by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the
Commission and Council
(02 May
2002)
Subject: Security and human rights
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Following the tragic
events of 11 September, serious concerns have arisen over the way in which
national security has become the overarching concern of many governments to
the detriment of human rights, with secondary, parallel systems for the
dispensation of justice being created in many cases. Recently Amnesty
International, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and other
non-governmental organisations published an open statement addressed to the
United Nations Commission on Human Rights, asking states to ensure that any
measures taken to tackle terrorism complied with their human rights obligations.
The above-mentioned non-governmental organisations expressed their support
for Mary Robinson's appeal for the creation of a mechanism to monitor the
human rights impact of anti-terrorism measures taken by states, and requested
the High Commissioner to produce a report on the effects of such measures on
human rights, which will lead to recommendations for their effective
observance. What is the
Commission's position in relation to the views of the non-governmental
organisations and Mrs Robinson, and does it intend to take steps to support
and implement them? |