Report Submitted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani PDF Download

Author: Hina Jilani
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Human rights workers
Languages : en
Pages : 29

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Book Description
"The Special Representative conducted a country visit to Angola from 16 to 24 August 2004 during which she met with senior officials of the Government, a wide range of human rights defenders and representatives of international intergovernmental organizations and States. The objective of the visit was to assess the situation and role of human rights defenders in Angola. In section I, the Special Representative describes the legal and institutional environment in which human rights defenders work in Angola. She emphasizes that applicable laws in the field of freedom of expression, information and association continue to demonstrate numerous weaknesses which adversely affect human rights defenders. While welcoming the worthy efforts of the Government to develop national policies and institutions to promote and protect human rights in the country, she underlines that efforts are still required to ensure their adequate functioning. In section II, the Special Representative examines the capacity of human rights defenders in Angola. She notes that despite the presence of many NGOs in the country, the defenders' capacity to raise human rights issues remains weak, particularly outside of Luanda. She points out the need for additional training and increased cooperation between existing organizations. In section III, the Special Representative welcomes the relative improvement of the situation of defenders since the end of the war. She regrets, however, that State authorities continue to consider human rights defenders with hostility and to assimilate their action with political opposition. She notes that as a result human rights defenders often practice self-censorship, leaving many important issues unaddressed. She also underlines that the absence of independent media hinders the capacity of human rights defenders to publicize their concerns and conduct their activities. Defenders continue to face serious obstacle to the creation, registration and operation of NGOs and their limited access to justice adversely affects their work"--Summary.