人權 2006年6月 Human Rights June 2006

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Due Diligence:

Stop Violence Against Women

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a vortex of sectarian violence in 2005, natural disasters

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ongoing conflicts devastated lndonesia. Here in Hong Kong, the legislation has never been sufficient to protect women and girls

against violence, and there has been no legislation against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, and the LGBT community faces discrimination in housing, jobs benefits and immigration.

Nevertheless, a closer look at the events of 2005 gives us reason

for hope. The overall number of conflicts worldwide continues to fall. lnstitutional reform was init¡ated at the United Nations to strengthen the international human rights machinery. From peasant farmers protesting against land grabbing in China to women asserting their r¡ghts on the 1Oth anniversary of the UN World Conference on Women, the events of 2005 showed that the human rights idea - together with the worldwide movement of people that drives it forward - is more powerful and stronger than ever.

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last month. 2005 was a year of contradictions in which signs of hope for human rights were undermined through the deception and failed promises of powerful governments. While lraq sank into

As we set our future agenda, Amnesty lnternat¡onal and

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TI he Amnesty lnternational Beport 2006 was eventually launched

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members and supporters take encouragement from the remarkable achievements of the human rights movement. Amnesty's work to fight those peddle fear and hate, to challenge the myopic vision of the world's most powerful leaders and to hold governments to account, can only continue with the hard work of our volunteers and members. We believe in the power of ordinary people to bring about extraordinary change. Let us extend our gratitude to you all for your support over the years, and we look forward to seeing more people shar¡ng our visions and making a difference.

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Amnesty lnternational Annual Report 2006 HK$200 / HK$150 (Member special price)

China and Hong Kong Highlights:

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Freedom at Risk

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Amnesty lnternational's Commitments in 2006 !, '.

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AgainstWomen On le

March, Amnesty lnternat¡onal Hong

Kong,

together with the Centre for Comparative and Public law of the Univers¡ty of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Women's Coalition on Equal Opportunities, held a forum on "Due Diligence: A Framework to Stop Violence Against Women and its lmplication for Domestic Violence in Hong Kong".

Speakers of the forum included Ms Maria Naredo Molero from Amnesty lnternational Spain, who shared with us the concept of "Due Diligence" as a framework for the Spain government to introduce legislation that compl¡es with the requ¡rement of a state under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Dlscrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in dealing with domestic violence.

0thct sDcale]s lncludod:

Hong Kong Law Legco Society, members Dr Hon Fernando Cheung Chiu Hung, Dr Hon commenting

on

domestic

violence

legislation

in

IhG G0ncelt 0f "llue lliligencG": The CEDAW, applicable to Hong Kong, calls on State Parties to act with due diligence to prevent and respond to violence against women. There are four layers of obligation on States parties: the obligations to rêspect, protect, fulfill and promote. ln the context of women's rights not to be subjected to violence, the State's obligation to respect requires them to refrain from interfering with women's enjoyment of the right to freedom from violence. The obligation to protect requires States to take measures that prevent third parties from interfering with women's rights to be free from Violence. The obligation to fulfill requires States to adopt appro-

priate legislative, t administrative,

Mr Dennis Ho from the

Yeung Sum and Hon Wong Kwok Hing, MH,

women's groups such as the Harmony House, the Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres, and the Hong Kong Women's Coalition on Equal Opportunities.

budgetary, judicial, promotional and other measures towards the full realization of the rights of women, and

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Hong

Kong and the reform possibilities;

the obligation to promote means

to

take measures to educate all citizens about rights through a variety means.

Government officials f

rom the

Health,

Welfare and

Food

Bureau, and the Social Welfare Department, commenting the situation of domestic violence in Hong Kong and the future plan to combat domestic violence; Representatives from the local women's groups, and the survivors of domestic violence, speaking of their exper¡ence and the inadequacy of community support.

Participants included policemen, social workers and women who survived domestic violence.

On the next day, Ms Naredo continued to share her experience on campaigning for legislation reform with local

ÊffitffiFlËÊ The lmll¡Gat¡ons 0f the Tin shui ltlai case

The Tin Shui Wai family tragedy in 2004 exposes the acute situation of domestic violence in Hong Kong, in which women's human rights are abused disproportionately. At a time when the Government of HKSAR is reviewing the Domestic Violence Ordinance, AIHK urges the government to incorporate the concept of "Due Diligence" into its legislaiion and policy to combat domestic violence in Hong Kong.

The forum was sponsored by Oxfam Hong Kong.

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May 2006, AIHK together with 18 community groups, bic discrimination remains widespread. Persecution continues in organized the second lnternational Day Against Homophobia Nepal and executions continue in lran ln 80 countries, homosexu(IDAHO). More than 300 activists braved downpours to march ality continues to be illegal, with penalties ranging from imprison-

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through crowded Causeway Bay demanding an end to discrimi- ment to execut¡on. nation against homophobia. Before marching around the Sogo

the

Although the IDAHO event was well-supported and events

Amnesty lnternational believes that LGBT people are ent¡tled to the full range of human rights protections afforded to anyone else, and that governments have an obligation to protect and promote the basic human rights of LGBT people. Amnesty lnternational

place ¡n many countries, the success cannot hide the

considers people imprisoned solely because

reality of LGBT people throughout the world, where

orientation or gender identity to be pr¡soners of conscience.

department store, the parade held a minute's silence for victims of discrimination.

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Belugees are our res[0nsi[ility, t00 Hong Kong has accepted refugees throughout its history, despite

its increasing population and small size. Most have come from mainland China during periods of political unrest and asylum seekers continue to arrive from all over Asia and other parts of the

world. Hong Kong proved its capac¡ty to deal with a large influx of refugees when more than 200,000 Vietnamese "boat people" landed in Hong Kong between 1975 and the mid-1990s.

Currently, however, Hong Kong has no legal or administrative procedures to protect the rights of refugees. The 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees which binds 143 countries, does not apply to the SAR, although China is a party to this Convention.

As a result, the Hong Kong government claims

it

has no

legal

responsibilities or explicit policy toward refugees and that it treats asylum seekers like any other arrivals coming into Hong Kong.

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But the SAR does in fact have international legal obligations to protect refugees, especially from refoulement, or from being returned to places where their lives or freedom would be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or holding a certain political opinion. The principle of non-refoulement is part of customary international law which binds all states and is directly applicable to Hong Kong

law. Other key human rights treaties which apply to Hong Kong contain their own prohibitions against refoulement. ln order to ensure respect for this principle, Hong Kong through the common

needs procedures designed

to

determine who is

at risk and to

ensure that refugees are not returned.

Since the dismantling of mecha-

nisms to screen

V¡etnamese

asylum seekers, however, the Hong Kong Government has not

developed a new system and refugees who enter the territory tend to make their way to the

Hong Kong sub-office of the Un¡ted Nat¡ons High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to apply for refugee status.

The under-funded UNHCR cannot afford to play this role and it should not have the primary responsibility for protect¡ng refugees in a wealthy jurisdiction such as Hong Kong. fts limitations were revealed recently when the UNHCR announced that budget constraints have forced the office to stop providing living allowances for the most vulnerable asylum seekers while they wait for the outcome of their claims.

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is concerned that w¡thout a proper policy refugees may be returned to their countries of origin without a fair investigation of their claims. Al calls on the government to take the necessary steps to protect asylum seekers, including the introduction of domestic legislation and the extension of the Refugee Convention to the HKSAR. Only then will Hong Kong be able to honour its international obligations towards

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Asylum seekers have to try and register with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to obtain documentation as a refugee.

Until they have that documentation, they are designated as "illegal immigrants", they have no legal status and are liable to arrest at any time.

AIHK and Christian Solidarity Worldwide (HK) copresented a talk on Chin refugees from Myanmar on April 26, and reported on a recent miss¡on to investigate the conditions of Chin refugees in Malaysia.

The asylum seekers have reported unfair treatment by the police.

Those arrested as undocumented migrants are often held in detention centres, where conditions problems of overcrowding, poor hygiene and sanitation, inadequate provision of food and safe drinking water, denial of medical care and verbal or physical abuse have all been reported.

revealed shocking tales of sexual violence, torture and forced labour, which led to the interviewees fleeing their

Amnesty lnternational has been campaigning for many years for the Malaysian government to ratify the '1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol and to ensure that all those seeking asylum have full access UNHCR. This fact-finding mission demonstrates once again the harsh conditions that refugees and asylum-seekers face in Malaysia and the urgent need for

homeland, at great personal risk, to cross Thailand into

change in the way that the Malaysian authorities handle this issue.

The speakers' interviews with Çhin

refugees

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Dginning lot human rignts f\lthouoh there has been a heated ^

debate on the reform of the United Nations iUl.l) ¡n recent years, there is only a very limited attention by the Hong Kong people As a global inter-governmental organization, UN has always been an important platform to the protection and promotion of human rights around the world. Many of the international human rights treaties, including the lnternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the lnternational Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), are managed by the committees under the UN to monitor the ratification of these ¡mportant treaty bodies, while making valuable criticism and suggestions to the signatory countries.

The UN Charter, a document outlining the status of the organization, also states that the purposes of the UN are to "promote and encourage respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all". lt is thus very clear that the protection and promotion of human rights are the inherent resoonsibilities of the UN and also its member countries.

Ulhat's inside thc rcformP Sixty years after its establishment, there has been increasing voices caìling for reform at the UN, including the popular debate on the Japanese government's attempt to become a permanent member of the Security Council Human rights slructures would also undergo significant changes in the proposed reform. ln March 2006, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of the set up of a new human rights body, the Human Rights Council, to replace the existing Commission on Human Rights.

The new Council will have

a

more frequent meeting schedule (at least three times a year, in contrast Ìo once a year for

the

members - so as to prevent the Council from being paralyzed by members with poor human rights record.

Those committing gross and systematic violations of human rights can have their membership suspended by a two-thirds major¡ty of members of the General Assembly.

ïhe res[ons¡[¡l¡ty 0l lhG GloGtoil The first election of the Human Rights Council had been held in May 2006. Some elected states have a record of serious human rights violations. These states must improve the¡r human rights performance and materialize the pledges and commitments that were made before running for the election, including the ratif¡cation of important human rights treaties, invitation to UN human righls experts to visit the country, and to strengthen the national institutions, ¡n order to exercise the Council's mandate to address all human rights situations effectively.

on Human the ability to

Commission

Rights) and

convene more easily in special sessions, thereby allowing it to react more effectively to both

chronic and urgent sítuations. lnstead of slates being adopted acclamation as for the Commission, each member of the Council must be elected individually. A higher threshold

by

of votes applies - at least

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individual votes out of 191

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I'm Au-Yeung Yip Ni, and I'm a student reporter of Ming Pao.

Prior to the interview, I had previously come across some AIHK's volunteers on one occasion. Listening to their

stories about how

to help the

exploited children

impressed me a lot. Hence when Ming Pao organized the visit to Amnesty, I joined without hesitation.

During the visit, I saw some photos and articles which stuck me with the horrible reality. ln some parts of the world, human rights are being wantonly trampled upon.

However, the locals are incapable of altering the situation.

Amnesty, therefore, strives to help those who are deprived of their human rights on their behalf.

The scope of human rights is so vast that it encompasses

weighty issues of a country but also minute issues of family violence. What Amnesty could help may not cover all, but what impressed me is that they never let go of a

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single chance.

Billy Hung For example, when they learn about

a

person being

sentenced to death in any country where capital punishment still exists, Amnesty will gather all the manpower in

their organization to fight for an exemption. This

is

regardless of what the offender has committed. Amnesly is against the irredeemable nature of the dealh penalty and treasures precious human lives.

Their spirit

is what I appreciated. Being a

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reporter, or a journalist, I sometimes question myself whether this profession enables me to make an effort towards upholding human rights? Yes, sure. I have always believed in the powerful ¡mpact of the media. We may have a mere pen and camera, but we can let the readers know the truth, disclose the hidden facts by words, and fight on behalf of the silent yet vulnerable

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Campaign Manager, AIHK

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Llke many others, I'm always Amnestyl A candle, though around, is still glowing the d¡fficult circumstances that are surviving through. However, radiates an unyielding power oresented is much alike to dissident music

logo of snaking it reflects locations , but it enjoy

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For years, l've been working poverty and labour issues. it has very much delighted to take up than I can give, and heading down the same

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HHËüffiffi Amnesty lnternational

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Amnesty lnternational is an independent organization, we do not accept any donations from governments or political parties, but depend largely on the generosity of the general public to fund our human rights and lifesaving work. Therefore, your generous support is very important to our work.

, ++,EUËìÉiE€Æ ÉEÙHAEHË.I . EHúTFFfrEJtrÊ'AÊT!IiüFñ:Ë , FÉEÊTË/f,T!Etr8.++ÉÊË++E]R#,íNFË'

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our work to protect human rights by making a donation to us, especially through monthly automatic payment as it can You can support ^ë definitely help save administrative costs, and your ongoing and coniinuous suppoÍt can also enable us to plan our human rights programmes more effectively

æ {ütrÈ* PAYMENT METHoD a^ HFË Æ r){T È't

FÈ (-#È$È

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