional initiatives including laws and mechanisms to combat trafficking should respect international norms of human rights. In this regard we make special reference to SAARC Convention and the necessity to reformulate it’s framework to uphold human rights of the victim. Thank you. ]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2010:/statement//29.900 2010-06-21T16:18:24Z 2010-11-15T02:57:00Z

IMADR IMADR Oral Statement, Human Rights Council 14th Session Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with SR torture, SR HR & terrorism, WG detention, and WG disappearances Mr. President, Sri Lanka has continued to fail to address the ever growing problem related to disappearances. Since 1989 reports and documentation related to disappearances have piled up with no effective responses from the authorities. For instance in a Report submitted by the Committee on Disappearances of the HRC-SL released in October 2003 states the following “Four Presidential Commissions of Inquiry into Involuntary Removals and Disappearances of persons have reported on a total of about 30,000 complaints. The complaint referred to us constitute only a minor fraction of total number of the disappearances. The All island Commission appointed by the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike published in March 2001 have not been presented in Parliament. There has been little or no public discussions on any of the observations and recommendations made in them”. We quoted from this report to illustrate the seriousness related to the prevailing culture of impunity in Sri Lanka where no effective investigations have taken place related to disappearances from 1989 to 2009 for over 2 decades. Thousands more disappeared in the period from 2006 to 2009 during the recent war. Since the establishment of the Working Group, 12,226 cases have been transmitted to the Government. Of those, according to the WG’s report to 13th HRC, 5,651 still remain outstanding. The recent case of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda who disappeared on 24th January 2010 is a case in point. The questions is often asked as to who wants the past investigated. Clearly the victims do, whereas those who are directly and indirectly responsible for the crimes and those who favour a cover up, do not. Families and NGOs working with victims have provided adequate information to the WGID. Available documentation reveal that thousands of innocent persons could be arrested, indefinitely detained, tortured, raped and killed and their bodies disposed with no information provided and no records kept. While those directly involved in such acts are directly responsible but so too those complicit in any stage of these operations. Special responsibility lies with those at the apex of the command structure who permitted this state of affairs to exist. It is not a conspiracy against any government to call for investigations related to human rights violation of this nature. It is the duty of the international community bound together to uphold human value and dignity to raise the voices for accountability. We as civil society are engaging with the UN system and various mechanisms calling for justice for victims in Sri Lanka and put an end to the impunity. Thank you. Speaker: Daisuke Shirane]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2010:/statement//29.884 2010-04-12T02:53:14Z 2010-11-15T02:57:02Z

IMADR IMADR Statement, Human Rights Council 13th Session Item 9, General Debate Mr. President, IMADR welcomes the initiatives taken by the OHCHR to keep the issues of racism and racial discrimination in an interactive dialogue. We urge the Council to work towards developing a consensus related to recognising the draft UN Principles and Guidelines for the Effective Elimination of Discrimination based on Work and Descent as an important international document thereby assisting in the holistic struggle to combat racism and racial discrimination. IMADR also calls for a support of the international community to a fair and just trial, disclosure of evidences and guarantee of the right to defense in the Sayama Case which was based on false accusation of murder against Mr. Ishikawa, who is from Buraku, a community discriminated against based on “descent.” In 2006, Mr. Kazuo Ishikawa with his defense team brought the third request for re-trial into the Tokyo High Court, submitting various new evidences that support innocence of Ishikawa and requesting for the fact-finding, while requesting the Tokyo High Public Prosecutor’s Office to disclose evidences it has kept. Several UN human rights bodies have also recommended the disclosure of evidences to ensure a fair trial for the Sayama Case. On December 16, 2009, Tokyo High Court also recommended the Tokyo High Public Prosecutor’s Office to disclosure evidences. We request the Tokyo High Public Prosecutor’s Office to follow the stated recommendations and immediately disclose evidences, and call for the realization of fair and just re-trial of Sayama Case. Furthermore we would like to bring to the notice of this Council the insecurity faced by Sri Lankan human rights defenders who attend the council sessions in an open and transparent manner. A Sinhala daily newspaper published photographs taken at the entrance to the Council building in an article. This has grave implications in relation to threat to life of the 3 activists whose pictures appeared in this article as traitors. Apparently the photograph has been taken by a telephone camera as they were in a conversation at the entrance. At the same time, these photographs have not been taken by any accredited media personnel working within the building which raises further sense of insecurity to human rights defenders. Thank you Mr. President. ]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2010:/statement//29.883 2010-04-12T02:18:01Z 2010-11-15T02:57:04Z

IMADR International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism Item 4 Intervention Mr. President, We wish to express concern regarding the situation in Sri Lanka. Despite the pledges given and agreements made with the UN system there is lack of progress. Due to international concern and electoral considerations even though the IDPs were released from camps the process has been adhoc. Today they lack basic needs, their right to housing and land is violated and in some instances those IDPs taken away for further screening have not returned back to their families. No information is available related to the 12,000 detainees and surendees who belongs to the Tamil population. Furthermore the Government of Sri Lanka has not been able to respond clearly re the allegations of summary and arbitrary execution of surrendees. Many still remain under detention without any charges been brought against them some so long as for 13 years. We bring to the notice of the council the continuing violations of human rights committed in the context of continuing restriction of civil and political rights and fundamental freedoms. Journalist Prageeth disappeared in January 2009, state control media continues to threaten and abuse human rights defenders and media persons who express dissenting views that of the government thereby exposing them to assassination and attacks. The most alarming development is the detention and attacks made on supporters of opposition political parties nullifying the basic principles required to hold free and fair elections. Challenging impunity, guaranteeing the rule of law, due process and respect for human rights as well as creating a political framework that can guarantee the equal rights of minority communities remain critical areas for intervention. We urge the council to take note of the following concerns:

･Continuing detention of the opposition Presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka and the decision taken to bring him before a military tribunal. We urge due process be ensured by facilitating civil trial. ･The non-implementation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution which guarantees the appointment of independent Police, Election , Human Rights and Public Services Commissions. ･The urgent need to introduce a political framework for power sharing for the resolution for the ethnic conflict. ･Appointment of an all Party Commission to investigate into allegations of election related violence and breech of election laws including the abuse of Executive powers during the Presidential Elections held in January 2009. ･The appointment of UN Election Observers for the forthcoming Parliamentary Elections scheduled for 8th April 2009.

We ensure the fullest cooperation with all persons and institutions committed to the defense of human rights in Sri Lanka at the national and international level, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and its special procedures and the Office of the Secretary General of the UN, and committing to the protection of the rights of human rights defenders in Sri Lanka are imperative if there is to be any improvement in the human rights situation in the country. Thank You Mr President. ]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2009:/statement//29.840 2009-10-27T04:56:27Z 2010-11-15T02:57:06Z

IMADR Sri Lanka: Japan’s New Administration Should Break Silence on Rights Abuses Foreign Minister Okada Should Urge Release of Detained Civilians and Accountability for War Crimes (Tokyo) – Japan’s new administration should publicly press the Sri Lankan government to end of the illegal detention of approximately 250,000 Tamil civilians and ensure justice and accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), six Japanese and international human rights organizations said in a joint letter to Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada made public today. The Women's Active Museum on War and Peace, Amnesty International, IMADR, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Now, and the Nonviolent Peaceforce Japan urged the recently inaugurated Foreign Minister Okada to take a principled position on rights and use its unique influence as Sri Lanka’s largest donor to protect civilians. While the fighting in Sri Lanka ended with the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009, the suffering of a quarter million detained civilians continues. “The Japanese government is well-placed to press the Sri Lankan government on human rights issues,” said Kanae Doi, Tokyo director at Human Rights Watch. “But it has yet to make its influence felt to gain the release of civilians held in camps and achieve accountability for war crimes.” In the letter, the six organizations urged the new Japanese administration to: ・Call upon the Sri Lankan government to end the arbitrary detention of civilians and permit those who wish to leave the detention camps to do so immediately, and use every opportunity to express Japan’s profound dismay at the deprivation of the fundamental right to liberty and absence of freedom of movement of the civilians there; ・Urge the Sri Lankan government to respect and follow the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and abide by these principles in the return and resettlement process; ・Insist that the Sri Lankan government facilitate safe, unimpeded and timely access to humanitarian agencies and human rights organizations to camp residents and undertake protection and monitoring activities; and, ・Publicly denounce the clear unwillingness of the Sri Lankan government to impartially investigate credible allegations of serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and bring to justice those responsible. Since March 2008, the Sri Lankan government has confined virtually everyone displaced by the war with the LTTE to detention camps, depriving them of their liberty and freedom of movement in violation of international law. The government is still holding about 245,000 internally displaced persons in overcrowded, sewage-infested camps, breaking its repeated promises of rapid return. With the monsoon season fast approaching, the health and welfare of these civilians is increasingly at risk. The United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and India have all called on the government to release civilians detained in camps as soon as possible, but the Japanese government remains silent to date. In addition, five months after what the head of the United Nation’s humanitarian agency described as a “bloodbath” in northern Sri Lanka, there has been no government investigation, despite the promise made by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a joint statement with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in May 2009. The armed conflict in Sri Lanka was characterized by serious violations of international humanitarian law by both sides. “The new Japanese administration should not continue the silence on rights from the previous administration,” said Kinhide Mushakoji, President at the IMADR-JC. The organizations said that “There will be no reprieve and there will be no accountability unless Japan and others within the international community persistently demand it,” and called on Japan to “press for the speedy establishment of an independent international investigation” and "take strong action” to end illegal detention of civilians.]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2009:/statement//29.834 2009-10-22T09:38:00Z 2010-11-15T02:57:08Z

IMADR Re: Sri Lanka Dear Foreign Minister, We write to you on the occasion of your inauguration as foreign minister of Japan to encourage you to make the promotion and protection of human rights a central priority in Japan’s relations with Sri Lanka. In particular, there is an urgent need to address the plight of approximately 250,000 displaced civilians detained in camps by the Sri Lankan government, and establish an independent international investigation into serious violations of international humanitarian law during the recent conflict. 　 Japan has long been a good friend of Sri Lanka. It has demonstrated its concern about the economic advancement and well-being of Sri Lanka’s citizens by acting as co-chair of the peace process and by being the largest donor to Sri Lanka. The end of the quarter-century long armed conflict with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) creates new opportunities for Sri Lanka to ensure a rights-respecting society. But since the defeat of the LTTE in May, the Sri Lankan government has made little effort to improve the human rights situation or to reach out to the minority Tamil population, undermining efforts by Japan and the international community to facilitate development and reconciliation, which are necessary for a future peaceful Sri Lanka. The government has illegally confined approximately a quarter of a million vulnerable Tamil civilians in overcrowded, sewage-infested camps, with the government denying them their right to freedom of movement and allowing no independent protection mechanisms. With the monsoon season fast approaching, the health and welfare of these civilians is increasingly at risk. In addition, five months after what the head of the United Nation’s humanitarian agency described as a “bloodbath” in northern Sri Lanka, there has been no government investigation or accountability for the widespread violations of international humanitarian law committed by government forces and the LTTE. Japan’s generous aid to Sri Lanka not only improves the lives of its beneficiaries, it also provides Japan with unique opportunities to draw the Sri Lankan government’s attention to mistaken and counterproductive policies. Sri Lanka listens to Japan. To date, however, while other major donors and friends of Sri Lanka have expressed their concerns in public, Japan has not spoken out against the illegal detention of a quarter of a million civilians, nor has Japan called for accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian law by the government and the LTTE. It is the time for Japan’s new administration to break the silence and to make use of its unique relationship with Sri Lanka to uphold the basic rights of all Sri Lankans. We urge Japan to take strong action so that the Sri Lankan government will end the illegal detention of civilians. We also call upon Japan to insist on justice and accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian law by both sides and to press for the speedy establishment of an independent international investigation. Situation in the Detention Camps Several hundred thousand civilians were displaced by the armed conflict in northern Sri Lanka. Since March 2008, the government confined virtually all newly displaced persons who fled the LTTE in government-run camps. While the government euphemistically refers to these camps as “welfare villages,” they are effectively military-controlled detention centers for civilians. In violation of international law, the government has denied those detained in these camps their rights to liberty and freedom of movement. Camp residents are allowed to leave the camps only for emergency medical care, and then frequently only with military escort. Although the majority of detainees have relatives who are able to provide them with care and housing, to date, only several thousand camp residents have been allowed to leave. Because of lack of adequate access for humanitarian agencies and overcrowding caused by the government’s refusal to release people from the camps, conditions in the camps currently fall short of UN standards. Conditions will continue to deteriorate with the onset of the monsoon season, causing additional hardship and suffering for the camp residents. Heavy rains in mid-August caused serious flooding and indicated the problems to come, as water destroyed tents and other shelter, made cooking impossible, and caused roads to collapse, preventing delivery of crucial aid such as drinking water. Water also flooded latrine pits, causing raw sewage to flow among the tents. Aid agencies are particularly concerned about the threat of disease due to flooding. Camp residents are increasingly frustrated with their lack of freedom of movement, leading to confrontations between the military administration and the residents. On September 26, 2009, Sri Lankan security forces opened fire on a group of camp residents who reportedly attempted to move between two zones of the Menik Farm camp. Several civilians, including a child, were wounded. In May, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, joined by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, assured the international community that these camps would be dismantled at the earliest possible time. Nearly five months later, none of this has happened. Instead, the Sri Lankan government has deliberately prevented outside scrutiny of the camps, leaving camp residents vulnerable to abuse. It has denied access to aid organizations to independently assess medical needs. Reports that camp residents still do not know the whereabouts of relatives detained at checkpoints during their flight from the fighting or from the camps weeks and months after they were separated give great cause for concern. The government has prohibited staff members of humanitarian organizations working in the camps from talking with camp residents, preventing effective monitoring and protection. We have received reports of enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment, but these reports cannot be corroborated because the camps are closed to human rights organizations, journalists, and other independent observers. We urge the new Japanese administration to: - Call upon the Sri Lankan government to end the arbitrary detention of civilians and permit those who wish to leave the detention camps to do so immediately. Charge suspected LTTE combatants in accordance with international standards and ensure that family members and humanitarian agencies have access to them; - Publicly refer to the camps as “detention camps” to make clear their true character, and use every opportunity to express Japan’s profound dismay at the deprivation of the fundamental right to liberty and absence of freedom of movement of the civilians there; - Draw attention to the fact that poor camp conditions are in part a result of the government’s policy to detain the displaced rather than allow them freedom of movement; - Insist that the Sri Lankan government facilitate safe, unimpeded and timely access to humanitarian agencies and human rights organizations to camp residents and undertake protection and monitoring activities; and, - Call upon the Sri Lankan government to implement a system for tracing missing relatives or allow an international humanitarian organization to undertake such work. Concerning return and resettlement, urge the Sri Lankan government to: - Respect and follow the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and abide by these principles in the return and resettlement process, including by ensuring the full inclusion and input of displaced persons in the planning and management of their return, resettlement and reintegration; - Properly inform displaced persons of their right to voluntarily return to their homes, places of origin, or to relocate to another area of the country if they so choose, in safety and with dignity; and, - Guarantee the right of displaced persons to make informed and voluntary decisions regarding their return home or resettlement. Justice and Accountability The armed conflict in Sri Lanka that ended with the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009 was characterized by serious violations of international humanitarian law by both sides. Despite repeated denials, government forces frequently shelled densely populated areas, including at least 30 attacks on or near hospitals in the government-declared "no-fire zone" – an area where it had urged civilians to take shelter. The LTTE violated the laws of war by using civilians as human shields, using lethal force to prevent their fleeing from the combat zone, and deploying their forces in and near densely populated areas, exposing civilians to unnecessary risk. However, because independent observers, including the media and human rights organizations, were prevented from operating near the war zone, the information available on the fighting, and possible laws of war violations by both sides, is limited. A joint statement by Secretary-General Ban and President Rajapaksa on May 23, 2009, underlined the importance of an accountability process for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The statement said that “[t]he Government will take measures to address those grievances.” This has not happened. Five months after the end of the war, the government has made no attempts to investigate violations of international law. On the contrary, in several statements, the Sri Lankan government has dismissed the need for such an investigation, contradicting the promises it made in its joint statement. In a July 14 interview with Time magazine, President Rajapakse, speaking about the war, said that “There was no violation of human rights. There were no civilian casualties.” Even with respect to a truth and reconciliation commission, Rajapaksa said that he did not want to “dig into the past and open up this wound.” The attitude of the Sri Lankan government towards accountability is also evident in its official reaction to a recently broadcast video that shows what appears to be Sri Lankan army soldiers summarily executing prisoners. The Sri Lankan government, however, dismissed the video out of hand, labeling it a fabrication and a “concocted story.” In September, the government told the Human Rights Council that four hand-picked local investigators, two of whom were government officials, had concluded the video was “fake,” but failed to provide detailed investigation reports to support such a finding. Philip Alston, the UN Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions, has called for an investigation of this video. The Sri Lankan government has a poor record of investigating serious human rights abuses and impunity has been a persistent problem. Despite a backlog of cases of enforced disappearance and unlawful killings going back two decades that run to the tens of thousands, there have been only a small number of prosecutions. Past efforts to address violations through the establishment of ad hoc mechanisms in Sri Lanka, such as presidential commissions of inquiry, have produced few results, either in providing information or leading to prosecutions. The most recent commission, investigating 16 major human rights cases including the August 2006 killing of 17 Sri Lankan aid workers with the Paris-based humanitarian agency Action Contre La Faim (ACF), highlights this failure. After having investigated just a few of their mandated cases, the commission concluded this year, finding no evidence of government wrongdoing, including in the ACF case. A group of respected international experts tasked with monitoring the commission withdrew from its role because it had "not been able to conclude ... that the proceedings of the Commission have been transparent or have satisfied basic international norms and standards." The commission’s full report to President Rajapaksa remains unpublished. Sri Lanka’s past record, recent statements, and the government’s lack of action since the end of the conflict make it clear that the government has no intention of impartially investigating violations committed during the war. We urge the new Japanese administration to: - Publicly denounce the clear unwillingness of the Sri Lankan government to impartially investigate credible allegations of serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and bring to justice those responsible; - Support the call of the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights for an independent investigation into alleged abuses; - Unequivocally press for the establishment of an independent international investigation into abuses committed by both government forces and the LTTE in the final months of fighting; and, - Call on the UN secretary-general, who had joined with President Rajapaksa in promising an inquiry into abuses, to promptly establish such a UN-sanctioned investigation, and to take all necessary steps to facilitate its creation and execute its mandate. The fighting in Sri Lanka may be over, but for approximately a quarter of a million people, the suffering continues. There will be no reprieve and there will be no accountability unless Japan and others within the international community persistently demand it. We thank you for your attention to these urgent matters and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you for further discussion. Sincerely yours, Mina Watanabe Secretary General, Women's Active Museum on War and Peace　(wam) Makoto Teranaka Secretary General, Amnesty International Japan Kinhide Mushakoji President, IMADR-JC Yuriko Hara Secretary-General, IMADR Brad Adams Asia Director, Human Rights Watch Kanae Doi Tokyo Director, Human Rights Watch Kazuko Ito Secretary General, Human Rights Now ]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2009:/statement//29.828 2009-09-30T07:23:21Z 2010-11-18T07:40:53Z

IMADR Statement, Human Rights Council 12th Session item 9, General Debate The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) welcomes the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in his report on the manifestations of defamation of religions. We also welcome efforts that the Special Rapporteur has made in pursuing his mandate since the Durban Review Conference (DRC). Indeed, his mandate has a great responsibility to assist the development of the follow-up of the DRC and the implementation of recommendations made in the outcome document of the Conference, which, we believe, should help bring about progress in the efforts made by all stakeholders including UN and civil society towards the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, especially discrimination based on work and descent. We would like to call attention of the Special Rapporteur and all respectable delegates gathered in the 12th session of the Human Rights Council to the recent development made by the civil society in regard to the issue of discrimination based on work and descent. During the current session, IMADR, the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and other human rights NGOs organized a side-event for the development of the draft UN principles and guidelines for elimination of discrimination based on work and descent prepared by the former Special Rapporteurs of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Professors Yokota and Chung. The side-event was participated by many people including the state minister of Nepal, who confirmed the Nepalese government support for the draft UN principles and guidelines, and the director of the Research and Rights to Development Division of the OHCHR who stressed that elimination of all forms of discrimination remains the highest duty of the UN, its member states and all stakeholders. This side-event reconfirmed the importance of concerted efforts towards elimination of discrimination based on work and descent under the initiatives of the Special Rapporteur and all mandate holders appointed by the Human Rights Council. For 260 million people in the world who are affected by this particular form of discrimination, IMADR urges all stakeholders at national and international levels to remember the statements made in the DRC outcome document, which reads that the DRC emphasizes the need to address with greater resolve and political will all forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in all spheres of life and in all parts of the world, and that the DRC reiterates that poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion and economic disparities are closely associated with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and contribute to the persistence of racist attitudes and practices which in turn generate more poverty. We call for all stakeholders, especially respectable representatives present in this session, to immediately take actions for the elimination of discrimination based on work and descent. Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker: Daisuke Shirane ]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2009:/statement//29.790 2009-05-14T10:59:10Z 2010-11-15T02:57:13Z

Urgent appeal on Sri Lanka’s human rights and humanitarian situation The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) expresses its deepest concern about the recent situation in the north of Sri Lanka, where hostilities between Sri Lankan Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continue. Over the past few days, large-scale, intensive and indiscriminate shelling attacks by government forces, targeting densely populated areas including makeshift hospitals, have killed a myriad of civilians in the “No-War Zone” at an unprecedented level. Over a single night from May 9 to 10, the shelling reportedly killed “nearly 400” or “more than 2,000” according to different sources, and injured a larger number of people. Moreover, it was reported that even those makeshift hospitals which provide the injured with medical treatment were bombed on the 12th and 13th, resulting in the death of tens of people respectively. We deeply regret the fact that the Government of Sri Lanka has failed to keep its pledge stating that they would not use artillery weapons in the declared No-War Zone. As we have been repeatedly calling for, we hereby strongly urge both the Government and the LTTE to immediately cease fire in order not to cause any more casualties. To deter the on-going tragedy from taking place, the active engagement and decisive actions of the international community are vital. To our utmost regret, however, the lack of such attitude of the international community has allowed the occurrence of massacres and atrocities committed by the Government and the LTTE, ignoring international humanitarian law. In this regard, we urge the international community, especially the United Nations, to take immediate and concrete actions. As per the joint NGO appeal we made on May 6, 2009, we request anew the Human Rights Council to hold a special session on Sri Lanka, include the human rights situation of Sri Lanka in its agenda on a regular basis, and send an international mission to assess the conditions of civilians who are confined in the war-affected areas. Also, the humanitarian situation of Sri Lanka should be taken up at formal meetings of the UN Security Council. Last but not least, IMADR stresses on the significance of the role the Government of Japan should play under the current circumstances. We have repeatedly urged the Government of Japan, which is one of the largest aid donors for Sri Lanka, to take an active part towards a peaceful resolution of the armed conflict in the country. The Government of Japan should urge the Government of Sri Lanka to address the matter in a decisive attitude and to resort not to arms but to peaceful means, and further provide Sri Lanka with assistance including technical assistance necessary for a peaceful resolution. At the same time, Japan as a member state of the Human Rights Council should take the lead in supporting the convening of a special session on Sri Lanka. As a non-permanent member, the Government of Japan is also urged to take necessary actions so that the Security Council can formally take up the present humanitarian situation of Sri Lanka as one of its agendas. At any cost, any further loss of human lives must be prevented. We believe that it is the responsibility of Japan as a state upholding human rights and democracy to show a strong leadership in the arena of international politics. ]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2009:/statement//29.783 2009-05-06T10:34:25Z 2010-11-15T02:57:15Z

Sub: Appeal for a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council on the Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka Your Excellency, The undersigned 90 non-governmental organizations across the globe call upon the UN Human Rights Council to hold a Special Session on the current human rights catastrophe in Sri Lanka, as a matter of urgent concern. We have observed the lack of an adequate response from the Council so far, and herewith repeat our heartfelt appeal to the Council to live up to its own mandate by responding promptly to human rights emergencies. The human rights and humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka has been repeatedly highlighted by various top UN officials, including the Secretary-General, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs), among others, and by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as well as local, regional and international human rights groups. The press statements, reports and news articles which have been produced over the last few months, expressing serious concerns and warnings over the impending tragedy in Sri Lanka are too many to list here. The UN estimates more than 6,400 people have been killed since the beginning of this year in the fighting between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and many thousands have been severely injured. Staff of the ICRC and international aid agencies, medical personnel and religious workers have been amongst those killed and injured. At the moment, over 50,000 people remain trapped in the tiny area of land controlled by the LTTE, in danger of death and injury from the ongoing fighting and suffering from a desperate shortage of medical supplies, food and water. As the Under-Secretary-General stated in his briefing to the UN Security Council last Thursday, despite the repeated appeals from the UN and from the diplomatic community, the Government of Sri Lanka continues to deny access to the UN humanitarian team into the conflict zone, in order to assess the humanitarian situation and respond to the basic needs of food and medical supplies. The dire conditions faced by around 170,000 people who fled from LTTE controlled areas to camps operated by the Government are also a matter of grave concern. In particular, restrictions on the freedom of movement of these internally displaced persons (IDPs) and family reunification issues should be addressed by the Government as a matter of priority. The concerns of the international community regarding the human rights situation is not only limited to the current deterioration which has a specific impact on civilians affected directly by the conflict in northern Sri Lanka. Core problems of discrimination against minorities and impunity for human rights abuses, including by the security forces, have been allowed to go unchecked throughout the country in the past years. As the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances has indicated in its reports, Sri Lanka holds the largest number of cases of disappearances in the last two years; the majority of the victims were from the Tamil minority. Furthermore, since 2006, 18 journalists and media workers have been killed, and more than 70 aid workers including religious leaders working on human rights and humanitarian cause have been killed or disappeared. A series of threats and attacks have been made against human rights defenders, including lawyers and media persons who continue to be arrested and detained without charges. Thousands of Tamil civilians also remain detained without charges. There is no doubt that the LTTE has also committed heinous crimes against the civilian population in breach of international humanitarian law, and this fact should continue to be condemned and responded to with appropriate action by the international community. However, the primary responsibility for protecting human rights at all times lies with the Government of Sri Lanka, and its military gains against the LTTE do not legitimize the great cost of civilian lives, harassment of the Tamil community, repression of democratic dissent, and the collapse of rule of law in the country. Lastly, we would like to call for the attention of the Human Rights Council to its own resolution A/HRC/RES/9/9 entitled “Protection of the human rights of civilians in armed conflict”, which was adopted by consensus on 21 September 2008. In the resolution, the Human Rights Council stressed its role and responsibility, pursuant to its mandate, to monitor the implementation of human rights in situations of armed conflict. On this front, we strongly urge the Human Rights Council to uphold its mandate with urgent and concrete actions, that is, to hold a special session on Sri Lanka, include the human rights situation of Sri Lanka into its agenda on a regular basis and immediately send an international mission to assess the needs of those civilians in the conflict affected areas with any unhindered access. Thank you very much for your attention to this appeal. Yours sincerely, On behalf of co-signatories: Yap Swee Seng Executive Director Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 1. ADER - Association for Regional Economic Development, India 2. African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) 3. African Democracy Forum (ADF) 4. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh 5. Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation (AIPP) 6. Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) 7. Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI), India 8. Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) 9. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 10. Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) 11. Association of Family Members of the Disappeared (AFMD), Sri Lanka 12. Bagaicha - Center for Study and Action, India 13. Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Bahrain 14. Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), India 15. BRAC, Bangladesh 16. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), Egypt 17. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), Cambodia 18. Cardijn Community International (CCI) 19. Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS), Argentina 20. Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD), Mongolia 21. Centre for Social Research (CSR), India 22. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) 23. Conectas Human Rights, Brazil 24. Dalit Association for Social and Human Rights Awareness (DASHRA), India 25. Dalit Solidarity Network - Sweden, Sweden 26. DARSHAN, India 27. De La Salle Brothers, India 28. Democracy Coalition Project (DCP), United States 29. East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP) 30. Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), Egypt 31. EVIDENCE, India 32. Fondation Humanus, Cameroon 33. Franciscans International (FI) 34. Friends’Association for Rural Reconstruction (FARR), India 35. Gandhian Unit for Integrated Development Education (GUIDE), India 36. Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) 37. Holistic Approach for People’s Empowerment (HOPE), India 38. Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee (HRTMCC), Nepal 39. Human Rights Watch (HRW) 40. Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), Indonesia 41. India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN), Netherlands 42. Indian Social Institute (ISI), India 43. Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), Nepal 44. Information Monitor (INFORM), Sri Lanka 45. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) 46. International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) 47. International Movement of Catholic Students Asia Pacific (IMCS-AP) 48. International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW-AP) 49. Jananeethi and Jananeethi Institute, India 50. Justice and Peace Netherlands, Netherlands 51. Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements (KAPM), Republic of Korea 52. Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS), Republic of Korea 53. Korean Public Interest Lawyers Group - GONGGAM, Republic of Korea 54. Madurai Multipurpose Social Service Society (MMSSS), India 55. Managing Trustee, Littles - A Centre for Children, India 56. Mexican Commission for the Defence and Promotion of Human Rights (CMDPDH) 57. Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) 58. MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society, Republic of Korea 59. National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR), India 60. National Coalition for the International Criminal Court (NCICC), Nepal 61. National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), Pakistan 62. National Dalit Forum (NDF), India 63. National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), Sri Lanka 64. National Network of Mongolian Women’s NGOs (MONFEMNET), Mongolia 65. Nonviolence International (NI) 66. North East Network (NEN), India 67. Pasumai Thaayagam Foundation (Green Motherland), India 68. Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC 69. People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), India 70. People’s Watch (PW), India 71. Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Philippines 72. PRAHAR, India 73. Praxis - Institute for Participatory Practices, India 74. PSPD - People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Republic of Korea 75. Pusat Komas, Malaysia 76. Quê Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam, France 77. REAL, India 78. Rights Education and Development Centre (READ), India 79. RIGHTS, India 80. Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), Nepal 81. Samvedan Cultural Programme (SCP), India 82. Society for Women’s Action and Training Initiatives (SWATI), India 83. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Malaysia 84. Tamils of Northern California (TNC), United States 85. The Other Media, India 86. Tibetan UN Advocacy (TUNA), Switzerland 87. Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) 88. Village Reconstruction and Development Project (VRDP), India 89. West African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN) 90. World Organization against Torture (OMCT)]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2009:/statement//29.786 2009-04-24T14:43:08Z 2010-11-15T02:57:17Z

Urgent calls for immediate and urgent action A war without witnesses in Sri Lanka Reports reaching us from Sri Lanka are reflecting the deteriorating conditions for thousands trapped in the war zone. The emerging situation in the conflict in Sri Lanka calls for immediate and urgent action on your part and on the part of the international community to ensure the safety and security of civilians fleeing the fighting as well as to ensure that universally accepted standards of humanitarian aid are adhered to by the government of Sri Lanka. The very effective blockade of the areas in which the conflict has been raging over the past week by the government makes it impossible for us to verify reports we receive regarding the appalling conditions under which the civilians are being forced into flight. However, there is no doubt that the No Fire Zone declared by the Sri Lankan Army in the area adjacent to Pudumattalan on the east coast of the Vanni has ceased to exist a few days ago. The relentless military advance into this area on April 16th onwards has resulted in many deaths and injuries, and created an intolerable situation for civilians. On April 21 the government media announced that over 100,000 persons had fled into government controlled areas over the past 2 days. On April 21st one of the few remaining Government health personnel, Doctor Siva Manoharan was reported to have been killed within the No Fire Zone. Over the past weeks, several other local humanitarian personnel have also been killed in this Zone including 2 ICRC workers and 1 person working for CARE. The denial of access to any independent observers to this area means that there is nobody who can verify and report on civilian casualties and the ground situation. As members of civil society groups working for a sustainable peace in Sri Lanka, we are gravely concerned at the present situation. Among our key concerns are: - The lack of appropriate and adequate preparation by the government to accommodate and provide assistance for the large number of persons who obviously require immediate and urgent medical attention and care. - The continued denial of access to international and national media - The continued denial of access to international and national humanitarian agencies and workers to many of the areas most directly affected by the conflict and the restrictions placed on them in the delivery of much needed services to the people. The contracts signed with the governments related to IDP activities are stringent and looks as if they are contracted by the state to provide such assistance. We urge you to use all diplomatic avenues available at your disposal to call on the government of Sri Lanka to ensure that all IDPs, and especially those suspected of being members or sympathizers of the LTTE, are treated according to the principles established by international humanitarian law and in particular to ensure that gross violations of human rights do not take place during this period. The issue of ensuring independent monitoring of the screening process for civilians coming out of the conflict zones of the Vanni remains a major concern. Although assurances were given to Sir John Holmes during his visit in February 2009 that representatives of the ICRC and the UN could be present at all screening points, this is yet to be implemented. According to our information, neither the ICRC nor the UN agencies have access to Velipuram and Killinochchi, and only the ICRC is allowed access to Pulmoddai. We urge you to hold the government of Sri Lanka to their commitments to Sir Holmes in this regard. We have urged repeatedly to send a UN led humanitarian team to visit the area and conduct a needs assessment which can form the basis for all future plans for rehabilitation and reconstruction in this area. This is imperative if the people of the Vanni of all ethnic and religious communities are to feel that the government and the international community have their best interests at heart. We also hope that the members of the UN Security Council will be given the opportunity to receive and consider the report of your most recent envoy, Mr Vijay Nambiar, and lead to more immediate steps by that body to address the situation in Sri Lanka. We appreciate your on-going efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians caught up the conflict. We call upon you to find an innovative method to facilitate a special session on Sri Lanka and to urge all member states in the Human Rights Council to address the situation as an emergency situation. We assure you of our fullest support at all times in bringing the conflict in Sri Lanka to an end and in restoring peace and democracy to the island through a peaceful negotiation to the ethnic conflict restoring the dignity and equality of citizens of Sri Lanka especially those belonging to Tamil and Muslim community. Thank you, Nimalka Fernando, President Kinhide Mushakoji, Vice-President/IMADR Japan Committee President Yuriko Hara, Secretary-General ]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2009:/statement//29.775 2009-04-21T05:53:46Z 2010-11-15T02:57:19Z

IMADR IMADR considers that the Durban Review Conference of the United Nations constitutes an important milestone in the fight of the international community against racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance. In spite of various limitations in drafting the outcome document, the proposed draft text raises, at least, a few key issues which are crucial in combating racism and racial discrimination. IMADR has considered it crucial to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) at all levels in particular at national level, and welcomes the concrete proposals to enhance DDPA to combat racism made by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in March 2009. IMADR expresses it’s deep concern of the boycott of the preparatory process and the Durban Review Conference by some member states for political reasons. It is unfortunate to observe such an attitude and lack of responsibility on the part of states which have historically failed to protect the rights of minorities, indigenous peoples, Sinti and Roma, African or Asian descendants, migrants or victims of trafficking, including women and children. IMADR also expresses its disappointment that the draft outcome document ignores some significant issues in the post Durban context of the so-called War on Terror and the recent global financial crisis. IMADR wishes to point out that both these recent developments have resulted in human rights violations that jeopardize the right to live in peace and right to life of most vulnerable groups, especially those belonging to the minority communities and indigenous peoples and impede progress in the struggle against racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia. IMADR also notes with grave concern that the consensus draft document does not unambiguously identify the crucial issues of racism involving the Jewish people and the Islamic community. IMADR urges the international community to direct its attention and efforts to fight against anti-Semitism as well as Islamophobia, especially in the Middle East where the right to live in peace of both the Jewish and the Palestinian people is violated. IMADR seriously regrets that for political reasons the Durban and post-Durban processes make no explicit reference to the key issue involving 260 million people discriminated based on “work and descent”. It was eliminated from the text of the DDPA by a questionable political procedure. Discrimination based on work and descent affecting a vast number of people not only in South and East Asia but also in Africa has been officially recognized as a serious violation by the ICERD, and has received special attention from the former Commission on Human Rights which appointed two Special Rapporteurs to prepare the report on the issue and to develop principles and guidelines for its effective elimination. In this context, IMADR urges the DRC to consider the above report, adopted as an UN document by the Human Rights Council in March 2009. Considering the above, IMADR emphasizes the need to see that the DDPA and the current outcome document reach persons and groups who over the years have been the victims of discrimination, marginalization and exclusion, notably minority communities and indigenous peoples as well as Sinti and Roma, persons of African and Asian descent, migrants – both documented and undocumented –, and trafficked persons, especially women and children. Therefore, IMADR urges state parties to implement the DDPA and the current outcome document and urge the international community to establish effective follow-up mechanisms enabling the monitoring of the implementation of these documents. In order to enhance Durban follow-up mechanisms, it is also essential, among others, to strengthen and make maximum use of existing international human rights mechanisms, in particular; 1) the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, 2) the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and 3) the Universal Periodic Review process. IMADR also reiterates its conviction that the participation of affected communities and groups at all levels of decision-making, development and implementation of international human rights standards and human rights protection mechanisms is of utmost importance in order to be able to effectively prevent, combat and eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. In this regard we wish to express our displeasure regarding the procedure followed by the UN in relation to the accreditation of some NGOs and using the 14 days rule to stop their participation. In particular we regret that one of our members, the Society for Rural Education and Development (SRED), in India did not receive accreditation as a result of this ruling. IMADR is committed to the total elimination of all forms of discrimination and racism, and is willing to engage and work with all concerned stakeholders to achieve that end. April 21, 2009 Nimalka Fernando, President Kinhide Mushakoji, Vice President Yuriko Hara, Secretary-General