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

Date
Type
20/06/2012
JUA
21/06/2012
JUA
Case No
Country Mandate(s) Summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> allegation transmitted Reply
BRA 6/2012
Brazil
KOR 3/2012
Republic <strong>of</strong>
Korea
Human rights
defenders;
Summary
executions;
Freedom <strong>of</strong>
expression;
Human rights
defenders;
Migrants;
Follow-up communication regarding alleged threats against <strong>the</strong> family <strong>of</strong> a human
rights defender. According to <strong>the</strong> information received, on 12 June 2012, Ms.
Daize Menezes de Souza, <strong>the</strong> wife <strong>of</strong> Mr. Alexandre Anderson de Souza, noticed
that <strong>the</strong> guards which had been assigned to guard her home while her husband was
away were absent. Reportedly, she received several threatening phone calls at this
time and a number <strong>of</strong> unfamiliar cars were stationed outside <strong>the</strong> house. Mr.
Anderson de Souza is head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Associação dos Homens do Mar – AHOMAR
(Association <strong>of</strong> Seamen). AHOMAR is an organisation which aims to defend <strong>the</strong>
rights <strong>of</strong> fisher folk in Rio de Janeiro. Mr. Anderson de Souza was granted
protection measures by <strong>the</strong> National Protection Programme for human rights
defenders in September 2010 in <strong>the</strong> wake <strong>of</strong> an attempt to kill him and his wife.
They were both <strong>the</strong> subject <strong>of</strong> an earlier communication (see A/<strong>HRC</strong>/18/<strong>51</strong>, case
no BRA 7/2010).
Alleged denial <strong>of</strong> entry to <strong>the</strong> Republic <strong>of</strong> Korea <strong>of</strong> Philippines National, despite
his valid travel documents. According to <strong>the</strong> information received, on 1 May 2012,
Mr. Michel Catuira, former President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Seoul-Gyenggi-Incheon Migrants
Trade Union (MTU), despite holding a current and valid G-1 Visa, was denied reentry
into <strong>the</strong> Republic <strong>of</strong> Korea at Incheon Airport, and deported to <strong>the</strong>
Philippines. He has reportedly also experienced a number <strong>of</strong> legal problems
regarding his work permit. As former president <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> MTU, Mr. Catuira has been
critical <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Government <strong>of</strong> Korea‘s treatment <strong>of</strong> migrant workers, a key
organizer <strong>of</strong> protests against <strong>the</strong> government, and vocally critical <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Employment Permit System on migrant workers. Reportedly, <strong>the</strong> Republic <strong>of</strong>
Korea has arrested and deported several MTU leaders, and Mr. Catuira‘s
deportation may indicate <strong>the</strong> targeted crackdown on <strong>the</strong> work and activities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
MTU.
24/04/2013
05/02/2013
A/<strong>HRC</strong>/<strong>23</strong>/<strong>51</strong>
83