ID :
14460
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 11:17
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/14460
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World is ill-prepared to deal with terrorism: Pillay
M Subramoney Durban, Jul 30 (PTI) Voicing concern over rising terror attacks across the world, including India, newly appointed Indian-origin UN human rights chief Navanethan Pillay Wednesday said the world is ill-prepared to deal with such crimes, which need "preemptive" rather than reactionaryaction.
"May be many states are totally unprepared for these kinds of crimes. It's very difficult I imagine to have such crimes investigated. And we always seem to be reacting to such crimes instead of being able to pre-empt them," the newlyappointed UN High Commissioner on Human Rights told PTI here.
Calling it the "most insidious form of violence because it affects innocent people in large numbers", the South African, who is currently a judge at International Criminal Court (I.C.C.) at the Hague, said the definition of"terrorism" was still in the process of being formulated.
"The crime of terrorism", she said, "is still being defined if I may begin by looking at the law. Once it has been defined it will come under the supervision of ICC," Pillay said, two days after her new position was unanimously approvedby the UN General Assembly in New York.
The 67-year-old judge, whose grand-parents migrated from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu to South Africa as sugarcane indentured labourers in the late 1800s, will take up her newappointment on September 1 for a four-year term.
Judge Pillay, who has served as a member of International Tribunal on Rwanda for eight years, acknowledged that she has an enormous responsibility in her new position because of thewidescale violation of human rights around the world.
The first woman to start law practice in South Africa's Natal Province in 1968, Pillay defended several anti-apartheid activists and successfully fought for the right of political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, to have access tolawyers.
Pointing out that in conflicts and wars Wednesday civilians, mainly women and children are at the receiving end "rather than soldiers fighting soldiers," Pillay said shewould be fully committed to put an end to impunity.
"I have spent the last 13 years committed to the principle of accountability and end to impunity, to holdpolitical and military leaders accountable and punish them.
The principle of retributive justice is why the UN set upthese tribunals and the permanent court," she said.
Asked about the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka where more than 80,000 people have been killed on both sides over the past 30 years, Judge Pillay said the UN High Commission Office had field officers to deal with human rights violations in theisland country.
"I think that conflicts that drag on for so long and are so heavily political are huge challenge for all of us. But we must ensure that victims on both sides are protected," shesaid.
On the controversy surrounding the UN Security Council's recent decision to investigate Sudanese President El Bashir,for human rights violations, she said although the I.C.C.
prosecutor was an independent director he would not decide onhis own whether or not Bashir would be arrested and charged.
"After he has prepared his documents three judges of the ICC will decide whether there's sufficient evidence to indict or issue a warrant of arrest against the Sudan President," shesaid.
"Finally the I.C.C. guarantees fair trial. The President of Sudan or anyone else is innocent until charges are proved,"Pillay added.
"May be many states are totally unprepared for these kinds of crimes. It's very difficult I imagine to have such crimes investigated. And we always seem to be reacting to such crimes instead of being able to pre-empt them," the newlyappointed UN High Commissioner on Human Rights told PTI here.
Calling it the "most insidious form of violence because it affects innocent people in large numbers", the South African, who is currently a judge at International Criminal Court (I.C.C.) at the Hague, said the definition of"terrorism" was still in the process of being formulated.
"The crime of terrorism", she said, "is still being defined if I may begin by looking at the law. Once it has been defined it will come under the supervision of ICC," Pillay said, two days after her new position was unanimously approvedby the UN General Assembly in New York.
The 67-year-old judge, whose grand-parents migrated from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu to South Africa as sugarcane indentured labourers in the late 1800s, will take up her newappointment on September 1 for a four-year term.
Judge Pillay, who has served as a member of International Tribunal on Rwanda for eight years, acknowledged that she has an enormous responsibility in her new position because of thewidescale violation of human rights around the world.
The first woman to start law practice in South Africa's Natal Province in 1968, Pillay defended several anti-apartheid activists and successfully fought for the right of political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, to have access tolawyers.
Pointing out that in conflicts and wars Wednesday civilians, mainly women and children are at the receiving end "rather than soldiers fighting soldiers," Pillay said shewould be fully committed to put an end to impunity.
"I have spent the last 13 years committed to the principle of accountability and end to impunity, to holdpolitical and military leaders accountable and punish them.
The principle of retributive justice is why the UN set upthese tribunals and the permanent court," she said.
Asked about the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka where more than 80,000 people have been killed on both sides over the past 30 years, Judge Pillay said the UN High Commission Office had field officers to deal with human rights violations in theisland country.
"I think that conflicts that drag on for so long and are so heavily political are huge challenge for all of us. But we must ensure that victims on both sides are protected," shesaid.
On the controversy surrounding the UN Security Council's recent decision to investigate Sudanese President El Bashir,for human rights violations, she said although the I.C.C.
prosecutor was an independent director he would not decide onhis own whether or not Bashir would be arrested and charged.
"After he has prepared his documents three judges of the ICC will decide whether there's sufficient evidence to indict or issue a warrant of arrest against the Sudan President," shesaid.
"Finally the I.C.C. guarantees fair trial. The President of Sudan or anyone else is innocent until charges are proved,"Pillay added.
