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Africa: Uphold Continent's Contribution to Human Rights, Urges Top Diplomat

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A refugee camp in the DR Congo. (Photo Courtesy Myriam Asmani/MONUC)

This week the United Nations General Assembly is to debate the responsibility of nations and the international community to protect people around the world from crimes such as genocide, ethnic cleansing and war crimes.

This relatively new principle in international relations is in many ways an African contribution to human rights, writes Mohamed Sahnoun, an Algerian diplomat who has served in top posts in the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the League of Arab States and the United Nations. But, he warns, there is a danger that some leaders could either call into question or try to limit the reach of their commitment to protect, jeopardizing one of the most significant human rights achievements of recent years.

In September 2005 an unprecedented World Summit of heads of state and government who met at United Nations headquarters in New York endorsed a new principle in international relations, namely the responsibility of every state and the international community to protect people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. In doing so, these leaders agreed never again to be bystanders to the most heinous of crimes.

This week the UN General Assembly will again debate this "responsibility to protect." It is my hope, and that of survivors, advocates and ordinary citizens all over Africa, that our leaders will use the debate to turn their magnificent pledge of four years ago into a means of effective action.

The responsibility to protect makes it clear that each state is under an obligation to protect its own people from these forms of crime and that they and the international community also have an obligation to help others to do so. They must in the first instance use peaceful measures to protect people, and only when a state is manifestly failing in its obligations, and peaceful means are no longer appropriate, can they use coercive measures to halt atrocities.

For Africans, the vow to which our leaders subscribed in 2005 was not new. Five years earlier they had already adopted the norm of non-indifference to mass atrocities in the African Union's Constitutive Act. The idea itself of "sovereignty as responsibility" was developed by the Sudanese scholar and diplomat, Francis Deng. And, unlike other regions, our legal systems have long acknowledged that in addition to individuals, groups and leaders having rights, they also have reciprocal duties. So the responsibility to protect is in many ways an African contribution to human rights.

Yet even though the concept has such indigenous roots for Africans, and many of our states champion the responsibility to protect, it remains poorly understood in some parts of the continent. Although I hope this week's debate will offer an opportunity to dispel some of the misconceptions about the principle, there is reason for concern that there are those, including some from within Africa, who will use the debate as an opportunity either to call into question or to limit the reach of their commitment to protect. This would jeopardize one of the most significant human rights achievements of recent years.

What does the responsibility to protect mean in practice for Africa? From my own experience as the UN's Special Representative to Somalia, and the UN/OAU's Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, I have seen some of the worst things that people are capable of doing to one another; but I have also, at times, seen regional organizations and the UN use both diplomacy and force to prevent the threat of mass atrocities.

When violence exploded in the aftermath of the disputed election in Kenya in December 2007, the country faced the real possibility of mass ethnic violence, with 1,500 murdered and 300,000 displaced. Former Secretary-General of the UN Kofi Annan helped mediate, along with diplomats from around the region and the world, a political settlement that prevented further bloodshed. Much remains to be done, but the prospect of imminent violence has significantly receded.

Kenya shows that the responsibility to protect is not, as some have asserted, an excuse for military intervention. That concern is understandable. But the responsibility to protect is fundamentally about acting preventively, rather than intervening after the atrocities have begun. And preventive action will often be peaceful and consensual, as it was in Kenya. The responsibility to protect will have become truly effective when states, as well as regional and global bodies, heed these early warnings and act before violence spirals into mass slaughter.

There will, however, be cases where coercive action is unavoidable, especially where either the state or its proxies are chiefly responsible for atrocities. Here, too, a range of measures is available to the international community, from the threat of sanctions or international criminal prosecution up to and including military intervention. Statesmen and scholars have come to agree, in retrospect, that such an intervention could have saved hundreds of thousands of lives in Rwanda.

The "responsibility to protect" norm seeks to ensure that such actions will be undertaken only in the face of the most heinous crimes, and only when peaceful means are no longer appropriate. Moreover, coercive measures, whether military or not, will not be carried out unilaterally, or by a "coalition of the willing," but rather will be authorized by the Security Council and thus express the will of the international community.

Still, as I know all too well from my work, even the clearest and strongest formulations of the responsibility to protect are not enough to guarantee action at moments of threat. The responsibility to protect, like other human rights norms, will be given life insofar as states embrace its core principles and take it from word to deed.

The 2005 World Summit was a demonstration of remarkable unity among the world's governments. This week's General Assembly debate must serve not as a means to question past commitments. It must be a forum for Africans, and the world, to reaffirm existing commitments and advance our understanding of what the world can do to ensure that we never again abandon people in the face of unspeakable crimes.

Mohamed Sahnoun was co-chair of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, a body which developed the concept of the responsibility to protect. Among many international appointments, he has served as Algerian ambassador to the United States, France, Germany and Morocco and as Deputy Secretary-General of the OAU and of the League of Arab States.


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Comments 1 to 1 of 1 Post a comment

  • upliftdarace_144
    Jul 22 2009, 14:36

    DON'T BE FAKED OUT FOR FEAR OF NOT FITTING INTO THE HERD !!!! ( Matthew 24:4 )

    1 of 8

    * 16 European Nations . Met And Plotted On How They Would Rob Africa Of Its Riches.

    * They met during two(2) Periods of time in two(2) places

    * The General Act Of Berlin Conference (Nov, 1884 to February, 1885)

    * Brussels Belgium to finalize SECRET agreements ( Nov, 1889 to July 1890)

    * The Book “King Leopold’s Ghost (1998) by Adam Hochschild documents some of This information.

    The following Nations (Households) - Planned how they would divide among themselves our AFRICAN Riches.

    1) Austria-Hungary - Francis Joseph I Charles - August 18, 1830 -

    2) Belgium - King Leopold II – April 9, 1835

    3) Denmark - Frederik VIII -June 3, 1843

    4) France - Marie François Sadi Carnot – August 11, 1837 -

    5) Germany - Wilhelm II -– January 27, 1859

    6) Great Britain - Queen Victoria (Hanover) – May 24, 1819 – British Ruler – 2nd

    7) Holland –William III – February 19, 1817

    8) Italy - Umberto I - March 14, 1844 -

    9) Norway - Oscar II [Oscar Frederik] – January 21, 1829 (Also Sweden)

    10) Portugal - Carlos I – September 28, 1863

    11) Russia - Alexander III Alexandrovich – March 10, 1845

    12) Spain - Alfonso XIII – May 17, 1886

    13) Sweden - Oscar II – January 21, 1829 (Also Norway)

    14) Turkey - Abdülhamid II, - September 2 or September 22 - 1842 -

    15) United States - Benjamin Harrison – August 20, 1833 -

    16) Persia (Iran) - Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar – July 16, 1831 –

    For centuries Black Africans have been exploited and exploited in the name of Islam. Then with the coming of the Portueses (so-called Christians) to Ghana around the 1440s , the so-called Christians started their exploitation.

    We Black Africans are puzzling. We have a bounty of riches around us, yet we persist in allowing outsiders to steal them; while we fight each other over trivial matters.

    Just in case you're wondering, here's some Black Africans who have done wondrous things to change the way we live in the world.

    For example : Garrett-Augustus Morgan invented the Traffic Signal to CURB (no pun intended) TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS !!!

    * Buridge & Marshman - TYPEWRITER

    * George Carruthers - X-RAY MACHINE

    * George Washington Carver - PEANUT BUTTER - PAINTS – PAINT STAINS – ETC

    * W.A. Dietz - SHOE

    * Charles R. Drew - BLOOD PLASMA STORAGE SYSTEM

    * Michael Harney - LANTERN

    * Augustus Jackson - ICE CREAM

    * H.A. Jackson - KITCHEN TABLE

    * Isaac R. Johnson - BICYCLE FRAME

    * John A. Johnson - WRENCH

    * Frederick M. Jones - DEFROSTER - REFRIGERATION CONTROLS – AIR CONDITIONER

    * Jones & Long - BOTTLE CAPS

    * Lewis Latimer & Nichols - ELECTIC LAMP

    * John L. Love - PENCIL SHARPENER

    * Tony J. Marshall - FIRE EXTINGUISHER

    * Alexander Miles - ELEVATOR

    * W.A. Martin - LOCK

    * Garrett A. Morgan - GAS MASK - Traffic Signal

    * Lydia Newman - HAIR BRUSH - Nov 15, 1898

    * W.B. Purvis - FOUNTAIN PEN

    * L.P. Ray - DUST PAN

    * W.H. Richardson - BABY BUGGY

    * G.T. Sampson - CLOTHES DRYER

    * .W. Smith - LAWN SPRINKLER

    * J. Standard - REFRIGERATOR

    * T.W. Stewart - MOP

    * Maxine Snowden - RAIN HAT - 1983

    * Paul E. Williams - HELICOPTER

    * Granville T. Woods - Roller Coaster

    * Granville T. Woods - Telegraph Transmission Devices - Dec 2, 1884 Patents # - 308, 816 (7)

    Thanks to The Black Inventors Museum P.O. Box 76128 Los Angeles , Calif. (90076) Phone (310) 859-4602)

    Director : Ghanaian Mr. Hamza Salifa

    Contributor of Information : SEESTAH Imahkus Nzinga Okofo

    2 of 8

    OBAMA DECEPTIONS

    #1

    [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrpRocaEfQE]

    #2 Here is evidence of Point 2 of the Georgia Guidestones on Reproduction .

    Don't be deceived :

    [http://www.infowars.com/?p=7259]

    Here are search result links to what the Georgia Guidestones are

    [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Guidestones ]

    #3

    BY PEACE SHALL Many Be deceived (Daniel 8:25) .

    DOES THE TERM PEACEKEEPERS ring a Bell ?

    Ask the people in Rwanda (who survived that Peace-keeping) about the

    United Nations PEACEKEEPERS .

    President Obama’s UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR SUSAN RICE cut her teeth on

    the RWANDA MASSACRE…. OOOPs!!! She said.

    (Here’s a Search Link To Many Witnesses To THE NEW U.N. RICE MONSTER)

    [http://ixquick.com/do/metasearch.pl?query=Susan+Rice+Rwanda&cat=web&pl=ff& language=english]

    FAMILIES LINE UP FOR MASONIC CHILD ID PROGRAM ! UNCLE BEAST WANTS YOU !!!

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    3 of 8

    WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY DRINKING ? MANY SO-CALLED DIET SODAS CONTAIN ASPARTAME ?

    WHAT IS ASPARTAME ? FAKE SUGAR !!!!!!! [http://ixquick.com/do/metasearch.pl?query=aspartame&cat=web&pl=ff&language =english]

    4 of 8

    BEWARE OF POISONS FROM THE SKY : CHEMTRAILS

    [http://www.naturalnews.com/026200.html ]

    5 of 8

    Read the following book on the GMO game they are playing on us. If we eat GMO , we might as well eat plastic fruit; RIDICULOUS !!!!

    SEEDS OF DECEPTION BY JEFFREY SMITH

    “ A must read for truthseekers. “ [www.seedsofdeception.com]

    PARABLE OF THE GMO GAME AND ITS ORIGINATOR (Satan aka D-Evil )

    And Jesus said another parable to them, saying,

    “ The kingdom of heaven is like a man which planted good seed in his field:

    But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares (GMO / FAKE) among the wheat (NATURAL), and went his way.

    But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

    So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in thy field ?

    Where did these weeds (GMO/ FAKE) come from ?

    The Householder said to them, An enemy (D-Evil) has done this.

    The servants said to him, Do you want us to pull up the weeds ?

    The Householder said, No ; we don’t want to hurt the NATURAL plants by accident.

    Let the GMO /FAKE & NATURAL grow together until the harvest.

    And in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the tares (GMO/ FAKE) , and bind them in bundles to burn them (In The Lake Of Fire & Brimstone).

    Then gather the wheat into my barn. (PARADISE) “ [Matthew 13:24 -30 - Paraphrased]

    ROACH GENES IN CORN [http://ixquick.com/do/metasearch.pl?query=Roach+genes+in+corn&cat=web&pl=f f&language=english]

    AIDS VIRUS IN CORN [http://ixquick.com/do/metasearch.pl

    6 of 8

    Swine Flu Smoking Gun? CDC was Combining Flu Viruses in 2004

    [http://www.naturalnews.com/026159.html]

    Daniel 11: 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with FLATTERIES.

    #1 Don’t Be tricked Into Allowing Yourself And Your Families To be Quietly Killed By These So-Called Vaccinations.

    #2 VACCINATIONS FRAUD AND DANGERS Vaccine Safety Manual By Neil Z. Miller "for Concerned Familiesand Health Practitioners" ( 548 pages) [http://thinktwice.com/ ]

    #3 Check Out This Directive : Called The Georgia GuideStones

    [The Agenda Of The Antichrist aka The Georgia Guidestones] 10 POINTS LIKE THE 10 HORNS OR RELIGIONS OF THE BEAST

    1) MAINTAIN HUMANITY'S POPULATION UNDER 500 MILLION IN PERPETUAL BALANCE WITH NATURE

    2) GUIDE REPRODUCTION WISELY —IMPROVING FITNESS AND DIVERSITY

    3) UNITE HUMANITY WITH A LIVING NEW LANGUAGE

    4) RULE PASSION — FAITH — TRADITION AND ALL THINGS WITH TEMPERED REASON

    5) PROTECT PEOPLE AND NATIONS WITH FAIR LAWS AND JUST COURTS

    6) LET ALL NATIONS RULE INTERNALLY RESOLVING EXTERNAL DISPUTES IN A WORLD COURT

    7) AVOID PETTY LAWS AND USELESS OFFICIALS

    8) BALANCE PERSONAL RIGHTS WITH SOCIAL DUTIES.

    9) PRIZE TRUTH — BEAUTY — LOVE — SEEKING HARMONY WITH THE INFINITE

    10) BE NOT A CANCER ON THE EARTH — LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE — LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE

    [Revelations 13:1] And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having 7 heads (Kings) and 10 horns (Religious Kingdoms), and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy

    #4 - Here is evidence of Point 2 of the Georgia Guidestones on Reproduction . Don't be deceived : [http://www.infowars.com/?p=7259]

    Daniel 11: 14 (Babylon see Rev 17 & 18 - Jer 50 & 51 ) And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the ROBBERS of your people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but THEY SHALL FALL

    7 of 8

    CELL PHONE RADIATION Get The Waveshield Stop Cooking Your Brains (Microwaves)– [http://www.waveshield.com/]

    8 OF 8

    “We Perish Because

    1) We don’t know

    2) We Don’t want to know [ Hosea 4:6 ]

    NATURAL CANCER FIGHTERS

    a) [http://www.kanziuscancerresearch.com/] – also salt water as fuel

    b) All Diseases - [Rife Frequency Technology via Bio Solutions 1-866-8856625 ] via their Parasitic Frequency Killing Machine / over 500 programmed frequencies

    c) Epilobium [Male & Female Reproductive Health ] http://www.epilobium.com/ ] d) * Essiac via Herbal Healer Academy /herbalhealer.com / 1-870-269-4177 [ For free 120 page catalog ]

    e) *Curcurmin 98 - via thepowerhour.com / 1-877-817-9829

    f) OZONE MACHINES - CLIFF SCOTT ENTERPRISES [ cliffscott.com / 1-800-569-4340 [ get free catalog )

    g) Prostate cancer treat with :

    * Pumpkin Seeds (Get at your local Natural Foods Store)

    * Essiac via Herbal Healer Academy /herbalhealer.com / 1-870-269-4177 [ For free 120 page catalog ]

    * Saw Palmetto Get at your local Natural Foods Store)

    * Extract of nettle Get at your local Natural Foods Store)

    * Maca via CLIFF SCOTT ENTERPRISES [ cliffscott.com / 1-800-569-4340 [ get free catalog )

    * Epilobium [Male & Female Reproductive Health ] http://www.epilobium.com/ ]

    h) Breast Cancer -laznic / laser treatment [ http://www.lasemedinc.com/ ]

    i) Skin Cancer - laznic / laser treatment [ http://www.lasemedinc.com/ ]

    * Essiac via Herbal Healer Academy /herbalhealer.com / 1-870-269-4177 [ For free 120 page catalog ]

    j) * www.miracle2online.com / 1-866-839-5189 [ request a catalog

    OTHER CANCER FIGHTERS

    - Mixture Of Curcumin , Black Pepper & Olive Oil

    - Basil

    OUR DEEPEST FEAR By Marianne Williamson

    Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.

    We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?

    Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.

    Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.

    There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.

    We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.

    We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.

    It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.

    And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.

    And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others

    [NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]

    (Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )

    God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .

    God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.

    From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.

    Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.

    [Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]

    WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

    [http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/]

    - Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]