GENEVA (12 March 2021) - A UN expert said today authorities in the Central African Republic must ensure the protection of candidates, voters and electoral materials in the country’s second round of legislative elections and by-elections on March 14.
“Regardless of political party, all candidates, including independents, should have the protection of the security and defence forces for campaigning, field operations, and polling station representation,” said Yao Agbetse, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic.
Agbetse said the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) and other armed groups must immediately stop all actions aimed at destabilising the proper conduct of the elections. “I reiterate once again that the perpetrators of abuses and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law will be held accountable.”
CAR elections: Rights and safety of voters and candidates must be protected, says UN expert
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GENEVA (12 March 2021) - A UN expert said today authorities in the Central African Republic must ensure the protection of candidates, voters and electoral materials in the country’s second round of legislative elections and by-elections on March 14.
“Regardless of political party, all candidates, including independents, should have the protection of the security and defence forces for campaigning, field operations, and polling station representation,” said Yao Agbetse, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic.
Agbetse said the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) and other armed groups must immediately stop all actions aimed at destabilising the proper conduct of the elections. “I reiterate once again that the perpetrators of abuses and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law will be held accountable.”
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Cuba: Rights of human rights defenders must be upheld, says UN expert
GENEVA (11 March 2021) – A UN expert today called on Cuba to stop intimidation and detention of human rights defenders working for racial justice in the country.
“The recurrent arrests of human rights defenders on the island, the lack of access to legal representation while they are detained and the surveillance exercised by agents of the Department of State Security is contrary to international law and must cease,” said Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
Members of the Committee for Racial Integration in Cuba, who combat racism and discrimination against the island’s Afro-Cuban population, have been detained since 2017 by State Security agentin their homes. Up to 2019, they have also been prevented from travelling to events related to human rights advocacy with little or no explanation.
GENEVA (8 March 2021) – Women and girls continue to be treated as second class citizens in Iran, a UN expert says in a report to the Human Rights Council, citing domestic violence, thousands of marriages of girls aged between 10 and 14 each year and continuing entrenched discrimination in law and practice.
“One of the most concerning issues in Iran today when it comes to the rights of women and girls is the issue of child marriage,” Javaid Rehman, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, said in the report to be presented to the 47-member body on 9 March.