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Dear Group, > > >> >>From: Philippa Winkler, Desert Concerns > > >> >>Re: UN Commission on Human Rights March > > 19-April 24, 2001-- > > >> >> > --CONTACT MISSIONS IN GENEVA FOR "ACTION" ON SANCTIONS-- > -- LOBBY THE ONLY OFFICIAL FORUM WHERE 56 COUNTRIES ARE > DEBATING SANCTIONS > > >> >> > > >> >> The Bossuyt report on sanctions, including those on Iraq, generated a > positive response at the UN Sub-Commission for the Promotion and > Protection of Human Rights (see UN Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/33), > During the debate on this report, a number of Members even refered to the > sanctions against Iraq as "genocidal." > > An increased number of countries have begun to "break" the > "illegal" sanctions: Jordan, France, Italy, Russia, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, > Algeria, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey, Germany, Japan and more. And of course, by > now many others. These countries now have an > "official" UN analysis that the sanctions are in violation of the Geneva > Conventions and may refer to it when challenging the United States on the > blockade. > > > The Bossuyt report was written with Karen Parker's close cooperation. Karen > >is the attorney for International Educational Development Inc, an ngo > accredited to the UN. This month, KAREN PARKER will be lobbying for the UN > Commission on Human Rights to circulate the Bossuyt document. It is, of > course, already circulating as an official UN document, but a request from the > Comm'n is an endorsement. She also will urge the Comm'n to undertake action > based on the negative effect of broad, economic sanctions on human rights and > humanitarian law rights. Action may take the form of a Chairperson's > statement, speeches from key governments, language changes in the Comm'ssion's > resolution on Iraq, or possibly a separate resolution on economic sanctions > and human rights. It is very important that actions show growing consensus > that the current economic sanctions against Iraq are a violation of human > rights, the Geneva Conventions etc. The Commission and the General Assembly > have already denounced the US sanctions against Cuba. Remember, the Commission > is the ONLY official international forum where governments and NGOs are > debating sanctions on Iraq and how they impact human rights. The US and UK > need to hear all > this prior to the next round of debates in the Security Council. The US > appears to have gotten the message of the Sub-Commission. Let's keep the > pressure up, folks. Karen will also be pushing on the DEPLETED URANIUM issue. > > >> >> > ACTION TO BE TAKEN: Activists should write their > concerns to the "missions" of France, Italy, Russia, China, perhaps UK, in > Geneva or New York, and address it to their human rights departments. (A > Country's representation at international bodies is called a "mission" and to > another country is called an "embassy." Thus a communication to say France > would be addressed: The Mission of France to the United Nations at [New > York][Geneva]. Geneva is probably the best as the "human rights" staff from > New York for each > country usually is part of the delegation in Geneva.) When you write, > reference > Sub-Comm'n Resolution 25 on the Commission's agenda (E/CN.4/2001/1/Add.1) > under Agenda item 10 at para 99 at page 24. > Sub-Commission Resolution 2000-25 sent the Bossuyt working paper to the Comm'n > for consideration. Ask that the Bossuyt document is endorsed and that the > Commission expresses its concerns about the sanctions. > > >> >> > > >> >>REGARDING FUNDS, Karen needs support for travel to the Commission in > > >>Geneva. > > >> >>Please make out any checks to Association of Humanitarian Lawyers. Send > >to Daniel Robicheau, Social and Behavioral > >Sciences Box 86011, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ 86011, USA. > > >> >> > >Many thanks to Women for Mutual Security, especially Mme Margerita > >Papandreou, and to Dr Beatrice Boctor, who first heard my call in 1996 > >and went to the Commission to get the ball rolling -- to Bridges to Baghdad > >who also supported this effort, and to Karen for keeping the ball rolling > >ever since, we owe her a lot.. > > >> >> > > >> >>In peace, Philippa Winkler, > > >>Desert Concerns, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA > > >> >> > > >> >> > > > >"kiss the mountain air we breathe" > > Philippa Winkler > "kiss the mountain air we breathe" > > Philippa Winkler "kiss the mountain air we breathe" -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk