New York, Nov 12 2012
2:05PM United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions amid the new wave of violence in Gaza and southern Israel, which has resulted in several Palestinian deaths, including civilians, and wounded people on both sides.
“The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate cessation of indiscriminate rocket attacks by Palestinian militants targeting Israel and strongly condemns these actions,”
said a statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson.
“He calls on Israel to exercise maximum restraint.”
According to media reports, sporadic missile fire from Gaza hit southern Israel today for a fourth straight day.
Meanwhile, six Palestinians, including two militants, were reportedly killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza, following an attack by militants on an army jeep.
Israel has reportedly said it will intensify its actions if rocket-fire continues.
Mr. Ban “deplores the loss of life and calls for an immediate de-escalation of tensions,”
said the statement.
“Both sides should do everything to avoid further escalation and must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of civilians at all times.”
It was nearly four years ago that Israel launched Operation Cast Lead with the stated aim of trying to halt repeated rocket attacks against it from Gaza.
More than 1,400 people were killed and at least 5,000 others were injured during the 23-day military offensive that began at the end of 2008.
για το HIV/AIDS το Trafficking και τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα στην Ελλάδα και στο κόσμο...
Δευτέρα 12 Νοεμβρίου 2012
UN Special Rapporteur to probe health rights dimension in post-disaster Japan
GENEVA / TOKYO (12 November 2012) –
United Nations Special
Rapporteur Anand Grover will visit Japan from 15 to 26 November 2012 to
assess issues related to the realization of the right to health in the
country within the context of Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011.
“I will examine the interlinks between the right to health of the affected people and the actions taken in emergency response, recovery and mitigation following the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accidents,”
Mr. Grover said, announcing the first mission to Japan by an independent expert charged by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor the implementation of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
“I express solidarity with the Japanese people, who faced the unprecedented triple-tragedy of the most powerful earthquake that ever to have hit the country, consequent tsunami and the nuclear accident”,
the Special Rapporteur stated, noting his intention to
“contribute to the nation’s collective reflection and post-recovery debate into the lessons learned from the disaster response and challenges ahead of the nation.”
“As a neutral party to that healthy debate, I will be listening to all stakeholders’ views and present my independent observations on what went well and what could be improved in the realization of the right to health of affected populations,”
the independent expert said.
Mr. Grover, who visits Japan at the invitation of the Government,
will travel beyond Tokyo to Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures and
meet with all stakeholders of the Japanese society,
including
Government officials,
medical practitioners,
experts,
civil society and
community representatives.
The UN Special Rapporteur
will share his preliminary conclusions on the visit at a press conference
on Monday, 26 November, at 13:00,
at Japan National Press Club, 9th floor Nippon Press Center Building,
2-2-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.
United Nations Press release
“I will examine the interlinks between the right to health of the affected people and the actions taken in emergency response, recovery and mitigation following the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accidents,”
Mr. Grover said, announcing the first mission to Japan by an independent expert charged by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor the implementation of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
“I express solidarity with the Japanese people, who faced the unprecedented triple-tragedy of the most powerful earthquake that ever to have hit the country, consequent tsunami and the nuclear accident”,
the Special Rapporteur stated, noting his intention to
“contribute to the nation’s collective reflection and post-recovery debate into the lessons learned from the disaster response and challenges ahead of the nation.”
“As a neutral party to that healthy debate, I will be listening to all stakeholders’ views and present my independent observations on what went well and what could be improved in the realization of the right to health of affected populations,”
the independent expert said.
Mr. Grover, who visits Japan at the invitation of the Government,
will travel beyond Tokyo to Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures and
meet with all stakeholders of the Japanese society,
including
Government officials,
medical practitioners,
experts,
civil society and
community representatives.
The UN Special Rapporteur
will share his preliminary conclusions on the visit at a press conference
on Monday, 26 November, at 13:00,
at Japan National Press Club, 9th floor Nippon Press Center Building,
2-2-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.
United Nations Press release
China: Censorship and harassment of news providers
RSF Press release 9 November 2012
The next generation of China’s leaders will be named during the 18th congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that opens today in Beijing.
They include the party’s general secretary, who will also be China’s president, the prime minister and the chairman of the National People’s Congress.
Disturbed by the increased control of news and information in the past month, in which considerable resources have been used to gag the media and dissidents, Reporters Without Borders urges the authorities to loosen online surveillance and controls so that Chinese citizens can exercise their rights to free speech and freedom of information.
“It is very worrying that the five years since the last congress have seen no let-up in the government’s harsh treatment of dissent or its desire for absolute control over news and information,”
Reporters Without Borders said.
“Even if we do not yet know the names of the new members of the Politburo Standing Committee, we already know there is no intention of ending the policy of censoring news and cracking down on those who try to use their freedom of expression.
“The arrests and imposition of jail sentences are continuing, while the censorship ‘soldiers’ are tireless in their surveillance of those who express political views and try to promote a democratic debate on the Internet.
“We urge the future president and party general secretary to put an end to the arrests of journalists, bloggers and dissidents and the constant violations of freedom of information.
Maintaining order and stability cannot be used to justify cracking down on those who defend human rights and freedom of expression.”
Reporters Without Borders has compiled a partial summary of the many violations of freedom of information during the last weeks preceding the opening of the congress, as they show that the government plans to pursue its authoritarian policies.
The media freedom organization will redouble its vigilance during the congress and will continue to log every new case of censorship on a specially-created webpage.
from
www.hrea.org
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