At the opening of the 57th session of the Human Rights Council held in Geneva, Switzerland, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, criticized Venezuela and Nicaragua, among other countries, for their actions to limiting freedom of expression and restricting the right to assembly and associationeven in electoral contexts.
Türk commented that such freedoms are important for a critical debate that exposes the best of societiesas well as finding solutions to the most urgent problems.
As is customary at the beginning of each session of this body, Türk presented a Review of the human rights situation in the world and the most worrying situations, among which he highlighted the cases of Venezuela and Nicaragua, mired in deep political and socioeconomic crises.
The human rights commissioner listed examples such as the detention of journalists in Azerbaijan; the arrests, arrests and harassment of political opponents in Mali, Uganda and Venezuela; also the arrests of opponents and activists in Tunisia; the persecution in Nicaragua; and the repression in Vietnam. Türk mentioned that in China the imposition of restrictions on civic space in the name of national security and social stability.
Read more: Volker Türk presents report on visit to Guatemala and highlights that “there are still high levels of corruption”
On the other hand, he denounced the takeover by powerful political and economic actors institutions that by definition should be completely independent, such as the judiciary or electoral bodies. Türk described state capture as an abuse of power that leads to serious consequences for human rights.
Regarding Guatemala, Türk stated that the Criminal law and judicial processes are manipulated by some official actors, including the Attorney General of the Public Ministry, Consuelo Porras, to pressure and persecute defenders of human rights and the promotion of accountability.
In other countries, the private sector is involved in the illegal trade in a nation’s resources to the detriment of the development of the country and its population, as is the case in the Central African Republic or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An endemic problem in Latin America, including Brazil and Peru.
According to Türk, the participation of political actors from the public or private sector in the capture of the State seeks to silence those who have different positions and “plunder resources solely for their own benefit”.
Opening #HRC57 with a clear call: govts must urgently put human rights at the core of all policy & action.
Endless military escalation, deepening inequalities, rampant disinformation, #TriplePlanetaryCrises& discrediting multilateral institutions cannot become the new normal.
— Volker Turk (@volker_turk) September 9, 2024
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#Volker #Türk #criticises #Venezuela #Nicaragua #Guatemala #restricting #rights #coopting #institutions
Freedom of expression examples
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Here is a comprehensive and SEO-optimized article on the topic of limiting freedom of expression and restricting the right to assembly and association, based on the provided web search results and the given query.
The Importance of Freedom of Expression and Assembly: A Critical Review
The 57th session of the Human Rights Council, held in Geneva, Switzerland, has brought attention to the critical issue of limiting freedom of expression and restricting the right to assembly and association. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has criticized Venezuela, Nicaragua, and other countries for their actions to restrict these fundamental rights, even in electoral contexts [[1]].
The Consequences of Restricting Freedom of Expression and Assembly
Türk emphasized that these freedoms are essential for a critical debate that exposes the best of societies, as well as finding solutions to the most urgent problems. When these rights are restricted, it can lead to serious consequences for human rights, including the detention of journalists, arrests and harassment of political opponents, and persecution of activists.
The Review of the Human Rights Situation in the World
As part of his report, Türk presented a review of the human rights situation in the world, highlighting the most worrying situations, including Venezuela and Nicaragua, which are mired in deep political and socioeconomic crises [[1]]. He listed examples of human rights violations, such as the detention of journalists in Azerbaijan, arrests and harassment of political opponents in Mali, Uganda, and Venezuela, and repression in Vietnam.
The Takeover of Independent Institutions
Türk also denounced the takeover by powerful political and economic actors of institutions that should be completely independent, such as the judiciary or electoral bodies. This state capture leads to serious consequences for human rights, including the manipulation of criminal law and judicial processes to pressure and persecute defenders of human rights and accountability [[1]].
The Plunder of Resources for Personal Gain
In some countries, the private sector is involved in the illegal trade of a nation’s resources, to the detriment of the country’s development and population. This is an endemic problem in Latin America, including Brazil and Peru. According to Türk, the participation of political actors from the public or private sector in the capture of the State seeks to silence those who have different positions and “plunder resources solely for their own benefit” [[1]].
The Call to Action
The Human Rights Council plays a crucial role in addressing these critical issues, and it is essential for governments to urgently put human rights at the core of all policy and action. As Türk emphasized, “govts must urgently put human rights at the core of all policy & action” [[1]].
Other Human Rights Issues
In addition to the issues highlighted above, the Human Rights Council also addresses other critical human rights issues, such as the right to equal society, civil rights, and the promotion of accountability.
Conclusion
The limiting of freedom of expression and restricting the right to assembly and association are critical human rights issues that require immediate attention. The Human Rights Council plays a vital role in addressing these issues, and it is essential for governments to take action to protect and promote these fundamental rights.
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Note: The article is optimized for search engines, with keywords such as “Human Rights Council”, “Freedom of Expression”, “Right to Assembly and Association”, and ”United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights” incorporated throughout the text.
Human Rights Council members
Human Rights Council: A Beacon of Hope for Global Human Rights
The 57th session of the Human Rights Council, held in Geneva, Switzerland, marks a crucial moment for the global human rights community. As the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, takes the stage, he presents a stark reality check on the current state of human rights worldwide. In his opening address, Türk criticizes Venezuela and Nicaragua, among other countries, for their actions to limit freedom of expression and restrict the right to assembly and association, even in electoral contexts [[1]].
Freedom of Expression and Assembly: Cornerstones of Democracy
Türk emphasizes that these freedoms are essential for fostering a critical debate that exposes the best of societies and finds solutions to the most pressing problems. He highlights the importance of protecting human rights, particularly in countries mired in deep political and socioeconomic crises, such as Venezuela and Nicaragua. The human rights commissioner lists several concerning examples, including the detention of journalists in Azerbaijan, the arrests and harassment of political opponents in Mali, Uganda, and Venezuela, as well as the persecution in Nicaragua and repression in Vietnam [[1]].
State Capture and Human Rights Abuses
Türk also denounces the takeover by powerful political and economic actors of institutions that should be independent, such as the judiciary or electoral bodies. He describes state capture as an abuse of power that leads to serious consequences for human rights. In Guatemala, for instance, Türk notes that criminal law and judicial processes are manipulated by some official actors to pressure and persecute human rights defenders and promote accountability [[1]].
Illegal Trade and Resource Exploitation
In other countries, the private sector is involved in the illegal trade of a nation’s resources, detrimental to the development of the country and its population. This is particularly prevalent in the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other Latin American countries, including Brazil and Peru. Türk argues that the participation of political actors from the public or private sector in state capture seeks to silence those who have different positions and “plunder resources solely for their own benefit” [[1]].
The Way Forward
In his address, Türk calls on governments to urgently prioritize human rights at the core of all policy and action. He emphasizes that endless military escalation, deepening inequalities, rampant disinformation, and the discrediting of multilateral institutions cannot become the new normal. The human rights commissioner’s words serve as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting human rights and promoting accountability globally [[1]].
About the Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. It was established in 2006 and consists of 47 member states, elected by the UN General Assembly. The Council is mandated to hold regular sessions to address human rights issues and make recommendations to the UN General Assembly[[[2]].
Universal Periodic Review
The Human Rights Council also conducts a Universal Periodic Review (UPR), an innovative procedure that reviews the human rights record of every UN member state once every four years. During the UPR, each country presents its human rights situation, and other countries provide recommendations for improvement. The UPR serves as a unique mechanism for promoting accountability and improving human rights globally[[[3]].
the Human Rights Council plays a vital role in promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. As the 57th session commences, Volker Türk’s address serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of prioritizing human rights and promoting accountability globally. As we move forward, it is essential for governments, civil society, and individuals to work together to ensure that human rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled for all.
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