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Austria UN: War on Drugs does not Justify Rights Violations New Report Examines Widespread Abuses Due to Drug Control Policies The United Nations must stop the ongoing subversion of human rights in the name of drug control, the International Harm Reduction Association, Human Rights Watch, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and the Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme said in a joint report released today as the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) convenes for its annual meeting to debate global drug policy. March 10, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version European Parliament: Condemn Complicity in Illegal CIA Activity The European Parliament should condemn European complicity in the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) program of “extraordinary renditions” and secret detention of prisoners, Human Rights Watch said today. February 12, 2007 Press Release Printer friendly version Cases Involving Diplomatic Assurances against Torture Developments since May 2005 This briefing paper shows how EU states have relied upon empty promises of humane treatment, known as “diplomatic assurances,” in efforts to justify the return of terrorism suspects to countries where they risk being tortured. In the report adopted today, the European Parliament’s Temporary Committee on illegal CIA activity in Europe focuses on CIA flights and US-sponsored transfers of terrorism suspects. It also calls on EU member states to oppose the use of “diplomatic assurances” on torture in returning terrorism suspects. Europe pioneered the use of these “no torture” promises in the 1990s, well before the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. January 23, 2007 Background Briefing Also available in 
Commentary on State Replies CDDH Questionnaire on Diplomatic Assurances Human Rights Watch welcomes the Council of Europe’s Group of Specialists on Human Rights and the Fight against Terrorism (DH-S-TER) reflection and continuing debate on the human rights implications of the use of diplomatic assurances in transfers of terrorism suspects to places where they are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. The objections of Human Rights Watch and a range of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the use of diplomatic assurances are detailed in two joint statements already submitted to the Council of Europe for consideration in the course of this debate. March 29, 2006 Commentary Empty Promises Diplomatic Assurances No Safeguard Against Torture Individuals suspected of terrorism should never be returned to a country where they risk torture and ill-treatment. Promises of fair treatment by states with well-known records of torture are inherently unreliable, and governments that justify returns through such promises, known as “diplomatic assurances,” are violating the absolute prohibition against torture and eroding a fundamental principle of international law. The death penalty, however reprehensible, is legal and usually carried out publicly. But torture is illegal and practiced in secret. Governments routinely lie about whether they’re torturing people or not, and in some situations they may not even have adequate control to guarantee security. This 39-page report documents cases where governments returned or considered returning suspects on the basis of such formal guarantees, and raises concern that in some cases, those returned were, in fact, tortured or ill-treated. HRW Index No.: D1604 April 15, 2004 Report Download PDF, 360 KB, 39 pgs Purchase online Rights of Non-Citizens Human Rights Watch Submission to CERD In this memorandum sent to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination prior to its discussion on the rights of non-citizens, Human Rights Watch outlines its concerns regarding discrimination against selected categories of non-citizens in the United States since September 11. In the memorandum, Human Rights Watch urges the Committee to adopt a General Comment that, among other things, 1) expresses concern about counterterrorist measures that distinguish between particular groups of non-citizens and 2) resolves whether distinctions among non-citizens on the basis of religion can constitute prohibited discrimination when religious communities are closely identified with particular countries, ethnic groups, or races. March 25, 2004 Memorandum Printer friendly version Austria: Child Soldier Global Report 2001 From the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers There are indications of under-18s in government armed forces as voluntary recruitment at 17 years of age is possible with parental consent. New legislation has been passed prohibiting direct participation in hostilities of those who have not reached 18. June 12, 2001 Multi Country Report Austria: Landmine Monitor Report 2000 Key developments since March 1999: Austria continued to play an active role in promoting universalization and effective implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. It developed the reporting format for Article 7 reports, and has been an important player in the intersessional work program. The government has approved an increase in mine action funding to US million in 2000. August 1, 2000 Multi Country Report Austria Blasted for Release of Iraqi Jordan Urged to Arrest Saddam Hussein Aide Accused of Genocide An Iraqi leader accused of genocide, mass murder, and torture was released today by the Austrian government. The move was quickly criticized by Human Rights Watch. August 18, 1999 Press Release Printer friendly version Prosecution of Iraqi in Austria Urged Saddam Hussein Aide Accused of Genocide, Murder and Torture A senior Iraqi leader accused of genocide, mass murder, and torture should be prosecuted by Austrian authorities, Human Rights Watch said today. February 17, 1999 Press Release Printer friendly version Indonesia Alert: Economic Crisis Leads to Scapegoating of Ethnic Chinese The rise in prices of basic goods such as rice and cooking oil has led to violent protests across Indonesia, much of it aimed at the ethnic Chinese minority who dominate the retail economy. The rioting appears to have been largely spontaneous, but Human Rights Watch believes that senior government and military officials have fueled anti-Chinese sentiment through veiled references to "rats" and "traitors" and by their failure to explain that high prices and food shortages are not the fault of individual retailers. Human Rights Watch calls on the government to state explicitly that the ethnic Chinese are a valued and important part of Indonesian society and that violence against them and their property will not be tolerated. Denouncing communal violence in generic terms is not enough. February 11, 1998 Press Release Printer friendly version
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