In February 2002, the protection team of the ICRC conducted visits to persons
deprived of their freedom in IVS (isolator for temporary detention) under the
Ministry of Interior, Bailov SIZO (pre-trial isolator), Gobustan prison and
Colony N1 under the Ministry of Justice. The visits were conducted in accordance
with the ICRC's standard working procedures. These include private talks with
detainees and discussions with the authorities regarding the findings of the
delegates.
In the course of February 2002 about 490 detainee patients were undergoing
TB-treatment in Colony 3 in accordance with the standard recommended by the
World Health Organisation, better known by its acronym DOTS (Directly Observed
Treatment Short Course). In February the Milli Mejlis (Parliament) of the Republic
of Azerbaijan and the ICRC organised a conference concerning the Problems of
Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Rome Statute was adopted on 17th of July, 1998. According to that document
the International Criminal Court, which is permanent juridical body will be
established and its jurisdiction will cover genocide, crimes against humanity,
war crimes and aggression. The Rome Statute has been signed by 139 states and
ratified by 55 states. It will come into force after 60th ratification. The
holding of the conference was suggested by the Head of the Department for Administrative
and Military Legislation of the Parliament Administration. The ICRC decided
to take part in the event with the aim to familiarise the high-ranking officials
of Azerbaijan with the Rome Statute and the problems of its implementation in
Azerbaijan. The ICRC invited an external expert - a professor from the Walter-Shucking-Institute
for International Law, University of Kiel, Germany to take part in the conference.
The ICRC legal advisors also took part in the work of the conference. The participants
were provided with the study materials as well as the texts of the Rome Statute
in Russian and Azeri. The participants spoke about the situation regarding the
implementation of the Rome Statute in different countries, the co-operation
with the ICC. The importance of ratification of the Rome Statute by Azerbaijan
was noted.
AND ELSEWHERE
ICRC aid for the internally displaced in Jammu and Kashmir
Geneva (ICRC) - The current tension between India and Pakistan and the military
build-up along the international border and the Line of Control has caused the
inhabitants of several dozen villages close to the border to leave their homes
and seek refuge in safer areas. While most of the displaced people are staying
temporarily with friends and relatives, several thousand of them are having
to camp in buildings such as schools, a commercial centre and a disused factory.
After consultations with the civilian authorities of the Indian state of Jammu
and Kashmir, and working in cooperation with local members of the Indian Red
Cross Society, the ICRC assessed the needs of some 2,600 families living in
public buildings in the districts of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch.
On the basis of its findings, the ICRC distributed family parcels comprising
food (lentils, sugar, oil), hygiene products and blankets to these displaced
families. The aim of the programme is to supplement the aid in the form of cooking
fuel and staple foods that is being provided by the local authorities. Most
of the displaced depend for their livelihood on their crops and livestock, so
have little in the way of savings. They are experiencing great difficulty in
providing for themselves and their children, especially in the wintry conditions
now prevailing in these mountainous areas.
The ICRC will continue to monitor the needs of the displaced, alongside its
ongoing detention-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Colombia: ICRC calls on all parties to conflict to respect international
humanitarian law
Geneva (ICRC) - Following the breakdown of negotiations between the FARC-EP
(Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia / People's Army) and the government,
intensified fighting looms. In accordance with its mandate, the ICRC reminds
all parties to the conflict of their obligation to respect the rules and principles
of international humanitarian law applicable to non-international armed conflicts.
The ICRC stresses that all parties to armed conflict must distinguish at all
times between the civilian population and combatants and between civilian property
and military objectives. Attacks against the civilian population as such, as
well as against individual civilians, are prohibited, as are indiscriminate
attacks. The latter are attacks likely to cause incidental loss of life or injury
to civilians which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct
military advantage anticipated.
Persons not taking or no longer taking part in hostilities, including the wounded,
the sick and prisoners, must be treated humanely at all times and their lives
must be spared. Medical personnel, establishments and transports are also entitled
to such protection. Commanders must supervise their men so as to ensure that
their conduct towards civilians complies at all times with the aforementioned
rules and principles.
In the last few hours the ICRC has deployed four teams of experts in emergency
situations to the area in order to closely monitor developments and provide
humanitarian assistance should the need arise.
AZERBAIJAN
In March 2002, the protection team of the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) visited persons deprived of their freedom in the SIZO (pre-trial
isolator) under the Ministry of National Security, Sumgayit IVS (Isolator for
Temporary Detention) under the Ministry of Interior and Colonies N1 and 3 under
the Ministry of Justice. The visits were conducted in accordance with the ICRC's
standard working procedures. These include private talks with detainees and
discussions with the authorities regarding the findings of the delegates.
In the course of March 2002, approximately 512 detainee patients were undergoing
TB-treatment in Colony 3 in accordance with the standards recommended by the
World Health Organisation, better known by its acronym DOTS (Directly Observed
Treatment Short Course).
Early March two groups of students from European Studies Faculty of the Azerbaijan
State University of Languages visited the ICRC Baku Delegation. During their
visit the students became acquainted with the ICRC's activities in Azerbaijan
and around the world, took part in the follow-up discussions.
AND ELSEWHERE
Israel and the occupied and autonomous territories:
ICRC appeals for protection of medical staff
ICRC (Geneva) - In the evening of 7 March Mr Ibrahim Assad, a Palestine Red
Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance driver, and Mr Kamal Salem, a United Nations
employee, were shot and killed by the Israel Defence Forces in two separate
incidents in Tulkarem as they were on their way to aid the wounded. Two other
PRCS paramedics were seriously injured in the same incidents. Shortly afterwards,
PRCS doctor Nabhan Jallad suffered a leg wound inside the Tulkarem ambulance
station.Meanwhile, in the north of the Gaza Strip, another PRCS paramedic was
critically wounded by shrapnel as he was trying to evacuate casualties.
These latest tragic incidents follow the death on 4 March of the head of the
PRCS emergency medical service in Jenin, Dr Khalil Sulieman, and the wounding
of another five PRCS staff when Israeli troops shot at their ambulances in Jenin
refugee camp. All the PRCS ambulances concerned were clearly marked with the
Red Crescent emblem and the ICRC had cleared their missions in Jenin and Tulkarem
with the Israeli authorities.
The ICRC condemns these attacks and calls on the Israeli authorities to take
immediate steps to protect medical personnel and to conduct a full inquiry into
the latest events. Under international humanitarian law, collecting and caring
for the wounded is an obligation, and facilitating access for and ensuring the
safety of medical personnel and ambulances is a basic duty of all forces and
individuals involved in fighting. Deliberate attacks on medical personnel, vehicles
and infrastructure constitute a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions and are
strictly prohibited.
Iraq/Kuwait:
Kuwaiti national repatriated under ICRC auspices
Geneva (ICRC) - A Kuwaiti civilian, Mr Jassem al-Randi, was repatriated on
30 March under the auspices of the ICRC. The operation, which took place at
the border post between the villages of Safwan, in Iraq, and Abdali, in Kuwait,
was carried out with full co-operation from authorities of both countries.
Mr al-Randi had reportedly been arrested at the border for illegally entering
Iraq earlier in March. After being contacted by the Iraqi authorities, the ICRC
visited him on 16 and 28 March while he was being detained in Baghdad. Delegates
spoke in private with Mr al-Randi, who wrote a Red Cross message that was conveyed
the same day to his family in Kuwait.
The government of Iraq subsequently asked the ICRC to act as a neutral intermediary
to facilitate Mr al-Randi's return home. To this end, the ICRC approached the
authorities in Baghdad and Kuwait City.
The ICRC is pleased to have been able to reunite Mr Jassen al-Randi with his
family.
For further information please, contact
ICRC DELEGATION BAKU
FATALI KHAN KHOISKI av. 75, 370110, BAKU
Tel: 90 63 34, 90 63 35, 90 64 52, 40 62 22 Fax: 90 65 19
bakou.bak@icrc.org www.icrc.org
www.azerweb.com
|