International treaty to outlaw enforced disappearances opens for signature
NEW YORK, 6 February (OHCHR)
A new international treaty outlawing enforced disappearances and upholding the right of victims to know the truth about the circumstances and fate of those disappeared was officially opened for signature at a ceremony in Paris today. A total of 57 countries, including the host country, France, signed the treaty.
“Far from being a tragic relic of past “dirty wars” this shameful practice still persists in all continents. This treaty closes a glaring gap in international human rights law by making explicit the prohibition on disappearances,” said United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour.
“The task now is to ensure that the new Convention is promptly applied to meet the hopes and the demands for justice of the victims and their families and satisfy their “right to know”.
The treaty, formally known as the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 December 2006.
Echoing the absolute prohibition on torture, the Convention states that, “No one shall be subjected to enforced disappearance” and highlights that no exceptional circumstances whatsoever may be invoked as a justification for such violation.
PLEASE READ MORE http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/lt4401.doc.htm
Please also see:
US Refuses to Sign Global Ban on Secret Detentions
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0207-03.htm
CIA-sponsored kidnappings and torture undermine anti-terror efforts
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/ericmink/story/6A6C4DC7684D64078625727A00811D12?OpenDocument
NEW YORK, 6 February (OHCHR)
A new international treaty outlawing enforced disappearances and upholding the right of victims to know the truth about the circumstances and fate of those disappeared was officially opened for signature at a ceremony in Paris today. A total of 57 countries, including the host country, France, signed the treaty.
“Far from being a tragic relic of past “dirty wars” this shameful practice still persists in all continents. This treaty closes a glaring gap in international human rights law by making explicit the prohibition on disappearances,” said United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour.
“The task now is to ensure that the new Convention is promptly applied to meet the hopes and the demands for justice of the victims and their families and satisfy their “right to know”.
The treaty, formally known as the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 December 2006.
Echoing the absolute prohibition on torture, the Convention states that, “No one shall be subjected to enforced disappearance” and highlights that no exceptional circumstances whatsoever may be invoked as a justification for such violation.
PLEASE READ MORE http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/lt4401.doc.htm
Please also see:
US Refuses to Sign Global Ban on Secret Detentions
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0207-03.htm
CIA-sponsored kidnappings and torture undermine anti-terror efforts
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/ericmink/story/6A6C4DC7684D64078625727A00811D12?OpenDocument