Communications and replies by mandate Mandate Reporting period: 1 December2014 to 28 February 2015 Reporting period: 1 June 2006 to 28 February 2015 Communications sent replied to by 30 April 2015 response rate Communications sent replied to by 30 2015 response rate Adequate housing 6 5 83% 275 133 48% African descent 3 2 67% 10 6 60% Arbitrary detention (+) 33 18 55% 1,215 668 55% ** 0 0 0% 7 5 71% * 0 0 0% 6 0 0% Business enterprises 3 1 33% 28 16 57% 0 0 0% 22 4 18% Cultural Rights 1 1 100% 32 23 72% Democratic and equitable international order 1 1 100% 5 3 60% Disability 3 1 33% 3 1 33% Disappearances (+) 14 10 71% 290 131 45% Discrimination against women in law and in practice 9 0 0% 118 56 47% DPR 0 0 0 % 7 1 14% Education 0 0 0% 63 37 59% Environment 2 1 50% 13 8 62% 0 0 0% 2 0 0% Extreme poverty 3 2 67% 41 29 71% Food 2 2 100% 204 79 39% Foreign debt 0 0 0% 13 9 69% Freedom of expression 40 19 48% 2,297 1,197 52% Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 38 19 50% 704 412 59% Freedom of religion 7 4 57% 381 224 59% 0 0 0% 7 1 14% Health 17 8 47% 388 218 56% rights defenders 54 26 48% 2,581 1,448 56% of judges and lawyers 32 18 56% 990 520 53%
08/12/2014 JUA Thailand Arbitrary detention; Freedom of expression; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Health; Human rights defenders; Independence of judges and lawyers; Alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of, and charges against 21 individuals for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression. According to the information received, between April 2009 and November 2014, 21 persons were arrested, detained, and in some cases, convicted under article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code (also known as lèse-majesté law) and article 14 of the Computer Crime Act for having insulted or defamed the King or the Royal family. Four of the 21 individuals are being tried by military courts. The 21 persons concerned are: Mr. Khantawut Buranapitak, Mr. Tanat Thanawatcharanon, Mr. Siraphob Kornaroot, Mr. Nat Rungwong, Mr. Tanet Nonthakoat, Mr. Patiwat Saraiyaem, Ms. Porntip Munkhong, Mr. Prasit Chaisrisa, Mr. Katha Pajariyapong, Mr. Akkaradech Eiamsa-art, Mr. Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, Mr. Apichart Pongsawat, Mr. Sombat Boonngam-anong, Mr. Krissada Sitthiyot, Ms. Saran Chuichai, Mr. Assawin Esser Bird, Mr. Ekkapob Luara, Mr. Wuthipong Kachathamkul, Ms. Chatwadee Amornpat, Mr. Plutnarin Thanaboriboonsuk, and Mr. Yutthasak Kangwanwongsakul. Mr. Prueksakasemsuk was the subject of several previous communications, including sent on 11 June 2011, A/HRC/19/44, case no. THA 5/2011, on 20 December 2011, see A/HRC/20/30, case no. THA 9/2011 and on 14 December 2012, see A/HRC/23/51, case no. THA 13/2012. Mr. Prueksakasemsuk was also the subject of Opinion No. 35/2012 of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, see A/HRC/WGAD/2012/35.
27/01/2015 JUA Israel Arbitrary detention; Freedom of expression; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Human rights defenders; Independence of judges and lawyers; OPT; Alleged arbitrary arrest and risk of imminent arbitrary detention of a human rights defender. According to the information received, on 13 May 2012, Mr. Abdallah Abu Rahma took part in a peaceful protest in front of the Israeli “Ofer” prison, in the occupied West Bank, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and in commemoration of what Palestinians call ‘Nakba Day’. During the protest, Mr. Abu Rahma was arrested after having stood in front of bulldozers in an attempt to prevent Israeli security forces from setting up road blocks. He was released on bail after a few hours. In February 2013, Mr. Abu Rahma was summoned to appear before an Israeli military court. On 21 October 2014, more than two years after the alleged incident, he was convicted for ‘disturbing a soldier on duty’. The sentencing of Mr. Abu Rahma is expected to take place on 8 February 2015. Mr. Abu Rahma was the subject of an earlier communication sent on 8 November 2010, see A/HRC/16/44/Add.1, paras. 1331 – 1347. 28/01/2015 JAL Netherlands African descent; Cultural Rights; Minority issues; Racism; Letter requesting information on the reported placement of the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas and Black Pete on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. According to the information received, on 15 January 2015, the Dutch Centre for Folk Culture and Intangible Heritage, a Government-funded organization, placed the Dutch traditional Sinterklaas and Black Pete festival on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Allegedly, concerned communities, who find the tradition of Black Pete to be offensive, as it perpetuates a negative stereotyped representation of African people and people of African descent, were not informed nor consulted about this process. A previous communication on the same subject was sent on 17 January 2013, see A/HRC/23/51, case no. NLD 1/2013.
27/11/2014 AL México Torture; Alegaciones de tortura. De acuerdo a la información recibida, el 10 de enero de 2014 los Sres. Fredy Sánchez Sánchez, José Manuel Cundafé Córdova, Luis Manuel Leyva Aguilera, Jesús Alma Cundafé, Ignacio Reyes García, Daniel Olán Ramos, Reynaldo Jiménez y Mateo Jacinto, todos funcionarios de la policía municipal de Huimanguillo, Tabasco fueron detenidos por personal de Seguridad Pública del Municipio de Huimanguillo y trasladados a dependencias de la Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado de Tabasco. Allí fueron torturados, incluyendo golpes en diversas partes del cuerpo, amenazas, y ahogamientos con agua y un trapo en la boca. Fueron forzados a firmar confesiones y a no denunciar las torturas. El Sr. Mateo Jacinto habría fallecido durante las torturas.