UN expert warns against setbacks in rule of law and shrinking space for civil society
SocietyUlaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. Mongolia must ensure that reforms to its legal framework promote rather than restrict the work of human rights defenders, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, said today.
While Mongolia has often –
and rightly so – been depicted as champion of democracy in East and Central
Asia, recent legislative amendments are of concerns and are sending mixed
messages, Mr. Forst said in a statement at the end of a two-week visit to
the country.
“Having carefully considered
the information received from the Government, civil society and other stakeholders,
I conclude that, Mongolia is a relatively safe country for human rights
defenders,” the UN expert said. “Although some cases of attacks and
abuses against human rights defenders were reported, I did not observe a
pattern of systematic attacks against them”.
“However, this relatively
safe environment does not translate into a conducive environment for human
rights defenders. Obstacles such as stigma, the lack of understanding of who
human rights defenders are, and dangerous amendments to several laws instill
fear and hinder their work.”
The Special Rapporteur
expressed concerns regarding amendments allowing political interference into
the judiciary and public prosecution and reforms preventing administrative
courts from overseeing Cabinet’s decisions. “These reforms may deter judges and
prosecutors from taking action against corruption, and ultimately prevent
people from speaking out against discrimination, or from calling for justice.”
“During the visit I heard
about cases of intimidation, discrimination, harassment and stigmatization of
human rights defenders, including LGBTI rights defenders and children rights
defenders,” Mr. Forst said. “Environmentalists and investigative journalists
who are working on corruption or environmental issues have also faced threats
and pressure. Some have died in circumstances that are still to be properly
investigated.”
“Defenders also mentioned
more diffuse strategies of social or economic threats against their relatives -
like difficulties to access jobs, scholarships and projects - or rumors that
these kinds of reprisals might happen whenever they get more vocal on sensitive
issues such as corruption or environmental protection. Given that the community
in Mongolia is small and interconnected, these pressures create an environment
of suspicion and fear which has a serious adverse deterrent impact on human
rights defenders who would like to expose wrongdoings.”
The Special Rapporteur
concluded that the adoption of a law on human rights defenders would be
critical to promote and recognise the vital and legitimate work of human rights
defenders, and to penalize and end impunity for attacks against defenders in a
concrete way. He urged Mongolia to become the first country in the region to
enact such a law.
Mr. Forst met the President
of Mongolia, State officials and other authorities, members of the diplomatic
corps and representatives from the private sector. He also heard the
testimonies of more than 100 defenders in Ulaanbaatar, Airag and
Sainshand/Zuunbayan.
The Special Rapporteur will
present his final report and recommendations on the official visit to Mongolia
to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in March 2020.
Source: UN Mongolia