EDIEC: Latest News

Ingushetia: Demonstration to Protest Against Kidnappings of Compatriots

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:29:00 +0100

On March 6, several hundred protestors in Ingushetia’s Plievo settlement, which is situated in the vicinity of Nazran, the republic’s largest town, blocked local highways and demanded that authorities investigate the kidnapping of Mikail Pliev, Ingushetia’s leading opposition figure. A 33 years-old father of five, businessman Mikail Pliev was kidnapped on March 5 while he was visiting the market in Pyatigorsk, in the neighboring Russian-speaking Stavropol region. Witnesses allegedly saw Pliev being arrested by the police; however, police denied they had arrested him. Pliev’s relatives feared that he was snatched by the security forces. (Source: Ingush Organize Demonstration to Protest Against Kidnappings of Compatriots Georgian Daily)

Afghanistan: Repeal Amnesty Law

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:16:00 +0100

The National Stability and Reconciliation Law was passed by parliament in 2007 by a coalition of powerful warlords and their supporters to prevent the prosecution of individuals responsible for large-scale human rights abuses in the preceding decades. The amnesty law states that all those who were engaged in armed conflict before the formation of the Interim Administration in Afghanistan in December 2001 shall "enjoy all their legal rights and shall not be prosecuted." Three decades of war have brought serious human rights abuses against all the major ethnic and political groups in Afghanistan, including large-scale atrocities during armed conflict, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and sexual crimes as a weapon of war. Human Rights Watch documented one particularly grisly period in 1992-93 in "Blood Stained Hands: Past Atrocities in Kabul and Afghanistan's Legacy of Impunity." (Source Afghanistan: Repeal Amnesty Law Human Rights Watch)

HRC: Interactive dialogue on Arbitrary Detention, Enforced Disappearances and Internally Displaced Persons

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:48:00 +0100

On enforced or involuntary disappearances, speakers said the humanitarian work carried out by the Working Group in all regions of the world highlighted the importance of tackling the issue of enforced disappearances. It also underscored how important it was for the international community to work together to prevent those cases. National delegations underscored that their Governments had adopted a firm commitment to protecting human rights in the field of enforced or involuntary disappearances and underscored that they had worked to prevent this crime and promote truth and justice. -Interactive Dialogue- MURILO VIEIRA KOMINSKI (Brazil) said Brazil was in the process of ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. Having ratified the Rome Statute, Brazil was internationally bound with regard to enforced disappearances. The legal framework admitted the State's responsibility for deaths and enforced disappearances of opponents to the military regime, as well as recognized persons who disappeared as a result of their participation, or being accused of having participated, in political activities in the period between September 1961 and August 1979. The law had established the Special Commission on Political Deaths and Disappearances. With regard to the 13 cases that the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances considered as pending in its present report, Brazil would transmit in due time information on two cases. As to other cases, the Brazilian State continued to undertake its efforts in the area of the right to memory and to truth in order to achieve a definite elucidation. GOPINATHAN ACHAMKULANGARE (India) said India appreciated the work done by the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances. Nevertheless, India expressed its reservation regarding the latest general comment of the Working Group on the issue of enforced disappearances as a crime against humanity, and more particularly its assertion according to which "the definition given by article 7(1) of the Statute of the International Criminal Court now reflected customary international law". India was of the view that the concept of enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity was fairly recent and originally only applied to situations of armed conflict. At its best, it could therefore only be said that the concept was a reflection of the current state of international law, rather than to deem it as having acquired the status of customary international law. Furthermore, citing the judgments of a tribunal like the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia as evidence of customary international law was highly unpersuasive in the view of India. India also underscored that the Rome Statute did not enjoy universal acceptance, and therefore any new norms enunciated therein could not be taken as evidence of customary international law. SEBASTIAN ROSALES (Argentina) said with regard to the presentation of the Chairperson of the Working Group on involuntary and enforced disappearances, the humanitarian work done by the Working Group in all regions of the world showed how important the issue of enforced disappearances was, and how important it was for the international community to work together to prevent these cases. Argentina was very pleased to have been visited by the Working Group, and to have hosted a session that same year, in 2008. This was the very first thematic group within the United Nations human rights system, and was created due to the situation of Argentina. Since the restoration of democracy in 1993, Argentina had adopted a firm commitment to the cause of human rights, both nationally and internationally, and had worked to prevent this crime and promote truth and justice, which were national priorities. Argentina had worked to promote the importance and the recognition of this situation internationally. Argentina was one of the few countries that had recognized the competence of the Working Group to receive communications. One of the four priorities of the Working Group was the right to truth, and this went hand in hand with the fight against impunity in the case of enforced disappearances. AKIO ISOMATA (Japan) said Japan congratulated the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances on its thirtieth anniversary since its establishment in 1980. Japan was concerned that cases of enforced disappearances continued to occur and the Government therefore intended to continue supporting the work of that Working Group. Japan deeply appreciated the Working Group's sincere efforts to urge the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to clarify the whereabouts of the 12 missing persons who had been abducted by the authorities of that country. Japan had deposited with the United Nations Secretary-General the instrument of ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance last July, and the Government hoped that as many countries as possible would ratify that Convention and bring it into force in a timely manner. JOELLE HIVONNET (European Union) said the European Union attached great importance to the mandate of the Working Group on involuntary or enforced disappearances, and commended its work carried out by investigating concrete cases, conducting country visits, formulating recommendations and issuing statements on particular worrying situations, such as Iran. The European Union wished to reiterate its utmost concern about reports of numerous enforced disappearances over the last few months in Iran, and urged the Iranian Government to allow a visit of the Working Group as soon as possible ALVARO AYALA (Colombia) As for enforced disappearance, Colombia reiterated both its commitment to the mandate of the Working Group and the Government's commitment regarding the fight against enforced disappearance more generally. Nevertheless, it should be noted that in Colombia no "opposition forces" existed except for the illegal armed groups that were financed by drug activities. LAMINE BENCHERIF (Algeria) said Algeria was committed to promoting and protecting human rights. In that regard Algeria attached particular importance to cooperation and constructive dialogue through different human rights mechanisms. It was in that spirit that Algeria had resumed talks with the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances. It welcomed the constructive spirit of a high level meeting that had taken place between Algeria and the Working Group in 2009. That had given Algeria the opportunity to present results of the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation. Algeria saw this as the opportunity to say that the tragedy of the disappeared was a consequence of the scourge of terrorism in the country. Treating it through the Charter was essential for coming out of that crisis. That was a solution that had been developed from inside the country. Algeria was fully willing to continue dialogue and cooperation with the Working Group in order to find a definitive solution to pending cases in line with respecting State laws. SHAVINDRA FERNANDO (Sri Lanka) Sri Lanka also appreciated the report of and the cooperation with the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances. Following careful analysis it appeared that only three cases of enforced or involuntary disappearances had taken place in 2009 which indicated a downward trend of disappearances over the previous years. The Government of Sri Lanka would keep that Working Group informed of the progress achieved in clarifying recent asri Lanka also appreciated the report of and the cooperation with the Working Group on enfowell as past cases that had been brought to the Government's attention. Nevertheless, the lack of precise information made this an arduous and time-consuming task. ABDELKARIM ABDALLAH (Iraq) thanked the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances and asserted that Iraq had carefully studied the report of that Working Group. That report stated that a former member of the Parliament of Iraq had been arrested and had had his immunity lifted. The delegation said that that did not correspond to the facts since the person in question had not been arrested as he still enjoyed his immunity. That person had fled Iraq and was arrested abroad, and efforts to bring the former Parliamentarian to justice were ongoing. Iraq had expressed its commitment to fully cooperate with the Working Group and underscored that a Government delegation would be taking part in the upcoming meeting of the Working Group. The Government of Iraq was also about to deposit the instrument for ratification of the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. SALVADOR TINAJERO (Mexico) Mexico also congratulated the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances and paid tribute to the work of its members. Enforced disappearances generated unimaginable suffering for both the victims and for the concerned families. It was for that reason that Mexico reiterated its commitment to tackling this human rights violation whenever and wherever it occurred. It also asked the Working Group for its opinion on the possibility for it to also follow-up cases of enforced disappearances that took place in contexts of armed conflict. HARI PRASAD ODARI (Nepal) said Nepal attached great importance to the work of the Working Group on enforced disappearances and its independence and impartiality for the protection and promotion of human rights. The Government had invited the Working Group for a country visit in 2004 at the peak of the conflict and had extended full cooperation to its work. Since then, 214 cases had been clarified as a result of continued cooperation. A good number of such cases remained to be clarified due to the improper recording and reporting of releases and detentions, and confusion over the identity of many individuals as they often concealed their true identity. Though the conflict had been left behind, the Government was committed to finding out the true identity of such persons and it would cooperate with the Working Group to clarify remaining cases, being committed to meting out justice to the alleged incidences of enforced disappearances during the time of the conflict. A draft Bill prepared had been presented to the Parliament, criminalising disappearance as recommended by the Working Group, and forming an independent and impartial commission to investigate and penalise the perpetrators and provide reparation and justice to the victims and their families. EMMANUEL PINEDA (France) said France thanked the President of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances for presenting his report. Thirty years after the Working Group had been created, too many cases had not been resolved, as the Group dealt with hundreds of new cases each year. That said something about the persistence of the problem of enforced disappearances. The international community had to step up efforts to fight that scourge. States had to cooperate with the Working Group, namely the 13 countries that had been mentioned in the report, and France urged them to grant visits to the Working Group. Following numerous cases of forced disappearances in Iran over the past few months, France would like Iran to authorize a visit by the Working Group. The Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Forced Disappearances still had not entered into force. France urged States to sign and ratify it in the shortest possible time AHMED ZAHOOR (Pakistan), speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, said the detailed and qualitative report of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances adequately highlighted this violation of a fundamental human right. The Organization of the Islamic Conference supported the request for the provision of required technical and administrative assistance to the Working Group. The lack of response on cases although worrisome did not necessarily reflect on Member States relationship with the Working Group, as the lack of support in this context also needed to be kept in mind. DICKY KOMAR (Indonesia) noted the conclusions and recommendations of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances. It was undeniable that most developing countries continued encountering technical and other challenges with regard to the verification of enforced disappearances, which was an area that was in need of further exploration. As for the report of that Working Group, Indonesia clarified that its Government had responded to the communications addressed to it, noting that it was therefore regrettable that that fact was not appropriately represented in the report, undoubtedly due to technical issues. Indonesia also underscored that claims according to which Mr. Munir Said Talib was killed while traveling to Geneva in 2004 in order to participate in an inter-sessional meeting of the Working Group were erroneous; it was widely acknowledged that that person was on his way to the Netherlands to study for a degree at the University of Utrecht. Finally, while acknowledging that the confidentiality of sources consulted by the Working Group needed to be ensured, the delegation highlighted the importance of cross-checking all information before it was published. AHMED ZAHOOR (Pakistan) said the Government of Pakistan was undertaking investigations on the alleged six cases of disappearance that had taken place in Pakistan as noted in the report of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances. Pakistan would communicate the findings of that investigation to the Working Group as soon as they were available. While its Prime Minister had also committed himself in public to address the question of internally displaced persons as efficiently and holistically as possible, it should be noted that many allegations of disappearances did not actually fall into the category of forced or involuntary disappearances, as understood by the United Nations. In fact, thorough investigations often highlighted that missing persons left their homes out of own will and for other reasons. The absence of complete and precise information in that regard added to the problem of localization of such persons. AHMED HERZENNI, of Advisory Council on Human Rights of Morocco, said the Council welcomed the visit of the Working Group on enforced disappearances to Morocco in June 2009, which was an excellent opportunity to strengthen the fruitful dialogue and cooperation initiated and developed several years ago. The adoption of the mission report was also welcomed, as it shed light on the status of all projects resulting from the momentum generated by the Moroccan experience in transitional justice. The Moroccan authorities had cooperated in an exemplary manner, and the constructive efforts of both parties had resulted in clarifying more than 77 per cent of cases of alleged disappearances that had been submitted to Morocco by the Group. The Advisory Council continued to encourage the Moroccan Government to pursue the process of close cooperation with the Working Group to clarify the 56 outstanding cases. DAMIEN PERCY, of the International Human Rights Association of American Minorities, noted that the report of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances showed that in the past year India had not been able to resolve a single outstanding case of disappearances that had been transmitted to it by the Working Group on enforced disappearances and involuntary disappearances. The International Human Rights Association of American Minorities reminded India of its obligation to investigate all cases of enforced disappearances PEI-LUN TSAI, of International Commission of Jurists, said the report of the Working Group on arbitrary detention documented a wide range of human rights violations as well as the absence of steps aimed at holding officials to justice. The International Commission of Jurists was concerned that while torture and enforced or involuntary disappearances were punishable almost nobody had been charged for such crimes. The International Commission of Jurists was also of the view that only a global report with the participation of all relevant mandate holders could provide an appropriate image of the situation. The International Commission of Jurists remained concerned by ongoing practices of administrative detention without any legal base, and in particular regretted the decision of the United States to hold persons indefinitely without trial. The International Commission of Jurists would like to know the Working Group's view on what individual or collective steps States could take to tackle enforced or involuntary disappearances? -Concluding Remarks- JEREMY SARKIN, Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, said he wished to thank all those who participated in the dialogue. The spirit in which it was held was extremely useful, particularly in relation to the mandate of the Working Group. The issue of cooperation and support raised by many States was critically important. On the question of independence, the Working Group's independence was key, and the question of funding was an important aspect of determining that it could continue its work. On the mandate and the exercise of the mandate, the question of how it was interpreted and exercised was something that Special Rapporteurs jealously guarded, and the Working Group would make careful choices in this regard. In terms of broad themes of the work of the Group, specific cases were important, and it worked to ensure the fate and whereabouts of those persons. The link to reconciliation, in terms of dealing with the issue of clarifications, was important. The Group looked forward to receiving details from States, as they had promised, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In terms of some of the other issues highlighted throughout the dialogue, these related to responses to questions on allegations received by the Group; there was an inconsistency, as sometimes States did not respond to communications, which caused problems in resolving the issue. On other issues that were raised, such as visits, the 13 countries that had been approached for visits were urged to invite the Group and give it specific dates. The question of impunity was a major issue in terms of dealing with enforced disappearances, indeed a major obstacle. Enforced disappearances could be a crime against humanity when they were systematic or widespread. States should provide reparations to those who had suffered the fate of enforced disappearances, however, it should be borne in mind that reparations were not a substitute for justice or the right to truth. The backlog of communications was also a problem, as the Group had seen its resources reduced.
(Source: Human Rights Council)

Zimbabwe: Call on Government to ratify conventions

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:51:00 +0100

Time to ratify conventions? The Zimbabwean See also:
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum

FEMED: Press release at the occasion of 30 years UNWGEID

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:24:00 +0100

PRESS RELEASE 30 years after the WGEID’s creation, stop the enforced disappearances! Paris, March 3rd 2010 The Euro-Mediterranean Federation against Enforced Disappearances (FEMED)[1] welcomes the 30^th anniversary of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), created on February 29th 1980. The FEMED wants to underline how particular is the WGEID for the families of the disappeared. In fact, the main mission of this United Nations Special Procedure is to help the families to look into the circumstances of their relatives’ disappearance and where they are. The Working Group is, for many families, the only remedy in order to obtain the Truth from the governments. There are thousands of victims, from the euro-mediterranean region and from all around the world, who seize the WGEID to obtain information on their relative’ faith. However, 30 years after the WGEID’s creation, several states do not recognize the enforced disappearances and this crime is still perpetrated with impunity. All over the world, the enforced disappearances are still hurting hundreds of thousands of persons who are waiting for the return of a brother, a grand-mother, an husband, a son… To support these families, the FEMED is working in order to put an end to the enforced disappearances. In this idea, the FEMED is helping its members with the requests they are submitting to the WGEID. Furthermore, the Federation regularly informs the Working Group on the situation of the human rights defenders who are harassed for their struggle against enforced disappearances. The 30th anniversary of the WGEID’s creation is also the occasion for the FEMED to recall the importance of the International Convention for the protection of all persons against enforced disappearances. This treaty, signed in Paris on February 6th 2007, establishes the rights to Truth and Justice for the victims of enforced disappearances. Also, it institutes a Committee which will be able to receive individual communications related to enforced disappearances. The FEMED calls upon all the euro-mediterranean States to ratify as soon as possible the Convention as it will ensure the non-repetition of the enforced disappearances. For the FEMED’s Executive Committee Nassera Dutour, President

[1] The FEMED has 27 members who are associations from the following countries: Algeria, Bosnia, Cyprus, Spain, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Serbia, Syria, and Turkey.

Click here to download the press release:

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UNWGEID 30th Anniversary

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:38:00 +0100

Statement by UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances on the occasion of its 30th Anniversary

26 February 2010 Geneva: The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances commemorates its 30th Anniversary during 2010. On this occasion, the Working Group reiterates its commitment to, and solidarity with, those who were, or still are, subjected to an enforced disappearance and their families. The Working Group was established by resolution 20 (XXXVI), of 29 February 1980, of the former Commission on Human Rights “to examine questions relevant to enforced or involuntary disappearances of persons.” It was the first United Nations human rights thematic special procedure established with a universal mandate. Since then, the Working Group has dealt with more than 50,000 cases in 80 countries from all parts of the world. During its thirty years of existence, the Working Group has been able to comply with its humanitarian mandate to help families ascertain the fate or whereabouts of their disappeared family members. It has also contributed to the prevention and eradication of the horrendous practice of enforced disappearance across the globe. Unfortunately, only about 20 per cent of those cases have been clarified. Nevertheless, the extent to which the Working Group, through its patient and persistent efforts with the Government concerned, may have prevented more disappearances from occurring cannot be quantified. The Working Group acknowledges that its work could not be carried out without the work of the many relatives of victims, human rights defenders, non-governmental organizations, lawyers and others individuals who untiringly work to know the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared in very adverse circumstances on all continents. On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, the Working Group would like to thank them and pay tribute to them. It also extends its appreciation to those States which have cooperated with the Working Group to resolve cases of enforced disappearances. The Working Group deplores the fact that enforced disappearances continue to occur. Indeed, while the Working Group receives information of a few cases of disappearance per week, the vast majority of cases, for different reasons including ignorance about the procedure or fear of reprisals, are not submitted for its consideration. The Working Group calls upon States to promote and give full effect to the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. It also urges the United Nations to proclaim 30 August United Nations International Day of the Disappeared, so as to raise awareness about enforced disappearances. On this occasion, the Working Group reiterates its call to States to undertake all possible efforts to prevent and eradicate the heinous practice of enforced disappearance and to bring to justice all those believed to be responsible for the crime; refrain from any act of intimidation or reprisals against those persons who contribute to the eradication of the practice; and fight against impunity.

The Working Group notes with satisfaction that 18 States have ratified the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance and that only two ratifications are required for its entry into force. The Working Group reiterates its calls to States that have not signed and/or ratified the Convention to do so as soon as possible. It also calls upon States when ratifying the Convention to accept the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances under article 31 so that it may deal with individual complaints and the inter-State complaint mechanism under article 32 of the Convention. The Working Group is convinced that the entry into force of the Convention will strengthen Governments’ capacities to reduce the number of disappearances. It will also bolster the hopes and the demands for justice and truth by victims and their families. The Working Group plans to commemorate its 30th anniversary with a series of events and activities that will take place throughout the year. The first event will be held on 18 March 2010, in Geneva, in parallel to the 13th session of the Human Rights Council. Information on the events will be available on the Working Group’s website, which can be found at http://www2.ohchr.org/English/issues/disappear/index.htm.

The Working Group was established by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 1980 to assist families in determining the fate or whereabouts of disappeared relatives. The Working Group endeavours to establish a channel of communication between the families and the Governments concerned, to ensure that individual cases are investigated, with the objective of clarifying the whereabouts of persons who, having disappeared, are placed outside the protection of the law. In view of the Working Group's humanitarian mandate, clarification occurs when the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person is clearly established. The Working Group continues to address cases of disappearances until they are resolved.

The Working Group is comprised of five independent experts from all regions of the world. The Chair-Rapporteur is Mr. Jeremy Sarkin (South Africa), and the other Expert-Members are Mr. Santiago Corcuera (Mexico), Mr. Darko Göttlicher (Croatia), Mr. Olivier de Frouville (France) and Mr. Osman El-Hajjé (Lebanon). For more information on the WGEID, please refer to the web site: http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/disappear/index.htm Fact sheet no. 6 on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances available in Arabic, Chinese, French, English Russian and Spanish at:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/PublicationsResources/Pages/FactSheets.aspx Declaration on the Protection of All Persons From Enforced Disappearance:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/disappearance.htm Report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to the Human Rights Council, 21 December 2009: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/13session/A-HRC-13-31_AEV.pdf

Colombia: Amnesty International release report on human rights violations

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:26:00 +0100

Indigenous Peoples Struggle to Survive in Colombia 23 February 2010
Amnesty international on Tuesday denounced an increase in attacks against Indigenous Peoples across Colombia during 2009, which is leaving many communities struggling for survival.

The organization blamed guerrilla groups, the security forces and paramilitaries for the abuses – which include killings, enforced disappearances and kidnappings, threats, sexual abuse of women, recruitment of child soldiers, forced displacement and persecution of Indigenous leaders.

"Indigenous Peoples are increasingly under attack in Colombia," said Marcelo Pollack, Colombia Researcher at Amnesty International. "They are being killed and threatened, forced to participate in the armed conflict, and being kicked out of their lands.

"It is time for the Colombian government to take its obligations seriously and take immediate action to protect Indigenous Peoples."

According to figures from the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia, at least 114 Indigenous women, men and children were killed and thousands forcibly displaced in 2009 alone.

Amnesty International also said crimes committed against Indigenous Peoples are rarely investigated by the authorities.

Thousands of Indigenous Peoples have been forced off their land because they often live in areas of intense military conflict and rich in biodiversity, minerals and oil. Many other Indigenous communities have been unable to leave their territories because armed groups have laid landmines in surrounding areas.

Access to food and essential medicines has also been blocked by the warring parties, who often argue such goods are destined for the enemy. All parties to the conflict have occupied schools and used them as military bases, while teachers continue to be vulnerable to physical attack, denying Indigenous communities access to education.

"Unless the authorities take speedy action to protect Indigenous Peoples in Colombia there is a real risk that many will disappear," said Marcelo Pollack.

The Awá Indigenous People accounted for more than half of all killings of Indigenous Peoples during 2009.

They collectively own the land and rivers of the resguardo (Indigenous reservation) of El Gran Rosario in Tumaco Municipality, in the south-western region of Nariño.

The area is of strategic importance for the parties to the conflict. FARC and ELN guerrillas, paramilitary groups, the security forces and drug-trafficking gangs are all active in the area.

On 26 August 2009, 12 Awá, including six children and an eight-month old baby, were killed and several more injured by gunmen wearing military uniforms and hoods who attacked the community at 5am. Among those killed were Tulia García and her sons. Tulia García had been a witness to the killing of her husband, Gonzalo Rodríguez, by army soldiers on 23 May 2009 and had subsequently received threats.

Following the August massacre, 300 Awá, including 100 children, fled to the town of Tumaco, leaving their homes, belongings and livelihoods behind. Weeks after arriving in the town, people were still living in shelters they had built themselves or sleeping out in the open. Food and water were scarce and there were no sanitation facilities.

On 4 February 2009, 15 Awá, including two pregnant women, were killed by FARC guerrillas in Barbacoas Municipality in the department of Nariño.

Amnesty International called on those participating in the conflict, including guerrilla groups and the Colombian security forces, to respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples not to be dragged into hostilities and to respect the territories in which they live and depend upon for their livelihoods.

Colombia's 40 year long armed conflict has affected millions across the country and left tens of thousands dead, tortured and forcibly disappeared. The vast majority of victims are civilians. (Source: press release Amnesty International: www.amnesty.org) The report can be accessed here:

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In Spanish

Philippines: European Union grants the government 3.9 million Euros for a justice support programme

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:43:00 +0100

In the media: P250M EU-RP project to stop extra-legal slays The Inquirer The official EU announcement EPJUST press release

Manuel Cordero extradited to Argentina

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:16:00 +0100

Brazil returns Operation Condor suspect to Argentina BBC News

Morocco: Advanced Edition of UNWGEID mission report is available

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:46:00 +0100

The advanced edition of the report is available in French. Please click here to access the report.