Pacific region under the spotlight

Pacific region under the spotlight in Amnesty International’s human rights report

A global justice gap that is being made worse by a lack of accountability is nowhere more apparent than in the Pacific region, said Amnesty International today in its annual assessment of human rights worldwide.

Amnesty International Report 2010: State of the World’s Human Rights, which documents abuses in 159 countries, reveals the failure by governments to adequately address human rights violations, including in the Pacific region.

“Repression and injustice are flourishing in parts of the Pacific, condemning thousands of people to abuse, oppression and poverty,” says Patrick Holmes, CEO of Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand.

Amongst the Pacific entries, the Report highlighted:

• Fiji witnessing ongoing human rights violations and impunity; with the military-led Government suspending the constitution; dismissing the judiciary; imposing emergency regulations to stifle media dissent; and implementing a policing policy that granted impunity to those who perpetrated domestic violence

• Papua New Guinea seeing increases in sorcery-related killings; violence against women and girls; and HIV infection rates, with the Government doing little to address these situations and bring perpetrators to justice.

• The Governments of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu failing to provide basic services (such as clean water, healthcare and education) to thousands of people living in informal settlements, reflecting growing urban poverty. Levels of violence against women also increased in both countries.

• New Zealand was also not exempt from criticism, which included concerns about discrimination of Maori by the Foreshore and Seabed Act; risks posed to asylum-seekers due to the new Immigration Act; and the privatisation of prisons.

The Amnesty International Report 2010 argues that the demand for accountability is not confined to redress for killing or torture, but extends to the denial of all the rights that we need to live our lives in dignity.

“Globally, millions of people have been pushed into poverty by the food, energy and financial crises. The Pacific is no different - events in the region have shown the urgent need to tackle the abuses that are affecting poverty there,” says Holmes.

“Justice is not only about not being tortured or being free to express ones views without fear and reprisal. Justice is also being able to go to school, to have access to clean water and to obtain decent health care.”

“World leaders will be meeting in September to review the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals – the global objectives to reduce poverty. However, these objectives will not be achieved if they only remain political aspirations. These are about people’s human rights and they must be enforceable by law,” says Holmes.

Amnesty International is appealing to all governments, including Pacific leaders, to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals become legally enforceable rights.

“Until Pacific leaders make more dedicated moves towards institutionalising human rights guarantees, freedom from fear and freedom from want will continue to be out of reach for the thousands of victims of human rights abuses,” adds Holmes.

ENDS

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