Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAKAR1364
2006-06-08 08:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dakar
Cable title:
GUINEA-BISSAU: INFORMATION ON OHCHR FIELD PRESENCE
how-toVZCZCXRO1831 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHDK #1364 1590852 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 080852Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5399 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0187 RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE PRIORITY 0887 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0735 RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA PRIORITY 0383 RUEHTO/AMEMBASSY MAPUTO PRIORITY 0418 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0953
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 001364
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, IO, AND S/P
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAIDWA
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL PU
SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: INFORMATION ON OHCHR FIELD PRESENCE
REF: STATE 73151
Classified By: Ambassador Janice L. Jacobs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 001364
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, IO, AND S/P
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAIDWA
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL PU
SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: INFORMATION ON OHCHR FIELD PRESENCE
REF: STATE 73151
Classified By: Ambassador Janice L. Jacobs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) This cable responds to reftel requirement to provide
an assessment of the effectiveness the Office of High
Commissioner of Human Rights activities in Guinea-Bissau.
Overall, the office appears competent and well-run, but
should put more emphasis on what it identifies as the main
human rights problem, lack of basic services. End Summary.
THREE-PRONGED STRATEGY
--------------
2. (U) The Human Rights Unit (HRU) within UNOGBIS has three
strategies. First is education about human rights via
institutions including the law faculty, national Human Rights
League, and other NGOs. The HRU helps write curricula to
deliver appropriate themes and messages. The second strategy
is technical cooperation and capacity building of the
Ministry of Justice to defend human rights, and helping to
set up a National human rights institute. The final strategy
is monitoring, investigating, and reporting allegations of
abuse. For example, the HRU visits detention centers to
report on deplorable conditions prisoners are subjected to.
3. (C) The HRU said it believed that, while human rights are
not the biggest problem in Guinea-Bissau, the most
significant rights issue is the lack of basic needs such as
food, education, health care, and clean water. They believe
the government holds some responsibility for the failure to
provide services. They cited corruption and the particularly
high travel budget for top officials, which would be better
spent on public services. In their opinion, citizens are
losing patience with no sign of improvement since President
Vieira took office.
4. (C) Organizationally, the HRU is a section of UNOGBIS.
The Security Council has not yet renewed UNOGBIS, mandate in
Guinea-Bissau for next year. The feeling among its staff and
the Secretary General,s Representative in Bissau, Joao
Honwana, is that it will not be renewed due to
Guinea-Bissau-fatigue at UN headquarters. This puts into
question the continued existence of the HRU and its future
mandate beyond 2006.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Under each of the three strategies, the HRU appears
to be active and effective. One area of possible improvement
is that they do not dedicate resources toward solving what
they identify as the biggest human rights problem --
existence of basic services. A proactive lobbying and
educational outreach effort targeting policy makers might be
an appropriate addition to their otherwise effective strategy.
JACOBS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, IO, AND S/P
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAIDWA
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL PU
SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: INFORMATION ON OHCHR FIELD PRESENCE
REF: STATE 73151
Classified By: Ambassador Janice L. Jacobs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) This cable responds to reftel requirement to provide
an assessment of the effectiveness the Office of High
Commissioner of Human Rights activities in Guinea-Bissau.
Overall, the office appears competent and well-run, but
should put more emphasis on what it identifies as the main
human rights problem, lack of basic services. End Summary.
THREE-PRONGED STRATEGY
--------------
2. (U) The Human Rights Unit (HRU) within UNOGBIS has three
strategies. First is education about human rights via
institutions including the law faculty, national Human Rights
League, and other NGOs. The HRU helps write curricula to
deliver appropriate themes and messages. The second strategy
is technical cooperation and capacity building of the
Ministry of Justice to defend human rights, and helping to
set up a National human rights institute. The final strategy
is monitoring, investigating, and reporting allegations of
abuse. For example, the HRU visits detention centers to
report on deplorable conditions prisoners are subjected to.
3. (C) The HRU said it believed that, while human rights are
not the biggest problem in Guinea-Bissau, the most
significant rights issue is the lack of basic needs such as
food, education, health care, and clean water. They believe
the government holds some responsibility for the failure to
provide services. They cited corruption and the particularly
high travel budget for top officials, which would be better
spent on public services. In their opinion, citizens are
losing patience with no sign of improvement since President
Vieira took office.
4. (C) Organizationally, the HRU is a section of UNOGBIS.
The Security Council has not yet renewed UNOGBIS, mandate in
Guinea-Bissau for next year. The feeling among its staff and
the Secretary General,s Representative in Bissau, Joao
Honwana, is that it will not be renewed due to
Guinea-Bissau-fatigue at UN headquarters. This puts into
question the continued existence of the HRU and its future
mandate beyond 2006.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Under each of the three strategies, the HRU appears
to be active and effective. One area of possible improvement
is that they do not dedicate resources toward solving what
they identify as the biggest human rights problem --
existence of basic services. A proactive lobbying and
educational outreach effort targeting policy makers might be
an appropriate addition to their otherwise effective strategy.
JACOBS