Human+Rights+Committee

1. The Execution of Juvenile Offenders (Zimbabwe)
__** Main Points: **__
 * Death Penalty for Juvenile offenders is becoming increasingly rare
 * Since 1990, nine countries have executed offenders who were juveniles at the time of their crimes: China, D.R. Congo, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, the United States and Yemen
 * Capital Punishment for juveniles is forbidden by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, (signed and ratified by all countries except Somalia and the U.S.)
 * Over a hundred juvenile offenders are believed to be on death row, awaiting the outcome of a judicial appeal

__** International Input: **__
 * The European Union considers the employment of capital punishment on Juveniles a “clear infringement of internationally- recognized human rights norms.” (eurunion.org)
 * The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by all U.N. members except Somalia and the U.S.), forbids capital punishment for juveniles under article 37
 * Many countries are party to the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (whose Article 6.5 also states that "Sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age..."). (Non-Signatories include: Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar)
 * The Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War
 * The Arab Human Rights Charter states: “Sentence of death shall not be imposed on persons under 18 years of age, unless otherwise stipulated in the laws of force at the time of the commission of the crime”. An earlier version of the charter stated: “the death penalty shall not be inflicted on a person under 18 years of age".

__** Zimbabwean Point of View: **__
 * Zimbabwean legislation forbids capital punishment on juvenile offenders
 * No executions have been carried out in Zimbabwe since 2004
 * Presently, the Zimbabwean government is debating whether or not to fully abolish capital punishment and replace it with life sentences
 * Zimbabwean law requires a lengthy process before a death penalty is executed. Not only is the appeal to the Supreme Court automatic from the High Court, but both the trial judge and the president of the appeal court must submit confidential reports to the executive.

__** Three Solutions: **__
 * The juvenile justice system in all countries must accommodate both children and youth who have serious problems and in addition, must create a precise definition on exactly who is considered a juvenile.
 * The U.N. should set up a special investigations which would co-operate with the judicial process dealing with serious infringements committed by Juveniles and would also enforce the articles of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child on all signatory parties
 * The government of Zimbabwe is planning to hold public debates on whether or not capital punishment should be abolished in the country

= The Delegation of Turkey: =

__** Main Points about issue: **__ · The execution of juveniles is against international law because it is specifically forbidden by a number of international treaties and agreements. o Both the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, specifically prohibit capital punishment of persons under 18 at the time of the offense o “The death penalty shall not be inflicted on a person under 18 years of age.” (Arab Charter on Human Rights) o A reported of nineteen executions of juvenile offenders in the last ten years. o still practiced in Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the USA and Yemen. · Some of the causes behind this issue that urges them to commit such crimes: o Young offenders are in the process of full development, facing several difficulties of adaptation. o In addition, poor backgrounds, lack of success at school and dependence on drugs are just some of the social problems affecting them and fostering their criminal behavior. o As a result, they are less mature, and thus less culpable, and should be not treated as adults, deserving a more lenient criminal sanctions system. This implies, among other things, rejection of the death penalty for juveniles.”

__** To address this issue, the international community has: **__ · in 1959- the UN declaration on the Rights of the Child was signed, setting out basic principles on the vital rights of a child such as protection and independence, this further set the basis for further treaties. · In 1989- the CRC (Convention of the Rights of a Child) was passed by the UN GA and started to be enforced in 1990, by 193 delegations. The CRC stands as a landmark for the international consensus on the basic principles of the universality and indivisibility of all human rights. · The Int’l Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: was the landmark of strict rules against the execution of juvenile offenders, signed by over 160 nations, in 1976.

__** Turkey’s View on the Issue: **__ · Although surrounded by neighbors (Iran and Paksitan) and allies (USA) that implement this terrible practice, the delegation of Turkey: o As a member of the UN and NATO as well as an associative member of the EU, is a firm believer of the charter of the UN particularly the rights of children displayed in CRC, in terms of every child deserving the right to life equally regardless of age. o Children are the hope and inspiration of the future, we can always modify their attitudes and their ambitions and purposes+ pointless to take away a life that could have changed the world __** Solutions: **__ · Taken into custody then into intense but non-violent Disciplinary treatement (positive corrective behavior changes) · Dealing with the root cause of their actions (usually deeper and more complex than just an action, either emotional, phsycological, social…) · Teaching them about the consequences of their actions when they become legal adults (18, emprisonment and execution.) ·Provide safe and enjoyable opportunities for growth, and education and furthermore providing a chance for hope for that child to make a change in the world (integration into society) instead of destroying their life through execution.

**2. The Issue of the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances** (Zimbabwe)
__** Main Points: **__
 * A forced disappearance occurs when a person is secretly imprisoned or killed by agents of the state or by another party, such as a terrorist or criminal group
 * The party responsible for a disappearance does not admit to having carried out the act, thereby placing the victim outside the protection of the law
 * According to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, a "forced disappearance" qualifies as a crime against humanity
 * In a forced disappearance the victim is first abducted, then illegally detained, and often tortured; the victim is then killed, and the body is then hidden
 * It is widely thought that disappearances work on two levels: not only do they silence opponents and critics who have disappeared, but they also create uncertainty and fear in the wider community, silencing those who dare to oppose

__** International Input: **__
 * The Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance, implemented in 1992, states: “each State shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent and terminate acts of enforced disappearance in any territory under its jurisdiction”. (Non-Signatories include the United States, the U.K, Spain, Italy, Germany).
 * The Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, these conventions seek to cease the abuse of human rights all around the world with “stringent rules.”
 * The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, adopted by the General Assembly in 2006, it makes it compulsory for signatory states to adopt essential punishment methods for the perpetrators of enforced disappearance.
 * Amnesty International “condemns all enforced disappearances as crimes under international law”.
 * In May 2010, the Human Rights Watch wrote a letter to the Peruvian Supreme Court on the implementation of the legislation in Peru on the issue of the enforced disappearances.
 * In 2007, the International Coalition against Enforced Disappearances was established by the Human Rights Council. Its aim was to assist all the governments with the effective adaptation of the ICPPED

__** Zimbabwean Point of View: **__
 * The government of Zimbabwe has yet to sign the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance but leaders of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community are planning to hold meetings in order to discuss possible amendments to their legislations in accordance to the articles of the ICPPED.

__** Three Solutions: **__
 * A crucial step in ensuring the protection of its people a government must ensure the full implementation of the rules and guidelines set by the ICPPED
 * It is advisable for the UN to set up Special Protection Unit that would take care of the victim's family should a disappearance take place
 * Global platforms where parties from all around the world can share their disappearance problems and the way they resolved the problem should be created

= The Delegation of Turkey: =

__** Main Points: **__
 * · Enforced disappearances are uncontrolled and indisposed abductions of individuals, where the victim is deprived of his/her liberty and further carried out my armed people (who are usually disguised as guerrillas or revolutionary groups in order to blame it on rebels).
 * · Classified as a crime against humanity and a violation of human rights.
 * · The victim is taken into secret detention and is usually transferred from one place to another in order to exhaust them physically and psychologically. à Interrogation (never under judicial supervision but is performed to break resistance and obtain info) à execution à body hidden.
 * · Disappearances of children of political opponentsà adopted à identity change.
 * · Families of victims usually fighting for reparations (from gov’t) and rights of protection.

__** International Input: **__
 * · In 1992—Declaration of the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances: has suggested steps for solutions for gov’ts to protect citizens from abductions.
 * · IN 2006-ICPPED (international convention for the protection of all persons enforced disappearances) à compulsory for countries to use punishment methods. Purpose: to avert enforced disappearances, unveil the reality, penalize the perpetrators of this crime and compensate the families of the victims
 * · In 2007- HRC establishes ICAED (intl coalition against enforced disappearances) in order to ensure the complying of nations to the ICAPED.
 * · AI (Amnesty Int’l) “condemns all enforced disappearances as crimes under international law.”
 * · WGEID-Working group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has been created by CHR to help families of disappeared one contact gov’t officials, in each nation, but do not have the power or supremacy to take actions vs. gov’ts to stop violations of human rights.

__** Turkey’s View: **__
 * · Although the government of Turkey has sent several prompt interventions and urgent appeals and allegations to the WGEIP, the issue of enforced disappearances remains to be one of many needing to be tackled by the government. The international communities as well as Human Rights Association have started a campaign to urge the country of Turkey to approve the ICPPED. This issue has been recognized in the region and the delegation of Turkey would like to combat it on a variety of different scales starting from nationally to globally in order to cease this violation of international law and human rights.

__** Solutions: **__
 * · One of the main steps in ensuring this protection for all victims of the disappearances is to urge all nations world wide to approve of the ICPPED and further sign a commitment to guarantee the carrying out of the implementations of the convention.
 * · Since disappearances are most likely to occur where social injustice is present, it is necessary to internationally combat this enemy in terms providing equal protections to both families of victims and the victims.
 * · There should also be special increased protection on political figures and oppositions, as well as their children, further promoting their freedom of speech but also protecting their freedom to live.
 * · There should be regular checks facilitated by government officials to ensure the safety of the environment and society in which citizens would abide.
 * · Creating and enforcing stricter and harsher laws dealing with the violation of this right, thus leading perpetrators to fear the consequences of their actions regardless of corruption.

**3. Assistance to survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence** (Zimbabwe)

 * __ Main Points: __**
 * Over the course of approximately 100 days from the assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana on April 6 through mid-July, at least 800,000 people were killed (Human Rights Watch)
 * The genocide in Rwanda was thought to have been a result of the tension between the two main ethnic groups, Hutus and Tutsis, and the stances of the other nations regarding the problem
 * Soldiers and police officers urged all the citizens to take part in the killings and some of the moderate Hutus were even forced to kill their Tutsi neighbors
 * Hutus who agreed to be part of the mass killings were offered incentives such as food and money, and some of them were told that they could possess the lands of the Tutsis they murdered
 * Media reports revealed that both the UN and presidents of prominent nations, such as Bill Clinton of the United States, were informed beforehand that genocide might take place, unfortunately these chose not to intervene
 * In 1994, during the Rwandan Genocide, between 100,000 and 250,000 women were raped

__** International Input: **__
 * The United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda, saved the lives of 20,000 Tutsis and were in charge evacuating thousands of refugees from Rwanda
 * The UN General Assembly has passed three resolutions on the question of “Assistance to survivors of the genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence”. (A/RES/59/137, A/RES/60/225 and A/RES/62/96).
 * Survivor's Fund, founded in 1997, it is the only international charity with a specific remit to assist survivors of the Rwandan genocide
 * Amnesty International, the Human Rights Watch and the UNHRC have made a number of contributions in assisting Rwandan refugees particularly widows, orphans and rape victims

__** Zimbabwean Point of View: **__
 * The Government of Zimbabwe has contributed a significant number of troops to the UNAMIR
 * There are approximately 1,000 Rwandan refugees currently living in Zimbabwe
 * The government of Zimbabwe is currently holding investigations, in an attempt to locate wanted genocide refugees within the country


 * __ Three Solutions: __**
 * With the cooperation of the UN, developed member states of the United Nations should allow the genocide survivors to immigrate to and resettle in their country as refugees
 * UNICEF, along with other prominent organizations for children, should develop a free educational program to help the children who cannot afford to go to school regularly in Rwanda
 * The UN should develop micro-credit programs in order to assist widows of the Rwandan Genocide

= The Delegation of Turkey: =

__** Main Points: **__
 * · **Rwandan Genocide Facts:**
 * o In about 100 days, about 800,000 Rwandans (1/10 of pop) were killed without any input from the international community.
 * o It all started as a result of the two main ethnic groups that have been fighting for power in the region: Tutsis and Hutus. Upon the spark of the conflict, both sides urged the soldiers and national police to take part in the killings of the other ethnic groups (the incentives for this would be food and money)
 * o This would be the bloodiest and deadliest conflict since WW2, not even the largest peace keeping force, the UN, was able to end the conflict.
 * · **Rape**: is systematic, not due to temptation but following a strategy to terrorize the population, break up families, destroy communities, and change ethnicity of upcoming generations.
 * o Between 100,000-200,000 women were raped in 1994 genocide
 * o Leaves a psychological scar, physical scar (usually HIV/AIDS), death, orphaned children, higher MMR/IMR/HIV-AIDS.
 * · **Children**: Over 1 million orphans from 94 genocide but also because of HIV/AIDS, with poor schooling, nutrition and health.
 * · **Widows**: resulting from rape and HIV and husband-soldiers, fight to empower women!

__** International Input: **__
 * · **SURF**- Survivor’s Fund, international charity to assist Rwandan genocide vics in education, healthcare and accommodation, distributes financial assistance for day-to-day operations.
 * · **Amnesty International, HRW, UNHRC**
 * · **Resolutions passed in 05,06 and 08**- encouraging agencies of the UN to contribute to the Rwandan gov’t in educating orphans, providing medical assistance to vics and providing a micro-credit program to promote the development of DRC and Rwanda.

__** Turkey’s View: **__
 * · President of Turkey, GUL, recognized the importance of rebuilding and developing Africa, mentioning briefly when meeting with Kabila that “Turkey is Africa’s voice”. In firm correspondence and close ties with Rwanda’s neighboring nation DRCongo, another enormous victim of the 1994 genocide, the republic of Turkey strongly believes and supports and urges all nations worldwide to come together to recognize this terrible aftermath of a mistake and the effect it has on the world. The delegation of Turkey believes it is necessary to bring peace and hope to the victims of one of the bloodiest wars and genocides, in terms of funds for development (focusing mainly on the education and empowerment as well as equality of the voiceless) for the Southern African Nations.

__** Solutions: **__
 * · Orphans—under the funds of NGOs and UN organizations, must be provide the right to education, both academically but also in terms of basic skills in agriculture or sowing or other small scale jobs in order to build independency. Diminish malnutrition(WFP) and ensure the wellbeing and healthcare. Establishing homes and shelters, founded in care.
 * · Widows—using NGOs to provide firstly an education to raise awareness of womens’s rights and begin the empowerment of women via equal jobs, wages, martial and inheritance rights, and most importantly security and protection against sexual harassment. Psychological treatment for rape and abuse in war. Medical aid to combat MMR and HIV/AIDS
 * · Victims of rape- to begin, psychological assistance in tenderness and gentleness, open and safe environment for freedom of expression (for maximum success), empowerment in terms of dependency (self-esteem boosting), medical treatment for STDs/HIV-AIDS, steps for immediate integration in society.

4. The Question of Abortion Rights (Zimbabwe)
__** Main Points: **__
 * “Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo, resulting in or caused by its death” -Gynecology for lawyers
 * Throughout the world, the legalization of abortions remains a controversial issue mainly due to ethical and religious beliefs
 * Abortion rates are almost identical in countries where it is legal to countries where abortion is illegal
 * Around the world 42 million abortions are estimated to take place annually of which only 22 million are performed with the use of 'safe' precautions
 * The World Health Organization defines an unsafe abortion as "a procedure carried out by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment that does not conform to minimal medical standards, or both." - an estimated 20 million unsafe abortions are occurring annually throughout the world
 * The United Nations does not promote abortions due to the negative effects that are associated with the procedure
 * With the increasing access of family planning and contraceptive services, the prevalence of abortions is declining around the world

__** International Input: **__ There are no UN resolutions that have been passed on this issue, nevertheless each country has his own legislation pertaining to the legalization of abortions notable laws include: *The laws above serve as outlines in the legislations of a number of countries around the world
 * The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, this was enacted by the United States congress in 2003, prohibiting late-term abortions
 * The Abortion Act 1967, an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom legalizing abortions by registered practitioners
 * The Eugenic Protection Act, enacted in 1948 it expanded the circumstances in which abortion is allowed in Japan

__** Zimbabwean Point of View: **__
 * The Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977, permits the performance of an abortion if the continuation of the pregnancy endangers the life of the woman or where there is a serious risk that if the child to be born would suffer from a physical or mental defect of such a nature as to be severely handicapped, or where there is a reasonable possibility that the fetus is conceived as a result of "unlawful intercourse"
 * Unlawful Intercourse is defined by the Act as rape, incest or intercourse with a mentally handicapped woman
 * "A legal abortion must be performed by a medical practitioner in a designated institution with the written permission of the superintendent of the institution" -Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977
 * Violation of the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977 results in a fine of 5,000 Zimbabwean dollars and imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years
 * The demand of abortions in Zimbabwe is thought to emerge from traditional and cultural values and the increasing need to limit family size

To save the life of the woman Yes To preserve physical health Yes To preserve mental health No Rape or incest Yes Foetal impairment Yes Economic or social reasons No Available on request No
 * Grounds on which abortion is permitted: **

__** Three Solutions: **__
 * Promoting the prevalence and expansion of family planning services particularly in Sub-saharan Africa
 * Increasing the modern contraceptive prevalence rate through government led advertisements and NGOs, particularly in Sub-saharan Africa
 * Strengthening the severity of the penalty resulting in the violation of abortion laws

= The Delegation of Turkey: =


 * __ Main Points: __**
 * · “Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo, resulting in or caused by its death”
 * · Women request abortion due to several reasons such as rape, physical and mental health, social and economical reasons, and other personal requests.
 * · The United Nations does not promote abortion due to its negative effects to family planning, but instead it promotes the health services and family planning commonness.
 * · About 99 % of the estimated 585,000 maternal deaths worldwide annually occur in poorer countries.
 * · Restrictive abortion laws do not prevent abortion but force women to seek illegal and usually unsafe abortions.
 * · About 45 million abortions worldwide annually, only 25 million are legal. At least 70,000 women die each year as a consequence of unsafe abortion.

__** International Input: **__
 * · UNFPA majorly educates the people of undeveloped and in need countries about family planning, abortions, sexual intercourse and many other topics that help people to shape their lives in a good way.
 * · There are no UN resolutions that have passed about the question of abortion rights because of the controversy of the issue. Nevertheless, each country usually decides on its own policy. An international agreement would have to include cooperation in terms of religion and beliefs, which is near impossible, due to the variety of conflicting faiths and beliefs.

__** Turkey’s View: **__
 * · In order to decrease fertility rate, the republic of Turkey has legalized abortion under a series of conditions. The abortion must be requested within the first 10 weeks of the pregnancy and must be under the woman’s consent. Illegal abortions are subject to years of imprisonment, moreover, legal abortions performed in the country are required to be under the supervision of professional doctors. Turkey is a firm believer in the use of contraceptive methods in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies and to lower fertility.
 * ** · Grounds on which abortion is permitted: **

o To save the life of the woman Yes

o To preserve physical health Yes

o To preserve mental health Yes

o Rape or incest Yes

o Foetal impairment Yes

o Economic or social reasons Yes

o Available on request Yes

__** Solutions: **__


 * · In order to prevent teen pregnancies, increase education to raise awareness about family planning programs and the use of contraceptive methods.
 * · Establishing facilities to perform medically- supervised abortions and set up programs to ensure the mother’s health throughout the process of abortion in order to decrease MMR and lower the percent of unsafe abortions.
 * · Ensuring that all types of family planning services are either free or affordable to most of the developing population.