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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

E-Newsletter
Vol.3 No.31
July 30, 2001


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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.

1) INDIA: JAFFNA BISHOP WELCOMED BY REFUGEES
2) SRI LANKA: UNICEF SAYS CHILD RECRUITMENT BY REBELS INCREASING
3) CHILD SOLDIERS: UN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR NEW PROTECTION BODY
4) HOMELESS IN JAKARTA
5) NEWS IN BRIEF
6) AHRC HOME NEWS

1) INDIA: JAFFNA BISHOP WELCOMED BY REFUGEES

The bishop of Jaffna, Thomas Soundranayagam, recently visited Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in the camps of Tamil Nadu, southern India. The bishop celebrated Mass in three camps and exhorted the refugees to live a life of holiness despite their 'desert experience'. In every place Dr Soundranayagam visited, he was warmly welcomed by the people. Many were moved to tears on seeing the man who was once their bishop, and who had shared life in the war zones with them, as well as their experience of forced displacement in Jaffna.

Dr Soundranayagam also shared first-hand information about the ongoing civil war in Sri Lanka with the Bishops' Conference of Tamil Nadu. The Bishops' conference has decided to give moral support to peace efforts and also to press ahead with humanitarian assistance for the refugees."

A recent consultation called by the Migration and Refugee Desk of the Indian Bishops' Conference led to the drawing up of a concrete action plan for assistance by the local church to Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu.

- Jesuit Refugee Service

2) SRI LANKA: UNICEF SAYS CHILD RECRUITMENT BY REBELS INCREASING

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers rebel group has increased its recruitment of child soldiers, breaking a promise made three years ago, UNICEF said last week.

In a 1998 agreement made with the UN special representative for children and armed conflict, Olara Otunnu, the rebel group promised not to recruit children under the age of 17 and not to deploy as combatants anyone under 18.

UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy said in a statement, however, that "in the years since Mr. Otunnu's visit, the UN has observed increasing recruitment activity in and near schools and has received an increasing number of complaints from parents."

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Andre Roberfroid met with senior Tamil Tiger representatives in February to express the United Nations' concern about the growing problem of child soldiers. In March, Amnesty International highlighted the case of three children under the age of 12 reportedly enlisted by the rebel group, though the Tamil Tigers deny having recruited them (Agence France-Presse, 20 Jul).

- UN Wire

3) CHILD SOLDIERS: UN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR NEW PROTECTION BODY

UN special representative for children and armed conflict Olara Otunnu has called for the creation of a new and independent body to help end the exploitation of children as soldiers.

Otunnu recommended the organization be completely independent, saying it should not be related to the United Nations or any governmental or non-governmental advocacy organization so that it would not appear partial. "It cannot be my office, or a UN entity, or an official government) entity, or an advocacy group," he said, adding that its sole function would be to collect and investigate information "in an objective, credible manner." He proposed that the new body "issue a report periodically" on the use of children in armed conflict "which will constitute the base of political pressure which we need to bring to bear on parties in conflict."

A recent global report estimates that 300,000 children in 41 countries are taking part in armed conflict.

A protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on child soldiers has not yet come into force because it has so far been ratified by only five countries -- half of the required 10. The protocol bans the enlistment of children under 18 in any armed conflict.

Otunnu said an obvious gap remains between actions taken by countries to sign measures such as the protocol and actions taken to actually minimize or eliminate the recruitment of child soldiers. "That's the gap we need to fill," he said. "Putting a mechanism of this kind in place will make a big difference in filling the gap between words, conventions and deeds on the ground. If (the perpetrators) know (their violations) have been watched and reported upon, they will be a lot more careful."

- UN Wire

4) HOMELESS IN JAKARTA

The number of homeless people and urban poor families in Jakarta is relatively high, due to the ongoing economic crisis, according to the latest census.

Data from the 2000 census made available by the Jakarta chapter of the Central Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday reveals that Jakarta had a total of 28,364 homeless people in the city as a whole.

In addition, a total of 85,835 families fell into the "poor family" category, as they were not able to afford proper homes for their families. Most of these poor families were dependent upon breadwinners that were mostly seamen, fishermen or construction laborers.

Furthermore, a total of 4,518 heads of families were unemployed.

The bureau defines urban poor families as those living in less than 64 square meters of space, and without running water and toilet facilities. They are also incapable of providing themselves with basic nutritious food and can only afford new clothing once a year.

The bureau, however, did not mention in its report whether the number of homeless and urban poor had increased or decreased from previous years.

The bureau stated only that the population in the capital grew by a meager 0.16 percent per annum over the past 10 years to 8,384,853 in 2000, far slower than the 2.42 percent growth recorded in the 1980-1990 period. The slowdown in the growth of the population in the 1990-2000 period was caused by a low birth rate and migration of Jakartans to the Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi areas.

- Jakarta Post

5) NEWS IN BRIEF

5.1) PAKISTAN: GOV'T TO RATIFY ILO PACTS ON CHILD LABOR, EQUAL PAY

Pakistan's Cabinet last week approved ratification of International Labor Organization conventions on child labor and equal remuneration for men and women, Environment, Labor and Rural Development Minister Omar Asghar Khan said Saturday, adding that the government is now required to take administrative and legislative measures to implement the conventions. Khan said a committee of employers, workers and provincial government representatives will work out an action plan.

5.2) SOUTH ASIA: UNICEF Official Stresses Girls' Education

The efforts of nongovernmental organizations in Pakistan to promote girls' education have had a positive impact, but more emphasis is needed to overcome gender discrimination, according to UNICEF representative in Pakistan Caroll Long.

Speaking at a three-day South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation meeting that concluded last week in Pakistan, Long said 500 nongovernmental organizations have already helped to educate 25,000 girls.

During the conference, participants addressed girls' education, literacy, health, nutrition, exploitation and sexual violence. The delegates also discussed ways men and boys can cooperate to ensure women and girls have a respected place in the family (Associated Press of Pakistan/Karachi Business Recorder, 25 Jul).
Children's delegations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated in the event. A UNICEF official said the Indian children's delegation did not receive permission, possibly because of the recently concluded India-Pakistan summit (Karachi Dawn, 25 Jul).

- UN Wire

6) AHRC HOME NEWS

6.1) Human Rights Correspondence School - New Lessons:

Lesson Series 15: PART II: Human Rights Strategies to Address Trafficking in Persons

This Lesson series will discuss strategies to prevent trafficking, to prosecute traffickers and to protect the rights of persons who have been victimised through trafficking.

Lesson Series 16: National Security Laws (Internal Security Act, Emergency Laws etc.,)

National Security Laws allow governments to implement acts which in normal circumstances would be illegal, and would violate the fundamental civil and political rights of citizens. The judiciary has a duty to protect these rights. How do we ensure this?

(see http://www.hrschool.org/index.shtml)

6.2) Urgent Appeals:

UPDATE: The Eighth Open Letter on Fr. Pallath's Case - 23.7.2001
MALAYSIA: Family of ISA Detainee refused entry and detained - 23.7.2001
UN: Memorandum - Include Caste in WCAR - 24.7.2001

6.3) AHRC Statements:

STATEMENT: AHRC affirms its position on Wehera Camp in Sri Lanka - 24.7.2001