UN Human Rights Committee Concerned About Human Rights After july riots

On 21st and 22nd March 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Committee reviewed the fifth Report of Mongolia on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

In this context, NGOs produced a report, which details the main human rights violations in Mongolia. This report written by 11 national NGOs in cooperation with the Centre for Civil and Political Rights (CCPR Centre), highlights several short comings that were discussed at length between the Committee Members and the Mongolian Delegation. Amongst the main subject of concern, the report recalls the violence that occurred after the elections of July 2008, which is yet to be fully investigated. The charges against the 14 police officers were dropped under the Amnesty Law of July 2009.

Despite that the Prosecutor reopened the cases of 4 senior officers in November 2010. The Human Rights Committee was also concerned by the allegations contained in the report about the 270 persons who have been charged with instigating public disorder, amongst other offences. Some protesters remain detained up to date.

“The NGO coalition insists that Court decisions were unlawful and demands that these criminal records should be removed”, said Badamragchaa Purevdorj from the Open Society Forum. The National Human Rights Commission, despite its initial achievements, needs to be reinforced explained Urantsooj Gombosuren from the Centre for Human Rights and Development, and Naranjargal Khashkhuu from Globe International to the Committee Members.

The Commission lacks of regular funding to carry out properly its activities and some concerns are expressed with regards to its independence.

Finally, limitation to the freedom of expression in Mongolia was pointed out. In her concluding remarks, the Chair of the Human Rights Committee, Zonke Majodina, expressed her concern about the draft law on freedom of information, which is pending for several years.

In addition the Committee referred to the case of the Human Rights Defender BatyalaltKh. Who was charged with defamation against a judge and sentenced for four months in September 2009.

The conclusions and recommendations of the Human Rights Committee will be made public at the end of the session on April 1st 2011.

(2011-4-1/ubpost)