Zeid Raad al Hussein Archives - Jean-Jacques Cornish

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed to the Elders

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 22:00:00 +0000

Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been appointed to the group of former leaders established by the late President Nelson Mandela and known as the Elders.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate was the first elected African woman president.

Nelson Mandela said the Elders would bring courage where there is fear; agreement where there is conflict; and hope where there is despair.

Former Irish President Mary Robinson, who currently heads the group, says Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will adequately fulfill this role.

Robinson, a former UN human rights chief, also announced the elevation of Jordanian diplomat Zain Raad al Hussein, who was a successor in the UN job, and former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos – another Nobel Peace Price laureate – to the elders.

The post Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed to the Elders appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Burundi expels UN human rights body

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 22:00:00 +0000

Burundi’s ordered the United Nations Human Rights Commission to close its office in Bujumbura.

It follows the world organization’s human rights chief Zeid Raad al Hussein calling that country the most prolific slaughterhouse of humans in recent times.

ends intro

Burundi authorities have given the UN human rights body two months to quit their capital.

A UNHRC report accuses the Burundi regime of involvement in systematic abuses and risk of genocide following President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision in 2015 to seek an unconstitutional third term in office.

The commission regrets the decision and says it would have preferred to continue its cooperation with Burundi.

Amnesty International says its deeply disappointed by the Burundi government action but insists that truth will still get out of the country where thousands of the president’s opponents have been killed.

The post Burundi expels UN human rights body appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

UN human rights chief slam EU’s “inhuman” policy on helping Libya jail migrants

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 22:00:00 +0000

The United Nations Human Rights chief says the European Union’s policy of helping Libyan authorities intercept people trying to cross the Mediterranean and returning them to prisons is inhuman.

Nearly 2 750 people have drowned this year attempting that perilous crossing.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein says the suffering of migrants detained in Libya is an outrage on the conscience of humanity.

His statement issued in Geneva slams the EU for providing material and technical assistance to Libya to stop migrants and returning them to Libyan jails.

Many of these returnees fall prey to serious abuse in Libya in the hands of traffickers and people smugglers.

The EU is trying to stop flow of migrants from Africa that numbered 115 000 this year.

The post UN human rights chief slam EU’s “inhuman” policy on helping Libya jail migrants appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.