This State Department cable is from the U.S. Mission to Geneva to Washington with the contents of a letter sent by Theo van Boven in his capacity as Chairperson of the 11th meeting of Special Rapporteurs/Representatives. The correspondence is to express concern of human rights and freedoms in the effort to address terrorists and to combat terrorism and to ensure that they are consistent with international human rights standards.
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Yvette M Wong 07/28/2004 05:52:53 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results
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A395452 021628Z /38
R 021551Z JUL 04
FM USMISSION GENEVA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1369
INFO USMISSION U•UN NEW YORK
UNCLAS GENEVA 001906
STATE FOR IO/SHA, DRL/MLA, L/HRR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM, UNHRC-1
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE 11TH MEETING OF
MANDATE HOLDERS TO SECRETARY POWELL
1.
Mission received correspondence from Mr. Theo van Boven,
Chairperson of the Eleventh Meeting of Mandate Holders,
addressed to Secretary of State Colin Powell. •
2.
Begin text of letter.
30 June 2004
Your Excellency,
In my capacity as Chairperson of the 11th meeting of Special
Rapporteurs/Representatives, experts and chairperson of
working groups of the special procedures of the Commission on
Human Rights and on the advisory services program, I have the
honour to draw your attention to the contents of the attached
Statement which was issued by the participants of the meeting
which took place in Geneva from 21 to 25 June 2004.
The meeting of Special Procedures mandate-holders is convened
annually since 19.94 as a follow-up to the World Conference on
Human Rights, pursuant to a recommendation of the Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action which underlined the
importance of preserving and strengthening the system of
special procedures and specified that these procedures should
be enabled to harmoniie and rationalize their work through
periodic meetings.
Yours sincerely
Theo van Boven
Chairperson of the Eleventh Meeting of Mandate Holders.
H.E. Mr. Colin Powell
Secretary of State
Washington DC.
United States of America
End of letter.
3. Begin text of declaration.
Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the
context of anti-terrorism measures
Joint Statement by participants at the eleventh Annual
Meeting of the Special Rapporteurs/representatives,
independent experts and chairpersons of the working groups of
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY: FRANK E SCHMELZER
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DATE/CASE ID: 10 DEC 2004 200303827
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the Special Procedures of the Commission on Human Rights and
of the Advisory Services Programme.
"The Special Rapporteurs/representatives, independent experts
and chairpersons of the working groups of the Special
Procedures of the Commission on Human Rights and of the
Advisory Services Programme, meeting in eleventh annual
session in Geneva from 21 to 25 June 2004, reiterate the
concerns expressed in their statement of June 2003 regarding
the serious incidence that certain measures taken in the name
of the fight against terrorism may have on the enjoyment of
human rights and fundamental freedoms.
They once again strongly voice their unequivocal condemnation
of terrorism in all its forms. At the same time, they
reaffirm their individual and collective determination to
monitor, each within the framework of his or her mandate, -
those policies, legislation, measures and practices developed
by States in the name of the fight against terrorism, with a
view to ascertaining that they are consistent with
international human rights standards.
Bearing in mind a number of recent developments that have
seriously alarmed the international community with regard to
the statue, conditions of detention and treatment of
prisoners in specific places of detention, they•express their
unanimous desire that the Special Rapporteur on the
Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Mr. Leandro Despouy, the
Chairperson-Rapporteur of the working Group Arbitrary
Detention, Mrs. Leila Zerrougui, the Special Rapporteur on
the right Of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental health, Mr. Paul
Hunt and the Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Mr. Theo van
Boven, visit, together and at the earliest possible date,
those persons arrested, detained or tried on grounds of
alleged terrorism or other violations, in Iraq, Afghanistan,
the•Guantanamo Bay military base and elsewhere, with a view
to ascertain, each within the confines of their mandate, that
international human rights standards are properly upheld with
regard to these persons, and also to make themselves
available to the authorities concerned for consultation and
advice on all issues within their areas of competence. They
further express the wish that they present the outcome of
their approaches and visits to the 61st session of the Human
Rights Commission."
Moley
MINN
• End Cable Text
Yvette M Wong 07/28/2004 05:52:53 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results
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