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

56
Date
Type
06/02/2013
AL
Case No
Country Mandate(s) Summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> allegation transmitted Reply
KGZ 1/2013
Kyrgyz Republic
Violence against
women;
Letter requesting information on a new bill signed by President Almazbek
Atambaev that increases criminal penalty for bride kidnapping from three to
seven years. Information is also sought regarding any fur<strong>the</strong>r steps taken by
<strong>the</strong> Government to implement <strong>the</strong> recommendations contained in <strong>the</strong> report
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Special Rapporteur on violence against women presented to <strong>the</strong>
Human Rights Council in June 2010 upon visiting <strong>the</strong> country.
14/03/2013
A/<strong>HRC</strong>/<strong>23</strong>/<strong>51</strong>
07/02/2013
JUA
VNM 3/2013
Viet Nam
Arbitrary detention;
Freedom <strong>of</strong>
expression; Freedom
<strong>of</strong> peaceful assembly
and <strong>of</strong> association;
Human rights
defenders;
Allegations <strong>of</strong> conviction <strong>of</strong> 22 members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ―Bia Son Council for Public
Law and Affairs‖. According to <strong>the</strong> information received, <strong>the</strong>y were
convicted on 1 February 2013, by <strong>the</strong> People‘s Court in <strong>the</strong> Phu Yen
province, under article 79 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Criminal Code (―activities aimed at
subverting <strong>the</strong> people‘s power‖). The alleged leader <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> group Mr. Phan
Van Thu, 65 years old, was sentenced to life in prison, and <strong>the</strong> 21 o<strong>the</strong>rs
were sentenced to between 10 and 17 years in prison. The defendants
reportedly did not enjoy a fair trial. ―Bia Son Council for Public Law and
Affairs‖ is a non-violent group involved in building an eco-tourist area for
persons with disabilities, youths and older people for recreational and
religious purposes.
08/04/2013
07/02/2013
JUA
YEM 1/2013
Yemen
Arbitrary detention;
Summary executions;
Alleged risk <strong>of</strong> execution <strong>of</strong> a juvenile <strong>of</strong>fender. According to <strong>the</strong>
information received, Mr. Muhammad Abdul Wahhab Faysal al-Qassem
was sentenced to death on 14 February 2005 under charges <strong>of</strong> murder. The
defendant was informed that his execution would take place on 10 February
2013. On 6 February 2013, <strong>the</strong> President <strong>of</strong> Yemen reportedly suspended
<strong>the</strong> execution, although it was unclear whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> suspension was
temporary or indefinite. It was alleged that <strong>the</strong> defendant might have been a
minor at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> commission <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> alleged <strong>of</strong>fence, and that his age
at that time was still disputed. The court reportedly determined that he was
over 18 years old at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fence, on <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> falsified
documents. A previous communication was sent on 14 December 2012
regarding <strong>the</strong> risk <strong>of</strong> execution <strong>of</strong> <strong>23</strong> alleged juvenile <strong>of</strong>fenders and <strong>the</strong>
execution <strong>of</strong> two o<strong>the</strong>r reported juvenile <strong>of</strong>fenders in 2012 (see above, YEM
1/2012).