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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS
E-Newsletter
Vol.1 No.2
June 21, 1999
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Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is now available online at: http://www.rghr.net
Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is a weekly e-newsletter issued by Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic and Christian Groups on Human Rights, initiated by the Asian Human Rights Commission.
What the
Christian And Catholic Groups Can Do To Promote the UN CONVENTION
AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT
OR PUNISHMENT
This convention was
adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by
General Assembly resolution 39/40 of 10th December 1994 and came
into force on tenth on 26th June 1987.
Several Asian countries
have ratified the Convention and some have brought national
legislation to enforce the provisions of the Convention. The
Convention only elaborates provisions already found in The
Universal Declaration and the Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights. These provisions have been incorporated to Constitutions
of several Asian countries.
The provisions against
torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and
punishment constitute the only absolute right recognized under
the international human rights. It knows no limits or bounds. The
right remains valid during emergencies or wars when other rights
may be suspended to some degree.
However, despite of
recognition of the Convention and constitutional and statutory
provisions to guarantee this right, torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment remain endemic in
most countries in Asia and a grave problem in others. The
literature on the violation of this right is voluminous.
There is much civil
society organizations including the religious organizations can
do to change this situation and to promote the rights guaranteed
by this convention. Here we make the following suggestions to
Christian and Catholic leaders and groups.
- To study the
Convention, the constitutional and statutory provisions
relating to this right; This study can include the
history of evolution of this rights; the leaders can
cause such studies be made by everyone, including those
who undergo training for Ministry, Priesthood, religious
life and lay training groups. This include school
education on the subject.
- The media belonging
to these organizations can be specially instructed to
promote this right and take steps to protect it by proper
reporting and by review of the situation.
- The leaders can
write pastoral letters and use other communication
methods peculiar to each denomination to promote and
protect these rights.
- Justice and peace
groups in the Catholic church and other similar groups in
other denominations can monitor implementation of this
right and initiate such actions as urgent appeals ,
report making and other human rights promotion methods.
- The Churches can
issue special educational materials to police and other
agencies usually accused of violation of this right and
have discussions with the leaders of these institutions
to alert them of the Churches’ concerns in
protecting these rights.
- The Church groups
can get artists to make picture and other material and
exhibit them in Church and other premises that they have
access to. Songs, hymns and prayers can be used for
promotion of these rights.
- The Church leaders
and groups can visit victims, help victims' families,
provide health and trauma healing facilities and
encourage every one to take care of such victims. Church
owned hospitals can be encouraged to provide free
services to such victims.
- The Church leaders
and groups can discuss other methods of raising community
consciousness on these issues.
- INTER-RELIGIOUS
DIALOGUES ON TORTURE PREVENTION can help to give meaning
to dialogue activities and will raise lobbies to protect
these rights.
- Regional and
sub-regional groups, particularly those mandated to deal
with human rights and justice issues can take initiative
in promoting activities mentioned above and other
activities they think fit.
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OPEN LETTER TO
CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFRENCE AND
JUSTICE AND PEACE GROUP IN THAILAND
The Secretary
Catholic Bishops’ Conference
C/o CCTD
130-132 Soi Saen Suk
Prachasongkroh Road
Bangkok 10400
Thailand.
And
Rev. Bishop Michael
Mansap
Justice and Peace Commission for Development
2492 Soi Saen Suk
Prachasongkroh Road
Bangkok 10400
Thailand.
Dear Bishops and the
Members of the Justice and Peace Group,
Re. INHUMANE TREATEMENT
OF PRISONERS
The Asian Catholic Group
for Human Rights (ACGHR) of the Asian Human Rights Commission,
take this opportunity to sends you greetings.
We take this opportunity
to bring to your kind attention the condition of treatment of
remand and prisoners in Thailand. According to visits of some of
the members of our group and other reports, the practice of
shackling of prisoners is very common in Thailand and manner of
such shackling of such prisoners reminds of permissive times.
Even while kept in guarded prison cells in court premises they
are shackled both in foot and hand. In this condition they have
remain all the day. You may yourself have witnessed this and have
vivid images of this.
Even many of the
neighboring countries which had similar practices have abolished
these. Even convicted prisoners have the right to be treated
humanely and not to be treated as caged animals. More are rights
of persons who are not convicted and therefore presumed innocent.
WE are bringing this to
your notice, knowing that you can take this issue up with the
authorities in terms of the new Constitution of Thailand and
humane traditions that Thailand holds precious.
Thank you
Basil Fernando
Asian Human Rights Commission
Posted on 1999-06-21
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