ITEM 4
LIBERATION
GENERAL DEBATE
Ms. Anezka Palkova

Mr. President,

International Instrument including UDHR, ICCPR and ICESCR reaffirm freedom from arbitrary detentions, torture, persecution, discrimination, hostility and violence for all individuals. Human rights are indivisible, interdependent and universal. They apply in all situations and to all races without discrimination.

The nations in North Eastern territories of South Asia residing in the territories of Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal and Tripura suffer from denial of their fundamental rights. Armed Forces (Special powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) applicable in these territories grants the occupying military forces wide power to arrest without warrant, shoot-to-kill, and destroy property in so-called “disturbed areas”. It also protects military personnel responsible for serious crimes from prosecution, creating a pervasive culture of impunity. The AFSPA has facilitated crimes by state in North-eastern territories especially through extrajudicial killings, torture, rape and disappearances.

Mr. President,

The human rights defenders who dare to raise voice for the voiceless victims of torture in the north-eastern territories have also been subjected to torture, harassment and disappearance. In December, 2008 Mr. Laskar, the Liaison Officer and a member of the legal team of Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), an organization monitoring and documenting abuses in North Eastern Territories was subjected to harassment and torture by police. He was working on a project proposal entitled “The Right to Freedom from Torture and Violence: Compatibility of Indian Law and Practice with International Human Rights Standards (focusing on the North Eastern Council Situation).”
This council has the obligation to pay attention to torture, extrajudicial killings and detentions, and disappearances in North-eastern territories of South Asia currently carried by the India Government which the Council must fulfill.

Thank you Mr. President

ITEM 5
General Debate
Statement of Liberation on Indigenous Peoples
Ms. Anezka Palkova

Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Liberation shares our deep appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is evident that Indigenous Peoples across the world continue to be the most oppressed, discriminated and isolated peoples. Liberation wishes to draw the kind attention of the Council to the plight of indigenous peoples of the India's North East region.

The policy of population transfer in Tripura and Assam has dispossessed the indigenous people from their land and indigenous peoples have been reduced to a microscopic minority in their own land.

Adding salt to the festering wounds are the mega development projects that the Government of India is undertaking in pursuit of its Look East Policy and Vision 2020. Construction of mega dams, highways and railways; clearing of forest for mining and plantation; declaration of indigenous land as natural reserves and wild life sanctuaries have denied many indigenous peoples their very means of subsistence. The projects are carried out without the prior, informed consent of the indigenous peoples nor are adequate compensation and alternative land and housing provided to the millions of indigenous peoples already displaced or soon getting displaced.

In this context Liberation would like to reiterate the last concluding observation of the Human Rights Committee in 1997 that the problem in the region is essentially political in character and that the approach in resolving such problem must also, essentially, be political. And in doing so the Committee reminded the Government of India to be mindful of its obligations under article 1, 19 and 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Liberation only reminds the Council of this word of wisdom by the Committee.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

ITEM 6
LIBERATION
General Debate
Ms. Anezka Palkova

Mr. President

From our reading of the UAE National Report and the Report of the Working Group, we note with satisfaction the political will of the UAE to continue to strengthen its labour laws and regulations in order to improve the working and living conditions of workers, particularly in areas such as housing and health. This is undoubtedly a gigantic step in the direction of restoring the dignity of the workers provided; it will be implemented and followed up closely by those concerned.

Mr. President

Among the workers population, we would like to draw your attention on the situation of the contractual workers and labourers and domestic staff, as this vulnerable section of the work force is more likely to suffer the most. We have noticed that the UAE has taken the initiative to study the possibility of a law that specifically addresses the situation of domestic workers; we would like to know if this initiative has concretized so far, or do you have any idea when this law will come into effect. We attach a great importance to such law in view of its importance in order to preserve their fundamental rights and protect this category of workers from possible abuses by their employers. We would also be keen to know what the government will be doing to address the allegations reported by NGOs of discriminatory treatment of contractual workers, especially those related to female domestic workers.

Mr. President

A large number of workers coming from neighbouring states bring prosperity to the economic development of the UAE and at the same time the UAE offer them opportunities to work and ensure a decent earning for them and their family. We encourage these reciprocal interests, but we firmly believe that initiatives like the Abu Dhabi Dialogue which took place in January last year will boost cooperation and understanding and improve the workers conditions and protect their rights.

Thank you Mr. President