A/HRC/23/51 - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

28
Date
Type
20/12/2012
JAL
Case No
Country Mandate(s) Summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> allegation transmitted Reply
LAO 2/2012
République
Démocratique
Populaire Lao
Freedom <strong>of</strong>
expression; Freedom
<strong>of</strong> peaceful assembly
and <strong>of</strong> association;
Human rights
defenders;
Allegations <strong>of</strong> expulsion <strong>of</strong> a staff member belonging to an international
non-governmental organization from <strong>the</strong> Lao People‘s Democratic
Republic. According to <strong>the</strong> information received, on 7 December 2012, <strong>the</strong>
Ministry <strong>of</strong> Foreign Affairs decided to expel Ms. Anne-Sophie Gindroz,
Country Director <strong>of</strong> Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, following a letter she
sent on 21 November 2012 to development partners, prior to <strong>the</strong> 2012
Round Table Implementation Meeting, in which she deplored <strong>the</strong> lack <strong>of</strong>
respect for <strong>the</strong> rights to freedom <strong>of</strong> expression, association, and peaceful
assembly in <strong>the</strong> Lao PDR, and called on development partners to bear in
mind <strong>the</strong> human rights situation in <strong>the</strong> country in <strong>the</strong> 2012 RTIM‘s
framework.
A/<strong>HRC</strong>/<strong>23</strong>/<strong>51</strong>
20/12/2012
JUA
LAO 3/2012
République
Démocratique
Populaire Lao
Disappearances;
Freedom <strong>of</strong>
expression; Freedom
<strong>of</strong> peaceful assembly
and <strong>of</strong> association;
Human rights
defenders;
Allegations <strong>of</strong> enforced disappearance <strong>of</strong> a human rights defender working
on issues <strong>of</strong> land grabbing and assisting victims to speak out about <strong>the</strong>ir
experiences. According to <strong>the</strong> information received, on 15 December 2012,
Mr. Sombath Somphone was taken to a police station by two men in civilian
clothing. His whereabouts remain unknown at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> writing <strong>the</strong>
present appeal. Prior to his disappearance, Mr. Somphone was involved in
trying to stop threats made by <strong>of</strong>ficials against people who publicly spoke
up against land grabbing <strong>the</strong>y experienced, during <strong>the</strong> Asia-Europe People‘s
Forum held in November 2012. Mr. Somphone was calling for an
investigation into <strong>the</strong>se threats.
03/01/2013
25/03/2013
20/12/2012
JUA
USA 34/2012
United States <strong>of</strong>
America
Arbitrary detention;
Freedom <strong>of</strong>
expression; Freedom
<strong>of</strong> religion;
Alleged possible trial <strong>of</strong> a conscientious objector. According to <strong>the</strong>
information received, Ms. Kimberly Rivera left <strong>the</strong> army without
authorization while on leave from deployment to Iraq in early 2007. Ms.
Rivera went to Canada after she made a decision that she could no longer
participate in <strong>the</strong> war in Iraq or any o<strong>the</strong>r conflict for moral reasons. When
she was in Canada, Ms. Rivera spoke out publicly about her objection to <strong>the</strong>
conflict in Iraq. It has been reported that Ms. Rivera has been detained by
<strong>the</strong> US military authorities since 20 September 2012 and may be tried
before a court martial. If convicted, Ms. Rivera could face up to five years
<strong>of</strong> imprisonment.
08/04/2013