HUMAN RIGTHS

Comment

Comment by iPeace recommends.. on January 14, 2009 at 7:07pm

The Jewish-Arab Peace Song (w/ English subtitles)

Comment by sasko on January 13, 2009 at 2:21am

Ban readies Middle East visit to help promote Gaza ceasefire
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the eve of his departure for wide-ranging, high-level talks in the Middle East to personally help broker a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Israel and Hamas to immediately stop fighting.
“My goal is to step up the pace of our joint diplomatic efforts and ensure that urgent humanitarian assistance reaches those in need,” he told a news conference in New York. “It is one thing to speak to world leaders, as I have done daily in seeking to resolve this crisis. And it is another thing to be present oneself.”

He said his message was simple, direct and to the point. “The fighting must stop,” he stressed as the Israeli offensive moved towards its 18th day with the stated aim to end Hamas rocket attacks into Israel.

“To both sides, I say: Just stop, now. Too many people have died. There has been too much civilian suffering. Too many people, Israelis and Palestinians, live in daily fear of their lives. And in Gaza, the very foundation of society is being destroyed: people's homes, civic infrastructure, public health facilities and schools.”

Mr. Ban, who leaves tomorrow and will meet with all the main players apart from Hamas, laid out the major elements needed to ensure full implementation of last week’s Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and durable ceasefire.

These include an immediate end to military operations in Gaza, an end to Israel's offensive and a halt to the rocket attacks by Hamas; help from the international community to stop the smuggling of weapons into Gaza; and a full re-opening of border crossings into Gaza, he said of the message he would repeat at each of his stops.

Israel has insisted on an end to rocket attacks and the smuggling of weapons into Gaza through tunnels dug by Hamas, while Hamas has demanded an end to the border closures imposed by Israel in response to the rockets – closures that have starved Gaza of basic supplies, creating what the UN has called a severe humanitarian crisis for its 1.5 million residents.


“Innocent civilians, whether in the Occupied Territory or southern Israel, cannot live in a state of fear or under a de facto state of siege. Let normal life resume. That is the only path to lasting peace,” Mr. Ban declared.

Noting that diplomatic talks were underway in Cairo, he said the sides must agree to the elements of an immediate ceasefire, which at a minimum means a halt to rocket attacks by Hamas and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. “It is time to stop. It is time to stop the killing and the destruction,” he stressed.

He noted that he had urged Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in a telephone call last Friday to observe the ceasefire and had discussed the issue with the United States so that it could influence Israel.

He also discussed the crisis with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whom he will meet in Cairo at the start of his mission on Wednesday, when he will also confer with Arab League Secretary-General Amre Moussa and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit. He will then meet with Jordanian King Abdullah II in Amman.

On Thursday, he will be in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with meetings scheduled with Mr. Olmert, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defence Minister Ehud Barak. He will then visit Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

He is to travel briefly to Turkey for talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and then go to Beirut to meet with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, and Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri. He will also visit the headquarters of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura and then move on to Syria. His last scheduled stop is Kuwait, where he will attend the meeting of the Arab League.

Mr. Ban said he wanted his visit to be a tangible expression of support for the 10,000 UN staff on the ground in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel who work under the most difficult and dangerous circumstances. “I salute their bravery and their dedication to the UN's mission,” he declared.

“Most of all, I want to demonstrate my deep concern and empathy for the innocents caught in these terrible circumstances, both in Israel and the Occupied Territory. More than 900 Palestinians have died. About 4,000 more have been injured. They have no place to hide, no place to run,” he added, calling it “tragic and heartbreaking to see so many civilians having been killed and suffering.”

Comment by sasko on January 13, 2009 at 2:19am

UN human rights body to send fact-finding mission to Gaza
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The United Nations Human Rights Council today adopted a resolution strongly condemning the ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza, and decided to dispatch a fact-finding mission to investigate human rights violations committed in the territory.
Canada cast the only negative vote for the non-binding resolution, which received the support of 33 of the Council’s 47 members, while 13 countries abstained.

In adopting the text, the Geneva-based body demanded that Israel – which launched the latest offensive 17 days ago with the stated aim of ending Hamas rocket attacks into Israel – immediately end its attacks and withdraw its military forces from Gaza.

The Council’s action came as it wrapped up a special session begun last Friday to consider “the grave violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the recent aggression in the occupied Gaza Strip.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stressed to the Council on Friday that international human rights law must apply in all circumstances and at all times, and strongly urged the parties to the conflict “to fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law to collect, care for and evacuate the wounded and to protect and respect health workers, hospitals, and medical units and ambulances.

“Accountability must be ensured for violations of international law,” she said, suggesting that the Council consider a mission to assess violations committed by both sides in the conflict in order to establish the relevant facts and ensure accountability.

The latest casualty figures according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health are 883 Palestinians killed since the operation began on 27 December, including at least 85 women and 284 children, as well as 4,057 wounded.

In addition, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports that some 21,555 people have been displaced by the conflict.

In its resolution today, the Council also requested Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to investigate the latest targeting of UNRWA facilities in Gaza, including schools, which have resulted in the killing of tens of Palestinian civilians, including women and children.

Mr. Ban begins a visit to the region on Wednesday as part of his ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring about an end to the hostilities.

Comment by Tree Thunderchild on January 11, 2009 at 6:22am

Thanks for the good news i.e. the UN sasko!

Comment by sasko on January 11, 2009 at 1:34am

Violence must stop
------------------------------
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told a special session of the Human Rights Council, which meets on 9 January to discuss “the grave violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including the recent aggression in the occupied Gaza Strip”, that the violence must stop.

“The situation is intolerable. The ceasefire called for by the UN Security Council must be implemented immediately. The violence must stop,” said the High Commissioner.

“The vicious cycle of provocation and retribution must be brought to an end,” she said, pointing out that the ongoing conflict has already caused the loss of hundreds of lives, and scores, including children, died or were wounded in these attacks.

The special session takes place following a request by Egypt, on behalf of the Arab Group and the African Group, Pakistan, on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and Cuba, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

“Cease-fire and the ultimate cessation of hostilities cannot wait a day longer," said Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi of Nigeria, President of the Human Rights Council, when he opened the special session.

"The thousands of innocent civilians, particularly children, women and the aged who are caught up in this unacceptable conflict need all the help that they can get to assuage their sufferings. Cease-fire and the ultimate cessation of hostilities cannot wait a day longer," he said.

In her address to the special session, High Commissioner Navi Pillay stressed unequivocally that international human rights law must apply in all circumstances and at all times.

She strongly urged the parties to the conflict “to fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law to collect, care for and evacuate the wounded and to protect and respect health workers, hospitals, and medical units and ambulances.”

“Accountability must be ensured for violations of international law,” said the High Commissioner, who suggested that the Council should consider authorizing a mission to assess violations committed by both sides in the conflict in order to establish the relevant facts and ensure accountability.

“I remind this Council that violations of international humanitarian law may constitute war crime for which individual criminal responsibility may be invoked,” she said.

The High Commissioner also called on the parties to the conflict to allow the deployment of independent human rights monitors in both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory to document any violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. She urged that Special Procedures mandate holders be granted unrestricted access to Gaza and the West Bank.

In order for a special session to be convened, the support of one-third of the membership of the Council (16 members or more) is required. A total of 32 Council members have expressed their support for holding the special session.

This is the ninth special session of the Human Rights Council. The Council’s previous special sessions related to Lebanon, Darfur, Myanmar, the global food crisis, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Comment by sasko on January 11, 2009 at 1:28am

UN rights chief suggests mission to assess possible war crimes in Gaza conflict
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The top United Nations human rights official today proposed a mission to assess violations and possible war crimes committed by both Israel and Hamas in the Gaza conflict, and called for immediate implementation of a ceasefire.




“The situation is intolerable. The ceasefire called for by the UN Security Council must be implemented immediately. The violence must stop,” High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told a special session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.





“TThe situation is intolerable. The ceasefire called for by the UN Security Council must be implemented immediately. The violence must stophe vicious cycle of provocation and retribution must be brought to an end,” she said, pointing out that the ongoing conflict had already caused the loss of hundreds of lives since Israel started its military operation 14 days ago with the stated aim of ending Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza.The situation is intolerable. The ceasefire called for by the UN Security Council must be implemented immediately. The violence must stop




Ms. Pillay stressed unequivocally that international human rights law must apply in all circumstances and at all times, and strongly urged the parties to the conflict “to fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law to collect, care for and evacuate the wounded and to protect and respect health workers, hospitals, and medical units and ambulances.





“Accountability must be ensured for violations of international law,” she said, suggesting that the Council should consider authorizing a mission to assess violations committed by both sides in the conflict in order to establish the relevant facts and ensure accountability.





“I remind this Council that violations of international humanitarian law may constitute war crime for which individual criminal responsibility may be invoked,” she added.





She also called on the parties to the conflict to allow the deployment of independent human rights monitors in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to document any violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. She urged that so-called Special Procedures mandate holders be granted unrestricted access to Gaza and the West Bank.





The special session was called in response to a request by Egypt on behalf of the Arab Group and the African Group, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and Cuba on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.





In a message read out to the session, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory Richard Falk said the use of force by an occupying power against security threats emanating from a population under occupation was permissible within the constraints set by international law.





There was no legal or moral justification for firing rockets at civilian targets, and such behaviour was a violation of international human rights, associated with the right to life, as well as constituting a war crime, he stated. At the same time, the nature of the offence should be evaluated within the context of its occurrence.





This included the fact that for the year prior to 27 December not a single Israeli death resulted from rockets fired from Gaza, he noted. Also, while Israel had been expected to lift or at least ease the blockade that had imposed severe hardships on the entire population of Gaza, it failed to do so.





Such a blockade does not alter the unjustifiable character of the rocket attacks, but it does suggest two important conclusions from a legal perspective. First, the scale of civilian harm resulting from Israeli unlawful conduct was far greater than that of Palestinian unlawful conduct, he said.





Secondly, any effort to produce a sustainable ceasefire should ensure that Israel as well as Hamas respect humanitarian law, which most concretely means that interferences with the access of goods for the maintenance of normal civilian life must end, and cannot be re-established as a retaliatory measure if some sort of rocket attack occurs in the future, he added.





A joint statement by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN Children''s Fund (UNICEF) said the terrible suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and the south of Israel demanded the Council''s urgent attention.





Nothing less than ending the violence would be effective to improve the situation. In addition to those killed and wounded, thousands of Palestinians had been displaced, but there was no safe haven for them as had been shown by the incident at an UNRWA school, where Israeli shells killed 43 people and injured over 100, the statement added.





The lack of medical supplies and security had left the wounded without care and insecurity continued to restrict the movement of medical personnel. Medical facilities had been damaged in most cases it took hours before ambulances could reach the wounded, if they could reach them at all, because of continuous shelling. Children urgently needed access to food and psychological counselling.





Health workers were exhausted and the insecurity had severely impaired food distribution. The lack of electricity was preventing people from cooking food. As pointed out, the needs of the population were so great at this time that humanitarian organizations needed to operate around the clock, the agencies said. The free and safe movement of the wounded had to be ensured. All parties to the conflict had to adhere to their obligations to protect the civilian population.





The Council will continue the session on Monday when it is expected to take action on a related draft resolution.

Comment by Tree Thunderchild on January 10, 2009 at 1:29pm

I have moved my comments into a new discussion forum because I was taking up to much room and meant no disrespect to others who wish to speak, especially of other topics such as Gaza.

Comment by Tree Thunderchild on January 10, 2009 at 12:38am

may I learn from Tori's wise words.
And see the 5% and yes be sad,
But then turn 95% of my attention to the 95% and
rejoice!
Because they are those of us, who give cause to have love hope and peace.
So may I give 95% of my attention and energy to them of us, that THEY (we) may grow the stronger because of it.
Thank you! (tree leaves room and goes back to his work :)
Have a fantastic weekend Tori! (((((((((hug)))))))))))

Comment by Tori on January 10, 2009 at 12:32am

Tree & Luisella:

I could seriously sit and listen to you two talk all day long. Its wonderful. I also highly respect you two. I just wish there wasn't those 5% that don't care, it's sad.

Hope you have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND full of love hope and peace.

Sending Lots of Hugs!
Tori

Comment by Tree Thunderchild on January 10, 2009 at 12:25am

Luisella, some of your other wise words....
"Why 95% is dependent from 5%"
America, started out seeking to follow the native traditions and teachings of the peoples who lived here, as "We The People" reflects clearly, and George Washington telling the people not to bow to him, that they were not to serve him, but it was he who must serve the people.
Other words often heard at the start of this country (the invaders who tried to do it right), were the words independence and freedom.
In that time, the people took care of themselves. Grew their food, and were independent yet united.
Now? It would seem the Americans sold that out. Many no longer have independence but have become dependent. Are we STRONGER now? NO!

I pray for the people, that they (we) learn from this.
I use wind and solar, I seek to use what she gives freely, wisely.
Not force and follow that path of destruction as if that is wise.
I have a feeling of the creator who made me and sent me here.
May be returning in a way and time that those of this earth are not expecting.
And be held accountable, individually, for what we have done with a world we did not create,
and that which did, does not appear very happy about it.

Answer to the 5%?
The one I answer to is the one who created me and this world.
The 5% are not my creator, nor do I worship them as my God.
I feel..... as a deep growl in the universe, coming this way.
Those who may pride themselves saying they know the time and hour (2012)
May yet learn, it is not humans who determine the existence of this universe!
It SEES Luisella, and is not pleased....... what we are doing to its earth, and its peoples.
I seek to walk the path of respect for that which gave me life, on its world.
I seek to give cause for my creator to smile upon his creation,
not cause to want to wipe it out for abuse of earth and all life (human and non human)

I seek to live with earth, not off earth.
I seek to live with life, not off life.
I seek to live with my kind, not off my kind.
As would an adult care for himself, I seek not to depend on the 5%
but on myself as a Man. To use what this earth gives freely, wisely, and to RETURN the kindness, honor, and respect.
I read these posts here, I see others giving honor to others, and those, not returning it.....
This is not my way.
I seek to honor, those who treat me with honor.
And if I can, to return such kindness and consideration, 10 fold.
As with each other, as with earth, as with the creator of both.
My words are not shallow, but reflect truth and depth of my spirit.

But if I were as wise as you?
I could use but a few words instead of so many :)

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• …
• 13
• Next ›
• Page