Most Censored: US tragic fictional theater before UN Human Rights Council

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
English and Dutch

The United States is like that pretty girl in high school that thrives on her own self-promotion. But eventually the stardom wanes, the wrinkles take over, and well, its all down hill from there.

The US has a partner in self promotion at the United Nations, an ally in its cheerleading to distract from its human rights violations. Its fellow chum is Saudi Arabia, oozing in oil dollars and with an abhorrent human rights record. Both the US and Saudi Arabia want you to believe that they are standard bearers for human rights. Saudi Arabia even wants to head the UN Human Rights Council.

Of course the rest of the world sees clearly through both the US and Saudi Arabia, and their strange relationship. The rest of the world sees through the theater of these two countries before the UN Human Rights Council. It is theater -- tragic fictional theater.

During the recent United States Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, there were so many lies and half-truths presented by the US that it would take too much space to replicate all of those lies regarding kidnapping and torture, massive spying, secret detentions, death by police, private prison profiteering, incarceration of migrant children, institutionalized racial profiling, rape in the US military, failure to provide services to veterans, targeted assassinations by drones, and violations of Native American rights.

The spin masters were there at the review, including Keith Harper, Cherokee, to try and make it all look good. But outside the United States, where there is not the constant bombardment of US government public relations presented as news, and corporate US media, the other countries can see the truth.

Lakota Russell Means often called these reviews, "another dog and pony show." In the US, there is a growing widespread lack of faith in these United Nations reviews. Increasingly, the UN is viewed as impotent to bring about change in the ongoing human rights violations of the US.

One of the outcomes that was censored by the media was the pressure for the US to prosecute CIA operatives responsible for torture.

The US death penalty, and execution of innocents, and abusive solitary confinement, were also issues avoided in the US media coverage of the UN review. The US media avoided discussions of the US role in child trafficking; homelessness and poverty; and the high rate of rape by fellow soldiers in the US military.

During the review, Bolivia pressed for implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, while Cuba pointed out the staggering poverty in the US which has resulted in widespread homelessness. Mexico pressed the US to halt illegal deadly force by US Border Patrol agents.

During the review, the US representatives attempted to distract from the truth in Indian country. They avoided mentioning the ongoing targeting of Indian lands for coal mines, uranium mines, oil and gas drilling and pipelines, copper mines, and nuclear dumping. There was no exposure of the widespread devastation and disease from mining, drilling and dumping in Indian country. The severe devastation spans from Navajo and Pueblo lands in the Southwest to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara in North Dakota, Lakota in South Dakota and numerous Indian Nations in the Northwest. The US representatives avoided discussing how US mining companies are responsible for the assassinations, rape and disappearances of Indigenous Peoples around the world who are struggling to protect their homes, families, land, air and water.

The US representatives avoided discussing the unjust and high rate of the incarceration of American Indians in the US private-prison-for-profit empire.

The US representatives did not discuss the decades of spying and provocateurs in operations like COINTELPRO targeting American Indians, blacks and Chicanos, or the sterilization of American Indian women in Indian Health Service hospitals without their knowledge. There was no discussion of the ongoing theft of American Indian water rights being carried out by the US and states with Congressmen. There was no discussion of the generations of kidnapping, abuse and murder of Native American children in US government boarding schools, or the desecration of sacred land and incarceration of political prisoners.

There was no discussion of the fact that the Israeli Apartheid contractor Elbit Systems was given the US border contract and is now responsible for US spy towers aimed at traditional O'odham homes on Tohono O'odham land. There was no mention of the copper mine on sacred Apache land, promoted by Sen. John McCain, that was recently slipped in the defense bill.

The US representatives went to lengths to distract from the imprisonment of migrant children, a violation of international law, and the widespread neglect of sick and injured veterans. Further, rape in the US military, torture and spying were the focus of cover-ups by the US representatives during the review.


First off, while looking at the following Periodic Review, you might ask yourself, 'Where the heck is Azerbaijan and why do they know so much more than me about the United States human rights violations?' See map on left.

Here are the questions of Azerbaijan to the US at the UN Human Rights Council. Those questions are followed by advance questions from other countries.

ADVANCE QUESTIONS TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – ADD.4

AZERBAIJAN

The Human Rights Committee (HRC) recommended that the United States strengthen existing mechanisms mandated to monitor the implementation of human rights at federal, state, local and tribal levels, and consider establishing an independent national human rights institution, in accordance with the Paris Principles.

What measures the government of the United States takes to address these concerns?

The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) recommended the implementation of a national plan of action to combat the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and ensure that the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction and related planning mechanisms cover all offences under Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OP-CRC-SC).

Could the government of the United States indicate the concrete steps that have been taken in order to lift the concern of CRC?

The Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) reiterated its concern that the definition of racial discrimination used in federal and state legislation and in court practice was not in line with the Convention. It called upon the United States to, inter alia, prohibit racial discrimination in all its forms and broaden the protection afforded by law. CERD reiterated its concern at the lack of prohibition of racist hate speech and the underreporting of hate crimes. The HR Committee and CERD remained concerned about the practice of racial profiling and surveillance by law enforcement officials targeting certain ethnic minorities. The HR Committee and CERD urged the State to combat racial profiling, inter alia by expanding protection against profiling on the basis of religion, religious appearance or national origin.

Which measures are envisaged by the Government in order to address the concerns of CERD and HRC in this regard?

What concrete measures are taken by the Government in order to prevent discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes trends in the society?

CERD was concerned at the large number of gun-related deaths and injuries, which disproportionately affected members of racial and ethnic minorities, particularly African Americans. It urged the United States to reduce gun violence by, inter alia, adopting legislation expanding background checks for all private firearms transfers and reviewing the

“stand your ground” laws. The HR Committee and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences made similar recommendations. The HR Committee was concerned about the use of lethal force by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and urged the State to ensure that the new CBP directive on the use of deadly force was enforced.

What measures have been taken with regard to these recommendations?

In 2013, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment urged the Government to ensure that solitary confinement was only imposed, if at all, in very exceptional circumstances, and indicated that keeping a person in solitary confinement for more than four decades clearly amounted to torture. The Committee against Torture (CAT) and the HR Committee were concerned about the practice of prolonged solitary confinement, and recommended, inter alia, that solitary confinement regimes be banned. CAT urged the United States to ensure that no one was held in secret detention under its de facto effective control and reiterated that such detention constituted per se a violation of the Convention.

How was the recommendation of CAT satisfied?

In 2014, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern at the disproportionate number of young African Americans who had died in encounters with police officers, or who were in prisons and on death row. CERD reiterated its concern at the brutality and excessive use of force by law enforcement officials against members of racial and ethnic minorities, which had a disproportionate impact on African Americans and undocumented migrants. CAT expressed similar concerns.

What concrete measures have been taken by the Government of the United States in order to analyze and eliminate the concrete reasons for the brutality and excessive use of force by law enforcement officials in US?

CAT recommended that the United States ensure that all instances of police brutality and excessive use of force by law enforcement officers were investigated promptly, effectively and impartially by an independent mechanism, with no institutional or hierarchical connection between the investigators and the alleged perpetrators; and provide effective remedies and rehabilitation to the victims

What examples could the Government bring that would display ensuring accountability of those who have been involved in such violations? Could the Government present the statistical data concerning the cases of excessive use of force by police in USA?

CERD was concerned at the increased use of racial profiling to determine immigration status

and to enforce immigration laws, and called upon the United States to, inter alia, guarantee access to legal representation in all immigration-related matters.What measures does the Government take in order to curb negative racial profiling in US society?

Here are the recommendations, which the US has until the Setp/Oct session to respond to:

• Further ensure that all victims of torture and ill-treatment – whether still in US custody or not - obtain redress and have an enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation and as full rehabilitation as possible, including medical and psychological assistance (Denmark)

• Adopt legal and administrative measures to make effective the investigation and sanction of violations of human rights during international operations, in which members of armed forces and other government agents participate (Argentina)

• Put an end to the practice of secret detention (Azerbaijan)

• Enact comprehensive legislation prohibiting all forms of torture and take measures to prevent all acts of torture in areas outside the national territory under its effective control (Austria)

• Investigate the CIA torture crimes, which stirred up indignation and denunciation among people, to disclose all information and to allow investigation by international community in this regard (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)

• Respect the absolute prohibition on torture and take measures to guarantee punishment of all perpetrators (Costa Rica)

• Allow an independent body to investigate allegations of torture and to end the impunity of perpetrators (Switzerland)

•  Put an end to unlawful practices which violate human rights including extrajudicial executions and arbitrary detention, and close any arbitrary detention centres (Egypt)

• Strengthen safeguards against torture in all detention facilities in any territory under its jurisdiction, ensure proper and transparent investigation and prosecution of individuals responsible for all allegations of torture and illtreatment, including those documented in the unclassified Senate summary on CIA activities published in 2014 and provide redress to victims (Czech Republic)

• Stops acts of torture by US Government officials, not only in its sovereign territory, but also in foreign soil (Maldives)

• Prevent torture and ill-treatment in places of detention and (Azerbaijan)

• Immediately close the prison in Guantanamo and cease the illegal detention of terrorism suspects at its military bases abroad (Russian Federation)

• Close Guantanamo and secret detention centres (Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of))

• Close, as soon as possible, the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay and put an end to the indefinite detention of persons considered as enemy combatants (France)

• Make further progress in fulfilling its commitment to close the Guantanamo detention facility and abide by the ban on torture and inhumane treatment of all individuals in detention (Malaysia)

• Fully disclose the abuse of torture by its Intelligence Agency, ensure the accountability of the persons responsible, and agree to unrestricted visit by the Special Rapporteur on Torture to Guantanamo facilities (China)

• Engage further in the common fight for the prohibition of torture, ensuring accountability and victims’ compensation and enable the Special Rapporteur on torture to visit every part of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and to conduct unmonitored interviews (Germany)

• Investigate in a transparent manner all cases of human rights violations (Russian Federation)

• Prosecute all CIA operatives that have been held responsible for torture by the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (Pakistan)

• Prosecute and punish those responsible for torture (Cuba)

• Investigate torture allegations, extrajudicial executions and other violations of human rights committed in Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, Bagram, NAMA and BALAD camps and to subsequently close them (Iran (Islamic Republic of))

The United States has until the Human Rights Council’s next session – which will take place in September/October 2015 – to respond to the recommendations.

ADVANCE QUESTIONS TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BELGIUM

Taking into regard the principled opposition of Belgium to capital punishment we request the delegation of the US to give an overview of:

The number of states where capital punishment has been abolished and the number of states where there is a de facto moratorium on capital punishment and the evolution for both these numbers since the first UPR cycle.

The evolution since the first UPR cycle in the mode of administering capital punishment and more information on the particularly worrisome reintroduction of the fire squad.

The evolution in the alleged overrepresentation of ethnic minorities on death row and the evolution for these numbers since the first UPR cycle.

The guarantees that people with mental illness shall not be subjected to capital punishment.

Since the ratification by Somalia of the Convention on the Rights of the Child only two UN member states remain who have not yet ratified the UN Convention on the rights of the Child. We appreciate that during the first UPR cycle the US delegation has supported recommendations to go forward on ratification of this important Convention. Can the US delegation inform us where we stand in the internal debate on the ratification of this now almost universal Human rights instrument and the prospects for ratification by the United States?

The Belgian delegation also appreciates that during the first UPR cycle the US delegation has supported recommendations to go forward on ratification the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Can the US delegation what are prospects for ratification of both instruments?

The Belgian delegation also notes with appreciation the support by the US delegation for recommendations to close without delay the Guantánamo detention facility and to provide solutions for remaining detainees in line with international human rights law, in particular the ICCPR. Can we be provided with a progress report on this issue?

ADVANCE QUESTIONS TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – ADD.1

CZECH REPUBLIC What steps and deliberations has the Government undertaken to consider the ratification of the main international human rights instruments as it committed to following the UPR of 2010? Could the Government provide a timeline of its intended accessions to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women? Does the Government consider ratifying Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment or any other core international human rights instruments? Does the U. S. Government consider issuing a standing invitation to the special procedures of the Human Rights Council?

What measures are being prepared or adopted to ensure proper investigation and prosecution of individuals responsible for the serious cases of torture documented in the unclassified summary of the CIA report published in December 2014? What forms of redress and reparation are available to the victims of these crimes and their families? Could you elaborate on measures taken or envisaged in order to prevent the excessive use of force by the police? What steps does the Federal Government intend to undertake to ensure that religious freedom bills (Religious Freedom Restoration Acts) adopted at the State level cannot be abused to discriminate against LGBTI persons? DENMARK Would the United States consider ratifying the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Convention on the Rights of the Child and Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture? The Committee against Torture has, inter alia, recommended that the US “carry out prompt, impartial and effective investigations wherever there is reasonable ground to believe that an act of torture and ill-treatment has been committed in any territory under its jurisdiction” and “appropriately prosecute those responsible”. Denmark would be grateful for information on how the US intends to follow-up on these recommendations. GERMANY For the United Nations human rights system, in particular with a view to the protection and promotion of human rights worldwide, it would be a significant asset if the United States joined the vast majority of States that are party to and promote the implementation of major international covenants in the field of human rights, such as ICESCR, CEDAW and CRC. Which steps is the United States planning to take towards ratification of Treaties and Optional Protocols to Conventions it has already signed, but yet not ratified? In the previous UPR, Germany and other states recommended the establishment of a national human rights institution, in accordance with the Paris Principles. We are grateful for the general comments that the United States has provided in its national report referring to existing multiple protections and mechanisms to reinforce respect for human rights and ongoing considerations whether this network of protection is in need of improvement. We would like to enquire which measures the United States is considering to take to enhance human rights coordination at the national as well as subnational level. The United States is not a party to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance so far. Why does the United States refrain from acceding to this Convention? Germany commends that the United States has significantly stepped up its efforts, at the national as well as federal level, to eliminate racial discrimination, the use of excessive force

and ill-treatment in policing. We would like to know which legislative steps the United States has taken or is planning to take to address these issues. Germany acknowledges progress with regard to mitigating the application of the death penalty, e.g. the decline in the overall numbers of executions and the decisions to abolish the death penalty or observe moratoria in a number of States since the last cycle. However, many remain on death row on the national as well as federal level. Germany would like to enquire how the United States currently assesses the factors of racial disparity in the application of the death penalty and whether adequate compensation for persons who were wrongfully convicted is provided on the national as well as subnational level. Which steps is the United States taking in order to prevent the execution of mentally/intellectually disabled prisoners? NETHERLANDS Women's rights Could the government of the United States elaborate on the prospect for ratification of CEDAW? Does the government of the United States have any plans to examine its abortion related restrictions on foreign assistance where they conflict with the funding policies of other nations? Ratifying the Rome Statute Which concrete steps have been taken by the Administration to further the ratification process of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court? Death Penalty Which steps has the government of the United States taken to work towards the abolition of the death penalty with a moratorium on its executions as an interim measure? NORWAY As stated in the national report, the application of the death penalty for persons who have a significant intellectual disability is barred according to the US constitution. However, some cases give reason for concern that the principle is not upheld, due to the wide margin of appreciation of each state with regard to the definition and the burden of proof. What steps can the federal level take to ensure application of the constitutional principle that individuals with a significant intellectual disability do not receive the death penalty? We welcome the openness with which the US reports about problematic practises at the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay, and the US interactions with the ICRC and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture on this issue. Practises revealed give, however, reason for

concern. In light of these concerns, would the US consider granting the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture access to interact with detainees at Guantánamo Bay? If such access cannot be granted, why not? We refer to Norway’s recommendation during the previous UPR concerning blanket abortion restriction on humanitarian aid covering medical care to women and girls who are raped and impregnated in situations of armed conflict, and the development on the issue since then (e.g. UN Security Council Resolutions 2106 and 2122; the UN Secretary General’s recommendation in his 2013 report on women peace and security, 72(a), U.N. Doc. S/2013/525). Is the US considering removing the restriction on US foreign assistance to permit its use for safe abortion services in the cases of rape, life endangerment or incest? If not, what is preventing such a change in policies? We note the positive examples in the national report regarding federal initiatives to ensure state compliance with human rights instruments. Could the US provide an overview of measures to establish an institutionalised, transparent and coordinated approach to human rights monitoring and implementation at the federal, state and local level, including an indication of the extent to which the federal government will support state and local efforts through education, training and funding? SLOVENIA What measures have been put in place or are envisioned to eliminate the gender pay gap? We took good note of the statement in the national report (paragraph 96) that the "harsh interrogation techniques highlighted" in the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Report on the CIA's former detention and interrogation program "are not representative of how the United States deals with the threat of terrorism today" and that the US has "taken steps to ensure that it never resorts to the use of those techniques again". What steps are being taken to bring those responsible for authorizing and carrying out torture and other abuses to justice and to ensure they face penalties commensurate with the gravity of their crimes? What steps have been taken towards prohibiting corporal punishment of children in all settings, as recommended by the Human Rights Committee?

SWEDEN

Could the Government of the United States elaborate on the status of the death sentence, any plans to impose a national moratorium on federal use and on new measures to ensure that the death penalty complies with minimum standards under international law, including to exempt people with mental illness from execution and to ensure that the origin of the drugs used for executions is made public?

What steps is the Government of the United States taking in law and practice to ensure that individuals’ religious refusals do not interfere with women’s access to reproductive health services or discriminate against individuals on the basis of sex, gender, or sexual orientation?

Why has the US government expanded its use of family detentions, rather than investing in alternatives to detention?

SWITZERLAND

Right to privacy

How do the United States ensure external and independent oversight from all branches of government of the National Security Agency's surveillance operations overseas, particularly those conducted under Executive Order 12,333?

Feinstein-Report

Switzerland welcomes the report of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the CIA detention and interrogation program. How will the US proceed to push forward the legislative proposal to a codification of the prohibition of enhanced interrogation methods?

Excessive use of force in policing

Regarding the phenomenon of ongoing excessive use of force in policing, how does the US government ensure the implementation of its human rights obligations, such as the right to life or the prohibition of torture or discrimination? Where does the implementation of the report of the US government of December 2014 to review the equipment of the police stand?

Death sentence / Rue of law

Alarming reports regarding death sentences on the basis of faulty evidence have been recently released. How do the United States intend to react to the conclusions of these reports in order to ensure the right of due process in accordance with the rule of law according to Art. 14 ICCPR in cases of death sentences?

Despite recent rulings of the United States Supreme Court, there seems to be wide discrepancies in the way individual States define and assess intellectual disability among those sentenced to death, and it still happens that some mentally ill convicts are executed in certain States. What is being done to address these issues, especially when considering that the protection of the intellectually disabled and mentally ill from the death penalty is an increasingly recognized international norm?

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

The Government of the United States has accepted three recommendations to consider ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in its first UPR. Which measures has the US government taken in order to implement these recommendations?

Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Where does the process of the Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stand?

Blanket abortion restrictions on humanitarian aid

The US government received in its first UPR the recommendation No. 228 to remove blanket abortion restrictions on humanitarian aid covering medical care given to women and girls who are raped and impregnated in situations of armed conflict (Norway). How is the US government addressing this issue?

Guantanamo

Do the United States have a concrete, measurable plan – bound to a timeline – to close Guantanamo before President Obama leaves office? Could the government share this plan with us?

Conditions of detention

Switzerland welcomes the promulgation of the Performance-Based National Detention Standards which establish minimum conditions of detention, including with respect to medical care, access to legal resources, visitation, recreation, correspondence, religious services, and grievance processes. How do the United States ensure the implementation of these standards?

Implementation of human rights

What measures are the United States taking to establish an institutionalized, transparent and coordinated approach to human rights monitoring and implementation of human rights at the federal, state and local level? In what ways is the federal government supporting state and local efforts through education, training and funding?

UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

When does the US expect to make public the outcomes of the Department of Justice’s review into how the death penalty is administered in the US?

What steps are the US taking to ensure the enforcement of consular notification is consistent at Federal, State and County level, and to support the passage of State and Federal legislation relating to consular notification, including addressing cases where there has been failure to notify?

Could you please provide an update on the progress of US efforts to close the detention facility in Guantanamo bay?

What are the US’s plans to ensure consistency and equality of legislation across individual States with regard to discrimination of LGBT individuals on the grounds of their sexual orientation?

Is there scope for the policy interpretation of the Helms Amendment to be clarified, to remove the possibility of misunderstanding or misinterpretation, thereby enabling the provision of safe abortion services for women raped in humanitarian conflict?

CUBA

¿Es compatible el compromiso invocado por Estados Unidos con la promoción y protección de los derechos humanos, con el anuncio del no enjuiciamiento de los responsables de cometer torturas en el contexto de la llamada lucha contra el terrorismo?

¿Cómo se sustenta el compromiso declarado por Estados Unidos con los derechos laborales y sindicales cuando presenta tan bajo nivel de ratificación de convenios de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo, pues solamente ha ratificado dos de los ocho convenios fundamentales y once de los 177 técnicos?

¿Cómo Estados Unidos prevé garantizar el goce por parte de sus ciudadanos de los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales, cuando la pobreza afecta en su país 48.8 millones de personas (más del 15% de la población), según un informe publicado en septiembre de 2014 por la Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos? ¿Qué acciones prevé hacer para superar esta situación?

ADVANCE QUESTIONS TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – ADD.2

MEXICO

What actions have been taken to resolve the obstacles that prevent the full implementation of the Avena Judgment of the International Court of Justice? After 3 of the individuals covered by that judgment have been executed, what measures are been taken to avoid the execution of the rest of the individuals covered by the judgment?

Could you elaborate on the actions taken to appropriately implement the recommendations formulated by the Special Rapporteur for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism? What laws and procedures have been established to bring to justice those committing human rights violations in this regard, as well as to impose criminal penalties commensurate with the gravity of their crimes?

What procedures have been set towards the expressly prohibition of the use of racial profiling in the enforcement of immigration legislation?

How the USA legislation punishes the use of racial profiling in all programs that enable local authorities to enforce immigration legislation? What measures have been taken to ensure that such legal frameworks provide effective and accessible recourse to remedy against human rights violations occurred under these programs? What measures is the USA taking to implement the recommendations that the CERD, as well as other treaty bodies have addressed to the USA on racial profiling?

How the USA prohibits, prevents and punishes the use of lethal force when conducting immigration control activities? What legal and policy measures have been adopted to prohibit the use of deadly force by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers? Has the CBP directive on the use of deadly force been enforced?

SPAIN

Is the Government preparing any education programme for the police to prevent discrimination and violence against the Afro-American citizens by the public order forces?

Are the President and the Congress going to appoint a special commission to investigate police actions against minorities, including Afro-American citizens?

ADVANCE QUESTIONS TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – ADD.3

CHINA

In its national report, the United States notes that it has taken steps to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and its has designated the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) as a priority among multilateral treaties for ratification. What is the timetable for the United States to eventually ratify and implement the above two Conventions? In addition, will the United States ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the Convention on the Rights of the Child?

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, CERD, CAT as well as civil society have repeatedly expressed concerns about excessive use of force by the police and the large number of gun-related deaths and injuries, which disproportionately affected members of racial and ethnic minorities. In its national report, the United States notes that it is taking steps to address the disproportionate percentage of minorities, particularly African-Americans, in the criminal justice system. To what extent have those steps taken effect eliminating violence based on national, ethical or racial elements? How to analyze and address the root causes?

In its national report, the United States notes that it has made substantial advances to better protect the rights of indigenous peoples domestically. The Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples called for concrete measures to be taken, such as addressing outstanding claims regarding treaty violations or non-consensual takings of traditional lands, interpreting or reinterpreting relevant doctrine, treaties and statutes by the federal courts in the light of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Could the United States elaborate on measures taken in those aspects?

In 2014, the United States released the report of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on CIA interrogation practices. Has any progress been made as follow-up investigations and prosecutions? What measures will be taken to hold those responsible for torture accountable and provide remedies to victims?

In its national report, the United States reiterates President Obama's commitment to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. Is there a foreseeable time schedule for the closure? What are the criteria guiding the United States while making decisions on transferring detainees in Guantanamo home or to third countries?

The Human Rights Committee was concerned about the practice of targeted killings in

extraterritorial counter-terrorism operations using unmanned aerial vehicles, and the lack of accountability for the resulting loss of life. Some countries also expressed similar concerns. Will the United States disclose the criteria for drone strikes, including the legal basis for specific attacks? What measures has been taken to protect civilians in specific drone attacks and to track and assess civilian casualties? How to enhance transparency and accountability of such operations?

The HR Committee was concerned about surveillance of communications in the interests of protecting national security and recommended, inter alia, that the State party ensure that any interference with the right to privacy complied with the principles of legality, proportionality and necessity, regardless of the nationality or location of the individuals whose communications were under direct surveillance. It is also indicated that the United States authorities are intercepting the private communications and other personal electronic data of hundreds of millions people across the globe. Does the United States intend to comply with the above recommendation and effectively safeguards against abuse of surveillance measures to ensure full compliance with relevant international human rights obligations?

Dutch translation by Alice Holemans, NAIS Gazette

Home » Nieuws » * HOOGST GECENSUREERD : TRAGISCH VERZONNEN VS THEATER

* HOOGST GECENSUREERD : TRAGISCH VERZONNEN VS THEATER VOOR VN MENSENRECHTENRAAD

Door Brenda Norrell:http://bsnorrell.blogspot.be/2015/05/most-censored-us-tragic-fictional.html

Vertaald door NAIS: www.denais gazet.be

De Verenigde Staten is zoals dat mooie meisje in de school dat floreert op haar eigen zelfpromotie. Maar uiteindelijk vergaat de schittering, de rimpels worden zichtbaar en wel, dan gaat het alleen nog maar bergaf met haar.

De Verenigde Staten hebben een partner in zelfpromotie bij de Verenigde Naties, een bondgenoot in zijn ‘cheerleading’ om de aandacht af te leiden van zijn mensenrechten - schendingen.

Zijn mede- crapuul is Saudi Arabië, zwemmend in oliedollars en met een verwerpelijk mensenrechten record. Beiden willen ze u doen geloven dat zij de vlaggendragers van de mensenrechten zijn. Saudi Arabia gaat zelfs zo ver dat zij aan het hoofd wil staan van de VN mensenrechtenraad.

Natuurlijk ziet de rest van de wereld de vreemde relatie tussen de VS en Saudi Arabië voor wat het is.

De rest van de wereld kijkt doorheen het theater dat deze twee landen voor de VN mensenrechtenraad opgevoerd hebben.

Het is theater- tragisch verzonnen theater.

Tijdens de recente United Nations Periodic Review bij de VN mensenrechtenraad in Genève, kregen ze zoveel leugens en halve waarheden voorgeschoteld van de VS, dat het teveel ruimte zou vergen om al die leugens te herhalen, leugens over kidnapping en folteringen, massale spionage, geheime opsluitingen, dood door politiegeweld, private gevangeniswinsten, vasthouden van migrantenkinderen, geïnstitutionaliseerde raciale profilering, verkrachtingen in het VS leger, doelgerichte moorden door drones, en schendingen van Native Amerikaanse rechten.

De ‘spin masters’ waaronder ook Keith Harper, Cherokee, waren ter plaatse bij de review om het allemaal mooi en goed te doen lijken.

Maar buiten de VS, waar er geen voortdurend bombarderen is door de public relations van de US regering, dat voorgesteld wordt als ‘nieuws’ en corporate US media, zien andere landen de waarheid.

Lakota Russel Means zei meermaals over deze reviews “ another dog and pony show.”

In de VS verspreid zich een groeiend ongeloof in de reviews van de Verenigde Naties.

Steeds meer gelooft men dat de Verenigde Naties niets zullen bijdragen tot de verandering in de voortdurende mensenrechtenschendingen van de VS.

Een van de resultaten die gecensureerd werden door de media was de druk op de VS om CIA agenten, die verantwoordelijk waren voor folteringen, te vervolgen.

De doodstraf van de VS en executie van onschuldigen, en oneigenlijke eenzame opsluitingen, waren ook issues die door de VS media vermeden werden. De media in de VS vermeed discussies over de rol van de VN in kinderhandel; daklozen en armoede; en de hoge cijfers van verkrachtingen door medesoldaten in het VS leger.

Tijdens de review, drong Bolivia aan op implementatie van de VN Verklaring over de rechten van inheemse volken, terwijl Cuba wees op de verbijsterende armoede in de VN die resulteert in wijdverspreide dakloosheid.

Mexico drong aan dat de VS het illegale dodelijke geweld door grenspolitie aan de VS grens stopt .

Tijdens de review deden de VN vertegenwoordigers een poging om de aandacht van de waarheid in Indian Country af te leiden.

Zij vermeden het onderwerp van de voortdurende aanvallen op indiaans land voor koolmijnen, uranium mijnen, olie en gas boringen en pijpleidingen, kopermijnen, en nucleaire stortplaatsen. De verwoestingen en ziekten door mijnen, boringen en stortplaatsen in Indian Country werden niet belicht.

De zware verwoestingen overspannen Navajo en Pueblo landen in het Zuidwesten tot de Mandan, Hidatsa en Arikara in Noord Dakota, Lakota in Zuid Dakota en ontelbare indiaanse naties in het noordwesten.

De vertegenwoordigers van de VN vermeden de discussie over de verantwoordelijkheid van VS mijnbouwbedrijven voor de moorden, verkrachtingen en verdwijningen van inheemsen over de hele wereld die strijden om hun huizen, families, land, lucht en water te beschermen.

De vertegenwoordigers vermeden de discussie over de onrechtvaardige en hoge aantallen van  opsluiting van Amerikaanse Indianen in de private gevangenissen in de VS.

De vertegenwoordigers van de VN vermeden de discussie over de tientallen jaren van spionage en provocateurs in operaties zoals COINTELPRO dat zijn pijlen richtte op Amerikaanse Indianen, Zwarten en Chicanos, of de sterilisatie, zonder hun medeweten van Amerikaans Indiaanse vrouwen in de Indian Health Service ziekenhuizen. Er waren geen discussies over de steeds voortdurende diefstal gepleegd door US staten en congresleden van het water van de Amerikaanse Indianen.

Er was geen discussie over de generaties van ontvoerde kinderen, misbruik en moorden van Amerikaans indiaanse kinderen in de kostscholen, of de ontwijding van sacraal land en opsluiting van politieke gevangenen.

Er was geen discussie over het feit dat de Israëli- Apartheid aannemer Elbit Systems van de VS een contract aan de grens gekregen heeft en nu verantwoordelijk is voor de spionnentorens, die gericht staan op de traditionele Tohono O’odham huizen op Tohono O’odham land.

Er werd geen melding gemaakt van de kopermijn op sacraal Apache land, gepromoot door senator John MacCain.

De VS vertegenwoordigers gingen tot het uiterste om de aandacht af te leiden van de opsluiting van migrantenkinderen, een schending van de internationale wet, en de wijdverspreide verwaarlozing van zieke en gekwetste veteranen.

Verder, verkrachtingen in het VS leger, folteringen en spionage waren de focus van cover-ups door de vertegenwoordigers van de VS tijdens de review.

Lees meer: (Engels): http://bsnorrell.blogspot.be/2015/05/most-censored-us-tragic-fictional.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nota van NAIS

“ Another dog and pony show”, Russel Means, Lakota

Dat hebben wij in België ook te zien gekregen bij het bezoek van de secretaris generaal van de VNBan ki Moon.

Wij kunnen er met ons verstand niet bij dat die man het ‘Tomorowland- project’ gelijkstelt met de principes en idealen van de VN ???

Is the VN dan ook maar “in it for the money”?

Dat zou natuurlijk veel verklaren.

Veder snappen wij langs geen kanten hoe het ere doctoraat dat hem in Leuven met veel ‘pomp and circumstance’ werd overhandigd door Rik Tofs kan bijdragen tot zijn werk.

Die charades aan de KUL dienen enkel om het imago van Rik Torfs en zijn universiteit op te blinken.

A.H.