10 Sep 2012

GENEVA / HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today told the Human Rights Council he is "deeply troubled by the aerial bombardments of civilians by government forces" in Syria and "by the apparent choice of both sides to pursue a solution through force rather than dialogue." CH UNTV

Posted at: September 10, 2012 12:37 pm

Duration: 03:37

Available in: SD

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STORY: GENEVA / HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 
TRT: 3.37
SOURCE: CH UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 10 SEPTEMBER 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1.Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations

10 SEPTEMBER 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. Wide shot, delegates in Human Rights Council meeting
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:  
"I am deeply troubled by the aerial bombardments of civilians by government forces; by the increasing sectarian tensions; by the deteriorating humanitarian situation; and by the apparent choice of both sides to pursue a solution through force rather than dialogue."
4. Cutaway, delegates 
5 SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations: 
"I encourage this Council to maintain its vigilance on Syria, including on the question of accountability. We must ensure that anyone, on any side, who commits war crimes, crimes against humanity or other violations of international human rights or humanitarian law is brought to justice."
6. Cutaway, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:  
"I also remain concerned about the unfulfilled human rights of the Palestinian people, in particular the right to self-determination. A sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires a negotiated agreement that ends the 1967 occupation and results in an independent, sovereign, democratic and viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours."
8. Cutaway, South African delegate
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations: 
"I am gravely concerned by the ongoing conflict in Syria, which continues to have devastating consequences on civilians. The use of heavy weapons by the government and the shelling of populated areas have resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties, mass displacement of civilians inside and outside the country and a devastating humanitarian crisis.  I am concerned that they may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. I am equally concerned about violations by anti-government forces, including murder, extrajudicial execution and torture as well as the recently increased use of improvised explosive devices."
10. Cutaway, Syrian delegate
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights: 
"I regret the violence which led to the death of 44 persons and injuries to many at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana in South Africa. I welcome the establishment by the Government of South Africa of a Commission to enquire into the causes and circumstances of this event. The events at the Marikana mine further underscore that the fulfilment of economic and social rights, enshrined in the South African Constitution, should remain priorities of the government to ensure that all people benefit from the country's economic growth and to address growing social and economic disparities."
16. Pan right, from TV screen to wide of meeting room

STORYLINE

United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, today (10 September) said that he is "deeply troubled by the aerial bombardments of civilians by Government forces" in Syria and "by the apparent choice of both sides to pursue a solution through force rather than dialogue."

Speaking at the opening of the 21st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ban called on the body to maintain its vigilance on Syria and said, "we must ensure that anyone, on any side, who commits war crimes, crimes against humanity or other violations of international human rights or humanitarian law is brought to justice".

He also said he remained "concerned about the unfulfilled human rights of the Palestinian people, in particular the right to self-determination" and called for a negotiated agreement that "results in an independent, sovereign, democratic and viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours".

Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also expressed her concerns that the use of heavy weapons by the Syrian government and the shelling of populated areas had resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties, "mass displacement of civilians inside and outside the country and a devastating humanitarian crisis". Navi Pillay said that these acts "may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity."

Pillay also used the occasion to welcome the establishment of a commission by
the government of South Africa to look into the causes and circumstances which led to the death of 44 people at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana.

On 16 August, miners striking at the Marikana platinum mine in South Africa's North West province were fired upon by police during a protest for higher wages and better working conditions. According to media reports, 34 miners died when police opened fire on them. Ten others, including two policemen, were reportedly killed in earlier strike-related violence.