http://www.innercitypress.com/sanctions1iraneritrea102413.html*
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*Sanctions' Impacts in Iran Reviewed, In Eritrea Ignored by Keetharuth*
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UNITED NATIONS, October 24 -- This is the tale of two special rapporteurs
on human rights of the UN system, on two countries under sanctions: Iran
and Eritrea.
Iran rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed of the Maldives devotes what he Thursday
called the longest section of his report to the impact of sanctions. Inner
City Press asked him about financial restrictions making it difficult to
import medicine, even to transfer funds to charities working after
earthquakes. Video
<
http://webtv.un.org/watch/situation-of-human-rights-in-iran-press-conference/2766641661001/>here
from Minute 12:29.
Shaheed acknowledged that the banning of Iran from the SWIFT payments
system has had an impact. Other sources tell Inner City Press there are law
firms preparing reseach on just this issue.
On the other hand the UN's rapporteur on Eritrea, Shelia Keetharuth of
Mauritius, has produced a 21-page report which mentions the word
"sanctions" only once, there calling it a "targeted" sanctions regime.
Inner City Press asked Keetharuth why the impact of sanctions was not
included in her report, and what she thought the impacts were. Video
<
http://webtv.un.org/media/watch/sheila-b.-keetharuth-situation-of-human-rights-in-eritrea-%E2%80%93-press-conference/2766600052001>here,
from Minute 11:07.
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*She replied that she has only the mandate since November 1, 2012 -- that
is, in seven days, for an entire year. No time?*
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*The question arises: does the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights not give rapporteurs any training?*
Recently Inner City Press obtained and exclusively published an internal
OHCHR plan <
http://www.innercitypress.com/un3pillar101413.html> to take
over the "rule of law" functions of the rest of the UN system, and the
staffing of the Special Representatives on Children and Armed Conflict,
Sexual Violence and Conflict, R2P and the Prevention of Genocide.
Not does OHCHR not tell its rapporteurs what is expected to be covered in a
report? Watch this site.
Received on Fri Oct 25 2013 - 11:09:01 EDT