30/09/2017
España debe respetar
los derechos fundamentales en respuesta al referéndum catalán, los expertos en
derechos de la ONU
Los expertos de las
Naciones Unidas * han pedido a las autoridades españolas que garanticen que las
medidas adoptadas antes del referéndum catalán el 1 de octubre no interfieran
con los derechos fundamentales a la libertad de expresión, reunión y asociación
y participación pública.
El Gobierno catalán ha
programado un referéndum sobre la independencia de la Comunidad Autónoma para
el 1 de octubre. Sin embargo, el Tribunal Constitucional de España decidió el 6
de septiembre que el referéndum sería inconstitucional.
"Independientemente
de la legalidad del referéndum, las autoridades españolas tienen la
responsabilidad de respetar los derechos que son esenciales para las sociedades
democráticas", dijeron los expertos.
Desde la sentencia,
cientos de miles de catalanes han salido a la calle en protestas. Las tensiones
han aumentado, con las autoridades buscando casas de imprenta y aprovechando el
material del referéndum. Los sitios web han sido bloqueados y las reuniones
políticas han cesado.
"Los políticos han
sido arrestados, y los líderes de las protestas masivas han sido acusados de sedición, un crimen que conlleva una pena máxima de 15 años de prisión"
"Las medidas que
estamos presenciando son preocupantes porque parecen violar derechos
individuales fundamentales, cortando la información pública y la posibilidad de
debate en un momento crítico para la democracia española".
El 21 de septiembre,
más de 4.000 policías fueron desplegados a la región autónoma , con una orden
del Gobierno de "actuar en caso de que el referéndum ilegal tenga
lugar".
"Nos preocupa que
este orden y la retórica que lo acompaña puedan aumentar las tensiones y el
malestar social", dijeron los expertos.
"Instamos a todas
las partes a ejercer la mayor moderación y evitar la violencia de cualquier
tipo para asegurar las protestas pacíficas en los próximos días",
concluyeron.
Los expertos han estado
en contacto con el Gobierno de España sobre la situación.
8882 8040 24
Spain must respect fundamental rights in response to Catalan referendum, UN rights experts
GENEVA (28 September 2017) - UN experts* have called on the Spanish authorities to ensure that measures taken ahead of the Catalan referendum on 1 October do not interfere with the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, and public participation.
The Catalan government has scheduled a referendum on independence for the autonomous region for 1 October. However, the Constitutional Court of Spain decided on 6 September that the referendum would be unconstitutional.“Regardless of the lawfulness of the referendum, the Spanish authorities have a responsibility to respect those rights that are essential to democratic societies,” the experts said.
Since the ruling, hundreds of thousands of Catalans have taken to the streets in protests. Tensions have escalated, with the authorities searching print houses and seizing referendum material. Websites have been blocked, and political meetings stopped.
Politicians have been arrested, and leaders of the mass protests have been charged with sedition, a crime which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.
“The measures we are witnessing are worrying because they appear to violate fundamental individual rights, cutting off public information and the possibility of debate at a critical moment for Spain’s democracy.”
On 21 September, more than 4,000 police officers were deployed to the autonomous region, with an order from the Government to “act in case the illegal referendum takes place”.
“We are concerned that this order and the accompanying rhetoric may heighten tensions and social unrest,” the experts said.
“We urge all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid violence of any kind to ensure peaceful protests in the coming days”, they concluded.
The experts have been in contact with the government of Spain concerning the situation.
ENDS
(*) The experts: Mr. David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and Mr. Alfred de Zayas, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order.
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights, country page: Spain
For more information and media requests please contact: Ms. Azin Tadjdini (+41 22 917 9400 / atadjdini@ohchr.org) or write to freedex@ohchr.org.
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Bryan Wilson, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9826 / mediaconsultant2@ohchr.org)
Concerned about the world we live in? Then STAND UP for someone’s rights today #Standup4humanrights and visit the web page at http://www.standup4humanrights.org
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.