| – as police excesses scrutinisedGuyana has committed to investigate all allegations of extra judicial killings and excesses of theFrom left: Presidential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira and Foreign Affairs Minister,Cheap Air Jordan Shoes Wholesale, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkettpolice force. This is happening even as moves are made to consider the establishment of a Human Rights Institution in accordance with the Paris Principles and accredited by the Human Rights Council.Based on earlier reports,Cheap Nike Shox Shoes, “the Paris Principles were defined at the first International Workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Paris from October 7 to October 9,Cheap Nike Air Max 97 Shoes, 1991.They were adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Commission by Resolution 1992/54 of 1992, and by the UN General Assembly in its Resolution 48/134 of 1993. The Paris Principles relate to the status and functioning of national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights.”Guyana’s commitment was made when Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, attended a session in Geneva, Switzerland, where Guyana’s human rights situation was under review. The occasion was the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session.At a press briefing held in her Ministry’s main conference room yesterday, Rodrigues-Birkett told media operatives that while excesses of the police force was a matter that arose no attempts were made to highlight the case of two ranks who reportedly tortured a young boy a few years ago.“This particular issue did not come up at the UPR but I did indicate in the recommendations that we have dealt with that; that we have accepted to consider one (recommendation) to do with torture.”The two ranks in question were earlier this year promoted causing concerns to be raised in some factions. In responding to a question as to whether the Government would recommend the rescinding of the promotions, Rodrigues-Birkett asserted that “Government does not promote officers; I just thought that I should get that clarified.”Sharing the spotlight with the Foreign Affairs Minister yesterday was Presidential Adviser on Governance, Ms Gail Teixeira, who informed that since Guyana is a sovereign country its Constitution is in fact its supreme law.“The Constitution makes the Service Commission, constitutional bodies, that are independent and beyond control of anybody including the executive…”Nevertheless, Teixeira noted that through its UPR Guyana has reported on a number of other cases of torture that were brought before the courts and the subsequent rulings. “We go to the UN to report on what we have done…” added the Presidential Adviser.She pointed out that the “torture cops” issue has been one that has been addressed by the court.Guyana’s UPR Report was in fact coordinated by Teixeira. However the Presidential Adviser on Governance did not accompany Rodrigues-Birkett to present it in Geneva. Bad weather in New York curtailed her travel arrangements.According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, the UPR is a unique process created by a resolution of the United Nations (UN) under the auspices of the Human Rights Council. It moreover, involves a review of the Human Rights records of the 193 member countries of the UN.Since the process is State driven, Rodrigues-Birkett said that it allows member countries to indicate what measures have been taken with respect to Human Rights in order to fulfill their Human Rights obligations.Three documents were used to facilitate the Review. These were The National Report (which is prepared by the State); information contained in Reports from experts and groups, Human Rights Treaty bodies and other UN entities; and information from other stakeholders including National Human Rights institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations. All such documents were posted online.As one of the countries under review, Guyana was granted at the most two minutes to defend its Human Rights situation. This saw her standing alone to respond to a number of questions wielded at her as she presented Guyana’s case and sought to give an update it relates to what measures have been taken since Guyana presented its first report in 2010.Back then Rodrigues-Birkett said that most of the recommendations for Guyana focused on abolishing Corporal Punishment in schools, abolishing the Death Penalty and Decriminalising Adult same sex relations and removing those sections in the laws that discriminate against Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons.The Foreign Affairs Minister was able to report to the working group in Geneva that a Parliamentary Special Select Committee was established to address those issues. However, at the time of her reporting that Committee had not yet concluded its work.As such Rodrigues-Birkett advised the member countries that the matters will in fact be taken back to the Parliament following general elections.During the Geneva meeting 54 countries were permitted speaking time with 143 recommendations forthcoming. But according to Rodrigues-Birkett, “as all States, Guyana had the option of responding to the recommendations there…We could have responded to some,Cheap NFL Jerseys, or to all or the option not to respond to any and provide a report at a later date but no later than the session of the Human Rights Council in June (or July).”But Guyana accepted to respond to 79 recommendations, four of which are already in implementation stages. Among the 75 recommendations accepted are: adopting measures to promote and prevent discrimination against women; shared parental caring between men and women; addressing patriarchal attitudes towards women; strengthening the presence of women in various institutions and political life; implementing fully the Sexual Offences Act; adopting additional measures to prevent domestic violence and adopting measures to prevent discrimination against LGBT persons and investigating promptly hate crimes based on sexual orientation.“We also agreed to consider the abolition of the Death Penalty and/or establishing a formal moratorium,Jordan Sneakers For Sale,” said Rodrigues-Birkett. “This recommendation was for the State to consider the abolition of the Death Penalty and this is why we accepted, to consider.”Guyana nevertheless has retained the Death Penalty although, according to her, several measures have been taken including certain sentences being commuted to life imprisonment and imprisonment with the possibility of parole.Guyana has also committed to strengthening the National Child Protection mechanisms in terms of strengthening children’s rights; trafficking in persons; effective implementation of laws, expanding legal aid services,Nike Air Max 95 For Sale, increasing the capacity of the Police Complaints Authority; continuing the implementation of the Poverty Reduction programme and water and sanitation housing schemes; measures to improve the lot of disabilities and guaranteeing the rights of indigenous peoples.Guyana has committed to consider another 64 recommendations that will be reported on, or before, the Human Rights Council meeting, she said. |
