GENEVA / GUINEA MASSACRE

On the fifth anniversary of the stadium massacre in Guinea, the UN office for Human Rights has called for justice for the victims. OHCHR

 

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:14
• Production Date: 29 September 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: GUINEA
• MAMS Id: 1189597

Description

STORY: GENEVA / GUINEA MASSACRE
TRT: 1.14
SOURCE: UNTV CH OHCHR / FILE
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 29 SEPTEMBER 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – 11 MARCH 2011, GUINEA

1. Wide shot, exterior stadium
2. Med shot, interior stadium
3. Close up,stadium sign

29 SEPTEMBER 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLDAND

4. Med shot, spokesperson
5. Wide shot, spokesperson walking
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, United Nations Human Rights Office:
“Five years after the events of the 2009 in the Guinea stadium, the victims have still not received justice. Justice has proved elusive. It is the right for victims to have justice and to have reparations for the crimes that were committed against them. And this is why the High Commissioner is coming out now on the fifth anniversary of the event to say that the Government needs to take concrete immediate measures to move the investigation forward.”

FILE – 11 MARCH 2011, GUINEA

7. Still images, victims’ injuries
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Survivor (concealed identity):
“All I am asking for is justice because what they did to me …. I do not know. They accused me of something I did not do. ”
9. Close up, hands of survivor
10. Med shot, market
11. Wide shot, capital city Conakry

Storyline

On the fifth anniversary of the stadium massacre in Guinea, the United Nations Human Rights Office has called for justice for the victims.

In a statement read by his spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, the Chief of the UN Human Rights Office Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said “it is particularly disturbing that at least two high-ranking officials who were charged in relation to the massacre remain in influential positions within the defence and security forces.”

The High Commissioner called for the immediate and concrete steps to advance the investigation and prosecution of human rights violations, which included killings, rape and enforced disappearances. The violations were allegedly committed by security forces.

On 28 September 2009, tens of thousands of opposition protestors were attacked with tear gas and live ammunition by Guinean security forces. At least 157 people died, 109 women were raped and more than 1,000 people were injured.

The whereabouts of dozens of individuals remain unknown five years after the events. Shortly after the event, the Government set up an investigation led by a team of three magistrates, but the investigation has yet to be concluded and no prosecutions have taken place to date.

Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani stressed the victims’ right to justice.
She said “five years after the events of the 2009 in the Guinea stadium, the victims have still not received justice. Justice has proved elusive. It is the right for victims to have justice and to have reparations for the crimes that were committed against them.”

She added “this is why the High Commissioner is coming out now on the fifth anniversary of the event to say that the Government needs to take concrete immediate measures to move the investigation forward.”