Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD) | UN HRC: 30th Session @GnrdNet | Uploaded 8 years ago | Updated September 27 2023
ITEM 2
Thank you. We bring before you the extraordinary situation of Global Network for Rights and Development which faces an orchestrated negative media campaign and violations of UN provisions by sections of Norway’s legal establishment.
Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states all persons are equal before the courts. The Covenant further provides that anyone accused of any offence is entitled to a full disclosure of those charges and for processes of law to be completed promptly and publicly and without undue delay. In its campaign against GNRD, Norway’s legal establishment has failed on all those counts. Not only is GNRD being implicated in trumped-up charges it is also being denied access to the alleged evidence. GNRD is still waiting for the return of vital documents which were seized from its premises in May, including papers related to GNRD’s international work on human rights. When Norway’s conduct under Article 14 (3) (b) and (3) (c) of the Covenant is considered we find that Norway has blatantly violated each of those sub-clauses, too.
In GNRD’s most recent experience with a section of the Norwegian judiciary there was not even a pretense on the part of the prosecutor and the court to demonstrate adherence to these sections of the Covenant protecting civil and political rights of individuals or institutions they represent. The right to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law was disregarded throughout, and GNRD’s efforts for judicial redress were thwarted in the process.
It is a matter of public record that GNRD has filed a lawsuit against the prosecutor concerned for seizing working documents, including GNRD research on the state of international human rights, and demanded return of those valuable documents. However, what is less known is that the court, in blatant disregard of ICCPR provisions, not only failed to order the restoration to GNRD of all its seized documents, but it also succumbed to the prosecutor’s flimsy argument for holding the hearing behind closed doors. Nor did the court take any steps to protect GNRD against exposure of its organizational documents or to admonish sections of the press who inexplicably obtained access to those documents and went on an irresponsible spree of publishing unfounded reports based on leaks of materials in police custody.
The leaks are compelling evidence of an unhealthy alliance between the police, the concerned prosecutor and certain sections of the media.
This experience of GNRD underscores the fear that a number of countries appearing under the guise of democracy are leaning dangerously toward authoritarism, violating all international laws and human rights treaties, and infringing the values of justice and fair play.
ITEM 2
Thank you. We bring before you the extraordinary situation of Global Network for Rights and Development which faces an orchestrated negative media campaign and violations of UN provisions by sections of Norway’s legal establishment.
Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states all persons are equal before the courts. The Covenant further provides that anyone accused of any offence is entitled to a full disclosure of those charges and for processes of law to be completed promptly and publicly and without undue delay. In its campaign against GNRD, Norway’s legal establishment has failed on all those counts. Not only is GNRD being implicated in trumped-up charges it is also being denied access to the alleged evidence. GNRD is still waiting for the return of vital documents which were seized from its premises in May, including papers related to GNRD’s international work on human rights. When Norway’s conduct under Article 14 (3) (b) and (3) (c) of the Covenant is considered we find that Norway has blatantly violated each of those sub-clauses, too.
In GNRD’s most recent experience with a section of the Norwegian judiciary there was not even a pretense on the part of the prosecutor and the court to demonstrate adherence to these sections of the Covenant protecting civil and political rights of individuals or institutions they represent. The right to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law was disregarded throughout, and GNRD’s efforts for judicial redress were thwarted in the process.
It is a matter of public record that GNRD has filed a lawsuit against the prosecutor concerned for seizing working documents, including GNRD research on the state of international human rights, and demanded return of those valuable documents. However, what is less known is that the court, in blatant disregard of ICCPR provisions, not only failed to order the restoration to GNRD of all its seized documents, but it also succumbed to the prosecutor’s flimsy argument for holding the hearing behind closed doors. Nor did the court take any steps to protect GNRD against exposure of its organizational documents or to admonish sections of the press who inexplicably obtained access to those documents and went on an irresponsible spree of publishing unfounded reports based on leaks of materials in police custody.
The leaks are compelling evidence of an unhealthy alliance between the police, the concerned prosecutor and certain sections of the media.
This experience of GNRD underscores the fear that a number of countries appearing under the guise of democracy are leaning dangerously toward authoritarism, violating all international laws and human rights treaties, and infringing the values of justice and fair play.
