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| Attack on Human Rights in Madrid. | Date: 18-03-2004 |
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ATTACK ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN MADRID The Euro Mediterranean Human Rights Network unreservedly condemns the March 11th attacks on the inhabitants of Madrid as a gross violation of their human rights. These attacks are not just unforgivable acts against our fellow world citizens, they are also attacks against the principles of human decency, human dignity and the right to life The members of the Network offer their heartfelt sympathy and support to the families and loved ones of those innocent citizens who died in the attacks. The attacks can in no way be justified or condoned – to do so would be an affront to the values of human rights. Those responsible must feel the full opprobrium of international society and the full weight of international law must be invoked to bring them to justice as against those responsible for the bomb attacks in Istanbul on 20 November 2003, Casablanca on 16 Mai 2002, Djerba 11 April 2002. Our deep felt thoughts go to the innocent victims of these brutal attacks in the EuroMed region. As a network of 70 organisations and individuals with a particular focus on the Euro-Mediterranean region and committed to the full realisation of human rights for each and every world citizen we call on all states to root their response to the atrocities within international law, universal human rights values and respect for freedoms and the rule of law. In particular, we call on all governments of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership to strengthen international law and its instruments as the only viable, positive and lasting alternative to violence and terror. We must not allow the perpetrators of terror to set the agenda and equally there can be no room for double standards in understanding and applying human rights, be it in Europe, Palestine, Iraq or other parts of the region. Therefore, we urge the governments to move beyond the superficial changes the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP) has so far brought to the region, and counter injustice, inequality and inward looking by bringing real life to peace, human development and human rights respect in their civil, political, economic, social and cultural dimensions. Through the promotion of awareness and practice of human rights and international humanitarian law, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network seeks to challenge the culture of death and despair which underpins the bombs in Madrid and offer, in their place, reason, rights and hope. NOTES FOR EDITORS: 1. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network was established in 1997. It is a regional network of 70 human rights organisations and activists in the Euro-Mediterranean region working for the promotion and protection of human rights within the framework of the Barcelona Declaration and international human rights instruments. 2. The Barcelona Declaration was adopted in November 1995 by the 15 EU members and 12 South Mediterranean countries. It aims at turning the Euro-Mediterranean region into an area of shared ’peace, stability and prosperity’ built on respect for human rights. 3. The bilateral Association Agreements between the EU and single South Mediterranean partners contain an article (2) stating that respect for human rights and democratic principles underlie the policies of the Partners and is an essential element in the agreements. For further information please contact: Marit Floe Joergensen, Information Officer Tel: +45-32 69 89 12 / Fax: +45-32 69 89 01 E-mail: info@euromedrights.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] The verdicts of the State Security Courts cannot be appealed and can only be overturned by an order from the office of the President of the Republic, making the fairness of such verdicts highly questionable. |
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