National Assembly: Minister Adam comments on human rights report and Public Order Act
The government has no objections that the United States of America (USA) publishes a human rights report on Seychelles but it is our right as a country to comment on the report, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Paul Adam has said.
Minister Adam said this in the national Assembly yesterday when answering an urgent question by the leader of government business Marie-Antoinette Rose.
She had asked the minister for the government’s reaction with regard to the US State Department’s position on Seychelles Human Rights’ report published recently and the call to have the Public Order Act amended or repealed.
Minister Adam noted that a country’s human rights cannot be measured in figures but can only be reinforced through improved laws and regulations, capacity of different public institutions, social services and the government in general.
“Human rights is not just about criticising if an individual has had an issue with the police but it is more about whether people have access to basic public services, employment and utilities like clean water and electricity,” Minister Adam pointed out.
He said the US report on human rights in Seychelles is similar to those which have been written on other countries in the world but stressed that the Seychelles report is not necessarily worse than those of many other developed countries. At this point he called on the Assembly members to read similar reports made on other countries notably and compare them to that of Seychelles.
Minister Adam said the reason Seychelles has raised objection to the report is because there is no indication from the US government as to the method used to get the information in the report.
“To us it is a desktop compiled report which is not based on any visit to assess the situation first hand on the ground, no meetings and discussions with the local authorities, members of the civil society as well as different other concerned parties,” Minister Adam said.
He further stressed that it is important such consultations be carried out in an in-depth manner.
As the US government does not have an embassy here, Minister Adam pointed out that the authorities are not of the view that the report reflects the present reality in its entirety.
“We are not saying that certain incidents in the report are not based on reality but the method used does not correspond to that of a report which would allow us to act upon,” Minister Adam explained.
But he noted that Seychelles is working closely with the United Nations on the universal periodic review carried out in 2011 and a plan of action from that report is being addressed.
Work is also being carried out with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to reinforce the capacity of our police force, while human rights capacity is also being boost up through our partnership with the Commonwealth and this include a review of the Human Right Commission among other institutions.
Above all that, Minister Adam said Seychelles is among few African countries which have extended standing invitations to UN rapporteurs whereby at any time the UN can send a rapporteur to investigate any issue or concern raised about Seychelles.
Minister Adam pointed out that to date two rapporteurs from the UN have visited Seychelles – one on education and the other on human trafficking – and in both cases objective reports and a plan of action had followed.
“Seychelles’ approach is to work on those reports which identify our capacity-building needs and find ways to improve and bridge the gaps identified,” Minister Adam said.
He added that the US is free to publish any report on human rights it wants just like any Seychellois can comment on any human rights issues and practices in any other country but this is not necessarily the way to address the fundamental human rights issues. These have to be done through reviewing and reinforcing the laws, public institutions and building up capacities.
Minister Adam informed the Assembly that all the means cited and which Seychelles are using are transparent and can be consulted and read by anybody so they can judge for themselves. He also called on the Seychellois public to read the US report on Seychelles and judge it for themselves and they will see that many of the issues raised have already been reported on in the local media.
But what is missing in the report are issues that the government has already addressed such as through certain investigations carried out which are not mentioned or actions government is undertaking to address these issues which are not mentioned in the report,” said the minister.
With regard to comments made by Ambassador Robert Jackson Ambassador Jackson, who is also the principal deputy assistant officer of the Bureau of African Affairs in the US Department of State, that the Public Order Act should be amended or repealed, Minister Adam said it is important to look at the context in which he made those comments. He was asked for his opinion on the piece of legislation, the minister said.
Minister Adam said some newspapers have published a full interview on the issue and it is important for people to read what he said.
Ambassador Jackson said he is concerned there is a possibility the legislation could restrict the space for civil society operations in Seychelles.
Minister Adam pointed out that the civil society has already taken steps to bring forward its concerns with regard to the Public Order Act.
“We appreciate that in Seychelles people are free to voice out their opinion and the civil society has freely brought its concern to the Constitutional Court,” said Minister Adam.
He stressed that in talks with the US government the local authorities will emphasise the fact that the Public Order Act will have no impact on the civil society but as the matter is with the Constitutional Court, the government will not intervene in debates on the issue as long as the Court has not pronounced itself on the case.
Minister Adam said the government recognises the process and added that it will respect the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the case.
He further stressed that anybody is free to comment on the report.
Minister Adam said this in the national Assembly yesterday when answering an urgent question by the leader of government business Marie-Antoinette Rose.
She had asked the minister for the government’s reaction with regard to the US State Department’s position on Seychelles Human Rights’ report published recently and the call to have the Public Order Act amended or repealed.
Minister Adam noted that a country’s human rights cannot be measured in figures but can only be reinforced through improved laws and regulations, capacity of different public institutions, social services and the government in general.
“Human rights is not just about criticising if an individual has had an issue with the police but it is more about whether people have access to basic public services, employment and utilities like clean water and electricity,” Minister Adam pointed out.
He said the US report on human rights in Seychelles is similar to those which have been written on other countries in the world but stressed that the Seychelles report is not necessarily worse than those of many other developed countries. At this point he called on the Assembly members to read similar reports made on other countries notably and compare them to that of Seychelles.
Minister Adam said the reason Seychelles has raised objection to the report is because there is no indication from the US government as to the method used to get the information in the report.
“To us it is a desktop compiled report which is not based on any visit to assess the situation first hand on the ground, no meetings and discussions with the local authorities, members of the civil society as well as different other concerned parties,” Minister Adam said.
He further stressed that it is important such consultations be carried out in an in-depth manner.
As the US government does not have an embassy here, Minister Adam pointed out that the authorities are not of the view that the report reflects the present reality in its entirety.
“We are not saying that certain incidents in the report are not based on reality but the method used does not correspond to that of a report which would allow us to act upon,” Minister Adam explained.
But he noted that Seychelles is working closely with the United Nations on the universal periodic review carried out in 2011 and a plan of action from that report is being addressed.
Work is also being carried out with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to reinforce the capacity of our police force, while human rights capacity is also being boost up through our partnership with the Commonwealth and this include a review of the Human Right Commission among other institutions.
Above all that, Minister Adam said Seychelles is among few African countries which have extended standing invitations to UN rapporteurs whereby at any time the UN can send a rapporteur to investigate any issue or concern raised about Seychelles.
Minister Adam pointed out that to date two rapporteurs from the UN have visited Seychelles – one on education and the other on human trafficking – and in both cases objective reports and a plan of action had followed.
“Seychelles’ approach is to work on those reports which identify our capacity-building needs and find ways to improve and bridge the gaps identified,” Minister Adam said.
He added that the US is free to publish any report on human rights it wants just like any Seychellois can comment on any human rights issues and practices in any other country but this is not necessarily the way to address the fundamental human rights issues. These have to be done through reviewing and reinforcing the laws, public institutions and building up capacities.
Minister Adam informed the Assembly that all the means cited and which Seychelles are using are transparent and can be consulted and read by anybody so they can judge for themselves. He also called on the Seychellois public to read the US report on Seychelles and judge it for themselves and they will see that many of the issues raised have already been reported on in the local media.
But what is missing in the report are issues that the government has already addressed such as through certain investigations carried out which are not mentioned or actions government is undertaking to address these issues which are not mentioned in the report,” said the minister.
With regard to comments made by Ambassador Robert Jackson Ambassador Jackson, who is also the principal deputy assistant officer of the Bureau of African Affairs in the US Department of State, that the Public Order Act should be amended or repealed, Minister Adam said it is important to look at the context in which he made those comments. He was asked for his opinion on the piece of legislation, the minister said.
Minister Adam said some newspapers have published a full interview on the issue and it is important for people to read what he said.
Ambassador Jackson said he is concerned there is a possibility the legislation could restrict the space for civil society operations in Seychelles.
Minister Adam pointed out that the civil society has already taken steps to bring forward its concerns with regard to the Public Order Act.
“We appreciate that in Seychelles people are free to voice out their opinion and the civil society has freely brought its concern to the Constitutional Court,” said Minister Adam.
He stressed that in talks with the US government the local authorities will emphasise the fact that the Public Order Act will have no impact on the civil society but as the matter is with the Constitutional Court, the government will not intervene in debates on the issue as long as the Court has not pronounced itself on the case.
Minister Adam said the government recognises the process and added that it will respect the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the case.
He further stressed that anybody is free to comment on the report.
Forrás: www.nation.sc