UNITED KINGDOM UN Report criticizes emergency law practices in
Edward C Whyte (ewhyte@online.no)
Thu, 2 Apr 1998 22:36:53 +0200 (MET DST)
>* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
>News Service 56/98
>
>AI INDEX: EUR 45/07/98
>1 April 1998
>PUBLIC STATEMENT
>
>UNITED KINGDOM
>
>UN Report criticizes emergency law practices in Northern Ireland --
>action needed now
>
>Amnesty International welcomes the publication of a United Nations (UN)
>report which is critical of emergency law practices in Northern Ireland.
>
> The report by Param Cumaraswamy, the UN Special Rapporteur on the
>independence of judges and lawyers, results from his fact-finding mission
>in October 1997 to investigate allegations that police officers in Northern
> Ireland routinely intimidated and harassed defence lawyers. Param
>Cumaraswamy concludes that police officers have engaged in "activities
>which constitute intimidation, harassment, and hindrance" of lawyers and
>recommends an inquiry into such practices.
> The report also highlights the lack of safeguards for suspects
>arrested under emergency legislation, including restrictions on access to
>legal advice, and makes a number of recommendations aimed at ensuring
>respect for the rule of law and human rights.
>
> Amnesty International joins four other international NGOs: the
>International Commission of Jurists, Human Rights Watch, the International
>Federation of Human Rights and the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights in
>urging the UK Government to implement the Special Rapporteur's
>recommendations.
>
> The continued abrogation of basic human rights in Northern Ireland has
> played a central role in the conflict in Northern Ireland. Previous UK
>governments have hidden behind secrecy and internal inquiries to avoid
>being accountable for human rights violations by its agents in Northern
>Ireland. They have ignored the recommendations of international treaty
>bodies as well as some of their own internal inquiries. The protection of
>fundamental human rights has been seen as secondary to the maintenance of a
> high level of security. The new government has an opportunity to reassert
>the primacy of the protection of human rights in Northern Ireland.
>
> Given the persistence of human rights violations perpetrated
> in Northern Ireland, there is a particular need for the government to take
> action on a number of issues, including policing and emergency law
>provisions. Amnesty International has issued a report which details some of
> the measures which require urgent action to increase the protection of
>human rights in Northern Ireland.
> ENDS.../
>For further information, please refer to the joint statement with other
>NGOs:
>Leading Groups welcome UN report on intimidation of defence lawyers in
>Northern Ireland.
>Also see Amnesty International's report: United Kingdom: UN Report critizes
> emergency law practices in Northern Ireland (AI Index: EUR 45/06/98)
>
>
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