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	Advancing the rule of law is vital work by United Nations News   20 November 2007   Upholding and strengthening the four pillars of the modern international legal system – human rights, humanitarian, criminal and refugee law – is “crucial to the cause of peace,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today told a meeting in New York of parliamentarians from around the world.   In a speech to the Annual Parliamentary Hearing, jointly organized by the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Mr. Ban said that advancing the rule of law brought widespread benefits to the international community.   “It can help prevent or resolve conflicts and check weapons proliferation,” he said. “It can protect people from genocide and other crimes against humanity. And it can aid the fight against terrorists and support efforts to limit the spread of communicable diseases.”   This year’s theme of the Annual Parliamentary Hearing is “Reinforcing the rule of law in international relations: the key role of Parliaments,” and Mr. Ban detailed the recent work of the UN to uphold the rule of law on issues ranging from international treaties to reforming the justice sector of post-conflict countries to helping poor nations move from a relief phase to sustained economic development.   He also highlighted climate change, the theme of his recent international trip, as well as the situation in Lebanon, where he “saw a Parliament in crisis, and parliamentarians living in a constant state of fear” of further assassinations.   “The international community must speak out on their behalf. That crucially includes you, their fellow parliamentarians,” the Secretary-General stressed.   General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim told the same gathering, which brings together parliamentarians to interact with UN system entities and to receive a series of briefings on UN activities, that it was important for the UN and lawmakers to work more closely together.   “You are powerful opinion-formers; and, are increasingly shaping international decisions,” Mr. Kerim said. “Your support is essential to promote more effective international relations based on the rule of law.”   He added that greater cooperation is also critical to ensuring better compliance and implementation of international commitments such as treaties and conventions.
	War on terrorism leads to rights abuses, says Commonwealth watchdog by Reuters   Nov 2007   Torture, beatings, executions, racist stereotyping and intrusive surveillance are among the abuses countries are committing in the name of fighting terrorism, a rights watchdog said on Monday.   The Commonwealth Human Rights Commission said since the 9/11 attacks, many nations had been using the military for police work in the so-called "war on terror", leading to brutal policing techniques, including extra-judicial killings. The Commission made the allegations in a report which reviews human rights in the 53-nation body before the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).   "Until recently, torture was condemned as a gross violation of human rights ... fear of terrorism and the desire to respond to it is steadily undermining this absolute prohibition," the report said.   Among the offenders it named was Pakistan, which risks suspension from the Commonwealth because of President Pervez Musharraf"s imposition of martial law. Also mentioned was Uganda, where military police this year raided the High Court to seize bailed opposition supporters accused of treason.   "The extra-judicial killing of "terrorists" provides an easy way of eliminating suspects ... often, these "terrorists" turn out to be children, dissidents, unarmed and peaceful protesters," the report said.   It said the right not to be jailed without charge was slowly being eroded. In Tanzania and Bangladesh, suspects can be held indefinitely without trial.   In Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei they can be detained for longer than 700 days, while Britain is considering an extension of the 28-day period suspects can be held without charge.   "The consequences of taking people into custody without cause, for long periods of detention, are made even direr by laws that restrict access to counsel," the report said.   "Positive profiling" of terror suspects has spawned racist stereotypes, it said. In Britain, people of south Asian descent are 30 percent more likely than others to be stopped by police.   "Anti-terrorism has resulted in the deepest compromises of our member states on human rights," Yash Ghai, an expert on rights and law at Hong Kong University, told delegates at a Commonwealth People"s Forum.   Uganda will host CHOGM on Friday, after a state visit from Britain"s Queen Elizabeth, the head of the Commonwealth.   The report notes that despite 13 international counter-terrorism conventions and resolutions, countries have failed to agree on a definition of terrorism.
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