Kampala, 28th/Feb/2012; Human Rights Network for
Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) is
shocked by the Uganda government’s rejection of recommendations made to it
during the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism (UPRM) to admit the UN Special
Rapporteur on freedom of expression to visit the country and assess the human
rights situation.
UPRM is a
brainchild of the United Nations Human Rights Council whose intention is to
assess the human rights situation of its respective member countries.
HRNJ-Uganda
has learnt that an Inter-ministerial meeting held on February 23rd,
2012 in Kampala and chaired by the ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected 21 recommendations
out of 42 which had been reserved by the same government during the October
2011 Geneva review.
The
government departments and ministries that were represented in the meeting
include, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ministry of Defense,
The Electoral Commission and Uganda Human Rights commission, among others.
The rejected
recommendations were from; Latvia which asked Uganda government to consider
positively the request for visit by Special Rapporteur on promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and recent request
by Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and
association.
Another is
Canada’s recommendation asking the government to arrange for the visit of the
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of
opinion and expression as soon as possible.
When
HRNJ-Uganda contacted the in-charge of the UPRM in the ministry of foreign
affairs, Ambassador David Etuket, he confirmed the government’s position
on the recommendations to admit the UN Special Rapporteur.
“The problem
is that the invitation is open ended in that whenever the Special Rapporteur
feels like visiting the country will do so at his/her wish. We cannot allow this
because it would be like a house without a door,” said Ambassador Etuket.
He added
that Uganda government supports the international processes, “but we are
opposed to the activities of the Special Rapporteur.”
Several
human rights organizations and journalists in Uganda have on a number of
occasions called on the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression to visit
Uganda due to the shrinking and sinking space of their operating environment.
Many journalists
as human rights defenders in Uganda are, incarcerated, unlawfully arrested and detained,
killed and physically assaulted with impunity while other Ugandans especially
those who try to express themselves continue to face the brutality of law
enforcement agents.
The Press
Freedom Index report 2011–Uganda released by HRNJ-Uganda indicates that
violence meted against journalist has doubled from 58 cases in 2010 to 107 cases
in 2011. Also, the international media report released by the Paris-based Reporters
(RSF) without Boarders showed that Uganda had dropped 43 positions in press
freedom ranking to 139th position out of 170 countries surveyed
country-wide.
“We applaud
the Ugandan government for voluntarily accepting more than six recommendations
to improve the situation. With the continuing attacks on journalists and brutality
by security forces against Ugandans and the growing levels of impunity, the
environment urgently needs an international scrutiny by the Special Rapporteur”
said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.
He added
that the establishment of Universal Periodic Review presents a historic
opportunity for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights in
Uganda.
It is now
about two years since the UN Special Rapporteur requested for government
permission to be allowed to come to Uganda and assess the obtaining human
rights situation, but was turned down on all occasions.
HRNJ-Uganda
therefore appeals to government to reconsider its position before the adoption
of recommendations in March 2012, failure of which the international community should
assert pressure to ensure that such a position is withdrawn unconditionally.
For More Information
Contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda
(HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road Mengo Kampala Opp. St.
Marcelino Pre. School
P.O.BOX. 71314 Clock Tower Kampala
Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
BLOG:
http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
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