OHCHR / TUNISIA HUMAN RIGHTS

STORY: OHCHR / TUNISIA HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 01:48
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 14 FEBRUARY 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST:
1. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, today expressed his concern over the deepening crackdown against perceived political opponents and civil society in Tunisia, including through measures taken by the authorities that continue to undermine the independence of the judiciary.”
4. Med shot, briefing room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“The UN Human Rights Office has also observed that the General Prosecutor has increasingly initiated criminal proceedings against perceived opponents, charging them with “conspiracy against State security, causing offense to the Head of State or violating the decree-law to fight Cybercrime.”
6. Med shot, briefing room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“ We are additionally concerned that some of those held on charges connected to criticizing the Government have been tried in military courts. We call on the authorities to cease immediately practices of trying civilians before military tribunals.”
8. Med shot, briefing room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“We call on the authorities to work towards bringing justice sector legislation, procedures, and practices into line with applicable international norms and standards, and through the separation of powers, to uphold the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.”
10. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations

STORYLINE:
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed his concern over the deepening crackdown against perceived political opponents and civil society in Tunisia, including through measures taken by the authorities that continue to undermine the independence of the judiciary.

Since Saturday, at least nine people, including former civil servants, have been reportedly arrested and some detained on security and graft charges.

Briefing reporters on Tunisia today (14 Feb), Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), said, “The UN Human Rights Office has also observed that the General Prosecutor has increasingly initiated criminal proceedings against perceived opponents, charging them with “conspiracy against State security, causing offense to the Head of State or violating the decree-law to fight Cybercrime.”

He added, “We are additionally concerned that some of those held on charges connected to criticizing the Government have been tried in military courts. We call on the authorities to cease immediately practices of trying civilians before military tribunals.”

The UN Human Rights office calls on the Tunisian authorities to respect due process and fair trial standards in all judicial proceedings and immediately release all those arbitrarily detained, including anyone detained in relation to exercising their rights to freedom of opinion or expression.

Since July 2021, the authorities have also taken a series of measures that have undermined the independence of the judiciary, including dissolving the High Judicial Council and the summary dismissal of 57 judges.

In conclusion, Laurence said, “we call on the authorities to work towards bringing justice sector legislation, procedures, and practices into line with applicable international norms and standards, and through the separation of powers, to uphold the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.”