Indigenous peoples forum within UN suggested.

The creation of a permanent forum within the UN system to better protect the intellectual and cultural heritage of indigenous peoples has been suggested by the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

That decision was among the 57 texts adopted by the 26-member body at its forty-fifth session (Geneva, 2-27 August). Four texts specifically concerned the rights of indigenous populations, whose plight was being highlighted by the observation in 1993 of the International Year for the World's indigenous Peoples.

The Subcommission, the main subsidiary of the Commission on Human Rights, continued work on a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. It also endorsed the proposed proclamation by the General Assembly of an international Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, beginning January 1994, and recommended the holding of a seminar on indigenous land rights and claims.

Appreciation was expressed for the Special Rapporteur's study on the protection of the cultural and intellectual property of indigenous peoples. A second progress report was asked on the study on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and indigenous populations.

Slavery, social rights

On contemporary form of slavery, the Subcommission asked for an updated report on child labour, and expressed grave concern at the persistence and development of sex tourism. A Special Rapporteur was asked to make an in-depth study of the situation of systematic. rape, sexual slavery and slavery-like practices during wartime, taking account, among other things, of the human rights situation in the former Yugoslavia.

In the field of economic, social and cultural rights, the Subcommission encouraged Governments to: pursue effective policies aimed at full realization of the right to adequate housing; take measures designed to close existing gaps in the distribution of income; and eliminate the practice of forced evictions.

It also noted a report that found that population transfer was unlawful and violated a number of human rights, and approved a Special Rapporteur's proposal to hold a seminar on the topic of "Extreme poverty and denial of human rights".

The Subcommission appealed to all States to take measures to promote the Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, especially in areas of armed conflict.

Country considerations

The situation in the former Yugoslavia was the subject of two texts on human rights violations in specific countries.

Regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Subcommission appealed to the international community to reject any permanent partition of the country which resulted from aggression, intervention and massive violations of human rights and, in particular, from the abhorrent practice of "ethnic cleansing". On the situation in Kosovo, the Subcommission vigorously condemned human rights violations of ethnic Albanians committed by authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).

Individuals involved in the "unspeakable crimes" of genocide committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina or elsewhere in the former Yugoslavia, or in other parts of the world, should be brought to justice and be tried by an international tribunal or a competent tribunal in the State where the act was committed, the Subcommission said.

Governments were asked to take measures to enhance efforts to prevent and combat terrorism.

The Subcommission condemned human rights violations in Chad, Iran, Iraq and by terrorist groups in Peru. Also condemned were perpetrators of violence in South Africa, and Israeli policies in the Palestinian and other Arab occupied territories.

The Subcommission also: noted with satisfaction the lifting of restrictions on the activities in East Timor of the international Committee of the Red Cross; expressed satisfaction with the end of the armed conflict in El Salvador; supported measures adopted to strengthen democratic institutions and human rights in Guatemala; encouraged continuing efforts at mediation in Haiti; and called on Myanmar to ensure respect for human rights.

Other concerns

The Subcommission appealed to all States to take steps to combat discrimination and prejudice against people with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

The Subcommission considered that traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation, preference of male children, and nutritional taboos, represented a gross violation of human rights.

Host countries were requested to ensure the human rights and dignity of migrant workers and to provide them and their families protection against violence and intimidation.

Studies were requested on the right to a fair trial and the privatization of prisons. A proposal to organize a meeting of experts on the human rights of detained juveniles was welcomed. Governments were invited to limit the introduction of states of emergency, particularly in the case of internal unrest.

The Subcommission called upon Governments to strengthen the independence of judges, lawyers and court officers as a fundamental step to protect human rights. It was recommended that the Commission on Human Rights appoint a Special Rapporteur to follow up on the issue, as well as investigate the nature of the problems which could affect the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.

The right to restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms should be addressed more consistently and more globally, the Subcommission stressed.

Reports were requested on human rights and the environment, the question of the impunity of perpetrators of human rights violation, human rights of disabled persons, government violations of human rights, and implications of humanitarian activities for human rights.

UN consults with

Arctic peoples

A meeting between the UN an representatives of Arctic an Siberian indigenous peoples was held from 6 to 10 September in Khabarovsk, in the, Siberian region of the Russian Federation.

The Arctic/Siberian Indigenous Consultation with the UN system discussed such issues as land, natural resources, environment and development, and health and culture. It marked the first time that members of the UN system travelled to a remote part of the world to consult officially with indigenous communities.

The consultation was organized by the Centre for Human Rights, within the framework of the celebration this year of the International Year of the World's Indigenous People.

Two human rights bodies meet

Meeting for the 48th time (12-30 July Geneva) since its establishment in 1976, the Human Rights Committee continued its review of the implementation of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Committee's 18 experts - elected by States parties, but serving in their personal capacity - examined reports containing observations regarding the promotion and protection of civil and political rights in Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Iran and Ireland.

It adopted a revised General Comment on Covenant article 18 - dealing with the right to freedom of thought, conscience and belief - and a number of decisions under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant, providing a mechanism by which individuals can complain to the UN about violations of civil and political rights.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination at its forty-third session (2-20 August, Geneva) considered, among other issues: the implementation of the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: the outcome of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna; and the ethnic conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

The 18-member Committee also reviewed reports from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), it expressed concern over the realization of "hegemonic projects of creating a greater Serbia and a greater Croatia by means of violence, terror and genocide".

It was alarmed over the deteriorating situations in the regions of Kosovo, Vojvodina and Sandjak, and the practice of torture and other human rights abuses by Croatian paramilitary forces.