15 March 2014

SHARES News Items Overview: 16 February 2014-15 March 2014

This is our News Items Overview of 16 February 2014-15 March 2014, a summary of recent news relating to shared responsibility. (more…)

14 March 2014

UN Deputy Secretary-General says the global drug trade is a shared responsibility

At the 57th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, currently meeting in Vienna, countries from around the world are discussing ways to counter the global illicit drug trade. According to UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, the fight against the global drug trade is the responsibility of all people. Mr. Eliasson stated, ‘[n]o nation can escape the impact of these criminal networks. We all share the responsibility to forge effective solutions.’

Source: United Nations Radio | Fighting global drugs trade is shared responsibility

13 March 2014

UN Special Rapporteur on torture denounces use of torture-tainted information by states

States that condemn torture while using information and products obtained through the practice in other countries are hypocritical, according to UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Juan Méndez, saying ‘[g]overnments cannot condemn the evil of torture and other ill-treatment at the international level while condoning it at the national level’. He told the Human Rights Council that any use of torture-tainted information, even if the torture has been committed by agents of another state, is an act of acquiescence in torture that compromises the user-state’s responsibility and leads to individual and state complicity in acts of torture. (more…)

Source: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights | News | “No more hypocrisy, stop condemning torture committed by others while accepting its products” - UN expert

12 March 2014

Malaysia lacks legal powers to properly investigate the missing Flight MH370

Reuters reports that while Malaysia is conducting an investigation into the missing Flight MH370, with the assistance of foreign governments and agencies, they do not have the legal powers needed for a formal international probe under UN-sanctioned rules. Such powers include the right to take testimony from witnesses, the right to have exclusive control over the release of information and ability to centralise evidence. Additionally, under a formal investigation, a board is established comprised of the plane maker, engine maker, unions, the airline and aviation safety regulatory agency of the country where the airline is based. Furthermore, no other state has taken the lead in an official probe into the missing Flight MH370. Industry experts say this leadership vacuum is unprecedented. (more…)

Source: Reuters | Legal limbo hampers probe into missing Malaysia jet
Source: Free Malaysia Today | Legal limbo hampering search for missing plane

12 March 2014

UN envoys: Libya primary source for illicit arms, urgent need for assistance due to increased violence

International assistance is essential to helping Libya through its democratic transition, said Tarek Mitri, the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), in a statement to the Security Council on 10 March 2014. According to Mitri, there has been a ‘dramatic’ increase in violence over the past three months and ‘while the primary responsibility for reining in the perpetrators of this ugly campaign of terror lies with the State, this will only be possible with the concerted efforts by the Government, political, civic and revolutionary forces, aiming at the protection of the civilian population.’ Mitri said that the Libyan people expect the international community to help them with the difficult task of reconstructing the state. (more…)

Source: UN News Centre | UN envoy stresses need for support as Libya risks facing ‘unprecedented violence’
Source: Reuters | Libya key source for illicit arms, fuelling conflicts - U.N. envoy