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

64
Date
Type
18/02/2013
AL
Case No
Country Mandate(s) Summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> allegation transmitted Reply
BDI 1/2013
Burundi
Freedom <strong>of</strong>
expression;
Allégations concernant certaines dispositions du projet de loi portant
modification de la loi n°1/025 du 27 novembre 2003 régissant la presse,
susceptibles de restreindre sévèrement la liberté d‘expression. Selon les
informations reçues, le conseil des Ministres a adopté et transmis au
Parlement au mois d‘octobre 2012 un projet de loi portant modification de
la loi n°1/025 du 27 novembre 2003 régissant la presse au Burundi. Il est
rapporté qu‘un certain nombre de dispositions du projet de loi sur la presse
ne seraient pas conformes aux exigences posées par l‘article 19 du Pacte
international relatif aux droits civil et politiques, notamment l‘article 12 du
projet de loi sur la presse qui prévoit que le journaliste est tenu de s‘abstenir
de publier des informations qui portent atteinte à «l‘unité nationale, l‘ordre
et la sécurité publics, la moralité et les bonnes moeurs, l‘honneur et la
dignité humaine, la souveraineté nationale, la vie privée des personnes et la
présomption d‘innocence».
A/<strong>HRC</strong>/<strong>23</strong>/<strong>51</strong>
18/02/2013
JAL
PNG 1/2013
Papua New
Guinea
Torture; Violence
against women;
Alleged torture and murder <strong>of</strong> 20-year-old woman who was accused <strong>of</strong>
sorcery. According to information received, on 6 February, 2013 Ms. Kepari
Leniata, a 20-year old woman who was accused <strong>of</strong> killing a 6-year old boy
through sorcery, was burnt alive in front <strong>of</strong> a crowd in Mount Hagen, while
attempts by law enforcement <strong>of</strong>ficials to intervene failed.
18/02/2013
JAL
USA 2/2013
United States <strong>of</strong>
America
Indigenous peoples;
Violence against
women;
Reauthorization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). According
to information received, on 12 February 2013, <strong>the</strong> United States Senate
approved Bill S.47, a bipartisan Bill that would reauthorize <strong>the</strong> VAWA. The
Bill is now to be considered by <strong>the</strong> United States House <strong>of</strong> Representatives.
The Violence against Women Act has steadily expanded funding to address
domestic violence and, with each reauthorization, has included historically
underserved groups. It has played a crucial role in providing guidance to
State and local level governments, and in facilitating <strong>the</strong>ir adequate
responses to violence against women. The Bill currently being debated
contains key provisions that bolster indigenous tribes‘ ability to prosecute
cases involving violence against indigenous women. The reauthorization <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Act is <strong>of</strong> upmost importance to continue improving <strong>the</strong> Government‘s
ability to hold perpetrators accountable and provide protection to women
victims <strong>of</strong> violence.