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STORY: GENEVA / NAVI PILLAY
TRT: 2.34
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 4 JUNE 2009, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
FILE – RECENT, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations
4 JUNE 2009, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Various shots, delegates at Human Rights Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“With respect to Afghanistan, there is concern over the continuing high rate of civilian casualties in the context of the deteriorating security situation. Anti-government elements remain responsible for the largest proportion of conflict-related civilian casualties—mostly from suicide attacks, improvised explosive devices and targeted killings, including those of high-profile women. Civilians continue to be killed by pro-Government forces as well, particularly in the context of air strikes, such as the incident in Farah Province (Eastern Afghanistan) on 4 May 2009. The Government of Afghanistan and all States involved in this conflict should take all measures to protect civilians, and to ensure the independent investigation of all civilian casualties, as well as justice and remedies for the victims.”
4. Med shot, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Civilians have also been targeted and have been killed or injured in insurgent attacks, including the recent spate of bombings in Pakistan’s major cities. In other instances, civilians have been among the casualties of counter-insurgency operations, including by international forces operating from neighboring Afghanistan.”
6. Med shot, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Unfettered humanitarian access to, as well as freedom of movement for, the large number of IDPs held in closed camps are of the utmost importance. A comprehensive process of accountability for human rights violations committed by all sides should be carried out. To that end, I have called for an independent international inquiry.”
8. Pan right, Human Rights Council
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay wants an independent investigation into the high rate of civilian casualties in Afghanistan.
She said this as she updated the Human Rights Council in Geneva on human rights problems in various parts of the world.
The High Commissioner devoted a significant portion of her statement to the plight of civilians in armed conflict.
She spoke specifically of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Palestine, Colombia, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Chad and Sri Lanka, and pleaded for protection for civilians and for justice for victims of violations.
Pillay attributed the largest portion of responsibility for civilian deaths in Afghanistan to anti-government elements, through suicide attacks, improvised explosive devices and targeted killings.
But she added that civilians continue to be killed by pro-government forces as well, particularly in air strikes.
She cited the incident in the Farah province in May in which dozens of Afghan civilians were killed in a US air bombardment.
The UN human rights chief urged the Afghan government and all states involved in the conflict to take measures to protect civilians, ensure an independent investigation of all civilian casualties as well as justice and remedies for victims.
High Commissioner Pillay also stressed her concern for civilians affected by the conflict and terrorism in Pakistan.
She pointed to killings and injuries in insurgent attacks and bombings on Pakistan's major cities and to civilian casualties of counter-insurgency operations, "including by international forces operating from neighboring Afghanistan".
Her office was ready to help Pakistan protect the rights of the 2.5 million displaced by the fighting in the northwest of the country.
The High Commissioner also repeated her call for an independent international inquiry into human rights violations allegedly committed by the government and the rebel Tamil Tigers in the recently concluded Sri Lanka civil war.
Pillay reiterated the need for unfettered humanitarian access to internally displaced people held in closed camps and for their freedom of movement.
