http://www.repubblica.it/solidarieta/immigrazione/2011/01/24/news/human_rights_watch-11593900/?ref=HRER2-1
REPORT
"Xenophobia, discrimination, rejections "
Italy rejected by Human Rights Watch
In its annual report on the state of human rights worldwide American agency pointed the finger at the immobility of international organizations facing severe crisis and human rights violations. In our country stand out in cases of Rosarno of African refugees sent back to Libya, and forced evictions of Roma
MARCO EASTER
The director of HRW, Kenneth Roth, presents the 2011 report From
Rosarno Roma . The report of 649 pages, now in its 21st edition, devotes a chapter to Italy and remember the various cases of violence stemming from racism and xenophobia. A long list, which also includes convictions and appeals, often not followed by corrective actions by international bodies. Note also the absence of specific laws that protect those discriminated against on the basis of their orientation sexual. The analysis starts from the story of Rosarno that, in January, resulted in serious injuries to workers in 11 African migrants, over the violent guerrilla whose images have been around the world. "At least 10 other migrants, 10 law enforcement officers and 14 residents had to resort to medical care - says the report - More than a thousand migrants have left the city following the violence."
The organization points out that, in February, many countries have expressed their concern about the Italian xenophobic violence, at the Council for Human Rights at the United Nations. It 's still "high" the level of discrimination suffered by Roma and Sinti, who live in extreme poverty, living conditions "deplorable" in camps authorized and unauthorized. According to the NGO, the Roma from Eastern Europe, notably Romania, have been faced with "forced evictions" and "economic incentives" to return to their countries of origin. And, again, please note the call of the international community in October, the European Committee of Social Rights "condemned Italy for discrimination against Roma in housing, but also with regard to access to social, economic and legal. "
rejection. "Many" interventions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Council of Europe against the transfer of terror suspects in Tunisia, as Mohamed Mannai (member of a jihadist group, condemned the Court of Milan). Transfers occurred in spite of these prisoners would be likely to suffer ill-treatment in their country of origin. Italy, moreover, "did not offer asylum to a dozen Eritreans, who had sent back to Libya in 2009, where they were subjected to mistreatment and illegal detention along with hundreds of fellow citizens." In April, our country has "violated the prohibition on refoulement when he intercepted a boat loaded with immigrants, and he returned to Libya," without checking if there were people in need of international protection "and without giving them the opportunity to seek asylum. Finally, is mentioned in the trial of the policemen responsible for violence committed during the G8 summit in Genoa in front" of the sentence of 25 out of 29 agents, " the Interior Ministry "announced that he do not let them stay."
The silence of the EU. It also includes an indictment of the weakness of the UN and EU diplomats who too often do not follow the words with deeds, to force repressive regimes to respect human rights. "Instead of leaders firmly oppose violence, many governments, including some EU member states - HRW said in a statement - adopt policies that do not generate pressure to change. The EU, even against those who violate human rights, appears to be directed to espouse the ideology of dialogue and cooperation. "Among the examples cited, those of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, in this case, the Union has failed to exert sufficient pressure on their governments to promote change. "Although the EU's cooperation agreements with other countries are systematically conditioned on respect for basic human rights, (the Union), led to a significant trade agreement with Turkmenistan, the government strongly repression ", HRW said. Other examples of lack of commitment to that effect: the approach to the Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, but also to a China in which the basic freedoms of man are continually put at risk. At the same time, the EU is called upon to do more to defend the rights of illegal immigrants, to offer better conditions for political asylum and be more careful when introducing human rights instruments to combat terrorism. There is also a call to the same EU member states not to adopt the policy of double standards: "The European Union's credibility as a force that is fighting for human rights in the world, depends on its willingness to address the violations its member states. With examples of discrimination and a growing intolerance towards migrants, Muslims, Roma and others, but also inadequate access to asylum, Member States and the European institutions must demonstrate a greater commitment to ensure that respect for human rights within their boundaries is in line with European positions abroad. "" The pressure from Europe, there have been - HRW grants - but only to those governments in which the behavior was so outrageous as to overshadow the interests at stake: it was the case with North Korea, Iran and Zimbabwe ". A problem that also affects the UN, that would be wrong to" rely on diplomatic channels and not to convince the public condemnation repressive regimes, such as China, to end human rights violations. "According to the organization, the fundamental mistake of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and many other countries in the international community is to promote ' 'dialogue and cooperation''in preference to public pressure against states which violate human rights.
Focus on Egypt, Iran, Tunisia. On the face of the gravest violations of human rights, report, which accuses Egypt of "widespread discrimination" against Coptic Christians and other religious minorities continues to deal with the situation in Iran, where "the protection of human rights has worsened and the regime has used torture and intimidation to suppress opposition and criticism and to consolidate his power. Continue unabated restrictions on freedom of expression and association, freedom of religion and sex discrimination. During police questioning was used torture to obtain confessions. Hundreds of people, including lawyers, journalists, activists and opposition leaders remain in jail without an indictment. "The" jasmine revolution "in Tunisia, which led to the fall of the regime of Ben Ali, the second HRW has a "lesson" to the European Union and the United States on relations with dictators, "The European Union has not made account of the arrival of this revolution. I think - said Kenneth Roth, Director General of the Organization - the EU, the United States and others have understood the lesson is' a mistake to take sides in a certain way at the side of a dictator even if seen as bastion against terrorism and illegal immigration. "
