UN EXPERT CALLS ON COUNTRIES TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTION OF CIVIL SOCIETY VOICES, WHISTLEBLOWERS

From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 11 Sep 2013 17:00:00 -0400
Subject: UN EXPERT CALLS ON COUNTRIES TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTION OF
CIVIL SOCIETY VOICES, WHISTLEBLOWERS
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

UN EXPERT CALLS ON COUNTRIES TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTION OF CIVIL SOCIETY
VOICES, WHISTLEBLOWERSNew York, Sep 11 2013 5:00PMA United Nations
independent expert today urged Governments worldwide to provide
adequate protection to members of civil society, including
whistleblowers, and ensure transparency in their decision-making
processes.

"A democratic and equitable international order cannot be achieved as
long as civil society actors continue to be subjected to intimidation,
harassment and violence, and individuals are denied the right to
participate in the conduct of public affairs,"
<"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13704&LangID=E">said
the UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and
equitable international order, Alfred de Zayas.

"Specific protection must be granted to human rights defenders and
whistleblowers who have in some contexts been accused of being
unpatriotic, whereas they perform, in reality, a democratic service to
their countries and to the enjoyment of human rights of their
compatriots."

Mr. de Zayas underlined that access to truthful and reliable
information from diverse sources, including from free media, is
essential to people so that they can develop their own opinions and
effectively take part in the conduct of public affairs.

"I am dismayed that notwithstanding lip service to democracy, too many
governments seem to forget that in a democracy, it is the people who
are sovereign," he said, adding that many governments appear to be
more responsive to special interests such as the military-industrial
complex, financial banking and transnational corporations, than to the
wishes of their own populations, which creates massive social and
economic inequalities.

"The disconnect between power and the people must be remedied," he added.

In his report to the UN Human Rights Council, Mr. de Zayas made a
number of recommendations aimed at protecting the voices of
marginalized groups as well as at enhancing the participation of all
individuals in political processes.

"Recent popular movements in different parts of the world show how
direct participation in domestic and global decision-making is
necessary, and why the instruments of direct democracy including
popular initiative and referenda are becoming increasingly
attractive," Mr. de Zayas said.

"Reform of the United Nations system, including of the Security
Council, of the Bretton Woods Institutions and of the World Trade
Organization is necessary to advance toward an international order
that is more democratic and more equitable," he said.

"A more democratic and equitable international order is no utopia,"
the Independent Expert concluded. "It can and will be achieved when
Governments and civil society work together to make the purposes and
principles of the United Nations Charter a reality for our and future
generations."Sep 11 2013 5:00PM
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