Top UN Official Says 'Global War on Terror' Is Laying Waste to Human Rights

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/02/06/top-un-official-says-global-war-terror-laying-waste-human-rights



Battling terrorism shouldn’t justify torture or mass surveillance, says Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein

Top UN Official Says 'Global War on Terror' Is Laying Waste to Human Rights
Thalif Deen, IPS News
Friday, February 06, 2015

The United Nations, which is the legal guardian of scores of human rights treaties banning torture, unlawful imprisonment, degrading treatment of prisoners of war and enforced disappearances, is troubled that an increasing number of countries are justifying violations of U.N. conventions on grounds of fighting terrorism in conflict zones.

Taking an implicit passing shot at big powers, the outspoken U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein of Jordan puts it more bluntly: “This logic is abundant around the world today: I torture because a war justifies it. I spy on my citizens because terrorism, repulsive as it is, requires it.

“I don’t want new immigrants, or I discriminate against minorities, because our communal identity or my way of life is being threatened as never before. I kill others, because others will kill me – and so it goes, on and on.”

~snip~

“We need leaders who will observe fully those laws and treaties drafted to end all discrimination, the privation of millions, and atrocity and excess in war, with no excuses entertained. Only then, can we help ourselves out of the present serious, seemingly inexhaustible, supply of crises that threatens to engulf us,” he declared.