Morning Plenary - 4th of August

During the 7th meeting of the plenary session, a discussion about issues related to item 6 (i.e. specific human rights issues) resumed today. During the meeting, the special rapporteurs discussed contemporary forms of slavery and the use of small firearms. The debate among the experts concentrated on three particular themes: Women and human Rights, small weapons, and weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the Sub-Commission Expert and Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group, presented a document on contemporary forms of slavery. The document contained information on contemporary forms of slavery and discrimination (particularly gender discrimination, forced marriage, child marriage, and sales of wives).
Three main issues dominated the deliberations: 1) health (particularly HIV AIDs); 2) violence and terrorism (sexual violence and sexual abuses during armed conflicts); and 3) the relationship between poverty and women's human rights. Regarding this last issue, Mr.Guisse remarked that the economic adjustments which poor countries undertook in order to accomplish macroeconomic objectives (imposed by IFM and the World Bank) caused economic inequalities within societies. These economic inequalities, he said, victimized women in these countries and widened the power gap between men and women.

Regarding the discussion on "small weapons", Ms. Barbara Frey, Sub-Commission Expert, introduced her preliminary report on the prevention of human rights violations committed with small arms and light weapons. She developed the concepts of misuse by States agents; misuse by armed individuals and groups when the State was unable to govern; and the transfer of arms with knowledge that they were to be used to commit violations. Related to her introduction the main debated was centred on the responsibility of the North and/or the South in relation to the manufacture and flow of weapons. Defending the position that the North was responsible for manufacture and the south as user, we found Mr. Guisse. And on the other position, Mr. Pinheiro who thought was endogenous, refereeing to the South. Another important issue highlighted was the importance of the monitoring on the use of firearms.

The working paper on human rights and weapons of mass destruction, or with indiscriminate effect, or of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering, by Mr.Yeung Sik Yuen was not introduced since the author was absent.
In spite of this situation the debated took place, since it was agreed that the experts knew the document, and had some statements ready.

By: Melvina Araman and Paula Bula

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