A/HRC/25/60/Add.2
information received, from 31 May to 4 June, the police violently dispersed a series of
peaceful protests held in Kathmandu, Dang, Kailai and Kanchanpur. The reported protests
were organized by freed Kamlari activists to ensure accountability for the killing of a 12year old Kamlari girl in Dang in March 2013. Moreover, Kamlari activists were protesting
more generally against the Kamaiya traditional system of bonded labour in place in several
parts of Nepal. In the course of the police operations, police officers injured many and
sexually assaulted some protestors. The police also detained groups of protestors for several
hours. In this context, the Special Rapporteur reminds the Government of Nepal that each
Government has the obligation to protect the right to physical and mental integrity of all
persons as set forth inter alia in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). Further,
the Special Rapporteur reiterates that principle 4 of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of
Force and Firearms by Law Officials, provides that, “Law enforcement officials, in carrying
out their duty, shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use
of force and firearms.” Furthermore, Principle 5 provides that, “Whenever the use of force
and firearms is unavoidable law enforcement officials shall . . . exercise restraint, . . .act
proportion[ally] . . . to the seriousness of the offence, . . . minimize damage and injury, and
respect and preserve human life . . . .” Additionally, the Special Rapporteur draws attention
to the Agreed Conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women adopted in March
2013, whose paragraph 23, expresses deep concern about violence against women and girls
in public spaces, including sexual harassment, especially when it is being used to intimidate
women and girls who are exercising any of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Commission urges governments to, inter alia: (x) Prevent, investigate and punish acts
of violence against women and girls. Similarly, the Government of Nepal is reminded that
articles 1 and 8 of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against
Women and article 22(2) of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
stipulate that women and indigenous peoples shall not be inflicted with physical, mental or
sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty by
public authorities or otherwise. The Special Rapporteur requests a response from the
Government of Nepal regarding the aforementioned actions by law enforcement against
peaceful demonstrators.
The Special Rapporteur further request that should the
Government’s investigation find the allegations to be correct that any person responsible be
held accountable.
Nicaragua
(a)
JAL 26/11/2013 Case No. NIC 2/2013 State reply: 20/01/2014 Alegaciones en relación
con la reforma de la Ley contra la violencia hacia las mujeres y de reformas del
Código Penal de Nicaragua
113. El Relator agradece al Gobierno de Nicaragua pro su repuesta a la comunicación de
fecha 26 de noviembre del 2013. La comunicación se refería a la reforma de la ley en
contra de la violencia hacia las mujeres, y la declaración por la Corte Suprema para que la
mediación fuera permitida en ciertos casos. El Relator hace referencia al párrafo 18 del
Comentario General No. 2 del Comité contra la Tortura que dice claramente que cuando las
autoridades estatales, u otras personas actuando en capacidad oficial, conocen o cuentan
con elementos razonables para entender que actos de malos tratos o tortura han ocurrido,
sea por parte de agentes estatales o no estatales, deben iniciarse inmediatamente y de oficio
las acciones para investigar, enjuiciar y castigar a los culpables. La falta de cumplimiento
de esta obligación de actuar diligentemente respecto de la prevención, investigación o
enjuiciamiento de actos de tortura y malos tratos deriva en la responsabilidad internacional
del Estado y sus agentes deben considerarse como autores, cómplices o de otro modo
83
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