UN rights body appoints independent expert for Sudan.June 18, 2009 (GENEVA) -- The UN human right council today voted today for the creation of an independent UN Human rights expert for Sudan with a one-year mandate.Abdel-Dayem Zumrawi, Sudanese undersecretary at the Ministry of Justice (photo Ihab Ismail) The expert will replace the Afghani af·ghan·i n. pl. af·ghan·is See Table at currency. [Pashto afgh  n special Rapporteur Special Rapporteur is a title given to individuals working on behalf of various regional and international organizations who bear specific mandates to investigate, monitor and recommend solutions to specific human rights problems. Sima Samar Dr. Sima Samar (born February 4, 1957) is the Chairperson of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and, since 2005, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan. whose term expires this month. Samar have said in her report that
Sudanese government forces continue to attack civilians in Darfur. The
Sudanese delegation in Geneva said the report does not reflect the true
picture of the human right situation in Sudan. Sudan's allies in
the council including Egypt, China, Qatar and Yemen also criticized the
report. The council called on Sudan "to continue and intensify its
efforts for the promotion and protection of human rights by taking all
possible concrete steps to improve the human rights situation".
Sudan has attempted to lobby the 47-member council to end Samar's
mandate and the scrutiny over the human right situation on its
territory. But the US which joins the council formally on Friday played
behind the scene role in preventing Sudan from getting the required
number of votes. Sudan secured the votes of China, Cuba, Egypt,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (sä `dē ərā`bēə, sou`–, sô–), officially Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, kingdom (2005 est. pop. and South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. .
However, the result of the vote was 20 in favor and 18 against creating
the independent expert post. Surprisingly five African countries
abstained from voting including Senegal, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Ghana
and Gabon. Zambia and Mauritius voted in favor. Abdel-Dayem Zumrawi,
Sudanese undersecretary at the Ministry of Justice told Sudan news
agency (SUNA SUNA Sudan News AgencySUNA Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates SUNA Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms SUNA Southeast Urbana Neighborhood Association (Urbana, Illinois) ) said that the appointment of the special investigator contradicts the affirmations of human right progress in Sudan. He added that there was no condemnation or reference to human right violations and expressed surprise that the council did not terminate any special mechanism for the situation in Sudan. Zumrawi accused the European Union European Union (EU), name given since the ratification (Nov., 1993) of the Treaty of European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, to the European Community (EU) of executing a "political agenda" by pushing for a Sudan investigator. The commissioner for the consultative human right council in Sudan Abdel-Moniem Osman Taha said the decision does not reward his country for its efforts in that regard. (ST) Copyright 2003-2009 SudanTribune - All rights reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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