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GENEVA / DUVALIER
STORY: GENEVA / DUVALIER
TRT: 2.25
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 31 JANUARY 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
RECENT 2011, PALAIS DES NATIONS, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Med shot, Palais des Nations
31 JANUARY 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Wide shot, press briefing
3. Cutaway, journalist
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesman, Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We are very concerned about a string of reports quoting Haitian judicial officials saying that former President Jean-Claude Duvalier , also known as Baby Doc, may only face charges of financial corruption rather than ones relating to the serious human rights violations that took place during his time in power. Very serious human rights violations, including torture, rape, and extra-judicial killings have been extensively documented by Haitian and international human rights organizations to have occurred in Haiti during the regime of Jean-Claude Duvalier.”
3. Cutaway journalist
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesman, Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We are extremely disappointed at reports that Mr. Duvalier may not be charged with any human rights crimes, despite numerous complaints by victims to the prosecutor. Impunity for such serious crimes cannot be allowed to prevail and we urge the relevant authorities to ensure that justice is, belatedly, delivered to the many victims of human rights abuses committed during the government of Mr. Duvalier. There can be no true reconciliation and forgiveness without justice.”
5. Cutaway, press conference
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesman, Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Very serious human rights violations, including torture, rape, and extra-judicial killings have been extensively documented by Haitian and international human rights organizations to have occurred in Haiti during the regime of Jean-Claude Duvalier. The High Commissioner has consistently reminded Haiti of its absolute obligation to investigate these well-documented serious human rights violations and to prosecute those responsible for them.”
6. Cutaway, press conference
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesman, Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“It is clear under international law that there is no statute of limitations for such crimes, and the UN Human Rights office has provided technical assistance and legal advice stressing this point. “
8. Wide shot, press conference
The United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) said Tuesday (31 January) that former Haitian dictator Jean Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier should be tried for torture, rape and killings committed during his rule, not merely on corruption charges as reports indicate.
Rupert Colville OHCHR spokesperson said that impunity for such serious crimes “cannot be allowed to prevail" and urged the relevant authorities to "ensure that justice is, belatedly, delivered to the many victims of human rights abuses committed under the government of Mr. Duvalier."
Colville also said that the High Commissioner had consistently reminded Haiti of its absolute obligation to investigate those well-documented serious human rights violations and to prosecute those responsible for them.
He also said that it was clear that under international law there was no statute of limitations for such crimes.
Human rights groups have long called for Duvalier to be arrested in relation to rights abuses carried out during his rule. The former president made a surprise return to Haiti in January 2011, after 25 years of exile in France and amidst a political crisis in his country.
Soon after Mr. Duvalier’s return, OHCHR offered Haitian authorities technical assistance for prosecuting crimes committed from 1971 to 1986 when he was in power.
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