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OHCHR / TANZANIA CAMEROON HUMAN RIGHTS
STORY: OHCHR / TANZANIA CAMEROON HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 3:28
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 27 OCTOBER 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations
27 OCTOBER 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We have been following with concern the shrinking of democratic space in the country, with worrying reports of intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrests and physical attacks against political opponents, journalists, women human rights defenders and other activists.”
3. Close up, hands typing
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“This repression of dissenting voices intensified in the lead up to the elections, when the rights to freedom of expression and political participation should be upheld, not repressed. The elections take place tomorrow.”
5. Wide shot, briefing room
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We are particularly alarmed by reports that three people were reportedly killed last night, and others injured on Pemba Island in the Zanzibar archipelago where police fired live ammunition in clashes with opposition supporters. We urge the authorities to ensure that prompt, transparent, independent investigations are carried out into the incident and urge all actors to refrain from any acts of violence.”
7. Wide shot, journalist
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We call on all relevant actors to ensure that the elections take place in a peaceful, inclusive and participatory manner, with people being able to cast their votes free of fear and intimidation.”
9. Med shot, journalist
10. Wide shot, journalist
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The population continues to pay a heavy price in the ongoing crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon. Serious human rights violations and abuses continue to be reported, involving both security and defense forces and armed separatist groups amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.”
12. Med shot, journalist
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The latest vile, merciless attack on a school on Saturday perpetrated by a group of men armed with guns and machetes resulted in the killing of at least six children between the ages of nine and 12. The attack on Mother Francisca International Bilingual School in Kumba, in the South-West, left another 13 children injured, of whom seven are reportedly in critical condition.”
14. Close up, hands typing
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We strongly condemn the attack. The killing and maiming of children as well as attacks on educational facilities constitute serious violations of international law and the perpetrators must be held accountable with due regard for international human rights standards. We remind the authorities of their obligation to protect access to education.”
16. Wide shot, journalist
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We have also received numerous other reports of serious human rights violations and abuses by separatist groups and by security forces. Difficulties in accessing the affected areas makes it very hard to verify the reports, including reports of extrajudicial executions, torture, sexual and gender-based violence and abductions.”
18. Wide shot, journalist
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We have urged the Cameroonian authorities to ensure independent and impartial investigation and prosecution of all serious violations and abuses, including acts of gender-based violence, by State and non-State actors. We have also called on them to ensure the right to a remedy for victims including by guaranteeing their access to justice and reparations.”
20. Close up, hands typing
21. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We stressed the urgent need for an inclusive dialogue to carve out a durable resolution to this crisis.”
22. Wide shot, press room
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) called on all relevant actors in Tanzania to ensure that tomorrow’s elections take place in “a peaceful, inclusive and participatory manner, with people being able to cast their votes free of fear and intimidation,” according to a spokesperson.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva today (27 Oct), OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said the Office has been following with concern the “shrinking of democratic space in the country, with worrying reports of intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrests and physical attacks against political opponents, journalists, women human rights defenders and other activists.”
She added, “This repression of dissenting voices intensified in the lead up to the elections, when the rights to freedom of expression and political participation should be upheld, not repressed.”
Shamdasani said OHCHR was particularly alarmed by reports that three people were reportedly killed last night, and others injured on Pemba Island in the Zanzibar archipelago “where police fired live ammunition in clashes with opposition supporters.” She urged the authorities to ensure that “prompt, transparent, independent investigations are carried out into the incident and urge all actors to refrain from any acts of violence.”
Turning to the situation in Cameroon, the OHCHR spokesperson said the population there “continues to pay a heavy price in the ongoing crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon.” She said, serious human rights violations and abuses continue to be reported, “involving both security and defense forces and armed separatist groups amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Shamdasani said, “The latest vile, merciless attack on a school on Saturday perpetrated by a group of men armed with guns and machetes resulted in the killing of at least six children between the ages of nine and 12. The attack on Mother Francisca International Bilingual School in Kumba, in the South-West, left another 13 children injured, of whom seven are reportedly in critical condition.”
The spokesperson added, “We strongly condemn the attack. The killing and maiming of children as well as attacks on educational facilities constitute serious violations of international law and the perpetrators must be held accountable with due regard for international human rights standards. We remind the authorities of their obligation to protect access to education.”
Shamdasani noted that her Office also received numerous other reports of “serious human rights violations and abuses by separatist groups and by security forces.” She said difficulties in accessing the affected areas makes it very hard to verify the reports, “including reports of extrajudicial executions, torture, sexual and gender-based violence and abductions.”
OHCHR has urged the Cameroonian authorities to ensure independent and impartial investigation and prosecution of all serious violations and abuses, including acts of gender-based violence, by State and non-State actors, according to Shamdasani. The Office called on authorities “to ensure the right to a remedy for victims including by guaranteeing their access to justice and reparations.”
OHCHR stressed the urgent need for an inclusive dialogue “to carve out a durable resolution to this crisis,” Shamdasani said.
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