Human Rights and Refugees
Note
This study was prepared by the UNCTAD secretariat drawing on research prepared by UNCTAD consultants Mr. Jean-Louis Arcand Professor International Economics Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies Geneva and Ms. Pinyi Chen Researcher Development Economics Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies Geneva. The study seeks to stimulate debate on the research topic.
Foreword by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Torture and other cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment cause severe harm to human dignity. For this reason the eradication of torture and other forms of ill-treatment has been at the heart of the work of the United Nations almost since its creation. While significant progress has been made these practices continue and much remains to be done.
Estimation of empirical best prediction method
The table shows the results of weighted regressions of log expenditures per adult equivalent on the set of standard covariates interacted with regional dummies for both Gaza and the West Bank for better regional estimates.
The optional protocol to the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which aims to prevent torture was adopted in 2002 and entered into force in 2006. The Optional Protocol established an international torture prevention mechanism the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Pursuant to article 3 of the Optional Protocol States parties should establish independent national bodies for the prevention of torture and ill-treatment at the domestic level known as the national preventive mechanisms.
Concluding remarks
The multilayered Israeli control of the movement of Palestinian people and trade has a significant negative impact on Palestinian economic activity development and household welfare throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In the West Bank the restrictions on economic activity are more pronounced in Area C but are by no means limited to this area.
Reporting Under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Training Guide (Part I – Manual)
The manual is aimed at assisting States parties in fulfilling their reporting obligations under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Its objective is to facilitate understanding of the rights enshrined in the Convention and the corresponding obligations of the States parties in respecting protecting and fulfilling those rights. The manual is based on the provisions of the Convention the general comments of the Committee against Torture its jurisprudence on individual communications and its concluding observations on State party’s initial and periodic reports as well as its reporting guidelines rules of procedure working methods and other documents. The manual should be seen as a practical tool while bearing in mind the constantly developing practice of the Committee in interpreting the Convention. The present manual also constitutes a reference document for trainers who intend to design and deliver training courses on reporting to the Committee on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention. The manual can be used jointly with the training guide on reporting to the United Nations treaty bodies which covers all the procedural aspects of the reporting process.
Occupation, Fragmentation and Poverty in the West Bank
A variety of controls imposed under occupation constrain economic development in Areas A and B of the West Bank. These include the ban on the importation of certain technology and inputs under the dual-use list system and a myriad of mobility and other restrictions that inflate the cost of production and undermine the competitiveness of Palestinian producers in domestic and foreign markets. While special economic zones in China and other countries have contributed significantly to their economies and are thought to be positive the classification of portions of the West Bank as part of Area C exerts the opposite effect: instead of openness it entails restrictions and instead of contributing to the economy it hampers and suppresses its potential. Area C thus plays a role kin to an “adverse economic zone” that thwarts investment instead of promoting greater economic activity. This study quantifies the impact of the relative share of Area C in Palestinian localities on household welfare measured by expenditure. The estimation exercise uses two cross-sectional data sets on 457 localities in 10 governorates. The exercise reveals that the greater the share of Area C in a locality the stronger the negative impact on total household expenditure. The extent of this negative effect however is heterogeneous and varies across West Bank governorates. The study complements previous studies and concludes that reducing restrictions in Area C to levels similar to Areas A and B as a necessary but not sufficient step towards ending the occupation in line with relevant United Nations resolutions and could boost total Palestinian household expenditure substantially by up to 200 per cent in some localities and help to reduce poverty substantially across much of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Access to Remedy in Cases of Business-related Human Rights Abuse
A Practical Guide for State-based Non-Judicial Mechanisms
Over the course of six years and in response to successive mandates from the Human Rights Council OHCHR’s Accountability and Remedy Project developed guidance on how to enhance the effectiveness of the three categories of remedial mechanisms covered in the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. For each category of mechanism OHCHR spent two years consulting with those who use design and administer the mechanism among others to identify good-practice lessons resulting in a set of reports presented to the Human Rights Council. This publication compiles the guidance and explanatory notes from those reports focusing on State-based non-judicial mechanisms.
Committee against torture
The Convention establishes pursuant to article 17 the Committee against Torture to supervise and monitor the implementation by States parties of the substantive provisions of the treaty. The Committee consists of 10 independent and impartial members from different backgrounds and from various regions of the world elected by the States parties for a term of four years. It adopted its rules of procedure in accordance with article 18 of the Convention. The Committee meets three times a year for up to four weeks at a time.