JSM BULLETIN N° 16 - 22 avril 2005

THE WORK OF THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION.

In this Bulletin we concentrate on the importance of the UNO in the field of human rights.

The UN Commission on Human Rights meets for six weeks in Geneva and our Partner organisation, CSW, participates every year to lobby for religious freedom. This year the UNCHR meeting takes place from 14 March to 22 April. Activities include the appointment of Special Rapporteurs to investigate and report on states that violate international human rights standards and the passing of resolutions. While JSM is not yet in a position to participate directly at Geneva we are in full support of CSW’s interventions.

Since April 2004 NORTH KOREA « Nomination » on our website www.jsmddh.org JSM has been campaigning in France to help develop a strong French participation in the UNO Investigatory Team for NORTH KOREA. The appointment of Mr Vitit Muntarbhorm of Thailand as Special Rapporteur on NORTH KOREA is welcome news. The radical reform of Kim Jong-iL’s regime; an end to the disastrous mismanagement of the country’s economic affairs; and the closure of all prison camps holding political and religious prisoners are high on the international human rights agenda.

We appeal again strongly for French diplomatic support for these initiatives and invite concerned French supporters of JSM and readers of this bulletin to contact us on info@jsmddh.org for full detials of the CSW/JSM North Korean initiative at UNCHR.

Ref. Response April-May 2005/JSM